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The Hill
The bipartisan Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act "will establish in law this newly created office," which would allow VA Secretary David Shulkin to more easily dismiss poorly performing employees and protect whistleblowers, according to the bill’s announcement. President Donald Trump late last month signed an executive order to create the office.
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Military Times
May is National Military Appreciation Month, and that means businesses are rolling out and/or promoting a number of discounts and freebies.
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May 2 and 9 survey results: As a veteran, do you think current VA policies have helped or hurt your opportunity to receive the care you've envisioned?
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Veterans Association of America wants to know...
Has the new administration made an impact on any of the services you're seeking?
- Yes, it has by changing the policies at the VA.
- No, I don't see a difference as the VA continues to takes months on end to provide my disability compensation.
- It's a little hard to tell so I think we'll have to wait.
- I can't support an administration that clearly doesn't expedite any of my veteran issues.
Please provide your unique response as we take each them very seriously..
As a reminder, we assess all answers with the utmost of care and consideration. Survey results revealed in next week's VAA Dispatch.
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Government Executive
An important way the U.S. shows its gratitude to veterans who have fought America's wars is by giving them a leg up in getting a job with the federal government. The policy, known as "veterans' preference," became law after the Civil War, was strengthened following World War I and grew even more entrenched after World War II and in the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While it's good that the nation thanks its troops, the strong preference for veterans has had some negative effects as well, particularly in terms of lessening the civil service’s diversity, as my research into this policy shows.
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Four month average turn around with the VA’s Pension with Aid and Attendance
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PBS Newshour
Military veterans have a higher unemployment rate than nonveterans, according to federal statistics. One reason may be that when veterans seek civilian jobs, they often face stereotypes from hiring managers. But another set of stereotypes may come into play as well: Veterans fall prey to their own preconceptions about certain types of jobs, and miss out on promising opportunities.
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CSO
Managed security services provider Proficio Inc., plans to grow its cybersecurity team from about 100 employees today to more than 450 people by the end of 2018. It may seem like a daunting task for most companies given the shortage of workers with cybersecurity skills, but Proficio executives believe they have tapped into a goldmine of potential cybersecurity talent — the veterans coming out of San Diego's military bases near the company's headquarters.
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Military.com
After their public disagreement stalled a congressional hearing in April, 35 veterans groups came together in Washington to reach some consensus on changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and restart their activity on Capitol Hill.
The groups agreed the Post-9/11 GI Bill needed to change, at least to close several loopholes excluding some servicemembers from receiving education benefits.
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Military Times
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled, in the case of Howell v. Howell, that a state court cannot offset the loss of a divorced spouse's portion of a veteran's retirement benefits when that veteran waives retirement pay in favor of disability pay. The issue has been hotly debated for years.
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Task & Purpose
Retiring from the military presents a whole new set of challenges for service members between finding a second career, considering furthering education, and taking care of a family. One aspect of retirement that is often overlooked is where service members should live after the military, which can be one of the most important decisions service members make about their future.
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Military.com
Immediate family members of fallen troops now can receive long-term access cards for Air Force bases thanks to a program launched this month. The Gold Star Base Access ID program was implemented servicewide May 15. The ID cards allow only base access and are not good for entrance into MWR activities, medical facilities, exchange or commissary services, officials said. Widows and minor dependents already have base access through the dependent ID card system.
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FOX News
Sylvan Olivieri, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Vietnam War as a U.S. Marine, is among dozens of veterans who have sought therapy on the golf course.
Olivieri, who is completely new to the game, told Reuters he learned of the Professional Golfers' Association's Helping Our Patriots Everywhere program through his PTSD group.
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Task & Purpose
Tragedy struck New York City May 18 when a Bronx man barreled his Honda sedan into a crowded sidewalk in New York's Times Square, killing Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old woman visiting New York from Michigan, and wounding 20 other pedestrians. The man, 26-year-old Richard Rojas, was apprehended at the scene and has been charged with murder and 20 counts of attempted murder.
In the wake of this tragedy, the media was quick to spin a narrative that connects Rojas' terrible actions with his three years of noncombat service in the U.S. Navy that ended three years ago with a dishonorable discharge.
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