Recertification Ordered for Sexual Assault and Prevention Program Staff On May 17, 2013, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered each branch of the military to recertify all 25,000 people involved in programs designed to prevent and respond to sexual assault; this includes approximately 19,000 recruiters, and the recertification must be completed by July 1. This recertification will include verifying the credentials and qualifications of all recruiters, sexual assault response coordinators, and sexual assault victim advocates to ensure that they meet current [...]
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In a May 5 interview with 60 Minutes, Retired Army Maj. Ben Richards discusses the effects that sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may have had on his life. Richards chronicles the feeling of stigma, his search for help amid misdiagnosis, and his feelings of frustration about not getting better, stating that “If I could trade traumatic brain injury for a single leg amputation, I’d probably do that in a second.” The segment also highlights the efforts of Retired Army [...]
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North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper visited Camp Lejeune to provide servicemembers information about predatory lending and other financial fraud. Cooper stated that while most businesses want to help military members, some view them as a target due to their youth and lack of education about finances. To avoid being taken advantage of financially, the NC Department of Justice provides tips to assist Servicemembers. These tips include: not paying upfront to obtain a loan or credit card, thoroughly researching any [...]
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The Fort Bragg Fire Department has earned the distinction of being the best fire department in the Army. Last year, the Fort Bragg Fire Department staff of fifty-two firefighters responded to 8,787 incidents, including fires, accidents, and medical calls. In addition to serving Fort Bragg, the fire department provides assistance to nearby cities and counties, and is the only one in the Department of Defense (DoD) that includes a child safety seat program. Read more…
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Grant Opportunity for Current Grant and Per Diem Program Grantees: VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 2013 Notice of Funds Availability The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program announces the availability of funds for community agencies providing services to homeless Veterans. The purpose of this funding is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels [...]
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On April 23, 2013, Army Reserve servicemembers at Fort Bragg sang birthday songs and participated in events to celebrate the U.S. Army Reserve’s 105th birthday. This celebration provided an opportunity to honor the past despite the recent budget cuts to the Army Reserve totaling $292 million. Impact from the budget cuts have already been felt on base with cancellations of major training exercises, a civilian hiring freeze, and scheduled furloughs for civilian employees. Army Reserve leaders expect automatic budget cuts [...]
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A new Information Technology Training and Certification Partnership initiative is expected to provide up to 161,000 servicemembers with industry recognized information technology (IT) certifications prior to their leaving the military. This program, announced at the While House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing is a public-private partnership aimed at providing servicemembers transferable skills for private sector IT work as they transition from military service to civilian sector employment. Read more…
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The Veterans Affairs Department (VA) has launched new hotline1-855-VA-WOMEN, this hotline will receive and respond to questions women veterans, their families, and caregivers may have about the services and benefits available to them. The hotline was developed in response to the growing number of women veterans who are expected to access VA services. Current estimates indicate that women comprise close to fifteen-percent of active duty military and eighteen-percent of National Guard, and Reserve Forces. The VA reports that nationally there [...]
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The Marine and Sailor Concussion Recovery Center (MSCRC) at Camp Lejeune’s TBI treatment program for Marines and Sailors offers a multidisciplinary approach to address the physical, cognitive, and emotional effects of TBI. During this sixteen-week program, participants are provided neurological services, speech-language therapy, occupational and vestibular therapies, psychological and neuro-psychological support as well as nurse case management. The goal of the program is to return each individual to their highest level of functioning by providing compensatory strategies that address memory [...]
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Starting on August 1, 2013, servicemembers who transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a family member or dependent will incur an additional four-year service obligation, without regard to their time in service. Army Capt. Kurt Rauschenberg, education services officer for the Army National Guard, states, “the post-9/11 GI Bill offers a great benefit to our servicemembers who are looking to expand their education,” adding that “the purpose of the transferability is for recruiting and retention.” These changes will likely [...]
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