University of Michigan-Dearborn Student Veteran Association hosted a screening of the movie “Lioness: There for the Action. Missing from History.”

The last day of National Women’s History Month
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Veterans and trailblazers | DailyTimes.com

By Tim Sampson The Daily Time

Published March 1, 2010

Female soldiers and sailors have not always been given the same respect as their male counterparts, says Debbie Powell, a 20-year veteran of the Navy and Naval Reserves.

A searing letter-to-the-editor of a Virginia newspaper sticks out as the most infuriating instance. The letter appeared shortly after Powell and her fellow sailors on the USS Cole returned to their home port following a devastating suicide bomb attack on the ship by members of al-Qaeda in 2000.

“The basic point of the letter was that women sailors had been useless during the attack and said that ‘wannabe female warriors are a costly burden to the Navy,’” she said. “I was infuriated.”

Speaking to a crowd of several hundred female veterans, friends and family members at the Kathleen C. Cailloux City Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday for the 19th Annual Salute to Women Veterans, Powell set the record straight about the heroism and courage she saw from several fellow women sailors that day.

The attack occurred while the ship was refueling in Yemen. A small raft packed with explosives sailed up to the ship and detonated, putting a 40-by-40-foot hole in the hull and leaving 17 dead and 39 injured.

One of the injured was a female sailor near the epicenter of the blast. Powell said the sailor had second and third degree burns on most of her body. She would have one of the longest medical recoveries of any of the Cole victims. Despite that, the same sailor swam back to the ship several times — through water contaminated by spilled fuel to help rescue other sailors still on board.

“That to me is the definition of heroism,” Powell said. “To swim back with those kind of injuries, takes real guts.”  Click here to continue

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Women in Combat: Grim Toll of Military Women Killed in War

8/11/2008 2:55:00 PM

108 Women Killed in War on Terror

Updated: August 18, 2009

Since the attack on America on September 11, 2001, a total of 108 women deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait have lost their lives in service to America.

Most Americans, and even members of the media, are not aware that 108 brave servicewomen have died in the War on Terrorism. With few exceptions, news stories about their tragic deaths usually appear only in the military press, or in small hometown newspaper stories and television accounts that rarely capture national attention.

Everyone in this war is serving “In Harm’s Way,” but “Direct Ground Combat” units, such as the infantry, engage in deliberate offensive action against the enemy.  Most of the servicewomen whose names are listed below were killed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and some died in military plane crashes. Sixteen were mothers of one or more children age 18 and younger. One female soldier, whose body was shattered by an explosive device she was attempting to disarm, died in the arms of her soldier husband who was stationed nearby.

Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. has cared for many female heroes who have lost legs and arms. When two women Marines and a female sailor were killed in a Fallujah truck attack in June 2005, eleven more were sent to Brooke Medical Center in Texas, which specializes in the treatment of severe burns. Hundreds have received medals for serious injuries and for personal valor under fire.  …read more, including a list of names

 

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Airman Returns Home with a Purple Heart – 129th Rescue Wing

 

129th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

by Airman 1st Class Jessica Green

Capt. Mary O. Jennings, 129th Rescue Wing HH-60G Pave Hawk co-pilot, receives the Purple Heart from California Air National Guard Commander, Maj. Gen. Dennis G. Lucas, during an awards ceremony Dec. 6, 2009. Captain Jennings was the recipient of the Purple Heart due to injuries sustained in a July 29, 2009 Afghanistan rescue mission. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kim Ramirez)

Capt. Mary O. Jennings, 129th Rescue Wing HH-60G Pave Hawk co-pilot, received the Purple Heart during an awards ceremony Dec. 6, 2009. She was the recipient of the Purple Heart due to injuries sustained in a July 29, 2009 Afghanistan rescue mission. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Dan Kacir)

Capt. Mary Jennings, an HH-60G Pave Hawk co-pilot with the 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., stands with Tech. Sgt. Aaron Butler, a pararescueman from the 23rd Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Sergeant Butler treated Captain Jennings for shrapnel wounds sustained during a July 29, 2009 rescue mission in Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Capt. Mary Jennings)

12/10/2009 - MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. – An Air Guardsman from the 129th Rescue Squadron here was awarded a Purple Heart at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Dec. 6.

