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

Bells rang throughout France on the morning of Nov. 11, 1918, signifying the end of World War I. In Paris, people filled the streets in a bittersweet celebration: The war was finally over. But while those celebrations took place, an American woman drew her last breaths in a foreign city. [From VAntage Point]

VA began deploying Mobile Vet Center units the week of March 16 to expand direct counseling, outreach and care coordination to Veterans in communities affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first of the mobile units was dispatched to various cities to include boroughs in New York City, a second unit was sent to San Francisco, followed by mobile centers going to New Orleans and Los Angeles. [From VAntage Point]

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Heather Lori Belanger Sandler, who served on ships supporting both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Heather Sandler came from a military family, with relatives in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Heather!

On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Olga Kalpagian, who served as a nurse during the war. Olga Kalpagian continued her family’s history for service by joining the Army Nurse Corps. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Olga!

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Nicole Malachowski, who was the first female pilot to fly with the Thunderbirds. Nicole Malachowski was born in Santa Maria, California. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Nicole!

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Deborah Jean Christian Collins, who served in the Arkansas National Guard from 1975 to 2014. Deborah Jean Christian Collins began her 39 years of service with the Arkansas National Guard on July 30, 1975. [From VAntage Point]

We honor your service, Deborah!

Today the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) released its 2019 annual report. DACOWITS provides the secretary of defense with recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being, and treatment of women in the U.S. armed forces via a comprehensive annual report. [From U.S. Department of Defense]

While in the Army, Sarah Roberts helped establish finance offices in Iraq and managed accounts for the Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank. After her discharge, Roberts worked with companies to create employment opportunities for Veterans. One of the biggest challenges facing Veterans after leaving the service is finding a job–an issue that Sarah Roberts knows well. [From VAntage Point]

This Borne the Battle bonus episode podcast features updates on resources for Veterans and VA’s response to the Coronavirus, through March 25, 2020. For the latest VA updates on coronavirus and commonsense tips on preventing its spread, visit https://www.va.gov/coronavirus. [From VAntage Point]