-(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Atlanta VA Medical Center will host a “Stand Down” for homeless veterans in the greater Atlanta metro area. Many of the activities for this event are made possible by the dedication and generosity of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (MOPHSF).
“Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.”
On 27 September 2010, the MOPHSF staged its 15th annual “Play it Again Pete” golf tournament at the Northwood Country Club to benefit the Metro Atlanta Homeless Veterans Program. Named in honor of Pete Wheeler, who for 61 years has been the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the State of Georgia, this year’s event raised $63,850 to assist the Atlanta VA Medical Center in the conduct of their homeless veteran program. For the past 10 years, the man behind the scenes in bringing this wonderful event to life has been James Randles, a Past National Commander of the MOPH and Board Director of the Service Foundation. Randles is a combat wounded veteran of the Vietnam War and a Decatur resident. Assisting in the planning and promotion has been Dr. Ken Heard, himself a physician at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.
According to Randles, “There are over 8,000 homeless veterans in the Atlanta area. The proceeds from this event will help many veterans who might not otherwise be able to help themselves, be able to re-establish themselves through the resources and support of many businesses, corporations, and individuals in the Atlanta.”
The organization now known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.," (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's military history. Most importantly, through veteran service, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Through the VAVS program, MOPH volunteers selflessly provide assistance to hospitalized veterans at VA medical facilities and State Veterans Homes.
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Showing posts with label atlanta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atlanta. Show all posts
18 October 2010
06 November 2009
Clayton State Veterans Day Events… Nov. 11, Nov. 12
Clayton State University will be celebrating Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov.11 and Thursday, Nov.12 with several events and displays.
The University's tribute to veterans will begin on Nov. 11 with an outdoor ceremony in the Lawson Amphitheater, adjacent ot Swan Lake on the Clayton State campus. The ceremony will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and will include a “Posting of Colors” by the Clayton State ROTC program, which will provide the Color Guard and music for the ceremony. Clayton State Assistant Professor of Marketing Dr. David Furman, a veteran, will provide the keynote address.
Also on Nov. 11, a veterans reception/mixer will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the James M. Baker Center. The public is invited, including all local VFW groups, who will be honored guests. The Clayton State ROTC program and the Clayton State Student Veterans Association (SVA) will have information tables set up on Main Street outside of the reception/mixer.
At the same time, and running until 6 p.m., on Main Street in the Baker Center, an Appreciation Banner will be available for everyone to write messages of gratitude for veterans both on and off campus. The Appreciation Banner will be on three tables set up on Main Street. The Appreciation Banner will be available through Thursday, Nov. 12. There will also be war memorabilia displays on Main Street, contributed by faculty and VFW members.
At 6 p.m. in the ballroom of the Student Activity Center, students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to come out and learn to swing dance.
The displays, including the Appreciation Banner and the ROTC and SVA displays, will continue on Main Street through 2 p.m. on Nov. 12. AT the conclusion of the displays, the Appreciation Banner will be rolled up and delivered to the VA Hospital/Hospice. In addition, the SVA will hold a prize drawing for a dozen give-a-ways at 2 p.m.
A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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The University's tribute to veterans will begin on Nov. 11 with an outdoor ceremony in the Lawson Amphitheater, adjacent ot Swan Lake on the Clayton State campus. The ceremony will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and will include a “Posting of Colors” by the Clayton State ROTC program, which will provide the Color Guard and music for the ceremony. Clayton State Assistant Professor of Marketing Dr. David Furman, a veteran, will provide the keynote address.
Also on Nov. 11, a veterans reception/mixer will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the James M. Baker Center. The public is invited, including all local VFW groups, who will be honored guests. The Clayton State ROTC program and the Clayton State Student Veterans Association (SVA) will have information tables set up on Main Street outside of the reception/mixer.
At the same time, and running until 6 p.m., on Main Street in the Baker Center, an Appreciation Banner will be available for everyone to write messages of gratitude for veterans both on and off campus. The Appreciation Banner will be on three tables set up on Main Street. The Appreciation Banner will be available through Thursday, Nov. 12. There will also be war memorabilia displays on Main Street, contributed by faculty and VFW members.
At 6 p.m. in the ballroom of the Student Activity Center, students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to come out and learn to swing dance.
The displays, including the Appreciation Banner and the ROTC and SVA displays, will continue on Main Street through 2 p.m. on Nov. 12. AT the conclusion of the displays, the Appreciation Banner will be rolled up and delivered to the VA Hospital/Hospice. In addition, the SVA will hold a prize drawing for a dozen give-a-ways at 2 p.m.
A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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26 October 2009
Secretary of the Army Says Military Ready to Lift Gay Ban
/PRNewswire/ -- The Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, indicated this weekend that the Army is prepared to lift the ban on openly gay service if the Commander-in-Chief and the Congress decide to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, a prospect that has gathered steam in recent weeks. McHugh, formerly a Republican congressman from the conservative 23rd district of New York, is the highest official inside the Pentagon to express such support. He told the Army Times on Sunday that there was no reason to fear that major difficulties would result from lifting the ban, and that he would help implement the policy change when the time comes. "The Army has a big history of taking on similar issues," he said, with "predictions of doom and gloom that did not play out." He also suggested that repeal may come in phases, with early action involving, for example, allowing open gays to serve in some occupations and not others.
"What we're seeing is a tipping point in the opinions of both military and civilian leaders on this issue," said Dr. Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Center. "The Army is the largest of the services and the most heavily involved in our wars abroad, and for Secretary McHugh to state clearly that it can handle repeal sends a strong signal to the other service secretaries that they can do the same."
Dr. Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, said Secretary McHugh's comments were enormously significant. But he pointed out that there is no research to support the idea of letting gay soldiers serve in some units but not others. "The rationale for the ban applies equally across all job categories," he said. "So if it's okay to be an openly gay Arabic interpreter, it's also okay to be openly gay in the infantry or on a submarine. Since conduct rules apply across the board, there's just no basis for applying different standards to different specialties."
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"What we're seeing is a tipping point in the opinions of both military and civilian leaders on this issue," said Dr. Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Center. "The Army is the largest of the services and the most heavily involved in our wars abroad, and for Secretary McHugh to state clearly that it can handle repeal sends a strong signal to the other service secretaries that they can do the same."
Dr. Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, said Secretary McHugh's comments were enormously significant. But he pointed out that there is no research to support the idea of letting gay soldiers serve in some units but not others. "The rationale for the ban applies equally across all job categories," he said. "So if it's okay to be an openly gay Arabic interpreter, it's also okay to be openly gay in the infantry or on a submarine. Since conduct rules apply across the board, there's just no basis for applying different standards to different specialties."
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22 October 2009
Pew Applauds Congress for Including Military and Overseas Voting Solutions in Final Defense Authorization Bill
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Congress enacted the National Defense Authorization Act which includes provisions that will resolve several key voting problems for American military service members and citizens overseas. The bill encompasses the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which is sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), co-sponsored by Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) and supported by a bipartisan group of senators and representatives. It will expedite the transmission of absentee ballots to military personnel and civilians abroad to provide more time for them to vote in U.S. elections and return their ballots in time to be counted. In the last federal election, it is estimated that as many as one in four ballots requested by these voters was not counted.
"The election system has failed our service members and citizens abroad for decades. The MOVE Act marks significant progress toward making it easier for those who defend and represent democratic ideals around the world to participate in our democracy here at home," said Doug Chapin, director of Election Initiatives for the Pew Center on the States, a division of The Pew Charitable Trusts that has advocated for improvements to the election system. "We applaud Senators Schumer and John Cornyn (R-TX) for their leadership, along with Representatives Robert Brady (D-PA), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) for championing these critical steps forward for military and overseas voters."
In January 2009, the Pew Center on the States issued the report, "No Time to Vote: Challenges Facing America's Overseas Military Voters," the first-ever detailed public analysis of states' voting systems for service members living abroad. The report found that 25 states and the District of Columbia do not provide adequate time for overseas service members to vote and have their ballots counted.
In accordance with Pew's recommendations, the provisions would ensure adequate time to vote by:
-- requiring ballots to be sent to military and overseas voters at least
45 days before an election;
-- expediting the voting process by requiring voter registration
applications, absentee ballot applications and blank ballots to be
made available electronically to them;
-- eliminating the notarization of military and overseas ballots in the
remaining states that currently require it; and
-- expanding the opportunity for Americans abroad to use the Federal
Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) in all federal elections and using
technology to allow voters to access election information
electronically.
"The MOVE Act is a significant step in the right direction by Congress," said David Becker, project director of Election Initiatives for the Pew Center on the States. "To finish the job, we need to extend these reforms to state elections and modernize the means by which we register and provide information to voters. The changes will not be helpful if ballots are simply sent faster to outdated addresses of those who have been deployed elsewhere. Voter registration updates should be automated to ensure that the records for highly mobile populations, such as military personnel, are accurate."
The Pew Center on the States is working on a full complement of election system reforms for military personnel and civilians abroad. Since January, Pew has supported efforts by the Uniform Law Commission to draft a model law for states, which would extend recommended federal protections to state elections.
In addition, Pew's Voting Information Project (VIP), developed in partnership with Google, Inc. and state and local election officials, makes important voting information available electronically. Using VIP, for example, military and overseas voters could generate customized ballot listings to assist them with casting federal, state or local write-in absentee ballots.
