News & Announcements

Congrats to graduating veteran seniors!

If you are walking in this weekends graduation please stop by the veteran's oasis in Student Union room 224 to relax and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

Student Challenge Course Facilitator Job with Student Activities

If you are interested in a student job next semester please check out this opportunity within Student Activities.

Library to offer Veterans research assistance this Thursday!

Hereâs a special welcome to UConn student Vets to join UConn librarians for lunch Thursday, April 18 at noon to 1:30 for free pizza, soda, and research tools. Come to Homer Babbidge Library staff lounge, Plaza Level.

Consider this a POWER Lunch---pick up some new research techniques while you eat!
Bring your own laptop to set up links on the spot, if you can.
Ask at the iDesk, if you canât find us!
Drop in, but come early while the pizza is HOT!

Questions?
Contact Jane Recchio at 486.6020 or jane.recchio@lib.uconn.edu

Troops Package Drive Today

The Veteran Students Organization and Mu Sigma Upsilon will be hosting a package drive for troops deployed overseas today in the Student Union. Bring donations to Student Union Room 303 or come buy a box of Girl Scout Cookies to send.

Google Student Veterans Summit Scholarship

Google Student Veterans Summit

Google is thrilled to announce the Google Student Veterans Summit in Mountain View, CA on July 15 and 16. The Summit will include a professional development curriculum geared towards transitioning into the workplace, providing networking opportunities with Googleâs Veteran community and exposure to Googleâs unique culture.

Eligible students are able to apply now through Google's Scholarships & Programs site. All applicants will need to submit a general application, resume and two short essays. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 26, 2013 at midnight PST.

Questions about the program can be directed to studentveterans@google.com.

Congress saved Tuition Assistance for all services but Coast Guard

Congress has voted to restore the militaryâs tuition assistance program but has left the Coast Guard behind.

The 2013 government funding bill passed Thursday by the House and now on its way to the White House ordered the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to keep paying tuition assistance through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Nuclear Security Protection Summer Jon

Job posting seeking UConn student veterans for summer employment. 10-12 weeks, 40 hrs a week at $14-17$/hour. If you are interested please email/message me ASAP as they are looking at filling this in the next few days and specifically want one of you. This is a good opportunity for any of you that will not be taking summer classes and therefore not recieving the stipend yet are looking for summer employment.
Employer: Dominion
Job: Nuclear Protection Services
Summary:
The qualified candidate will work in the Protection Services and Emergency Preparedness department primarily supporting the fleet Security and Safety Program as well as other fleet wide initiatives. Work will include travel to Dominionâs nuclear sites for support of Security activities. This individual will primarily work with Protection Services personnel on established initiatives to improve fleet wide consistency as well as . Work will include use of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Power Point). In addition, this person will be assigned ancillary duties as the need arises for Security, Safety, Access Services, and Emergency Preparedness.

European troop cuts may be deeper than planned

The size of the U.S. militaryâs footprint in Europe could continue to shrink, the head of U.S. European Command said on Tuesday.

At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had 450,000 troops and more than 1,200 bases in Europe, Adm. James Stavridis told lawmakers. Since then, the U.S. military has reduced its presence by 85 percent.

âWe could conceivably over time draw down a bit further,â Stavridis testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The Army plans to inactivate V Corps and the 172nd Brigade Combat Team in Germany this year and withdraw about 2,500 âenabling forcesâ and their equipment in the future, Stavridis said in his written testimony. The Air Force also plans to deactivate an A-10 squadron and an air control squadron.

Former sailor writes names of OEF casualties

White, a former reserve intelligence specialist first class, deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 as an individual augmentee. Back home again, he walked by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and wondered to himself, âWhat will the Afghanistan monument look like?â

Free Pizza - Health and Wellness talk today

We will have a speaker today in the Oasis discussing student health and wellness over free pizza and refreshments. Please stop by between 1130-1230pm!

Lawmaker: Fund tuition assistance, not Egypt

A Pennsylvania lawmaker proposed saving the militaryâs tuition assistance program by cutting foreign aid to Egypt.

The effort has almost no chance of success, at least not soon enough to make a difference before next year in the fate of the education program.

Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., introduced HR 1039 on Monday, when only the Army and Marine Corps had announced they were canceling tuition assistance because of budget cuts resulting from sequestration. The Coast Guard and Air Force have since announced that they also are ceasing new tuition assistance agreements for the rest of this fiscal year.

