U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWV - News Update

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Marjorie Nicholson Byrnes, who served in the WAVES program as a hospital corpsman during World War II. Marjorie Nicholson Byrnes joined the Navy because of her patriotism. [From VAntage Point]

We honor her service.

After years of focused advertising and a review of its culture, the Marine Corps is becoming more diverse, Lt. Gen. Michael A. Rocco, deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, testified to Congress in December. More than 40 percent of the force identifies as a member of a minority group, compared to just 30 percent in 2010, Rocco said at the House Armed Services Committee hearing Dec. 10 titled, “Diversity in Recruiting and Retention: Increasing Diversity in the Military.” [From Marine Corps Times]

Not being able to adventure with her grandson was the last straw and would forever change Sharyle Robert’s life. The Navy Veteran says, “My grandson told me I could not go to the beach with him because I walk funny. That cut close to the bone. That hurt.” It was in that moment that Sharyle no longer allowed her weight to make decisions for her. [From VAntage Point]

As part of the $738 billion Fiscal Year 2020 defense funding bill that President Donald Trump is expected to sign into law Friday, the services will soon begin tracking the race, ethnicity and gender of troops accused of crimes in the military justice system, as well as victims. Under the defense bill, each service will for the first time be required to record and compile the data in their annual military justice reports. [From Military Times]

The Navy has invested $1 million in devices and uniforms that help pilots relieve themselves in-flight -- and it wants to spend $2 million more to complete the effort. One of the goals of the initiative was to provide female jet pilots with a practical way to urinate on missions that can stretch on for hours with limited mobility, officials said. [From Military.com]

A new study looking into the prevalence of stalking in the rank-and-file paints a grim picture of a military already fraught with questions that suggest a toxic culture. The report from the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, titled “An Examination of Stalking Experiences During Military Service Among Female and Male Veterans and Associations With PTSD and Depression,” analyzed responses by 1,733 Veterans in an effort to understand not only the rate stalking occurs during military service, but the impact these experiences have on mental health. [From Military Times]

The defense bill expected to be signed shortly by President Donald Trump allows active-duty women who give birth to defer deployment up to a year after having a baby. The Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard already have policies that extend yearlong deferrals to their members following childbirth, but the Army and Marine Corps only offer a six-month deferral. [From Military Times]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Angie Holbrook, who served two tours in Iraq and retired after 27 years in service. Angie Holbrook graduated from Texas Christian University in 1991, where she was a part of the Army ROTC program. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Angie!

Gretel Weiskopf, a 2019 War Horse fellow, who served as an Army photojournalist and medic during Operation Iraqi Freedom, grapples with how much she should share about war and if people truly want to know what real fear feels like. [From The War Horse]

Should every American Citizen serve in the military? Should women be required to register for the selective service (draft)? What should the future of the Selective Service look like? Navy Veteran Shawn Skelly and Marine Corps Veteran Ed Allard are commissioners for the Commission on National, Military and Public Service. [From VAntage Point]

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, VA Medical Centers across the country - including the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System in Prescott, Arizona - hosted Pink Out! events to support women Veterans and connect them with VA’s health care services. Veterans had the opportunity to speak with health care providers about services offered at their medical centers, breast cancer prevention and more. [From VAntage Point]

The first enlisted female National Guard soldiers recently graduated the rigorous Army Ranger School, joining the ranks of a handful of officer and enlisted female graduates. Staff Sgt. Jessica Smiley and Sgt. Danielle Faber, with the South Carolina Army National Guard and Pennsylvania Army National Guard, respectively, completed the school on Dec. 13. [From Army Times]

There’s no room for nerves in the cockpit of F/A-18 fighter jets, according to former Naval flight officer Caroline Johnson, who participated in combat missions flying over Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. “You’re so focused, you don’t have time to be scared, and think about getting shot at doing these different things,” Johnson, who now serves in the Navy Reserves and is a professional speaker, told Military Times. [From Military Times]