Veterans
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The Army has released suicide data for the month of August.
During August, among active-duty soldiers, there were 16 potential suicides: three have been confirmed as suicides and 13 remain under investigation.
For July, the Army reported 26 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers: 13 have been confirmed as suicides and 13 remain under investigation.
For 2012, there have been 131 potential active-duty suicides: 80 have been confirmed as suicides and 51 remain under investigation.
Active-duty suicide number for 2011: 165 confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.
During August, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were nine potential suicides (five Army National Guard and four Army Reserve): none have been confirmed as suicide and nine remain under investigation.
For July, among that same group, the Army reported 12 potential suicides (nine Army National Guard and three Army Reserve); four have been confirmed as suicides and eight remain under investigation.
For 2012, there have been 80 potential not on active-duty suicides (49 Army National Guard and 31 Army Reserve): 59 have been confirmed as suicides and 21 remain under investigation.
Not on active-duty suicide numbers for 2011: 118 (82 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve) confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.
“The loss of any life is a tragedy, and this loss is preventable,” said Sergeant Major of the Army Ray Chandler. “As an organization, we’ve taken huge strides in providing our Soldiers, Department of Army Civilians and Family members the needed resources to aid in suicide prevention, but our work isn’t done. Army leaders will continue to do everything we can to reverse these trends.”
To that end, leaders throughout the Army are conducting suicide prevention training, resilience-building, and mentoring in observance of Army Suicide Stand Down Day.
Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org .
Suicide prevention training resources for Army families can be accessed at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/training_sub.asp?sub_cat=20 (requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials).
Information about Military OneSource is located athttp://www.militaryonesource.com or by dialing the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647 for those residing in the continental United States. Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource website for dialing instructions for their specific location.
The Defense Center for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DcoE) Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, via electronic mail at
The Web site for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is www.afsp.org/ , and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council site is found at www.sprc.org/index.asp .
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The Nov. 6 General Election is just around the corner, and the California Department of Veterans Affairs is coordinating with the California Secretary of State to encourage veterans, active duty military, employees and their families to vote.
“Veterans have protected our right to vote from the time this country was formed,” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “Men and women are standing the line to defend that right today, and we should all honor their sacrifice and service by voting on Nov. 6.”
The last day to register to vote in the General Election is Oct. 22.
Registration is easy. If you have a California Driver License, you can register online at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm .
Active military personnel who are California residents serving out of state or deployed overseas are encouraged to participate.
You may also register to vote at your County Elections Office. To find an office near you, visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_d.htm .
Polls will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registered voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, can vote by mail. To do so, complete and print an application found at www.sos.ca.gov/elections_m.htm .
Mail your application in time to arrive at your County Elections Office no later than Oct. 30.
Deployed military personnel should do so immediately so that their ballots can reach them and be returned in time to be counted.
For more information call, the Secretary of State’s voter hotline at 800-345-VOTE or visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-in-california .
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Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has announced that the first Armstrong-class Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) ship will be named Neil Armstrong.
Mabus named the future R/V Neil Armstrong (AGOR 27) to honor the memory of Neil Armstrong, best known for being the first man to walk on the moon. Armstrong was an aeronautics pioneer and explorer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) serving as an engineer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator.
Armstrong also served as a naval aviator flying nearly 80 combat missions during the Korean War.
“Neil Armstrong rightly belongs to the ages as the man who first walked on the moon. While he was a true pioneer of space exploration and science, he was also a combat-proven naval aviator,” said Mabus. “Naming this class of ships and this vessel after Neil Armstrong honors the memory of an extraordinary individual, but more importantly, it reminds us all to embrace the challenges of exploration and to never stop discovering.”
Armstrong’s widow, Carol, will serve as the ship’s sponsor.
The Armstrong-class AGOR ship will be a modern oceanographic research platform equipped with acoustic equipment capable of mapping the deepest parts of the oceans, and modular on-board laboratories that will provide the flexibility to meet a wide variety of oceanographic research challenges.