Senate Committee leaders oppose rank of UAV/Cyber Medal

The big guns have now rolled out to shoot down Pentagon plans for a new medal for drone operators that would rank ahead of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart awards for troops who see direct combat.

The top Democrat and top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee have joined an increasingly loud chorus of current and former service members opposed to where the new Distinguished Warfare Medal sits in the order of precedence.

They are asking Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam combat veteran, to reconsider ranking of the medal approved by his predecessor, Leon Panetta.

UConn Veteran Students Spring Social

The Oasis has put together a Spring social for our Storrs campus veteran students and their families for April 5th from 2-4pm! The Student Union gameroom will be open for unlimited play for veteran students and their families along with free pizza and refreshments.

If you plan to attend please email huskyveterans@uconn.edu and indicate your attendance and if you will be bringing guests.

Starting a Business as a Military Veteran

Just a friendly reminder, we are just over a week out from our first Boots to Business program! It is on Saturday, March 9th & 16th at the downtown Hartford campus.

UConn, the SBA, and the Wal-mart Foundation have teamed up to bring entrepreneurship education to veterans and their families in our state.

We will be holding a series of three, 2-day seminars at various UConn campuses. The first is coming up at the downtown Hartford Graduate Business Learning Center on Saturday March 9th and March 16th.

Please help me in getting the word out to Connecticut veterans who may want to take advantage of this opportunity!

Thanks

semper fi

Mike Zacchea

USMC 3 star to retired CNO: 'Where's the beef?'

The Marine Corpsâ three-star deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs questioned on Wednesday the analysis behind a new report suggesting the service should cut another 10,000 Marines, bluntly asking, âWhereâs the beef?â

Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead told Marine Corps Times that retired Adm. Gary Roughhead, who retired as chief of naval operations in late 2011, is entitled to his opinion, but the service has done significant analysis to understand the U.S.âs national security needs and determined its end strength should be 182,100 active-duty personnel.

First lady presses governor on veterans' jobs

First lady Michelle Obama on Monday challenged governors to make it easier for military personnel to transfer their skills to civilian jobs as they return home from Afghanistan and other far-flung posts.

âWhile this time of war may be ending, the truth is our responsibility to our troops and their families will really just be ramping up,â Mrs. Obama told governors during an event at the White House.

Washington Failing military, Legion leader says

The head of the nationâs largest veteransâ group said Tuesday that Washington is failing troops and veterans.

Army veteran James Koutz of Boonville, Ind., national commander of the American Legion, criticized politicians for using the defense budget and service members as pawns in a battle over deficit reduction and spending priorities.

Veterans Oasis Meeting

We will be having a meeting in the Veterans Oasis within the Student Union on Friday, 2/22/23 at noon. We will be covering some new opportunities for veterans and updates within the community.

VA switching to electronic only payments

If you are receiving your Federal benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by paper check, you will need to switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. You can receive your benefits electronically in one of two ways: (1) by direct deposit or (2) by prepaid debit card where the U.S. Treasury deposits your benefits directly to a debit card. This is an option if you do not have a bank account and do not want to open one. You can request a debit card by calling (800) 333-1795 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm ET). If you have questions, call the Go Direct Helpline at (800) 333-1795.

Veterans community housing on campus 2013-2014

If you will be living on campus in the 2013-2014 academic year and would be interested in living with others who have served in the military please email the contact below no later than Feb. 27th 2013.

HuskyVeterans@UConn.edu

VA grants burial rights for same sex couples

The Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to allow the same-sex spouse of a member of the military to be buried in a U.S. national cemetery.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki granted a waiver of department policy to allow the burial of Nancy Lynchildâs ashes, the agency said in a statement Thursday. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who called Shinseki last month to lobby for the action, said the Oregon couple will become the first same-sex couple buried together in a national military cemetery. The VA was trying to determine if that was true.

Pat Tillman Military Scholarship Open

The Pat Tilman Foundation's Military Scholars program is currently accepting applications until Feb. 15th. Open to veterans and active duty, the scholarship provides a variety of financial and networking benefits that would benefit any veteran.

Please visit the website for complete information.

Veterans community housing available Fall 2013!

Email: Kevin.Evringham@UConn.edu

Exam no longer needed for some diabled vets

A small step was taken Thursday to ease the process of receiving veteransâ disability compensation.

In a modest change that could end up helping up to 40 percent of disability claimants, the Veterans Affairs Department is eliminating the need for an in-person medical examination if there is enough evidence of a service-connected disability in a veteranâs files or available over the phone.