Pew also aims to improve the nation's outdated voter registration system by examining options for building a system that is more efficient and accurate, while reducing costs and administrative burdens. Pew continues to gather data, analyze research and work with election officials to diagnose performance issues in the current voter registration system and propose fact-based, practical solutions to guide the modernization process.
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"The election system has failed our service members and citizens abroad for decades. The MOVE Act marks significant progress toward making it easier for those who defend and represent democratic ideals around the world to participate in our democracy here at home," said Doug Chapin, director of Election Initiatives for the Pew Center on the States, a division of The Pew Charitable Trusts that has advocated for improvements to the election system. "We applaud Senators Schumer and John Cornyn (R-TX) for their leadership, along with Representatives Robert Brady (D-PA), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) for championing these critical steps forward for military and overseas voters."
In January 2009, the Pew Center on the States issued the report, "No Time to Vote: Challenges Facing America's Overseas Military Voters," the first-ever detailed public analysis of states' voting systems for service members living abroad. The report found that 25 states and the District of Columbia do not provide adequate time for overseas service members to vote and have their ballots counted.
In accordance with Pew's recommendations, the provisions would ensure adequate time to vote by:
-- requiring ballots to be sent to military and overseas voters at least
45 days before an election;
-- expediting the voting process by requiring voter registration
applications, absentee ballot applications and blank ballots to be
made available electronically to them;
-- eliminating the notarization of military and overseas ballots in the
remaining states that currently require it; and
-- expanding the opportunity for Americans abroad to use the Federal
Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) in all federal elections and using
technology to allow voters to access election information
electronically.
"The MOVE Act is a significant step in the right direction by Congress," said David Becker, project director of Election Initiatives for the Pew Center on the States. "To finish the job, we need to extend these reforms to state elections and modernize the means by which we register and provide information to voters. The changes will not be helpful if ballots are simply sent faster to outdated addresses of those who have been deployed elsewhere. Voter registration updates should be automated to ensure that the records for highly mobile populations, such as military personnel, are accurate."
The Pew Center on the States is working on a full complement of election system reforms for military personnel and civilians abroad. Since January, Pew has supported efforts by the Uniform Law Commission to draft a model law for states, which would extend recommended federal protections to state elections.
In addition, Pew's Voting Information Project (VIP), developed in partnership with Google, Inc. and state and local election officials, makes important voting information available electronically. Using VIP, for example, military and overseas voters could generate customized ballot listings to assist them with casting federal, state or local write-in absentee ballots.
Pew also aims to improve the nation's outdated voter registration system by examining options for building a system that is more efficient and accurate, while reducing costs and administrative burdens. Pew continues to gather data, analyze research and work with election officials to diagnose performance issues in the current voter registration system and propose fact-based, practical solutions to guide the modernization process.
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AFGE Thanks Congress, President Obama for Advance Funding for Department of Veterans Affairs
/PRNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), today, praised President Barack Obama for signing the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act which will provide advance funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"This victory comes after years of advocating by AFGE and numerous veterans' organizations," said AFGE National President John Gage. "AFGE thanks President Obama for keeping his campaign promise to us and -- more importantly to America's veterans -- to guarantee advance funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs."
Present at the historic signing were AFGE National Secretary-Treasurer J. David Cox and Women's and Fair Practices National Vice President Augusta Thomas.
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizes Congress to approve veterans medical care funding one year in advance to better meet the anticipated demand for veterans health care services.
"The advanced funding will give the Department of Veterans Affairs up to a full year to plan for the most effective and efficient way of delivering medical care," said National Secretary Treasurer and retired VA nurse J. David Cox. "America's veterans deserve this. This is a step in the right direction for the agency."
"Congress also included a requirement that the GAO audit VA's budget projections," explained Women's and Fair Practices National Vice President Augusta Thomas. "This move will further stabilize an agency where the current system of politics-driven funding clearly was not working."
"We are happy to move onward into a new era for the VA," said NVAC President Alma Lee. "And we look forward to VA health care dollars being used for patient needs and adequate front line staffing, not for excessive executive bonuses and new layers of management."
AFGE represents 90 percent (185,000) of the VA employees in more than 170 locals with 40 percent of its overall members being veterans. AFGE understands the dedication and work veterans have put in for this country; it should not go unnoticed. This is a milestone victory that will ensure medical attention to those who have served this country. It also stops the delay on the purchase of medical equipment or the hiring of doctors and nurses.
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"This victory comes after years of advocating by AFGE and numerous veterans' organizations," said AFGE National President John Gage. "AFGE thanks President Obama for keeping his campaign promise to us and -- more importantly to America's veterans -- to guarantee advance funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs."
Present at the historic signing were AFGE National Secretary-Treasurer J. David Cox and Women's and Fair Practices National Vice President Augusta Thomas.
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizes Congress to approve veterans medical care funding one year in advance to better meet the anticipated demand for veterans health care services.
"The advanced funding will give the Department of Veterans Affairs up to a full year to plan for the most effective and efficient way of delivering medical care," said National Secretary Treasurer and retired VA nurse J. David Cox. "America's veterans deserve this. This is a step in the right direction for the agency."
"Congress also included a requirement that the GAO audit VA's budget projections," explained Women's and Fair Practices National Vice President Augusta Thomas. "This move will further stabilize an agency where the current system of politics-driven funding clearly was not working."
"We are happy to move onward into a new era for the VA," said NVAC President Alma Lee. "And we look forward to VA health care dollars being used for patient needs and adequate front line staffing, not for excessive executive bonuses and new layers of management."
AFGE represents 90 percent (185,000) of the VA employees in more than 170 locals with 40 percent of its overall members being veterans. AFGE understands the dedication and work veterans have put in for this country; it should not go unnoticed. This is a milestone victory that will ensure medical attention to those who have served this country. It also stops the delay on the purchase of medical equipment or the hiring of doctors and nurses.
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Collaboration Drives Afghan Strategy Review, Gates Says
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised a close collaboration between the military and the White House in examining the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan yesterday, dismissing news reports of a rift.
"These stories may make good reading, but they are not a reflection of reality," Gates said here in response to a question during a joint news conference with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.
Gates cited a "very close, collaborative effort" between military officers, including commanders in the field, and civilian government leaders who meet on an almost daily basis as part of President Barack Obama's strategic review.
The national security team is working closely together to work through what Gates called "this very complicated situation in Afghanistan." He cited "complicated issues" associated with the Afghan presidential elections, but also the challenges Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. commander there, identified in his assessment.
Gates called the runoff election slated for Nov. 7 an important step toward moving forward in Afghanistan. "Getting that behind us and moving forward is very important," he said.
But while the run-off election will resolve outstanding issues regarding the presidency, Gates emphasized, the larger issue of establishing legitimacy of the Afghan government is a longer-term proposition.
"This is going to be a work in progress, an evolutionary effort, and we need to be realistic about that," he said.
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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"These stories may make good reading, but they are not a reflection of reality," Gates said here in response to a question during a joint news conference with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.
Gates cited a "very close, collaborative effort" between military officers, including commanders in the field, and civilian government leaders who meet on an almost daily basis as part of President Barack Obama's strategic review.
The national security team is working closely together to work through what Gates called "this very complicated situation in Afghanistan." He cited "complicated issues" associated with the Afghan presidential elections, but also the challenges Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. commander there, identified in his assessment.
Gates called the runoff election slated for Nov. 7 an important step toward moving forward in Afghanistan. "Getting that behind us and moving forward is very important," he said.
But while the run-off election will resolve outstanding issues regarding the presidency, Gates emphasized, the larger issue of establishing legitimacy of the Afghan government is a longer-term proposition.
"This is going to be a work in progress, an evolutionary effort, and we need to be realistic about that," he said.
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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19 October 2009
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Open First of Three Recovery Act-Funded Veterans Curation Project Laboratories
/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will open the first Veterans Curation Project laboratory, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, in Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday, October 20.
The Augusta site is the first of three Veterans Curation Project laboratories that the Corps will open with $3.5 million in funding from the $4.6 billion appropriated for the Army's Civil Works program in the Recovery Act. The other two sites will be located in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, Mo., and will be operating before the end of fiscal 2010.
The three sites were selected because they are home to high populations of wounded and returning veterans.
"The three Veterans Curation Project laboratories funded by the Recovery Act are unique opportunities for the nation's Armed Forces and the Corps of Engineers," said the Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
"The labs are an innovative approach to supporting returning veterans of all services with jobs and training in a variety of technical skills," said Darcy. "At the same time, the labs will advance the curation of archeological and historic properties that have come into the Corps' possession over the years as a result of construction at its water project sites around the country."
In 1995, the Corps created the Center of Expertise for Curation and Management of Archeological Collections in its St. Louis District to provide protocols and best management practices for maintaining heritage assets. The Corps has an extensive collection and has not been able to fully keep up with proper curation requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act and the Native American Graves Preservation and Repatriation Act.
The St. Louis District's Center of Expertise designed and is managing the implementation of the Veterans Curation Project. The Corps has hired Brockington and Associates of Atlanta, Ga., to establish and manage the project's three laboratories.
Corps specialists and the contractor are also working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and non-governmental Wounded Warrior groups to fill many jobs at the laboratories with veterans and disabled veterans. Jobs are being tailored and rotated to fit the medical needs of those disabled veterans who are unable to work a full day and to offer on-the-job training and work to more veterans.
