Veterans
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Air Force Airman Mark A. Gonzalez has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Gonzalez earned distinction as an honor graduate.
He is the son of Rosaura Rincon of St. Helena, Calif., and Eduardo Valdez of Napa, Calif.
The airman is a 2009 graduate of Middletown High School in Middletown, Calif.
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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) announced that his bipartisan legislation to improve treatment options for active duty soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) has passed in both the Senate and House and is expected to be signed into law by the President.
The legislation, which passed as a part of H.R. 3304, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014, allows service members to access innovative treatments offered outside military medical facilities.
“The fact that this legislation is finally being signed into law is great news for our nation’s brave servicemembers,” said Thompson. “With so many of our troops returning from overseas with brain injuries, we need to make sure they have access to the very best care our country has to offer, no matter where it is provided. Because of this law, our heroes will be able to access cutting-edge care, even if it’s offered outside of our military medical facilities.”
Thompson’s legislation, co-authored in the House by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-32), creates a pilot program that allows military patients to receive treatment from health care facilities outside of the Department of Defense that are utilizing an array of leading-edge, successful therapies to treat TBI and PTS.
Under Thompson’s and Sessions’ legislation, physicians and residential treatment centers like The Pathway Home in Yountville, may qualify for payment from the Department of Defense by participating in this investigational pilot program.
Treatment safeguards in the legislation ensure servicemembers will have access to innovative private treatments while protecting their health and privacy.
“The passage of HR 3304 is a welcome acknowledgment by Congress of the sacrifices made by our country's warriors by supporting opportunities for them to avail themselves to all realms of quality care that exists today,” said Fred Gusman, Executive Director of the Pathway Home in Yountville.
“Nonprofits like The Pathway Home Inc. – a Joint Commission accredited residential treatment center which has served for nearly six years as a viable referral resource for the VA system as well as military installations – might now possibly be reimbursed for the services it provides,” said Gusman. “Congressman Thompson and Rep. Session's leadership in introducing and championing this legislation will further the collaboration between all those entities that share in the singular share mission of caring for those who’ve given their all.”
To reach the long-term objective of incorporating leading-edge medical practices into military hospitals, Thompson’s and Sessions’ TBI treatment initiative requires an annual report to Congress on the results of the program, encouraging a constant flow of new and innovative treatments.
Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Thursday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced that he is an original cosponsor of the Military Retirement Restoration Act, legislation that would repeal cuts to military retiree cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) included in the Bipartisan Budget Act.
This legislation will be fully paid for by closing tax loopholes for offshore corporations. Congressman Dan Maffei (D-Syracuse, NY) is introducing the bill in the House of Representatives.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA).
“The bipartisan budget compromise was needed to support our economic recovery and to prevent harmful unfocused cuts to vital defense functions,” Garamendi said. “However, the bill’s provision that cuts military pensions places an unjust burden on military servicemembers who have already made enormous sacrifices for our country. It seems eminently fairer to end loopholes that allow corporations to avoid paying taxes. Simply put, I cosponsored the Military Retirement Restoration Act, so that we don’t balance our budget on the backs of the men and women who valiantly served us and earned their pension.”
“The Bipartisan Budget Act is an important step in the right direction that creates some certainty for our middle class families and businesses across Central New York, but it is not perfect,” said Congressman Maffei. “The cuts to military pension COLAs included in the Bipartisan Budget Act unfairly target our military families and could create serious hardship for some of our veterans. The bill I am going to introduce will fix this problem and ensure our military retirees get the benefits they have earned and deserve. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this common sense legislation.”
The Military Retirement Restoration Act would replace the cuts to military retiree benefits included in the Bipartisan Budget Act by preventing companies from avoiding U.S. taxes by abusing overseas tax havens.
The bill repeals the provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act (Section 403) that modifies the annual cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees by making the adjustments equal to inflation minus 1 percent.
This provision, which is scheduled to go into effect in December 2015, would result in a benefit cut for working-age military retirees.
The Bipartisan Budget Act modifies the annual cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees by making the adjustments equal to inflation minus one percent.
At age 62, the retired pay would be adjusted as if the COLA had been the full CPI adjustment in all previous years, and the service members would receive the full COLA from then on.
The provision would have saved approximately $6 billion over ten years.
It also prevents companies from avoiding paying their fair share of U.S. taxes. The repeal would be fully offset by stopping companies incorporated offshore but managed and controlled in the United States from claiming foreign status and avoiding U.S. taxes on their foreign income.
The legislation would require these companies to be treated as U.S. domestic corporations for tax purposes.
This provision is expected to raise over $6.6 billion over 10 years.