Veteran Students Organization First Meeting of Semester

The UConn Storrs Veteran Students Organization (VSO) will have its first meeting of the semester today at 11am in the Oasis.

Please stop by the Veterans Oasis in Student Union Room 214 to see whats happening this semester!

Justice Department goes to bat in Vet's USERRA suit

The Justice Department has filed suit against the sheriff in Jerome County, Idaho, charging violations of the reemployment rights of an Army National Guard soldier who re-injured his knee on a weekend training drill.

Mervin Jones first injured the knee in Iraq in 2004, according to the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boise, Idaho. The complaint alleges that the sheriffâs office fired Jones on April 10, 2009, two weeks after a second knee surgery required after he re-injured his knee during a weekend training drill in 2008.

SecDef nominee Hagel lays out stand on Iran

President Obamaâs pick for defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, is meeting with senior Pentagon staff to try to set the record straight about his stand on Iran, saying he backs strong international sanctions against Tehran and believes all options, including military action, should be on the table, defense officials said Wednesday.

In private meetings with top military and defense leaders and staff this week, Hagel sought to counter critics who say he is soft on Iran and would be the most antagonistic secretary toward Israel. Senior defense officials who have met with Hagel said he told them that his views on Iran have been misrepresented and that he has long backed international sanctions.

Big push in Congress for gun control

Supporters of tighter federal gun restrictions moved quickly Thursday, the first day of the new Congress, introducing bills in the wake of last monthâs deadly mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., that will set up a long and contentious fight over the shape of the nationâs gun laws.

Obama signs defense bill but blasts parts of it

President Obama has signed into law a $633.3 billion defense policy bill but said he is not happy the measure blocks proposed increases in Tricare health insurance fees.

The result, he said, could be deeper cuts in the number of military personnel.

In a statement after signing the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 on Wednesday, Obama said he supports the âvast majorityâ of provisions in the 680-page bill, but âI do not agree with them all.â

Generals: Get real and cut Pentagon spending

A strong U.S. military is indispensable to our national security. As retired military officers, we have dedicated our careers, on active duty and retired, to that end. We have been involved in crafting and teaching national security strategy, of which military strategy and use of military force are vital components.

Veteransâ unemployment climbs in November

The jobless rate for veterans of all generations climbed slightly to 6.6 percent in November, up from 6.3 percent in October, while the unemployment rate remained 10 percent for post-9/11 veterans, the Labor Department reported Friday.

UConnâs Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Receives Grant from NBC Connecticut

UConnâs Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) has received a $50,000 grant from NBC Connecticut.
The grant will be used to expand the program, which equips veterans with the knowledge, skills, and support to start and grow their own businesses and attain economic independence.

Fiscal cliff offers hint at more defense cuts

House Republicansâ âfiscal cliffâ counteroffer to President Obama hints at billions of dollars in military cuts on top of the nearly $500 billion that the White House and Congress backed last year, and even the fiercest defense hawks acknowledge that the Pentagon faces another financial hit.

Legionnaireâs probe at Pittsburgh VA widening

The investigation into Legionnaireâs disease at Pittsburghâs Veterans Affairs hospitals has widened to claims that some union workers have gotten sick there and the death of a man in October.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have previously been investigating five cases reported last month, including one patient who died.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Beyond

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been described as the signature injuries of Veterans of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this talk, participants will learn about the scope of these problems and the symptoms, assessment methods, and current available treatments for these two disorders. The speaker will also discuss current research being conducted at the Yale/VA Clinical Neurosciences Division for the National Center for PTSD that attempts to understand these disorders and their impact on Veterans and current service members.

Department of Psychology
University of Hartford
East Hall 220
November 30, 2012
1:30 pm â 3:00 pm

Panel OKs Dunford to lead Afghanistan war

The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved President Obamaâs choice to be the top commander in Afghanistan.

Senate OKs Pentagon green energy investment

The Senate on Wednesday gave the green light to the Pentagonâs investment in green energy.

By a vote of 62-37 on Wednesday, the Senate backed an amendment that would delete a provision in the defense bill prohibiting the military from spending money on alternative fuels if the cost exceeded traditional fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. The Pentagon has opposed the provision that a sharply divided Senate Armed Services Committee added in May.

GAO Says US Jails Could Handle Gitmo Detainees

The controversial detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could be closed and the 166 detainees being held there could be absorbed safely by U.S. prisons, a government report says.