These make them capable of supporting a wide range of oceanographic research activities conducted by academic institutions and national laboratories.
Additionally, the research vessel will be outfitted with multi-drive, low-voltage diesel electric propulsion systems.
This upgraded system will maintain engine efficiency while lowering maintenance and fuel costs.
Armstrong-class AGOR ships will be 238 feet in length, have a beam length of 50 feet, and operate at more than 12 knots. AGOR 27 is currently under construction by Dakota Creek Industries Inc. in Anacortes, Wash.
Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342. For more news from secretary of the Navy public affairs, visit www.navy.mil/SECNAV .
For more information about Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research ships contact the Office of Naval Research public affairs at 703-696-5031 or visit www.onr.navy.mil .
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As part of the Department of Defense’s efforts to confront the crime of sexual assault in the military, the department announced improvements to prospective commander and senior enlisted training and a review of the initial military training environment in every service.
First, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has instituted higher standards for sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) training for pre-command training. These changes are the result of a review ordered by the secretary in January 2012.
The review found that while these leaders are receiving SAPR training, the department should take specific steps to improve its quality and consistency across the services.
Based on these findings, the secretary has directed the military services to:
- Develop and implement standardized core competencies, learning objectives, and methods for objectively assessing the effectiveness of SAPR programs.
- Provide a dedicated block of SAPR instruction that incorporates best practices including interactive instruction with vignettes, exercises, and classroom discussion.
- Provide a quick-reference SAPR “Commander’s Guide,” review in the classroom, that personnel can then use in subsequent leadership roles.
- Assess commanders' and senior enlisted leaders' understanding of the key SAPR concepts and skills and develop and implement refresher training to sustain skills and knowledge.
Secretary Panetta has placed a high priority on this issue and directed the military departments to report back to him on the development of these core competencies and assessment methods by Dec. 20, 2012, and that implementation of these measures start no later than March 30, 2013.
Second, Secretary Panetta has directed that each military department conduct a comprehensive assessment of all initial military training of enlisted personnel and commissioned officers to ensure a safe and secure environment.
This assessment will look across the services into several key areas including the selection, training, and oversight of basic training instructors and leaders who directly supervise initial military training for officers and enlisted personnel.
The study also will look at the instructor to student ratio, the ratio of leaders in the chain of command to instructors, and consider the potential benefits of increasing the number of female instructors.
In addition, the secretary has directed all of the military services to review their internal controls to identify and prevent inappropriate behavior throughout initial military training; to evaluate student accessibility to SAPR programs; the timing, contact and delivery of SAPR related training; and the timing and effectiveness of processes for gathering student feedback.
Secretary Panetta has directed the military departments to report back to him on findings and recommendations by Feb. 8, 2013.
Together, these reviews are part of a broad, multi-faceted effort to fundamentally change the way the department confronts sexual assault from prevention, investigation, victim care, and accountability.
The men and women of the U.S. military must be able to serve in an environment that is free from the threat of sexual assault. Service members and their families must feel secure enough to report this crime without fear of retribution and commanders must hold offenders appropriately accountable.
A copy of the full text of the Evaluation of Pre-Command Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Training report and Secretary Panetta’s directives are available at http://www.sapr.mil .
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved $28.4 million in grants to fund 38 projects in 25 states and the District of Columbia that will provide transitional housing to homeless veterans.
Among these 38 projects, 31 will provide temporary housing to homeless veterans with the goal that they will retain the residence as their own.
“As we drive toward our goal to end homelessness among veterans by 2015, VA continues to find innovative ways to permanently house veterans who were formerly homeless,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “Under President Obama’s leadership, we have made incredible strides in creating programs to aid these brave men and women who have served our nation so well.”
Thirty-one of the grants were awarded through VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program’s (GPD) “Transition in Place” model.
The program allows veterans the opportunity to take over payment of a lease instead of moving out after using VA services – substance use counseling, mental health services, job training and more.
Other VA programs require veterans living in transitional housing to move out after 24 months. A list of the grant recipients can be found at http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp .
GPD helps close gaps in available housing for the nation’s most vulnerable homeless veterans, including women with children, Indian tribal populations, and veterans with substance use and mental health issues.
Those receiving funding have undergone a rigorous review by teams of experts rating each application under objective criteria to ensure that those funded have the ability to provide the services described and a solid plan to get these veterans into housing with a high probability of obtaining residential stability and independent living.
“Securing permanent housing is a vital step in the journey of our homeless veterans,” said Dr. Susan Angell, executive director for VA’s Veterans Homeless Initiative. “This is the last piece of the puzzle, and it is crucial for them in continuing to lead independent lives.”
Community-based programs funded by GPD provide homeless veterans with support services and housing. GPD grants are offered annually as funding is available by VA’s National Homeless Program.
Lisa Pape, national director of homeless programs for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which oversees GPD, said VHA’s focus is creating and strengthening community services around the country so that homeless veterans get the support they need.
“Our focus is creating a team of community support – pairing a variety of services, such as mental health support, employment assistance and job training with the essential component of housing,” said Pape. “Whether it is aid in overcoming substance use or finding a job, a community helping hand is exactly what these Veterans need to lead a better quality of life.”
On a single night in 2011, a national count of homeless veterans totaled 67,495, 12 percent lower than 76,000 in 2010. As part of Obama and Shinseki’s five-year plan to eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015, VA has committed almost $1 billion to strengthen programs that prevent and treat the many issues that can lead to veteran homelessness.
These awards follow closely with a notice VA published asking interested organizations to submit a nonbinding letter of intent to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program to apply for initial and renewal supportive services grants by Sep. 28, 2012.
The SSVF Program in the first 10 months of operation has assisted more than 28,000 veterans and their families to prevent or rapidly end homelessness.
Letters of intent have no impact on the opportunity for entities to apply when funding availability is announced.
These letters of intent will help VA gauge interest in the SSVF program as it seeks to make access to SSVF services available throughout the country.
VA anticipates announcing a notice of funding availability in the new fiscal year.
Additional information can be obtained at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/08/23/2012-20761/letter-of-intent-to-apply-for-funding-available-under-the-supportive-services-for-veteran-families#h-5 .
To help a homeless veteran or veteran at risk of homelessness, refer them to the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, 1-877-4AID-VET, or direct them to www.va.gov/homeless .
The hotline connects homeless veterans, veterans at risk of becoming homeless and their families with the VA services and benefits they have earned.
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SAN ANTONIO – Air Force Airman Samantha R. Kennedy graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, 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.
Kennedy is the daughter of Jacinda Franusich of Kelseyville, Calif.
She is a 2009 graduate of Kelseyville High School.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved applications for all 45,000 slots available in fiscal year (FY) 2012 under the successful Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) and is in the process of approving applications for a total of 54,000 slots available in FY 2013.
“At VA, we know first-hand that veterans make exceptional employees, which is why this Administration has deployed a full-court press to connect veterans with good jobs,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “The surge of veterans applying for VRAP demonstrates this program’s importance to provide unemployed veterans the opportunity to find employment in high-demand fields.”
VRAP is a new training and education program for unemployed veterans who want to upgrade their skills for high-demand jobs.
The goal of VRAP is to train a total of 99,000 veterans over the next two years in more than 200 job skills that the Department of Labor (DOL) has determined are the most sought-after by employers.
The joint VA/DOL program is a provision of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which Congress passed and President Obama signed into law in November 2011.
The program allows qualifying veterans to receive up to 12 months of education assistance equal to the current full-time Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty rate of $1,473 per month. Starting Oct. 1, the rate will increase to $1546 per month.
To be eligible for VRAP, a veteran must:
- Be 35-60 years old, unemployed on the day of application, and not dishonorably discharged;
- Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment;
- Not be enrolled in a federal or state job-training program within the last 180 days; and
- Not receive VA compensation at the 100 percent rate due to individual unemployability (IU).