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WASHINGTON, DC – Some veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are diagnosed with any of five other ailments will have an easier path to receive additional disability pay under new regulations developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The new regulation, which takes effect 30 days from today, impacts some veterans living with TBI who also have Parkinson’s disease, certain types of dementia, depression, unprovoked seizures or certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.
“We decide veterans’ disability claims based on the best science available,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “As scientific knowledge advances, VA will expand its programs to ensure veterans receive the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”
This regulation stems from a report of the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine (IOM) regarding the association between TBI and the five diagnosable illnesses.
The IOM report, Gulf War and Health, Volume 7: Long-Term Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury, found “sufficient evidence” to link moderate or severe levels of TBI with the five ailments.
The new regulations, printed in the Federal Register, say that if certain veterans with service-connected TBI also have one of the five illnesses, then the second illness will also be considered as service connected for the calculation of VA disability compensation.
Eligibility for expanded benefits will depend upon the severity of the TBI and the time between the injury causing the TBI and the onset of the second illness.
However, veterans can still file a claim to establish direct service-connection for these ailments even if they do not meet the time and severity standards in the new regulation.
Veterans who have questions or who wish to file new disability claims may use the eBenefits Web site, available at www.eBenefits.va.gov/ebenefits .
Servicemembers who are within 180 days of discharge may also file a pre-discharge claim for TBI online through the VA-DoD eBenefits portal at www.eBenefits.va.gov/ebenefits .
The published final rule will be available Dec. 17 at http://www.regulations.gov .
Information about VA and DoD programs for brain injury and related research is available at www.dvbic.org .
Information about VA's programs for Gulf War Veterans is available at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/hazardous_exposures.asp .
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The American Red Cross encourages people to send holiday cards through the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program before the post office box closes on Dec. 6.
During the holiday season, this Red Cross program delivers tens of thousands of cards to service members, veterans and their families at military hospitals and installations across the country and around the world.
The Red Cross has received and distributed more than 6.5 million cards for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families since the program began in 2006.
“So many members of our military find themselves far from loved ones during the holiday season, and a message of support helps bring a touch of home to our troops wherever they are,” said Sherri L. Brown, senior vice president, Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces.
Whether handmade or purchased, Americans can send cards postmarked no later than Dec. 6 to ensure they are delivered in time for the holidays.
All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
The Red Cross relies on the support of the American people to carry out its mission of service to the two million members of the U.S. Armed Forces, 24 million veterans and their families.
During this holiday season, people also can support all Red Cross services by making a financial donation at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.
Individuals also can give the gift of life by making an appointment to give blood at www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.
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WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that a new national report shows a 24 percent reduction in homelessness among veterans since 2010.
The report also showed an 8 percent reduction between January 2012 and January 2013. The decline keeps the Obama administration on track to meet the goal of ending veterans’ homelessness in 2015.
“We are on the right track in the fight to end homelessness among veterans. While this trend is encouraging news, we know that there is more work to do,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “As President Obama said, we’re not going to rest until every veteran who has fought for America has a home in America. The results in the latest report are a credit to the effort given by our dedicated staff, and our federal, state, and community partners who are committed to ending veterans’ homelessness.”
“We’re making real and significant progress to reduce homelessness in this country and now is not the time to retreat from doing what we know works,” said U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. “If we’re going to end homelessness as we know it, we need a continued bipartisan commitment from Congress to break the cycle trapping our most vulnerable citizens, especially our Veterans, between living in a shelter or a life on the streets. I understand these are tough budget times but these are proven strategies that are making a real difference. We simply can’t balance our budget on the backs of those living on the margins.”
The 2013 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness, prepared by HUD, estimates there were 57,849 homeless veterans on a single night in January in the United States, an 8 percent decline since 2012 and a 24 percent decline since 2010.
VA has made ending veterans’ homelessness by the end of 2015 a top priority, undertaking an unprecedented campaign to dramatically increase awareness of VA services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless.
While the number of homeless people in the United States dropped by 4 percent since 2012, according to the 2013 report, eterans’ homelessness has shown a more robust decline.
During a period of prolonged economic recovery, the Obama Administration has been able to reduce the number of homeless veterans by 24 percent, breaking previous patterns of increased homelessness during difficult economies.
Earlier this year, HUD and VA also announced the award of nearly $70 million of HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing grants to further assist in addressing the issue of veterans’ homelessness.
The program combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. Since 2008, a total of 58,140 vouchers have been awarded and 43,371 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes of their own because of the joint HUD-VA program.
One of the tools VA uses in its systematic approach to prevent and end veterans’ homelessness is the Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program.
In July, VA announced the award of nearly $300 million in grants to 319 community agencies to help approximately 120,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.