Many of the detainees are accused of plotting terrorist acts against the United States.

Female military members sue to serve in combat

Four female service members filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat, hoping the move will add pressure to drop the policy just as officials are gauging the effect that lifting the prohibition will have on morale.

USMC changes fitness requirement for women

Female Marines soon will be required to perform pull-ups, just like male Marines do, as part of their annual physical fitness tests, the Marine Corpsâ top general announced Tuesday

VA Releases New PSA Targeting Women Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a new public service announcement (PSA) to let women Veterans know theyâve come to âThe Right Placeâ when seeking VA health care.

Study provides more clues to Gulf War illness

Gulf War illness, the series of symptoms ranging from headaches to memory loss to chronic fatigue that plagues one of four veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf war, is due to damage to the autonomic nervous system, a study released Monday shows.

USS Lilberty Flag and Story

Ernie Gallo worked for the CIA for twenty-nine years after serving on the USS LIBERTY as a Second Class Petty Officer and Communications Technician. Ernie also served as a President of the USS Liberty Veterans Association and is the founder of the Liberty Foundation. Ernie provided this reporter and candidate for US HOUSE hard copies of written statements from some of the LIBERTY survivors and I begin with the first written on Saturday, 10 June 1967 on stationary imprinted with âUSS LIBERTY AGTR-5â from Ensign John, from which I excerpt:

A 237th Birthday look at the Marine Corps Memorial

The United States Marine Corps celebrates its 237th birthday on Saturday, November 10, with traditional cake-cutting ceremonies and formal events scheduled in all parts of the globe.

To mark the occasion, Stars and Stripes offers a look at one of the Corps' most hallowed symbols â the Marine Corps War Memorial at Arlington, Va., which depicts the famed flag-raising on Mount Suribachi during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. Two noted Marine veterans â Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Harvey "Barney" Barnum and former Marine Corps Commandant Gen. P.X. Kelley â talk about the memorial and the hard-fought battle that inspired it.

Fake war hereo gets 7 year sentence

A western Missouri man who lied about being a disabled war hero to get federal contracts has been sentenced to prison in Kansas.

Tuesday could mean more Vets in Congress

For the first time since 1980, the number of veterans in Congress could increase as a result of Tuesdayâs election.

Seth Lynn, director of the Center for Second Service at George Washington University, said the combination of 82 incumbent veterans running for re-election in the House of Representatives, and prospects for additional veterans winning their first election, would result in a big bump in representation.

There are 107 veteran challengers facing election on Tuesday, 60 Republicans and 47 Democrats, Lynn said.

Interactive map for Arlington cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery on Monday made available to the public a massive electronic database detailing the gravesites of the roughly 400,000 people buried there.

Photo of WWII vet casting vote captures hearts

A photograph of a 93-year-old World War II veteran casting what will likely be his last ballot has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of Internet users

VA completes over 1 million compensation claims in 2012

âWe have made great strides, but we realize much work remains to be done to better serve Veterans,â said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. âToo many Veterans still wait too long. Thatâs unacceptable, and that is why VA has begun implementing a paperless, digital disability claims systemâ a lasting solution that will transform how we operate and eliminate the claims backlog.â

The Case for Common Cammies

The U.S. military developed at least seven new combat utility uniforms over the past decade as one service after the other set out to create its own unique designs...

Unemployment down last month for Veterans

The Department of Labor is announcing a drop in the jobless rate amoung Veterans last month.

First Phase of VRAP filled by VA

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.

Joint Chiefs Chairman seeks dialogue about Vets

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday he wants to increase the national conversation about war veterans and how theyâre treated and regarded in society.

VA's HR Chief resigns amid conference scandal

Two million dollar conference scandal results in Veterans Affairs HR Chief resignation.

Residential Life Offers Student Veterans the Option to Request Other Student Veterans as Roommates

Student veterans who elect to live in on-campus housing may request to live with a fellow student veteran or an older student. Student veterans may indicate this preference by going to their profile at the MyHousing web page at http://reslife.uconn.edu/myhousing. Questions? Contact Residential Life at 860.486.2926.

AMvets Urges Affirmative Action Status for Veterans

Adding veterans to affirmative action laws would improve protections against both overt and subconscious hiring discrimination.

A Job Search Tool Kit for Veterans

The Veterans Career Transition Management System is a tool kit that can be utilized by transitioning military personnel and veterans to perform a proper job search.