Veterans working at the three labs will be trained in computer, photographic and scanning technologies that will be applied to the rehabilitation of Corps archeological collections and their associated records. The technical skills learned at the labs will be transferrable to potential future jobs outside the labs.
"It is especially fitting that the opening of the first Veterans Curation Project laboratory is taking place during National Disability Employment Awareness Month," said Darcy. "As President Obama recently stated in his proclamation to recognize the month, 'Each day, Americans with disabilities play a critical role in forging and shaping the identity of our Nation.'"
"No group of people has done more to forge our national identity throughout history than the veterans who have served and sacrificed for the nation," added Darcy. "It is our privilege to now be able to give disabled veterans an opportunity to continue shaping the nation through the work and training they will do at this important new facility."
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will speak at Tuesday's ceremony to open the Veterans Curation Project laboratory. The ceremony will take place at noon at 3830 Washington Road, Suite 27, Martinez, Ga., 30907.
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The Augusta site is the first of three Veterans Curation Project laboratories that the Corps will open with $3.5 million in funding from the $4.6 billion appropriated for the Army's Civil Works program in the Recovery Act. The other two sites will be located in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, Mo., and will be operating before the end of fiscal 2010.
The three sites were selected because they are home to high populations of wounded and returning veterans.
"The three Veterans Curation Project laboratories funded by the Recovery Act are unique opportunities for the nation's Armed Forces and the Corps of Engineers," said the Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
"The labs are an innovative approach to supporting returning veterans of all services with jobs and training in a variety of technical skills," said Darcy. "At the same time, the labs will advance the curation of archeological and historic properties that have come into the Corps' possession over the years as a result of construction at its water project sites around the country."
In 1995, the Corps created the Center of Expertise for Curation and Management of Archeological Collections in its St. Louis District to provide protocols and best management practices for maintaining heritage assets. The Corps has an extensive collection and has not been able to fully keep up with proper curation requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act and the Native American Graves Preservation and Repatriation Act.
The St. Louis District's Center of Expertise designed and is managing the implementation of the Veterans Curation Project. The Corps has hired Brockington and Associates of Atlanta, Ga., to establish and manage the project's three laboratories.
Corps specialists and the contractor are also working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and non-governmental Wounded Warrior groups to fill many jobs at the laboratories with veterans and disabled veterans. Jobs are being tailored and rotated to fit the medical needs of those disabled veterans who are unable to work a full day and to offer on-the-job training and work to more veterans.
Veterans working at the three labs will be trained in computer, photographic and scanning technologies that will be applied to the rehabilitation of Corps archeological collections and their associated records. The technical skills learned at the labs will be transferrable to potential future jobs outside the labs.
"It is especially fitting that the opening of the first Veterans Curation Project laboratory is taking place during National Disability Employment Awareness Month," said Darcy. "As President Obama recently stated in his proclamation to recognize the month, 'Each day, Americans with disabilities play a critical role in forging and shaping the identity of our Nation.'"
"No group of people has done more to forge our national identity throughout history than the veterans who have served and sacrificed for the nation," added Darcy. "It is our privilege to now be able to give disabled veterans an opportunity to continue shaping the nation through the work and training they will do at this important new facility."
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will speak at Tuesday's ceremony to open the Veterans Curation Project laboratory. The ceremony will take place at noon at 3830 Washington Road, Suite 27, Martinez, Ga., 30907.
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16 October 2009
Humana Military Healthcare Services Promotes Flu Vaccinations for South Region TRICARE Beneficiaries
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humana Military Healthcare Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), encourages TRICARE South Region beneficiaries to get their influenza vaccination in an effort to reduce the spread of flu this season. Beneficiaries may receive the flu vaccination at no cost from their local Military Treatment Facility (MTF), Primary Care Manager (PCM) or a MinuteClinic located in select CVS Pharmacies.
“The flu affects an estimated 25-50 million people annually across the country, yet nearly two-thirds of adults choose not to receive their flu vaccination each year,” said John Crum, MD, chief medical officer of Humana Military. “While practicing healthy habits will help stop spreading the illness, the best way to prevent the flu is by receiving a vaccination. We want to make sure our beneficiaries know where they can go to receive this shot,” said Crum.
Along with getting shots at a PCM office or MTF, the addition of select MinuteClinic locations to the Humana Military provider network offers beneficiaries a convenient alternative for preventive services, including flu shots. MinuteClinics are open seven-days-a-week and there is no appointment necessary. Active duty and reserve personnel should check with their MTF on where to receive their vaccinations.
To find the MinuteClinic location nearest you, please visit Humana Military’s web-based provider locator at www.humana-military.com and choose “Limited Services Medical Clinic,” or call 1-800-444-5445.
TRICARE covers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) approved immunizations and vaccines according to age and frequency guidelines from birth through adulthood. For more information from the CDC regarding the seasonal flu, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/flu_vaccine_updates.htm.
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“The flu affects an estimated 25-50 million people annually across the country, yet nearly two-thirds of adults choose not to receive their flu vaccination each year,” said John Crum, MD, chief medical officer of Humana Military. “While practicing healthy habits will help stop spreading the illness, the best way to prevent the flu is by receiving a vaccination. We want to make sure our beneficiaries know where they can go to receive this shot,” said Crum.
Along with getting shots at a PCM office or MTF, the addition of select MinuteClinic locations to the Humana Military provider network offers beneficiaries a convenient alternative for preventive services, including flu shots. MinuteClinics are open seven-days-a-week and there is no appointment necessary. Active duty and reserve personnel should check with their MTF on where to receive their vaccinations.
To find the MinuteClinic location nearest you, please visit Humana Military’s web-based provider locator at www.humana-military.com and choose “Limited Services Medical Clinic,” or call 1-800-444-5445.
TRICARE covers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) approved immunizations and vaccines according to age and frequency guidelines from birth through adulthood. For more information from the CDC regarding the seasonal flu, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/flu_vaccine_updates.htm.
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15 October 2009
VA Funding Reform Bill Clears Congress
/PRNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees, today, lauded the efforts of Congress in passing historic legislation to reform the way it funds health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more than 20 years, AFGE has advocated for substantial reform in the VA funding process. AFGE applauds these members of Congress for their commitment to the VA, its patients, and its employees.
Earlier this year, AFGE stood with veterans' service organizations and House and Senate VA Committee members in staunch support as Rep. Filner and Sen. Akaka introduced the legislation. "We applaud the members of Congress for their commitment to veterans' care," said J. David Cox, AFGE national secretary treasurer and retired VA nurse. "It is the right thing to do for VA employees and for our nation's veterans."
The advanced appropriations bill, which was supported by the president when he was a Senator, will end the unpredictability and inadequacy of the VA's discretionary funding process, by allowing Congress to provide health care dollars to the VA in advance. The president is expected to sign the legislation.
AFGE and its National VA Council have been longtime advocates for mandatory funding of the VA, an approach widely supported by the veterans' community. AFGE with the nine veterans' groups comprising the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform endorsed advanced appropriations as an alternative funding approach that is achievable in the short term. As detailed in the bill, advanced appropriations would authorize Congress to approve funding for VA health care a year in advance of the next fiscal year. The Partnership has also advocated that the Government Accountability Office study and provide a report to Congress annually for the next three years on the VA's budget forecasting model and estimates.
"The current VA funding process is broken. The delays in funding drive up costs, threaten patient care, and weaken the VA as a whole," said Cox.
The VA has received its appropriation from Congress on time only three times in the last 23 years. This reliance on discretionary budget dollars has taken a heavy toll on both the timeliness and the adequacy of VA health care. Medical center directors forced to rely on discretionary funding must delay hiring nurses and other clinicians, repairs to their facilities, and new medical equipment purchases. The delays that result adversely impact medical care and increase costs by forcing understaffed hospitals to turn to private agency nurses for fee-basis care and delaying diagnostic testing for patients.
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Earlier this year, AFGE stood with veterans' service organizations and House and Senate VA Committee members in staunch support as Rep. Filner and Sen. Akaka introduced the legislation. "We applaud the members of Congress for their commitment to veterans' care," said J. David Cox, AFGE national secretary treasurer and retired VA nurse. "It is the right thing to do for VA employees and for our nation's veterans."
The advanced appropriations bill, which was supported by the president when he was a Senator, will end the unpredictability and inadequacy of the VA's discretionary funding process, by allowing Congress to provide health care dollars to the VA in advance. The president is expected to sign the legislation.
AFGE and its National VA Council have been longtime advocates for mandatory funding of the VA, an approach widely supported by the veterans' community. AFGE with the nine veterans' groups comprising the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform endorsed advanced appropriations as an alternative funding approach that is achievable in the short term. As detailed in the bill, advanced appropriations would authorize Congress to approve funding for VA health care a year in advance of the next fiscal year. The Partnership has also advocated that the Government Accountability Office study and provide a report to Congress annually for the next three years on the VA's budget forecasting model and estimates.
"The current VA funding process is broken. The delays in funding drive up costs, threaten patient care, and weaken the VA as a whole," said Cox.
