Veterans
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WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched its new "Returning Veterans" Web site – www.oefoif.va.gov – to welcome home veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, Veteran-centric Web site focusing on their needs and questions.
"VA is entering the world of Web 2.0, because that's where this generation of veterans is already communicating," said Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA's Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Health. "We're opening our doors to them virtually to let them know what they can expect when they step through our doors in reality."
The Web site will feature videos, veteran stories, and a blog where veterans are encouraged to post feedback.
The site also will restructure the traditional index-of-benefits format found on other VA
pages into question-based, categorized, and easily navigated links by topic. This will allow veterans to find benefits of interest easily and discover related benefits as they explore.
"We hope our returning Veterans find this site easy and helpful, but also engaging," Dr. Cross said. "As the site grows, we will be linking to veterans' blogs and highlighting more of their own stories from their own views. We are their VA, so we are eager to provide a forum for veterans to discuss their lives."
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The bill is the companion legislation to a measure introduced in the Senate by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT).
“The psychological toll that combat takes on our soldiers is not a new phenomenon – it was known as Shell Shock in World War I and by various other names throughout history,” said Rehberg a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Fortunately, modern medicine can identify and help treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder allowing the men and women who serve our country to put their lives back together. While on the Appropriations Committee, I have fought for PTSD treatment funding, but money can only solve part of the problem. Soldiers need in-person treatment to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.”
“At least one in five new veterans are experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or major depression, but there isn’t a system in place that can adequately address this crisis,” said Congressman Thompson. “This legislation will fill this void. It is a practical solution and has already been successfully tested in the field. We owe it to our brave men and women serving our country to make sure that they get the services they have earned, and I will do all I can do to get this bill passed into law.”
The Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009 creates new requirements for identification of PTSD among soldiers. Prior to deployment, a soldier would be interviewed in order to establish a baseline against which a subsequent interview upon return from a combat theater could be measured. By requiring these interviews to be timely and personal, the likelihood of identifying PTSD in order to begin treatment is dramatically increased.
“This legislation’s intensive face-to-face screening program will provide the military with a powerful tool to help our injured heroes get help for their post-traumatic stress injuries,” said Matt Kuntz, Montana’s executive director of The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Congressman Rehberg’s leadership is critical because he is in position to build a bipartisan coalition to help stop our military’s suicide epidemic.”
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The course is designed to train students in the removal, disassembly, inspection, and repair of aircraft turboprop and turboshaft engines with hydraulically operated propellers, controls, and accessories; also, received instruction in operating principles, engine change, adjustments and conditioning of turboprop and turboshaft engine systems, including electrical and ground safety practices and equipment fundamentals, and use of technical publications and proper documentation of maintenance forms.
Kennedy, a turboprop and shaft mechanic apprentice, is assigned to the 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz.
He is the son of Jacinda L. Frannisch of Kelseyville.
The airman is a 2007 graduate of Kelseyville High School.
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WASHINGTON, DC – W. Scott Gould, a retired naval reservist and senior executive with experience in the Federal government and the private sector, has taken the oath of office as the deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
"As a veteran, as a corporate and government leader known for his transformation management skills, and now, as VA's chief operating officer, Scott Gould will help me advance President Obama's vision for transforming the Department of Veterans Affairs," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "Together with the men and women of the VA, we will work with Veterans, VSOs, the Congress, and other stakeholders to serve those who have sacrificed for our country and their families."
As the number-two executive in the VA, Gould will oversee the day-to-day operation of the federal government's second-largest cabinet department, which provides health care to more than 1 million patients per week and benefits checks to about 3.7 million people monthly.
"I look forward to working with President Obama and Secretary Shinseki to serve our nation's veterans," Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott Gould said. "The key to transforming a large organization like the VA will be innovation and collaboration. I look forward to working with VA employees and stakeholders in transforming the agency. Under Secretary Shinseki's leadership we will become a Veteran-centric, results-oriented and forward-looking Department."
Secretary Shinseki noted that Gould possesses a unique set of skills in information technology, acquisition, budget, human resources and leading the modernization of large, complex organizations.
As a naval reservist, Gould served at sea aboard the guided missile destroyer Richard E. Byrd and was assistant professor of naval science at Rochester University. He was recalled to active duty for both operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom as a naval intelligence officer.
Gould recently served as vice president for public-sector strategy at IBM Global Business Services, where he also founded and led IBM's Global Leadership Initiative. Prior to IBM, he was chief executive officer of The O'Gara Co., a strategic advisory and investment services firm, and chief operating officer of Exolve, a technology services company.
Gould's previous service in the Federal government includes positions as the chief financial officer and assistant secretary for administration at the Commerce Department and, later, as deputy assistant secretary for finance and management at the Treasury Department. As a White House Fellow, he worked at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and in the Office of the White House Chief of Staff.
A fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Gould is a former member of the National Security Agency's Technical Advisory Group and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Overseers. He has been awarded the Department of Commerce Medal, the Treasury Medal and the Navy Meritorious Service Medal.
Gould is the coauthor of “The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service.” He holds an AB degree from Cornell University and a Masters degree in business administration and a Doctorate of Education, both from the University of Rochester.
Gould is married to Michèle A. Flournoy, and has three children.
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Dr. Kussman, who attained the rank of brigadier general while in the U.S. Army, has been with VA since 2000.
As Under Secretary for Health since 2007, Dr. Kussman has directed a health care system with an annual budget of approximately $40.2 billion, overseeing the delivery of care to more than 5.6 million Veterans.
VA, the nation's largest health care system, employs more than 231,000 health care professionals and support staff at more than 1,400 sites of care, including hospitals; community and facility-based clinics; nursing homes; domiciliaries; readjustment counseling centers, and various other facilities.
"I've appreciated the tremendous opportunity VA has given me to continue to serve those with whom I served while in uniform," said Kussman. "VA has a reputation for providing 'the best care anywhere,' and I hope I have helped to enhance that reputation."
In addition to its health care mission, VA is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research. More than 80,000 volunteers, 100,000
health profession trainees, and 25,000 affiliated medical faculty members are integral parts of VA's health care community.
A native of Troy, N.Y., Kussman earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Boston University, receiving his medical degree in 1968. In 1994, he earned a master's degree in management from Salve Regina University.
He is also a graduate of the Army War College and an honor graduate of the Command and General Staff College. He is board-certified in internal medicine and serves on the faculty of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.
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The study's authors, led by Dr. Ashish K. Jha of Harvard University, noted that VA's use of electronic health records has significantly enhanced the quality of patient care.
They also found that only 1.5 percent of U.S. hospitals have comprehensive electronic health records; adding VA hospitals to the analyses doubled that number.
"VA hospitals have used electronic health records for more than a decade with dramatic associated improvements in clinical quality," the study's authors wrote.
VA clinicians began using computerized patient records in the mid-1990s for everything from recording examinations by doctors to displaying results of lab tests and x-rays. Patient records are available 100 percent of the time to VA health care workers, compared to 60 percent when VA relied on paper records.
Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA's under secretary for health, said VA has "one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated electronic systems" for patient records in the nation.
"VA's electronic health record system has largely eliminated errors stemming from lost or incomplete medical records, making us one of the safest systems in the health care industry," Kussman said.
The authors of the NEJM article are the latest to praise VA for its technology and commitment to patient safety.
In 2006, VA received the prestigious "Innovations in American Government" Award from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government for its advanced electronic health records and performance measurement system.
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The gathering will be held at Saint Mary Immaculate Parish Hall, 801 N. Main St., Lakeport.
The potluck begins at 6 p.m., with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
Veterans of all eras, their families and friends, and the general public are cordially welcome to attend.
For more information about the group visit its Web site, www.vva951.org.
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LAKEPORT – Michelle Scott, general manager of the Lakeport Taco Bell, knew there had to be a way for the business to help support deployed troops.
That’s where her longtime friendship with Operation Tango Mike founder Ginny Craven came into play.
The two have known each other since elementary school and between them they came up with a plan to offer local patrons a great deal and an easy way to support troops.
“Tacos-4-Troops” will take place at the Lakeport Taco Bell from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 10.
Customers donating items for Operation Tango Mike troop care packages will receive coupons for free tacos. So, the old adage, “There ain't no such thing as a free lunch,”doesn’t hold true in Lake County. In these economic times, free is an unbelievable price!
Items needed for care packages include but are not limited to hygiene products, food items and entertainment items.
The most requested hygiene items include razors and shaving gel, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, foot and body powders, socks, lip balm, hand sanitizer and wet wipes.
Food items include nuts, jerky, tuna pouches (packed in water), trail mix, granola bars and snacks.
Needed entertainment items include puzzle books, CDs and DVDs (new or used), blank DVDs, CDs and small games.
There has also been a recent request from a specific unit, asking for help from Operation Tango Mike. The unit is deployed to Afghanistan and the troops are in immediate need of power strips with surge protectors, blank DVDs (RW), air fresheners (solid or stick-up type), coffee, wet wipes, and packing tape and extension cords. The deployed unit is from California and most of the soldiers are from Northern California, including some from Lake County.
Items may be donated during an April 10 visit to Taco Bell and coupons for free tacos will be given in exchange for the donations. Customers may conveniently support the troops and enjoy a free meal for doing so.
“Taco Bell is proud to be supporting our troops and happy to give our customers a great deal,” said Scott.
For further information please contact Ginny Craven at 707-349-2838 or
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SAN ANTONIO – Air Force Airman Zacharie N. Moe has 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.
He is the son of Chris and Kelly Moe of Kelseyville.
The airman is a 2008 graduate of Kelseyville High School.
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