Student Veterans Oasis open for Business

The Oasis is a haven for veterans who need time to network and unwind among people who have had similar experiences.

Student Veterans and Sept. 11

My main reason for joining the military was so I could get the college benefits, Leys says. âIt changed after 9/11. It made me proud to be in the military and go to war, and all of the things that came with it.â

What came with it included roadside bomb explosions and grenade attacks on her military compound -- but also a small community of friends with whom she can talk about these things.

Military sexual trauma is commonplace, women vets say

That is the ugly truth about military sexual trauma, or MST its prevalence in the military, says Dr. Lori Katz, director of the Womens Mental Health Center at the Long Beach V.A.

U.S. Military Marks First Fatality-Free Month in Iraq Since Start of War

A remarkable thing happened in Iraq in August. Not a single one of the 48,000 U.S. troops stationed there died.

It was first fatality-free month for Americans since the war began in 2003.

August deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan

August has been the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the conflict began nearly 10 years ago.
Sixty-six American troops have died this month, topping July 2010 when 65 troops died, according to a CNN tally.

Helping the Homeless with Stand Down events

Stand Downs provide services to homeless Veterans in need such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits

Man believed to be last Vietnam-era draftee set to retire after 39 years

On April 18, 1972, Jeff Mellinger donned a military uniform and prepared for service. And he's been doing it ever since.

Soldier leaves legacy much larger than being gay

COP Wilfahrt sits 6 kilometers from Kandahar. To his buddies, it is not named for a gay soldier, but for one who fought with valor.

June Was Deadliest Month for U.S. in Iraq Since 2008

Three more American soldiers were killed in late June, the United States military announced on Thursday, bringing the combat-related deaths for United States forces in Iraq to a monthly toll not seen since 2008.

Female Special Operators Now in Combat

Army Special Operations Command has deployed its first teams of female Soldiers assigned to commando units in Afghanistan.

DoD reports the deaths of six soldiers in Afghanistan

They died May 26 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment,

159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:

1st Lt. John M. Runkle, 27, of West Salem, Ohio;
Staff Sgt. Edward D. Mills Jr., 29, of New Castle, Pa.;
Staff Sgt. Ergin V. Osman, 35, of Jacksonville, N.C.;
Sgt. Thomas A. Bohall, 25, of Bel Aire, Kan.;
Sgt. Louie A. Ramos Velazquez, 39, of Camuy, Puerto Rico; and
Spc. Adam J. Patton, 21, of Port Orchard, Wash.

Honor a Connecticut Veteran for Memorial Day

Currently, there is no place in Connecticut where all of the names of state vets are located in one place. That is soon to change, and you can help it happen. For a $1 donation, you may nominate a friend or loved one who has served in the military to be included on the memorial.

Innovative Boston Program to Help Paralyzed Veterans Secure Good Jobs and Careers in a Tough Economy

With the national unemployment rate for veterans with severe disabilities at 85 percent, a Boston careers program aims to make a difference, helping those who were seriously injured secure good jobs and careers in a tough economy.

Troops in Mideast Face Breathing Ills

Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher rate of debilitating respiratory illness than those deployed elsewhere, according to a new study that bolsters concerns among some medical professionals and members of Congress about the potential harm to troops from toxic chemicals and dust in the Middle East.

NH Veterans Home to get $4.3 million for upgrades

The Department of Veterans Affairs says the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton is going to get $4.3 million to pay for a variety of improvements.

SEAL sleuths expose those who've faked service

"There were about 500 SEALs that operated in Vietnam, and I have met all 20,000 of them," joked Steve Waterman, a retired Navy diver from South Thomaston.

WARTORN: A Special Free Screening and Veteran Panel Discussion

Friday, May 20, 2011, 1pm - 3:30pm

UConn Waterbury, Multipurpose Room

Through a partnership with HBO Documentary Films the OLLI at UConn program is proud to present a free screening of the HBO documentary âWartorn 1861-2010.â This film chronicles the history of military veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder from the time of the Civil War through today. Immediately following the screening, there will be a panel of veterans from a variety of past and present military conflicts

Three ways to register for this event!

203-236-9924 or lucien.lafreniere@uconn.edu

Troops surprised, relieved over bin Laden's death

Servicemembers around the world react to the news that 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden had been killed.

Soldiers with mental illness more often get PTSD

Preexisting mental health problems could be setting soldiers up for posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, when they return from the battlefield, U.S. Navy researchers said Monday.