“We’re gratified that 45,000 unemployed veterans can begin the retraining they need to compete for in-demand jobs,” said VA Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “We’re going to maintain the momentum of our outreach to make sure we get the maximum of 54,000 veterans retrained in fiscal year 2013.”
Veterans approved for VRAP are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible and begin training full-time in a VA-approved program of study at their local community college or technical school.
The program of study must lead to an associate degree, a non-college degree, or a certificate for a high-demand occupation as defined by DOL.
Some of the high-demand job training programs veterans pursued in FY 2012 include- computer support specialist, general and operations manager, business operations specialist, and heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic and installer.
VRAP applications were received from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. The Top 10 states for veterans approved for training in the FY 2012 phase of VRAP are California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Virginia.
VRAP also attracted veterans internationally, with applications coming from veterans living in the Philippines, Canada, Japan, the Northern Mariana Islands, and areas of Europe and the Pacific where American military units are based.
Undersecretary Hickey explained that continued outreach on VRAP is particularly important because the program applies to a segment of the veteran population that may not have regular interaction with VA or stay informed about the benefits and opportunities for which they may qualify.
VRAP is one of many efforts that VA and the Administration are undertaking to connect veterans with employment.
VA has held major live and virtual hiring fairs, as well as connected veterans with career coaching and other career tools through the VA for Vets initiative. VA also has set a goal to increase veteran employment within the Department and has partnered with Joining Forces and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Veteran hiring.
Potential applicants can learn more about VRAP and apply online at www.benefits.va.gov/VOW , or call VA toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
Information about the Department of Labor’s programs for Veterans is available at www.dol.gov/vets .
Veterans can also visit the nearly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers across the nation, listed at www.servicelocator.org , for in-person employment assistance.
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WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), which oversees the delivery of disability compensation and other benefits to the nation’s veterans, processed over one million disability claims during fiscal year 2012, marking the third year in row VBA claims processors have exceeded the one million mark.
“We have made great strides, but we realize much work remains to be done to better serve Veterans,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “Too many veterans still wait too long. That’s unacceptable, and that is why VA has begun implementing a paperless, digital disability claims system – a lasting solution that will transform how we operate and eliminate the claims backlog.”
In August, VA had its most productive claims processing period in its history, completing a record 107,462 claims and surpassing the previous monthly record of 103,296 set in 2010.
This high level of production is accompanied by an increase in the overall accuracy of rating decisions, which has risen from 83 to 86 percent since September 2011, as determined by VA’s national quality assurance program.
While claims production is at historic highs, incoming disability claims have increased nearly 50 percent since 2008, outpacing VA’s current claims processing capacity.
“Our employees are working very hard to sustain this level of production,” said Hickey. “This is a testament to their dedication to meeting the increasing needs of our Veterans.”
VA’s goal is to process all disability claims within 125 days, at a 98 percent accuracy level, and eliminate the claims backlog in 2015.
This year, VBA is beginning a nationwide organizational transformation to increase its claims decision output by retooling procedures and deploying paperless data systems that will speed claims processing and improve quality.
All 56 VBA regional offices will be operating under the new organizational model by the end of 2013.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Would you like to savor a leisurely lunch while enjoying live music and boutique shopping? Would it be even better if your relaxing afternoon supported a worthy cause?
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, the Bruce Ranch Luncheon will give you the opportunity for all this and more. It will also be a great place to start your holiday shopping.
The luncheon, at 3718 Hendricks Road in Lakeport, will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch being served at 1:30 p.m.
The hostess, Naomi Bruce, invites guests to attend for some or all of the event.
Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St., Lakeport; Skin Fitness, 914 S. Main St., Lakeport; or by calling 707-272-9245.
Proceeds benefit Operation Tango Mike. The all-volunteer community effort sends monthly care packages to troops deployed to combat zones.
The proceeds from this event will assist in purchasing goods and paying shipping fees for the holiday care packages.
For further information regarding Operation Tango Mike, you may call 707-349-2838, e-mail
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