More recently, VA has announced $8.8 million in grants for 164 projects to acquire vans for homeless providers and to rehabilitate housing, plus $4.9 million in grants for 25 community-based projects to enhance services for veterans.
The grants promote housing stability among homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. The grants can have an immediate impact, helping lift veterans out of homelessness or providing aid in emergencies that put veterans and their families at risk of homelessness.
More information about VA’s homeless programs is available at www.va.gov/homeless .
Details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are online at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp .
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WASHINGTON, DC – In recognition of the 10th anniversary of its award-winning Personal Health Record, My HealtheVet ( www.myhealth.va.gov ), the Department of Veterans Affairs is urging all veterans and servicemembers to join the millions already accessing VA health care information and services online.
VA is marking this milestone by spreading the word about the benefits of My HealtheVet Personal Health Record, such as VA prescription refill, VA notes, VA Blue Button and secure messaging with VA health care providers.
“VA is a pioneer and a leader of health information technology that improves patient-provider relationships, embraces wellness and improves health outcomes for the brave men and women who have served our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “VA invites all veterans and servicemembers to get online to become more active partners in their health care.”
Throughout November, My HealtheVet coordinators at all 151 VA medical centers organized community events, hosted enrollment and education health fairs, led training sessions and worked with VA Voluntary Service to showcase how My HealtheVet contributes to more informed and more engaged Veteran patients.
VA continues to build its My HealtheVet online health record, adding new online tools and features, and My HealtheVet coordinators are geared up to accept new My HealtheVet enrollees throughout November.
“VA is dedicated to providing veterans with the best experience possible, both at VA facilities and online,” said Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Robert A. Petzel. “We are proud to celebrate a decade of online access for veterans and look forward to a future of even more access to meet their evolving needs.”
My HealtheVet is VA’s award-winning website that offers veterans secure access to portions of information in their VA health care records anywhere and anytime. Its Web-based tools give users greater control over their care and wellness, helping them become active partners in their health care.
In addition to allowing veterans access to their records, My HealtheVet lets them save, print and share their health information using the VA Blue Button, refill VA prescriptions online and track their health activities.
Veterans who upgrade their accounts, free of charge, can use secure messaging to communicate electronically with their VA health care teams between visits. They also can view VA appointments, get VA Wellness Reminders, access VA lab results and more.
“We urge veterans and servicemembers to go online during november and throughout the year,” said theresa hancock, director of the my HealtheVet program. “My HealtheVet offers a flexible and convenient way for veterans to become engaged in their health care and well-being.”
All veterans and servicemembers are encouraged to enroll or upgrade at www.myhealth.va.gov .
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SACRAMENTO – Due to unknown circumstances the name of Private First Class Ralph Henry Johnson, United States Marine Corps, was left off the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial 25 years ago when it was constructed and dedicated.
This oversight was corrected during a rededication ceremony for the memorial that took place on Saturday in Capitol Park in Sacramento.
A native of South Carolina, PFC Johnson, who was 19 years old at the time of his death, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967 in Oakland.
The Department of Defense lists the state from which one enlists in military service as the home of record, so officially PFC Johnson is considered to be from California.
PFC Johnson’s engraved name will be unveiled on the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in a ceremony honoring him and all Californians who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
Congressional Medal of Honor Citation:
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a reconnaissance scout with Company A, in action against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces. In the early morning hours during Operation ROCK, Pfc. Johnson was a member of a 15-man reconnaissance patrol manning an observation post on Hill 146 overlooking the Quan Duc Valley deep in enemy controlled territory. They were attacked by a platoon-size hostile force employing automatic weapons, satchel charges and hand grenades. Suddenly, a hand grenade landed in the 3-man fighting hole occupied by Pfc. Johnson and 2 fellow marines. Realizing the inherent danger to his 2 comrades, he shouted a warning and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the explosive device. When the grenade exploded, Pfc. Johnson absorbed the tremendous impact of the blast and was killed instantly. His prompt and heroic act saved the life of 1 marine at the cost of his life and undoubtedly prevented the enemy from penetrating his sector of the patrol's perimeter. Pfc. Johnson's courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
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GREAT LAKES, Ill. – United States Navy Sailor Angela J. Wilkinson completed US Navy basic training on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Wilkinson completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety, shipboard and aircraft safety, and physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is “BattleStations 21.” This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet.
“BattleStations 21” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of “Honor, Courage and Commitments,” required to become a United States sailor.
Wilkinson is the daughter of Jenni Oberfeld of Potter Valley, Calif., and Mike Wilkinson of Lakeport, Calif. She's a 2011 graduate of Upper Lake High School, Upper Lake, Calif.
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