Dodgers to provide free tickets to military members during month of May

Hall of Fame Manager and Army veteran Tommy Lasorda extends offer to the armed forces and thanks them for their service

Worldwide travel advisory issued for U.S. citizens overseas

The State Department issued a worldwide advisory to U.S. citizens traveling and living abroad about the potential for anti-American violence in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Veterans House closed. Vets OASIS under construction

Veterans House has been closed and converted into housing for incoming students due to a larger than expected incoming class. A veterans OASIS is currently under construction in the Student Union and will open in the Fall 2011 semester. For more information contact Paul Gaines, Jr., at 860.486.1973

Vietnam veteran walking 2,300 miles to thank comrades in arms

Since April 4, the Vietnam War-era Navy veteran has treaded 260-plus miles of U.S. 1, walking north from Key West and bound for Fort Kent, Maine.

Local VFW posts look to diversify

The VFW is not just a place with a bunch of guys drinking beer, It is a place to interface with the community, work with charities and get help with the (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). It can also be cathartic for younger veterans to talk to people who you know have gone through the same thing you are going through.

Is security of the troops risked by iPods?

When we talk about not wanting to be tracked by the iPhone, we do it because we like to have our privacy secure. When the owner of an iPhone is in the military, we should be asking if this is putting his or her life at risk.

Taliban prison break might lead to setback

The Taliban prison break on 25 APRIL that freed 500 fighters from the largest prison in southern Afghanistan suggested that the insurgents remained formidabledespite recent setbacks. The escape and the escapees could have a tangible effect on both the spring fighting season and political efforts to get some Taliban to lay down their arms.

Teen succeeds in recording Arlington graves

When 17-year-old Ricky Gilleland heard about the mismanaged gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, he said he can fix that. He did, by creating a digitized record of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans buried in the cemetery.

More Marines eligible to receive Purple Heart for TBI

It is no longer necessary for Marines suffering from mild traumatic brain injuries to have been knocked unconscious to qualify for a Purple Heart, a retroactive change that could affect thousands of troops.

Pendleton Marines turn the tide in the "Fallujah of Afghanistan"

In October, the Camp Pendleton unit was dropped into the deadliest area of the country for international troops. Their ensuing battle for Sangin extracted a grim toll from their ranks, nearly one in four wounded or killed, most in the first three months. The result had been a dramatic turnaround. The Marines captured or drove away most of the Taliban that called that place home. And in doing so, they linked northern Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces.

Dishonored Americans: All of Us When A Vet Is Left Homeless

Tammy Duckworth was a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in 2004 when she lost both legs and the partial use of one arm in combat. Now, she's assistant secretary of veterans affairs in D.C.,"We are all dishonored when a veteran sleeps on the same street he or she defended," Duckworth said.

One big question haunts Marine's suicide: Why?

Hunt's parents and best friend Wood say the military needs to work as hard at getting the veterans readjusted and reintegrated back home after the war as it does training them before deployment

Aggressive Marine tactics thin enemy ranks

"We got a radio intercept yesterday," Lt. Garcia said. "Some Talib leaders in Pakistan were chewing out the local fighters for quitting. The locals yelled back, 'Marines run toward our bullets.'"

Life After Iraq: 10 Lessons on Transitioning Out of the Military

Don Gomez is an Iraq war veteran and member of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2003 and 2005. You can follow him on Twitter @dongomezjr.

The Graffiti of War

The Graffiti of War aims to bring the reality of war to the civilian populace that remains here on American soil, in comfort and safety.

Army band brings smiles to faces of earthquake evacuees

Fifteen members of the Camp Zama-based 296th Army Band have been in Miyagi Prefecture for the past two weeks putting smiles on the faces of people whose homes were damaged or destroyed in last monthâs disaster.

Veterans Field Guide

Most VA services will still be available. However, it is important that you know what has been impacted. For the full list of what will be available and what will be suspended, check out the Veterans Field Guide.

Troops clearing way for school to reopen in tsunami-stricken area

Sixty Marines from Camp Fuji and Okinawa and 20 soldiers from Camp Zama are involved in the cleanup alongside several dozen Japanese troops.

Veterans Still Affected by Increasing Problems, Often Ignored

Veterans for Change would like to bring to your attention the ever-increasing problems affecting veterans and their families every day.

Connecticut soldier killed in firefight in Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Frank Adamski III, 26, A Plainfield native, died Tuesday from wounds he suffered in the firefight in Konar province, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.