The VA has received its appropriation from Congress on time only three times in the last 23 years. This reliance on discretionary budget dollars has taken a heavy toll on both the timeliness and the adequacy of VA health care. Medical center directors forced to rely on discretionary funding must delay hiring nurses and other clinicians, repairs to their facilities, and new medical equipment purchases. The delays that result adversely impact medical care and increase costs by forcing understaffed hospitals to turn to private agency nurses for fee-basis care and delaying diagnostic testing for patients.
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14 October 2009
New Vehicle Concept would Protect Crews from Roadside Bombs
A new crew survivability concept that would build military vehicles around a protected personnel compartment and use a sacrificial “blast wedge” to absorb energy from improvised explosive devices could improve safety for the occupants of future light armored patrol vehicles.
Researchers from the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have designed and tested the concept, dubbed ULTRA II, for the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR). The crew-protection concept builds on an earlier GTRI development for the ONR that evaluated new concepts for light armored vehicles. A blast test conducted with the ULTRA II full-sized crew compartment test article at the Aberdeen Test Center showed that the new concept could protect the vehicle crew from improvised explosions.
“Instead of up-armoring a standard vehicle or modifying an existing drive train, we built a bubble of force protection first and then addressed vehicle mobility,” explained Vince Camp, a GTRI senior research engineer and the project’s principal investigator. “The idea was to emphasize warfighter protection first by starting with design of an improved crew compartment, as opposed to starting with an existing vehicle and trying to add armor.”
The ULTRA II crew compartment was designed to house six persons: a driver and commander facing forward, and two pairs of crew members behind them, each pair facing opposite sides of the vehicle. By putting their backs toward the center of the crew compartment, the concept moves the crew away from the outside walls to reduce the likelihood of injury from side blasts, provides better visibility for the crew to monitor their surroundings, allows blast-resistant seats to be frame-mounted—and facilitates faster egress from the vehicle.
The crew compartment envisioned by GTRI uses a “space frame” constructed of tubular steel—similar to civilian off-road racing vehicles. An armored steel “skin” provides added structure and moderate ballistic and blast protection. Additional armor is bolted onto the frame in a modular way, allowing varying levels of protection that could be easily modified in the field and changed as new high-performance armor concepts are developed.
An integral part of the protection is provided by a sacrificial “blast wedge” bolted onto the bottom of the vehicle. Constructed of welded steel armor, the wedge both deflects energy away from the vehicle and absorbs energy from a blast, performing a function similar to “crumple zones” in modern civilian vehicles.
The design and fabrication of the test article was conducted by personnel in the Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory of GTRI. Tests using a heavily-instrumented test article with instrumented dummies simulating the crew showed that the wedge deflected or absorbed nearly 70 percent of the energy from an explosion beneath it. Damage from the blast was primarily confined to the sacrificial blast wedge and there was no structural damage and no blast penetration to the crew compartment.
“Energy used up in crushing and tearing the metal in the blast wedge is energy that wouldn’t go into injuring the crew,” said Kevin Massey, a GTRI senior research engineer who was part of the project team. “Data from the instrumented dummies shows that had this test been conducted with real warfighters in a real vehicle, we wouldn’t have seen any spinal injuries, head trauma, neck trauma or leg injuries.”
Because the wedge is removable, it could be replaced if damaged. Making the blast wedge removable also allows for an overall reduction of the vehicle’s height for shipping, an important issue for rapid deployment.
The research team, which also included Burt Jennings, Cal Jameson, Jake Leverett and Mark Entrekin, combined non-linear dynamic blast simulations and neural networks to study how blast forces would affect the vehicle. Conventional finite element analysis also provided valuable design feedback in development of the ULTRA II test article.
There were many tradeoffs to consider in designing the new concept, including vehicle height and resistance to blast forces that may come from many different angles.
“To survive the blast, you want to get as high off the ground as possible,” Massey noted. “But the higher you are off the ground, the more likely you are to roll over. This is an example of the tradeoffs that have to be balanced.”
In addition to crew protection, the researchers also designed a translating door that would provide a large side opening similar to that of existing civilian minivans. Such a door system would provide improved ingress/egress for the crew and could remain open when the vehicle is moving.
GTRI has presented data from the test to the Office of Naval Research, and hopes to pursue additional refinements to the blast wedge and overall vehicle concept. Among the goals would be to improve energy absorption from the blast wedge, and to evaluate whether the crew compartment should separate from the drive train in certain types of blasts.
“We think that the concept of a space-frame design is a very viable one, and we want to take the lessons we’ve learned so far to improve on it,” Massey added. “We’d also like to see if the concept of the energy-absorbing wedge can be applied to existing vehicles that are already out there. The bottom line is saving people’s lives and protecting them from injury.”
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Researchers from the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have designed and tested the concept, dubbed ULTRA II, for the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR). The crew-protection concept builds on an earlier GTRI development for the ONR that evaluated new concepts for light armored vehicles. A blast test conducted with the ULTRA II full-sized crew compartment test article at the Aberdeen Test Center showed that the new concept could protect the vehicle crew from improvised explosions.
“Instead of up-armoring a standard vehicle or modifying an existing drive train, we built a bubble of force protection first and then addressed vehicle mobility,” explained Vince Camp, a GTRI senior research engineer and the project’s principal investigator. “The idea was to emphasize warfighter protection first by starting with design of an improved crew compartment, as opposed to starting with an existing vehicle and trying to add armor.”
The ULTRA II crew compartment was designed to house six persons: a driver and commander facing forward, and two pairs of crew members behind them, each pair facing opposite sides of the vehicle. By putting their backs toward the center of the crew compartment, the concept moves the crew away from the outside walls to reduce the likelihood of injury from side blasts, provides better visibility for the crew to monitor their surroundings, allows blast-resistant seats to be frame-mounted—and facilitates faster egress from the vehicle.
The crew compartment envisioned by GTRI uses a “space frame” constructed of tubular steel—similar to civilian off-road racing vehicles. An armored steel “skin” provides added structure and moderate ballistic and blast protection. Additional armor is bolted onto the frame in a modular way, allowing varying levels of protection that could be easily modified in the field and changed as new high-performance armor concepts are developed.
An integral part of the protection is provided by a sacrificial “blast wedge” bolted onto the bottom of the vehicle. Constructed of welded steel armor, the wedge both deflects energy away from the vehicle and absorbs energy from a blast, performing a function similar to “crumple zones” in modern civilian vehicles.
The design and fabrication of the test article was conducted by personnel in the Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory of GTRI. Tests using a heavily-instrumented test article with instrumented dummies simulating the crew showed that the wedge deflected or absorbed nearly 70 percent of the energy from an explosion beneath it. Damage from the blast was primarily confined to the sacrificial blast wedge and there was no structural damage and no blast penetration to the crew compartment.
“Energy used up in crushing and tearing the metal in the blast wedge is energy that wouldn’t go into injuring the crew,” said Kevin Massey, a GTRI senior research engineer who was part of the project team. “Data from the instrumented dummies shows that had this test been conducted with real warfighters in a real vehicle, we wouldn’t have seen any spinal injuries, head trauma, neck trauma or leg injuries.”
Because the wedge is removable, it could be replaced if damaged. Making the blast wedge removable also allows for an overall reduction of the vehicle’s height for shipping, an important issue for rapid deployment.
The research team, which also included Burt Jennings, Cal Jameson, Jake Leverett and Mark Entrekin, combined non-linear dynamic blast simulations and neural networks to study how blast forces would affect the vehicle. Conventional finite element analysis also provided valuable design feedback in development of the ULTRA II test article.
There were many tradeoffs to consider in designing the new concept, including vehicle height and resistance to blast forces that may come from many different angles.
“To survive the blast, you want to get as high off the ground as possible,” Massey noted. “But the higher you are off the ground, the more likely you are to roll over. This is an example of the tradeoffs that have to be balanced.”
In addition to crew protection, the researchers also designed a translating door that would provide a large side opening similar to that of existing civilian minivans. Such a door system would provide improved ingress/egress for the crew and could remain open when the vehicle is moving.
GTRI has presented data from the test to the Office of Naval Research, and hopes to pursue additional refinements to the blast wedge and overall vehicle concept. Among the goals would be to improve energy absorption from the blast wedge, and to evaluate whether the crew compartment should separate from the drive train in certain types of blasts.
“We think that the concept of a space-frame design is a very viable one, and we want to take the lessons we’ve learned so far to improve on it,” Massey added. “We’d also like to see if the concept of the energy-absorbing wedge can be applied to existing vehicles that are already out there. The bottom line is saving people’s lives and protecting them from injury.”
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30 September 2009
New Tools to Assist Military Families and Teens Through Difficult Transitions Launched Today by Partnership for a Drug-Free America
/PRNewswire-/ -- The Partnership for a Drug-Free America(R), together with the National Military Family Association and the National Association of School Nurses, today announced the launch of new online tools to assist military families and teens through difficult periods of transition, such as a deployment, major injury or illness of a parent, or when moving frequently to new neighborhoods and schools. The free tools are available at the Partnership Web site TimeToTalk.org/Military. The effort is the first collaboration between the three organizations to provide assistance with the complex, extraordinary circumstances often faced by military families, especially in wartime, when families are in particular need of this kind of help and support.
The new military family support tools were announced today at a press event sponsored by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). McCaskill has previously introduced the SUPPORT Substance Use Disorders Act which would make addiction treatment more readily available to members of the military and would provide privacy protections to those seeking help.
