Nick from Ranger Up has just released the second in a series of four videos for Veterans on How to get a Job. This one focuses on the resume and is a “must-see” for any veterans who do not have extensive experience on resume writing.

Past You Served Radio guest and true Soldiers’ Soldier, GEN Peter Chiarelli retired today. As is said in this video clip he did do more than another other leader to help our soldiers, combat soldier suicides and help remove the stigma of PTS and PTSD from our ranks.

I don’t know who will be stepping in to fill his shoes but I hope they can live up to the task and the high bar GEN Chiarelli has set by his service. I have no doubt that he will continue to serve our country in other way and am excited to see where he will end up. He has done more than his fair share, but he will be missed in the ranks.

This was originally posted on bouhammer.com but in order to get the word out I am posting it here too.

SPREAD THE WORD!!

Banana Republic stores are doing a little something to honor our military and give them a break on clothes. If you are a military member, retired, veteran, or a military family member they are giving you 50% off of up to three full-price items through Sunday, January 22nd. Sorry for the late notice but tomorrow is the last day.

After that they are giving the same folks 15% off all items from January 23-31.

Please check out http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/info.do?cid=76923&mlink=5001,4470740,21&clink=4470740 to learn more.

Spread the word, tell your friends, family, family readiness groups and units about this awesome deal

The recently updated Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Directive-Type Memorandum (DTM) includes several major changes to streamline the process for wounded warriors.  The updated guidance should immediately help the Military Departments and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ensure Servicemembers and families experience the best possible disability evaluation system and delivery of benefits process.  The IDES is a process that is administered jointly by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the VA as  DoD uses IDES to determine a Servicemember’s fitness for duty.  If the Servicemember is found medically unfit for duty by DoD, then they are informed of the proposed VA disability rating before they leave the service so they know the approximate amount of compensation and benefits they will receive from the VA.  To read this article in full, please go to: http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/2012/01/11/revised-policy-streamlines-the-disability-evaluation-process-for-wounded-ill-and-injured-service-members/

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have announced that HUD will provide $2.4 million to public housing agencies to supply permanent housing and case management for homeless veterans in the U.S. The funding will support 435 vouchers in 18 communities. Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. For more information, visit VA’s website at: http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH.asp  or and the HUD-VASH Vouchers webpage at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/vash

This is way overdue but it is about time they do something.

President Obama has signed a law that within six months could make it easier for Servicemembers and their families to get through security checkpoints at major airports.  The Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act, signed by Obama on Tuesday, orders the Transportation Security Administration to come up with a plan to expedite security screening for Servicemembers traveling in uniform on official orders so they don’t have to remove their jackets, shoes, belts and medals.  Additionally, service members in uniform and their families could receive expedited screening at major airports that have special screening lanes for frequent travelers who have been prescreened by TSA.  However, any special relaxed screening procedures could be halted if there is a specific security threat regarding people in uniform.  To learn further about these TSA changes, please go to: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/01/military-faster-airport-security-law-010312w/

This is a great program that I never even thought about or considered as a need. I wonder how wide-spread this is or if it is just based on the time volunteered at each hospital.

The University of South Carolina is starting a new program to train social workers to assist the military, veterans and their families.  Spouses and children of the military may need mental health counseling, addiction treatment, help regarding behavioral health issues as well as transitional counseling, and these are areas where social workers can assist.  The program is in its final stages of academic approval where it entails an 18-hour graduate level certificate program that is part of the college’s two-year master’s degree program. Four courses will be available by the summer.  Several other colleges and universities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Montana and Texas are also looking at expanding training for social workers, as well as Southern California, who seems to be the furthest along. To get a better understanding of this program, please click: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/11/ap-course-trains-social-workers-on-military-issues-112611/

Veterans now have on-demand access and can download official data about their military training and experience, which can be used to help them find jobs and continue their careers. Their service data can be uploaded to job search and networking sites to help identify employment opportunities.

“Savvy employers look to Veterans for the excellent training and unique experiences they bring to the civilian workforce,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Now, Veterans can have state-of-the-art access to official data about their military service that we will help them land meaningful jobs.”

Starting Dec. 3, Veterans can use the VA’s online My HealtheVet portal (www.myhealth.va.gov) to see official information about their military service, including deployment data, in-uniform experience, and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes which define the type of work performed and skills learned during their tour of duty. Veterans can electronically download that information to their personal computers by using an enhanced version of the Blue Button. This new capability is the latest addition to a growing suite of job-hunting tools announced by President Obama on Nov. 14.

“The President and Secretary Shinseki have shown real leadership on Veterans Employment,” said Dr. Peter L. Levin, chief technology officer at Veterans Affairs. “The White House has been instrumental in guiding this public/private initiative to meet the needs of Veterans, and with promoting web-based services that help Veterans find jobs. With their MOS codes, Veterans can more easily substantiate that they possess the skills needed by employers.”

Several industry partners have signed up to create — or have even already implemented — third-party applications that can read military specialties or classification codes in Blue Button format, automatically translate those codes into civilian descriptions, and identify openings and other resources for Veterans, Levin added.

Military job information available to Veterans under this program will depend on discharge or retirement date.

· All Veterans discharged after 1980 will see military specialty or classification codes;

· Some Veterans discharged between1975-1980 will see military specialty or classification codes;

· Some Gulf War Veterans may see combat pay and deployment periods;

· All Post-9/11 Veterans will see combat pay and deployment periods

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access their military service information through My HealtheVet. Veterans who have not yet signed up for My HealtheVet access can register for a My HealtheVet account at any VA medical center by completing a one-time identity-verification process to help assure their data privacy.

More than 200 programs are available to help U.S. military members and their psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues, but better coordination is needed, according to a new RAND Corporation  study.  The RAND project compiled the first comprehensive catalog of programs sponsored or funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) to aid military members and their families with psychological health or traumatic brain injury issues.  The study identified 211 programs, but found no single source within the DoD or service branches that maintains a list of these programs or tracks new program development.  RAND researchers feels that the DoD needs a better assessment of how many Servicemembers and family members require services, what types of assistance they need and where they are located.  Additionally, the department needs to identify whether the programs are meeting these needs, to improve current programs and to develop new ones.  To read this article in full check out: http://www.dcoe.health.mil/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2675