"I'm extremely pleased to support the launch of this important initiative," said Senator McCaskill, adding "Our servicemen and women need and deserve access to family support resources that are based on research and developed for their specific needs by experts such as the Partnership, the National Military Family Association and the National Association of School Nurses."
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the key risk periods for adolescent drug abuse are during major transitions - such as moving to a new school or community - and Partnership research shows that stress in school is a major reason for adolescent substance abuse. For military teens, transitions often become a way of life, as each year a third of military families move to new neighborhoods and almost half of military parents report that their kids have difficulty making social adjustments following a move to a new town. Many of these teens are also coping with the added stresses of having one or both parents deployed, or even worse, dealing with the difficulty of a parent who has been injured or killed in combat.
"While these are difficult, unsettling times for families across our nation, the added stress and rate of change faced by military families and their teens can sometimes push kids towards risky and dangerous behavior," said Steve Pasierb, President of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. "We are committed to working together with the National Military Family Association and the National Association of School Nurses, to help military families safeguard their children during times of transition and when they are more vulnerable to making unhealthy choices about alcohol and drugs."
The new resources available at TimeToTalk.org/Military include (1) Transitions and Teens: A Guide for Military Parents, (2) The Military Talk Kit, (3) 10 Things School Nurses Want You To Know and (4) 10 Things Military Teens Want You To Know. The research-based guide in particular provides critical information to reduce stress and help keep teens drug and alcohol-free during difficult transition periods. Included within this information is a helpful checklist for pairing teen transition scenarios with a list of recommended tips, providing parents with a 'roadmap' for starting and maintaining open conversations, answering tough questions and advice for monitoring the warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse.
Time To Talk(R) is the Partnership's movement designed to help parents and caregivers start and maintain open, honest dialogue with their children, helping them talk with their kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol. Partnership research has shown that teens who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who do not.
"We're extremely pleased to work with the Partnership as we make these critical tools available to military families and their teens who may be at risk," said Mary Scott, National Military Family Association Chairman of the Board. "While they've often shown resilience in the face of major change and adversity, should a military parent or family need extra help with the challenges of a transition, from keeping a checklist of tips to finding ways to stay actively involved in their teen's life through conversations, we're here to help."
"As school nurses, we're very familiar with the stress teens face with starting over in a new school in unfamiliar territory," said Amy Garcia, Executive Director of the National Association of School Nurses. "When you couple that with the uncertainty of a parent being deployed for an unspecified length of time, or living with the very intense reality of post-traumatic stress disorder, it's clear military teens face special circumstances that require special attention. We're pleased to collaborate with the Partnership and the National Military Family Association to provide the necessary tools to help make the transitions easier."
Time To Talk reaches parents and caregivers through the support and dedication of its corporate sponsors. A&E Television Networks, a Time To Talk sponsor, recently devoted an episode of its highly-rated television show "Intervention" to the struggles of three returning veterans to overcome addiction ("Addiction in Uniform") and are publicizing our new resources for military families to their millions of viewers.
Other 2009 Time To Talk sponsors include Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Comcast, The Hershey Company, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Major League Baseball Charities, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Yahoo!
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The new military family support tools were announced today at a press event sponsored by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). McCaskill has previously introduced the SUPPORT Substance Use Disorders Act which would make addiction treatment more readily available to members of the military and would provide privacy protections to those seeking help.
"I'm extremely pleased to support the launch of this important initiative," said Senator McCaskill, adding "Our servicemen and women need and deserve access to family support resources that are based on research and developed for their specific needs by experts such as the Partnership, the National Military Family Association and the National Association of School Nurses."
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the key risk periods for adolescent drug abuse are during major transitions - such as moving to a new school or community - and Partnership research shows that stress in school is a major reason for adolescent substance abuse. For military teens, transitions often become a way of life, as each year a third of military families move to new neighborhoods and almost half of military parents report that their kids have difficulty making social adjustments following a move to a new town. Many of these teens are also coping with the added stresses of having one or both parents deployed, or even worse, dealing with the difficulty of a parent who has been injured or killed in combat.
"While these are difficult, unsettling times for families across our nation, the added stress and rate of change faced by military families and their teens can sometimes push kids towards risky and dangerous behavior," said Steve Pasierb, President of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. "We are committed to working together with the National Military Family Association and the National Association of School Nurses, to help military families safeguard their children during times of transition and when they are more vulnerable to making unhealthy choices about alcohol and drugs."
The new resources available at TimeToTalk.org/Military include (1) Transitions and Teens: A Guide for Military Parents, (2) The Military Talk Kit, (3) 10 Things School Nurses Want You To Know and (4) 10 Things Military Teens Want You To Know. The research-based guide in particular provides critical information to reduce stress and help keep teens drug and alcohol-free during difficult transition periods. Included within this information is a helpful checklist for pairing teen transition scenarios with a list of recommended tips, providing parents with a 'roadmap' for starting and maintaining open conversations, answering tough questions and advice for monitoring the warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse.
Time To Talk(R) is the Partnership's movement designed to help parents and caregivers start and maintain open, honest dialogue with their children, helping them talk with their kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol. Partnership research has shown that teens who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who do not.
"We're extremely pleased to work with the Partnership as we make these critical tools available to military families and their teens who may be at risk," said Mary Scott, National Military Family Association Chairman of the Board. "While they've often shown resilience in the face of major change and adversity, should a military parent or family need extra help with the challenges of a transition, from keeping a checklist of tips to finding ways to stay actively involved in their teen's life through conversations, we're here to help."
"As school nurses, we're very familiar with the stress teens face with starting over in a new school in unfamiliar territory," said Amy Garcia, Executive Director of the National Association of School Nurses. "When you couple that with the uncertainty of a parent being deployed for an unspecified length of time, or living with the very intense reality of post-traumatic stress disorder, it's clear military teens face special circumstances that require special attention. We're pleased to collaborate with the Partnership and the National Military Family Association to provide the necessary tools to help make the transitions easier."
Time To Talk reaches parents and caregivers through the support and dedication of its corporate sponsors. A&E Television Networks, a Time To Talk sponsor, recently devoted an episode of its highly-rated television show "Intervention" to the struggles of three returning veterans to overcome addiction ("Addiction in Uniform") and are publicizing our new resources for military families to their millions of viewers.
Other 2009 Time To Talk sponsors include Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Comcast, The Hershey Company, King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Major League Baseball Charities, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Yahoo!
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28 September 2009
VA Staffs Office for Survivors of Vets, Service Members
/PRNewswire/ -- To strengthen the programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the survivors of the nation's Veterans and military personnel, the Department has staffed an office to serve as their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or modifying programs, benefits and services.
"Taking care of survivors is as essential as taking care of our Veterans and military personnel," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "By taking care of survivors, we are honoring a commitment made to our Veterans and military members."
The office serves as the primary advisor to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and service members. It will monitor VA's delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits and explore innovative ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they are eligible.
VA benefits for eligible survivors include educational assistance, home loan guaranties, health care insurance and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a monthly payment to the survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled Veterans.
More than 554,000 spouses, dependents and other survivors of Veterans are receiving VA benefits. That figure includes nearly 5,000 spouses of World War I Veterans, 90 spouses and 94 children of Spanish-American War Veterans, and two children of Civil War Veterans. The establishment of this office was authorized in the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.
"Taking care of survivors is as essential as taking care of our Veterans and military personnel," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "By taking care of survivors, we are honoring a commitment made to our Veterans and military members."
The office serves as the primary advisor to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and service members. It will monitor VA's delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits and explore innovative ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they are eligible.
VA benefits for eligible survivors include educational assistance, home loan guaranties, health care insurance and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a monthly payment to the survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled Veterans.
More than 554,000 spouses, dependents and other survivors of Veterans are receiving VA benefits. That figure includes nearly 5,000 spouses of World War I Veterans, 90 spouses and 94 children of Spanish-American War Veterans, and two children of Civil War Veterans. The establishment of this office was authorized in the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.
24 September 2009
USAF Logistics Center Receives Prestigious EPA Recognition for Use of Industry-Leading PreKote
/PRNewswire/ -- Robins Air Force Base (AFB) has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) program. This honor is presented to individuals and groups who have made exceptional contributions to the protection of human health and the environment.
The base received this acknowledgement for its success in eliminating chromate conversion coatings (CCC) in the pre-treatment of C-5 and C-130 aircraft painting operations. Robins initiated the change to reduce highly soluble, carcinogenic concentrations of hexavalent chromium. As a result of these efforts, the U.S. Air Force is now closer to branch-wide elimination of CCC in pre-treatment.
"The purpose of the EPA recognition is to encourage the development of new technologies and best practices that will help the environment," said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator. "We commend Robins AFB for pushing forward changes that result in the responsible care for their surroundings."
The non-chromate technology, manufactured by Pantheon Enterprises and commercially sold under the brand name PreKote Surface Pretreatment, provides the base and other U.S. Air Force facilities with safer working environments and cost savings. For example, PreKote saves the government $12,000 when applied to each C-130 plane, achieving annual taxpayer savings of approximately $444,000. Additional Air Force facilities applying PreKote include bases in Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas.
Hexavalent chromium is best known to the public as the toxic chemical that made Erin Brockovich a household name.
According to a 2009 memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense, United States Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and defense contactors are being ordered to minimize the use of hexavalent chromium.
"Robins AFB is to be commended for facilitating this change long before this DoD memo was released," said Laura Roberts, CEO of Pantheon Enterprises. "We've found leaders within the Air Force who have become champions of environmental accountability by changing long-standing policies to enable the use of sustainable products, such as PreKote."
Pantheon's new, safe and effective technology, PreKote, is currently flying on over 2,000 U.S. Air Force aircraft. Several commercial air carriers also use PreKote, including Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, UPS, American Eagle Airlines and Air Canada.
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The base received this acknowledgement for its success in eliminating chromate conversion coatings (CCC) in the pre-treatment of C-5 and C-130 aircraft painting operations. Robins initiated the change to reduce highly soluble, carcinogenic concentrations of hexavalent chromium. As a result of these efforts, the U.S. Air Force is now closer to branch-wide elimination of CCC in pre-treatment.
"The purpose of the EPA recognition is to encourage the development of new technologies and best practices that will help the environment," said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator. "We commend Robins AFB for pushing forward changes that result in the responsible care for their surroundings."
The non-chromate technology, manufactured by Pantheon Enterprises and commercially sold under the brand name PreKote Surface Pretreatment, provides the base and other U.S. Air Force facilities with safer working environments and cost savings. For example, PreKote saves the government $12,000 when applied to each C-130 plane, achieving annual taxpayer savings of approximately $444,000. Additional Air Force facilities applying PreKote include bases in Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas.
Hexavalent chromium is best known to the public as the toxic chemical that made Erin Brockovich a household name.
According to a 2009 memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense, United States Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and defense contactors are being ordered to minimize the use of hexavalent chromium.
"Robins AFB is to be commended for facilitating this change long before this DoD memo was released," said Laura Roberts, CEO of Pantheon Enterprises. "We've found leaders within the Air Force who have become champions of environmental accountability by changing long-standing policies to enable the use of sustainable products, such as PreKote."
Pantheon's new, safe and effective technology, PreKote, is currently flying on over 2,000 U.S. Air Force aircraft. Several commercial air carriers also use PreKote, including Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, UPS, American Eagle Airlines and Air Canada.
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19 September 2009
Game Time for Sledgehammer Soldiers
.JPG)
Players from the Atlanta Falcons took time to play video games against Soldiers representing the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Soldiers currently deployed to Qatar and Afghanistan Sept. 15, at the Falcon's training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga.The event was sponsored by Pro vs. G.I. Joe, a non-profit support organization, and the Uniformed Services Organization in an effort to provide a fun diversion for Soldiers.
“Its professional athletes and video games, what can be better than that?” said Greg Zinone, co-founder of Pro vs. G.I. Joe.
He said it is his way of giving something to the Soldiers that do so much to protect America, citing the organizations motto; doin' a little for those who do a lot.
The event included families of Soldier's currently deployed, who were able to video chat with their family members after the games were over.
“It is amazing what they can do with technology now,” said Pfc. Colin Wilbur, Headquarters Troop, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd HBCT, 3rd ID. “When we deploy, I hope we can do this again so I can play from Iraq.”
For the Falcon's players, the day was much more than video games.
“Anytime we, as professional athletes, can show our appreciation to the military, we jump at the chance,” said Atlanta Falcon's Brian Finneran.
Besides the player's autographs and Falcons merchandise, Soldiers had chances to win custom Pro vs. G.I. Joe Guitar Hero controllers.
“I know my guys had a lot of fun,” said Sgt. Lance Wail, Brigade Fire Support Sergeant, 3rd HBCT. “And that is really what it's all about.”
More photos: http://www.georgiafrontpage.com/military/09/9-19-09_sledgehammer.html
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09 September 2009
Going Beyond the Book Answer
There are all sorts of things that I memorized for my promotion board. I can tell you everything from the muzzle velocity of the M-4 rifle to how many gallons of water a lister bag can hold. I can recite the noncommissioned officer and Soldier’s creeds, even if five very intense pairs of eyes are staring at me. Using a combination of the on-line Army study guide, various field and training manuals and the knowledge of the non-commissioned officers that help prepare for my board, I have accumulated quite a bit of information. Information that will, hopefully, make me a better leader in the future.
During my preparation, the non-commissioned officers that helped prepare me for the board would quiz me on these subjects. Almost all of them would ask me a question and wait for my answer. Nine times out of ten, I would give them the answer I memorized out of the study guide.
Most would accept my answer, but would ask another question in response. It would normally go, “That is the book answer, but what does that mean? Explain it to me like I was your Soldier.”
I had always known that being an NCO was more than enforcing rules, but that question helped me understand it better. Most Soldiers will do anything they are ordered to do. I am of the opinion that they normally perform that task better if they understand the purpose behind it.
Army leadership, as I learned it for my promotion board, is the ability to influence others by providing purpose, direction and motivation in order to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.
Many leaders make the mistake of providing direction and neglect to encourage the motivation. Some could care less about their Soldier’s motivation as long as the mission is accomplished.
A good NCO is capable of showing his or her Soldiers how their task, no matter how small it may seem, is important and necessary. I think all Soldiers want to feel like they aren’t wasting their time. Working for the sake of keeping busy doesn’t help anyone. It ruins morale, creates Soldiers who look for ways to avoid work and makes the Soldiers who don’t shirk their duty angry at the ones who do.
The best NCOs I’ve worked with found a way to make sure that I understood the purpose behind what I was doing. A lot of those jobs and details weren’t fun, but I understood the consequences to the organization if they were ignored.
The book answer will give Soldiers the correct information on how to do things, but it can’t give them the little tips and tricks that come from experience. I’m talking about the best way to lace your boots before a ruck march or how to close a duffle that is filled to the brim. Most NCOs don’t understand how much knowledge they have accumulated until they get new Soldiers; new Soldiers that don’t have the knowledge experienced NCOs take for granted.
In my opinion, a poor NCO rolls his eyes and makes that new Soldier feel inadequate when they ask questions that come easy to him. A good NCO shares his knowledge and then ensures that the Soldier has learned it. There is nothing wrong with an NCO showing a Soldier a task and then undoing it and asking him to perform what he just saw. Lessons like that are invaluable.
There isn’t an Army regulation that will tell you how to reach each and every Soldier. As an NCO, I hope I am able to remember that every Soldier reacts to situations differently. What is effective in reaching one Soldier may intimidate and hinder the job performance of another.
In my experience, senior leaders rarely ask “book” questions or give missions that fall in neatly with every Army regulation. On my last deployment, my brigade was doing things that were considered “outside the box” and were tackling unique problems that we couldn’t have anticipated. It wasn’t that we were throwing the book out the window; we simply had to write our own chapters and come up with our own answers.
As an NCO, I think that is what it all boils down to: coming up with answers. Naturally, some things are set in stone. Some things are just right or wrong. It doesn’t take a leader to simply do what every Soldier should be doing.
I believe good leaders use their experience and knowledge to figure out the correct answer when it isn’t spelled out in black and white. They try to understand the situation before casually throwing out an order and scrambling to correct a mistake that could have been prevented with more thought. A good leader listens to his subordinates and uses their knowledge base to add to his own. A good leader realizes that in the end, whether the answer comes “from the book” or from the hip is unimportant. The only thing that matters is if it is correct.
by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs
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During my preparation, the non-commissioned officers that helped prepare me for the board would quiz me on these subjects. Almost all of them would ask me a question and wait for my answer. Nine times out of ten, I would give them the answer I memorized out of the study guide.
Most would accept my answer, but would ask another question in response. It would normally go, “That is the book answer, but what does that mean? Explain it to me like I was your Soldier.”
I had always known that being an NCO was more than enforcing rules, but that question helped me understand it better. Most Soldiers will do anything they are ordered to do. I am of the opinion that they normally perform that task better if they understand the purpose behind it.
Army leadership, as I learned it for my promotion board, is the ability to influence others by providing purpose, direction and motivation in order to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.
Many leaders make the mistake of providing direction and neglect to encourage the motivation. Some could care less about their Soldier’s motivation as long as the mission is accomplished.
A good NCO is capable of showing his or her Soldiers how their task, no matter how small it may seem, is important and necessary. I think all Soldiers want to feel like they aren’t wasting their time. Working for the sake of keeping busy doesn’t help anyone. It ruins morale, creates Soldiers who look for ways to avoid work and makes the Soldiers who don’t shirk their duty angry at the ones who do.
The best NCOs I’ve worked with found a way to make sure that I understood the purpose behind what I was doing. A lot of those jobs and details weren’t fun, but I understood the consequences to the organization if they were ignored.
The book answer will give Soldiers the correct information on how to do things, but it can’t give them the little tips and tricks that come from experience. I’m talking about the best way to lace your boots before a ruck march or how to close a duffle that is filled to the brim. Most NCOs don’t understand how much knowledge they have accumulated until they get new Soldiers; new Soldiers that don’t have the knowledge experienced NCOs take for granted.
In my opinion, a poor NCO rolls his eyes and makes that new Soldier feel inadequate when they ask questions that come easy to him. A good NCO shares his knowledge and then ensures that the Soldier has learned it. There is nothing wrong with an NCO showing a Soldier a task and then undoing it and asking him to perform what he just saw. Lessons like that are invaluable.
There isn’t an Army regulation that will tell you how to reach each and every Soldier. As an NCO, I hope I am able to remember that every Soldier reacts to situations differently. What is effective in reaching one Soldier may intimidate and hinder the job performance of another.
In my experience, senior leaders rarely ask “book” questions or give missions that fall in neatly with every Army regulation. On my last deployment, my brigade was doing things that were considered “outside the box” and were tackling unique problems that we couldn’t have anticipated. It wasn’t that we were throwing the book out the window; we simply had to write our own chapters and come up with our own answers.
As an NCO, I think that is what it all boils down to: coming up with answers. Naturally, some things are set in stone. Some things are just right or wrong. It doesn’t take a leader to simply do what every Soldier should be doing.
I believe good leaders use their experience and knowledge to figure out the correct answer when it isn’t spelled out in black and white. They try to understand the situation before casually throwing out an order and scrambling to correct a mistake that could have been prevented with more thought. A good leader listens to his subordinates and uses their knowledge base to add to his own. A good leader realizes that in the end, whether the answer comes “from the book” or from the hip is unimportant. The only thing that matters is if it is correct.
by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs
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08 September 2009
TRICARE Standard Pays to be Preventive
Obtaining clinical preventive services helps prevent illness before major health problems occur. Section 711 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2009 encourages eligible TRICARE Standard beneficiaries to use preventive health services by waiving all cost shares for certain types of these services starting Sept. 1. These services include screenings for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer; immunizations; and well-child visits for children under 6 years of age.
Also, for all beneficiaries over age 6, when a visit to a health care provider includes one or more of the benefits listed above, the cost share for the visit is waived. However, other services provided during the same visit are subject to cost shares and deductibles.
“Early disease detection and chronic condition management programs result in the prevention of long term health conditions and add savings for beneficiaries and the government in the long term,” said Navy Rear Adm. Christine S. Hunter, deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity. “It’s a great new benefit under TRICARE Standard.”
The cost share waiver applies to non-Medicare eligible, TRICARE Standard or Extra beneficiaries; even if the beneficiary hasn’t met the annual deductible. Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime are unaffected, since they do not have copayments for preventive services.
Medicare-eligible beneficiaries are covered by TRICARE For Life (TFL), which generally pays the remainder of any costs not paid under Medicare, including amounts for the listed preventive services. However, preventive services and all immunizations not covered by Medicare require TRICARE Standard cost shares and deductibles for TFL beneficiaries.
Criteria such as age, frequency of care and family history have to be met in order to waive cost shares for the six clinical preventive services. All other preventive services not included in the services listed in Section 711 are subject to cost shares and deductibles. This benefit can be applied to any services received on or after Oct. 14, 2008. Beneficiaries can request reimbursement for services received after Oct. 14, 2008, and before the implementation date of Sept. 1, 2009.
Reimbursement requests can be made by phone or in writing to the region where the beneficiary lives.
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Also, for all beneficiaries over age 6, when a visit to a health care provider includes one or more of the benefits listed above, the cost share for the visit is waived. However, other services provided during the same visit are subject to cost shares and deductibles.
“Early disease detection and chronic condition management programs result in the prevention of long term health conditions and add savings for beneficiaries and the government in the long term,” said Navy Rear Adm. Christine S. Hunter, deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity. “It’s a great new benefit under TRICARE Standard.”
The cost share waiver applies to non-Medicare eligible, TRICARE Standard or Extra beneficiaries; even if the beneficiary hasn’t met the annual deductible. Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime are unaffected, since they do not have copayments for preventive services.
Medicare-eligible beneficiaries are covered by TRICARE For Life (TFL), which generally pays the remainder of any costs not paid under Medicare, including amounts for the listed preventive services. However, preventive services and all immunizations not covered by Medicare require TRICARE Standard cost shares and deductibles for TFL beneficiaries.
Criteria such as age, frequency of care and family history have to be met in order to waive cost shares for the six clinical preventive services. All other preventive services not included in the services listed in Section 711 are subject to cost shares and deductibles. This benefit can be applied to any services received on or after Oct. 14, 2008. Beneficiaries can request reimbursement for services received after Oct. 14, 2008, and before the implementation date of Sept. 1, 2009.
Reimbursement requests can be made by phone or in writing to the region where the beneficiary lives.
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04 September 2009
World War II Veterans Ready to Fly
September 19th will be like Christmas morning for approximately 70 veterans of the “Greatest Generation” as they gather at the First United Methodist Church in Fayetteville for breakfast and to board buses for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. They are also provided with lanyards and Honor Flight Fayette t-shirts to wear during the day, which is totally free of cost to them. This is just the first step in a day long journey dedicated as a “thank you” gesture to them for their valiant service during World War II.As the buses get under way, they will be escorted by Patriot Guard members as well as law enforcement officers from Fayetteville, Fayette County and Peachtree City. The public is encouraged to line the streets by 6:30 a.m. that Saturday morning with flags and banners to give the veterans a spirited sendoff.
After a short flight to D.C., they will land at Ronald Reagan Airport where they are greeted by military personnel from different branches of the service who have requested the day off specifically to be with and assist guardians with the veterans. The veterans will then board motor coaches for their comfort during the day. Although the World War II Memorial is the main feature, they will ride by the memorials for Iwo Jima, the Korean War, Viet Nam and Arlington National Cemetery. Time permitting, stops will be made at these locations also.
The veterans’ visit to “their” memorial is always one of mixed emotions, and very often tears can be seen in their eyes as well as those of the guardians who are there to help them through the day. Sometimes they share stories as they walk around the memorial, and sometimes they just reflect in silence because memories are too poignant or too painful.
After they return from these trips to D.C., veterans have often said that it was the most wonderful day of their lives, second only to marriage or the birth of children. However, the guardians who accompany them, and pay their way to do so, will tell you it was one of the most special days of their lives also.
Honor Flight Fayette is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which is staffed totally by dedicated volunteers whose only purpose is to honor and say “thank you” to the brave veterans of World War II. If you would like to learn more about Honor Flight Fayette, become a volunteer or make a donation, please check honorflightfayette.org or P. O. Box 1209, Fayetteville, GA, 30214.
Photo: Brenda Smith, Publicity Chair for Honor Flight Fayette, stands beside the banner which is a reminder of the upcoming flight on September 19th!
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03 September 2009
Isakson, Chambliss, Gingrey: Dobbins Clears Final Hurdle for Military Commissary
Facility Would Serve Thousands of Military Personnel, Veterans in Metro Atlanta
U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., today announced that Dobbins Air Reserve Base has received approval from the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to build a military commissary on the base.
Isakson, Chambliss and Gingrey have been working for more than a year to try to ensure a seamless transition between the closure of existing commissaries serving metro Atlanta and construction of the new commissary.
“This is fantastic news for Dobbins as well as for the thousands of military personnel and veterans in the metro Atlanta area,” said Isakson, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “I’m extremely pleased the Department of Defense has given final approval of the commissary at Dobbins and I will now work with my colleagues to ensure Dobbins receives the necessary funding for the commissary.”
“This approval is welcome news for the thousands of military personnel, their families, and veterans in the metro Atlanta area and it has been a long time coming. This was the final step in a five step process of getting the application for the commissary approved. I applaud the Department of Defense for recognizing that those men and women who have served our country so honorably should not be left without convenient access to these critical facilities. I look forward to continuing to work to make this become a reality,” said Gingrey.
"This new commissary will provide a much-needed service for our military men and women in the Atlanta area,” said Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure Dobbins receives the funding to move forward with this project."
On March 31, the Commissary Operating Board of the Defense Commissary Agency agreed to recommend approval of a commissary at Dobbins Air Reserve Base to the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who ultimately made the final decision on the facility.
Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson in Atlanta, as well as the Naval Supply School in Athens, are scheduled to close in 2011. At that time, Fort Benning, which is located two hours southwest of Atlanta, will be the closest commissary serving the metro Atlanta military population.
Isakson, Chambliss and Gingrey believe it is critical to maintain a convenient commissary for the metro Atlanta military community, and Dobbins Air Reserve Base meets all the requirements outlined by the Department of Defense to build and maintain a commissary.
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U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., today announced that Dobbins Air Reserve Base has received approval from the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to build a military commissary on the base.
Isakson, Chambliss and Gingrey have been working for more than a year to try to ensure a seamless transition between the closure of existing commissaries serving metro Atlanta and construction of the new commissary.
“This is fantastic news for Dobbins as well as for the thousands of military personnel and veterans in the metro Atlanta area,” said Isakson, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “I’m extremely pleased the Department of Defense has given final approval of the commissary at Dobbins and I will now work with my colleagues to ensure Dobbins receives the necessary funding for the commissary.”
“This approval is welcome news for the thousands of military personnel, their families, and veterans in the metro Atlanta area and it has been a long time coming. This was the final step in a five step process of getting the application for the commissary approved. I applaud the Department of Defense for recognizing that those men and women who have served our country so honorably should not be left without convenient access to these critical facilities. I look forward to continuing to work to make this become a reality,” said Gingrey.
"This new commissary will provide a much-needed service for our military men and women in the Atlanta area,” said Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure Dobbins receives the funding to move forward with this project."
On March 31, the Commissary Operating Board of the Defense Commissary Agency agreed to recommend approval of a commissary at Dobbins Air Reserve Base to the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, who ultimately made the final decision on the facility.
Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson in Atlanta, as well as the Naval Supply School in Athens, are scheduled to close in 2011. At that time, Fort Benning, which is located two hours southwest of Atlanta, will be the closest commissary serving the metro Atlanta military population.
Isakson, Chambliss and Gingrey believe it is critical to maintain a convenient commissary for the metro Atlanta military community, and Dobbins Air Reserve Base meets all the requirements outlined by the Department of Defense to build and maintain a commissary.
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01 September 2009
EPA Approves Army's Closure of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System
/PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) officials announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has accepted the Army's closure of its former Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS). In a letter dated Aug. 18, 2009, EPA Region IX official John Beach wrote that "EPA finds that the Army has fulfilled the requirements of its JACADS Permit," and that the EPA, "accepts the Army's closure of the facility as a clean closure."
CMA Director Conrad F. Whyne said, "The official closing of JACADS has been a thorough and meticulous process. As a program, we have benefited from the lessons learned from working with the EPA." Mr. Whyne noted, "This is our first RCRA permitted lethal agent incineration facility to close and I offer my heartiest congratulations and a 'job well done' to the men and women of the JACADS team and our EPA partners. They have made the chemical weapons of Johnston Atoll history; they have made the world a safer place."
JACADS, the Army's first full-scale chemical weapons destruction facility, safely completed its mission of weapons destruction in 2000, facility demolition in 2003 and the last Army employees left Johnston Atoll by the end of 2003. This mission was accomplished while protecting the workers and the remote atoll's delicate environment.
Located on an atoll 800 miles southwest of Hawaii, JACADS represented a major milestone in CMA's history. During a 14-year period, more than four million pounds of nerve agents, GB and VX, as well as blister agent HD, were safely destroyed and the disposal facility was dismantled. Chemical agents contained in 412,798 munitions, including projectiles, rockets, bombs, and ton containers, were eliminated, reducing the overall U.S. stockpile by six percent.
The Army worked with the EPA to close the facility according to environmental standards. Closure activities involved cleaning and removing all hazardous wastes, equipment and systems used for disposal operations. Analyses were performed in all related areas to ensure that the Army met the EPA's stringent criteria.
CMA has completed destruction of the chemical weapons at Newport, Ind., Aberdeen, Md. and Johnston Island. Final chemical agent destruction operations are under way at CMA's four remaining destruction sites: Anniston, Ala., Pine Bluff, Ark., Umatilla, Ore., and Tooele, Utah. CMA's destruction sites should complete operations in time to meet the 2012 Chemical Weapons Convention treaty deadline. CMA continues to safely store chemical agent munitions near Richmond, Ky., and at Pueblo, Colo. For more information about CMA, visit http://www.cma.army.mil/ .
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CMA Director Conrad F. Whyne said, "The official closing of JACADS has been a thorough and meticulous process. As a program, we have benefited from the lessons learned from working with the EPA." Mr. Whyne noted, "This is our first RCRA permitted lethal agent incineration facility to close and I offer my heartiest congratulations and a 'job well done' to the men and women of the JACADS team and our EPA partners. They have made the chemical weapons of Johnston Atoll history; they have made the world a safer place."
JACADS, the Army's first full-scale chemical weapons destruction facility, safely completed its mission of weapons destruction in 2000, facility demolition in 2003 and the last Army employees left Johnston Atoll by the end of 2003. This mission was accomplished while protecting the workers and the remote atoll's delicate environment.
Located on an atoll 800 miles southwest of Hawaii, JACADS represented a major milestone in CMA's history. During a 14-year period, more than four million pounds of nerve agents, GB and VX, as well as blister agent HD, were safely destroyed and the disposal facility was dismantled. Chemical agents contained in 412,798 munitions, including projectiles, rockets, bombs, and ton containers, were eliminated, reducing the overall U.S. stockpile by six percent.
The Army worked with the EPA to close the facility according to environmental standards. Closure activities involved cleaning and removing all hazardous wastes, equipment and systems used for disposal operations. Analyses were performed in all related areas to ensure that the Army met the EPA's stringent criteria.
CMA has completed destruction of the chemical weapons at Newport, Ind., Aberdeen, Md. and Johnston Island. Final chemical agent destruction operations are under way at CMA's four remaining destruction sites: Anniston, Ala., Pine Bluff, Ark., Umatilla, Ore., and Tooele, Utah. CMA's destruction sites should complete operations in time to meet the 2012 Chemical Weapons Convention treaty deadline. CMA continues to safely store chemical agent munitions near Richmond, Ky., and at Pueblo, Colo. For more information about CMA, visit http://www.cma.army.mil/ .
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31 August 2009
VA's Suicide Prevention Program Adds Chat Service
/PRNewswire/ -- The Suicide Prevention campaign of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expanding its outreach to all Veterans by piloting an online, one-to-one "chat service" for Veterans who prefer reaching out for assistance using the Internet.
Called "Veterans Chat," the new service enables Veterans, their families and friends to go online where they can anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. If a "chatter" is determined to be in a crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the person to the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline, where further counseling and referral services are provided and crisis intervention steps can be taken.
"This online feature is intended to reach out to all Veterans who may or may not be enrolled in the VA health care system and provide them with online access to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline," said Dr. Gerald Cross, VA's Acting Under Secretary for Health. "It is meant to provide Veterans with an anonymous way to access VA's suicide prevention services."
Veterans, family members or friends can access Veterans Chat through the suicide prevention Web site (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org). There is a Veterans tab on the left-hand side of the Web site that will take them directly to Veteran resource information. On this page, they can see the Hotline number (1-800-273-TALK), and click on the Veterans Chat tab on the right side of the Web page to enter.
Veterans retain anonymity by entering whatever names they choose once they enter the one-on-one chat. They are then joined by a counselor who is trained to provide information and respond to the requests and concerns of the caller.
If the counselor decides the caller is in a crisis, the counselor will encourage the Veteran to call the Suicide Prevention Hotline, where a trained suicide prevention counselor will determine whether crisis intervention techniques are required.
The pilot program, which has been in operation since July 3, has already had positive results. In one instance, the online counselor determined that a Veteran in the chat required immediate assistance. The counselor convinced the Veteran to provide the counselor with a home telephone number and then remained in the chat room with the Veteran while the hotline staff called the number and talked to the Veteran's mother. The hotline counselor worked with the Veteran's mother to convince the Veteran to be admitted to a medical facility for further treatment.
"The chat line is not intended to be a crisis response line," said Dr. Janet Kemp, VA's National Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the VA medical center in Canandaigua, N.Y., where VA's trained counselors staff the chat line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VA's suicide prevention hotline is also staffed continuously.
"Chat responders are trained in an intervention method specifically developed for the chat line to assist people with emotional distress and concerns," Kemp said. "We have procedures they can use to transfer chatters in crisis to the hotline for more immediate assistance."
Both Veterans Chat and the VA's Suicide Prevention Hotline have been established under the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which was established through collaboration between VA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Since becoming operational in July 2007, VA's Suicide Prevention Hotline has received more than 150,000 calls, resulting in 4,000 rescues.
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Called "Veterans Chat," the new service enables Veterans, their families and friends to go online where they can anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. If a "chatter" is determined to be in a crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the person to the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline, where further counseling and referral services are provided and crisis intervention steps can be taken.
"This online feature is intended to reach out to all Veterans who may or may not be enrolled in the VA health care system and provide them with online access to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline," said Dr. Gerald Cross, VA's Acting Under Secretary for Health. "It is meant to provide Veterans with an anonymous way to access VA's suicide prevention services."
Veterans, family members or friends can access Veterans Chat through the suicide prevention Web site (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org). There is a Veterans tab on the left-hand side of the Web site that will take them directly to Veteran resource information. On this page, they can see the Hotline number (1-800-273-TALK), and click on the Veterans Chat tab on the right side of the Web page to enter.
Veterans retain anonymity by entering whatever names they choose once they enter the one-on-one chat. They are then joined by a counselor who is trained to provide information and respond to the requests and concerns of the caller.
If the counselor decides the caller is in a crisis, the counselor will encourage the Veteran to call the Suicide Prevention Hotline, where a trained suicide prevention counselor will determine whether crisis intervention techniques are required.
The pilot program, which has been in operation since July 3, has already had positive results. In one instance, the online counselor determined that a Veteran in the chat required immediate assistance. The counselor convinced the Veteran to provide the counselor with a home telephone number and then remained in the chat room with the Veteran while the hotline staff called the number and talked to the Veteran's mother. The hotline counselor worked with the Veteran's mother to convince the Veteran to be admitted to a medical facility for further treatment.
"The chat line is not intended to be a crisis response line," said Dr. Janet Kemp, VA's National Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the VA medical center in Canandaigua, N.Y., where VA's trained counselors staff the chat line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VA's suicide prevention hotline is also staffed continuously.
"Chat responders are trained in an intervention method specifically developed for the chat line to assist people with emotional distress and concerns," Kemp said. "We have procedures they can use to transfer chatters in crisis to the hotline for more immediate assistance."
Both Veterans Chat and the VA's Suicide Prevention Hotline have been established under the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which was established through collaboration between VA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Since becoming operational in July 2007, VA's Suicide Prevention Hotline has received more than 150,000 calls, resulting in 4,000 rescues.
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