Capt. Mary Jennings, HH-60G Pave Hawk co-pilot, received the Badge of Military Merit, also known as the Purple Heart, by Maj. Gen. Dennis Lucas, commander of the California Air National Guard, in a ceremony attended by her family, friends and fellow Airmen from the 129th Rescue Wing.

She recently returned home from her deployment to Afghanistan after being wounded by enemy forces during the rescue of three injured American soldiers. Air Force rescue helicopter Pedro 15 launched July 29 from Kandahar Airfield in route to the convoy that had fallen under attack once striking an improvised explosive device.

Read more via 129rqw.ang.af.mil

 

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Meet Captain Barndt : The Bay View Compass

Meet Captain Barndt

January 30, 2010

By Sheila Julson

Captain Luann Barndt, the first female commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan. ~photo Michael Timm

Captain Luann Barndt stops in the 24/7 command center of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan base, 2420 S. Lincoln Memorial Dr. The rooms are illuminated by the glow of computer monitors. Flat-screen televisions mounted on the walls keep the command center personnel abreast of current news and weather. Barndt, standing tall in her rich blue uniform, watches the lights on the radios and transmitters while she chats with a staff member.

Barndt, who assumed the duties of Sector Lake Michigan commander July 1, 2009, is the first female commander of Sector Lake Michigan. She said there are currently five women commanders among the USCG’s 35 sectors.

Read more via bayviewcompass.com

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Female Veterans Suffering From PTSD Not Getting Needed Care – CNN

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PRESIDENT SIGNS VETERANS’ EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS ACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         Contact:    Kawika Riley (Veterans’ Affairs)

February 2, 2010                                                              (202) 224-9126

 PRESIDENT SIGNS VETERANS’ EMERGENCY CARE FAIRNESS ACT

Chairman Akaka introduced Senate bill to cover gaps in emergency care for veterans with limited insurance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) today praised President Barack Obama’s signing of the Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. 

“For veterans with limited insurance, a trip to the emergency room should not result in financial ruin,” said Chairman Akaka, who introduced the bill in the Senate last year.  “With this new law, VA will be positioned to help veterans who are enrolled in VA care whose insurance does not cover the full cost of emergency treatment.”  

The Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act, signed into law by President Obama last night, will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse veterans enrolled in VA health care for the remaining cost of emergency treatment if the veteran has outside insurance that only covers part of the cost.  Previously, VA could reimburse veterans or pay outside hospitals directly only if a veteran has no outside health insurance.    

In addition to reimbursing veterans for emergency care in the future, the bill allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide retroactive reimbursements for care received prior to the passage of this bill.  Akaka has received correspondence from veterans who were unable to receive financial assistance under the previous rules, and plans to share their information with Secretary Shinseki. 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this legislation will cover approximately 700 future claims per year and as many as 2,000 veterans retroactively. 

-END-

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BG Mary J. Kight to be Nation’s First African-American Female Adjutant General

Kight to replace MG William H. Wade as California Adjutant General

February 2, 2010
Courtesy of Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sacramento, CA, US

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday announced the appointment of Brigadier General Mary J. Kight as the first female adjutant general of the California National Guard and first African-American female National Guard adjutant general in the nation. He also thanked Major General William H. Wade II for his years of dedicated service.
 
“Brigadier General Mary Kight is a proven courageous, loyal and honorable leader. She has a long and distinguished history of service to our state and nation and I am proud to have her as the first female adjutant general of our military forces here in California,” said Schwarzenegger. “I am confident that with General Kight’s leadership, the California National Guard will continue to be fully prepared, standing ready and able to assist our local communities and our country when called upon in times of emergency.”
 
Kight has served the California National Guard for nearly 25 years. She has been assistant adjutant general since 2006 and previously held the positions of assistant adjutant general, air for the California National Guard Headquarters from 2004 to 2006, 201st Mission Support Squadron detach commander for all members on Title 10 from 2001 to 2004, 144th Mission Support Group commander in Fresno from 1999 to 2004 and first aircraft generation squadron commander for the 144th Fighter Wing from 1994 to 1998. Prior to that, Kight was an aircraft maintenance officer from 1990 to 1994, a field maintenance officer from 1987 to 1990 and an avionics maintenance officer from 1984 to 1987. She was a wing executive officer for the Nebraska Air National Guard from 1981 to 1984 and served the U.S. Air Force from 1974 to 1981.
 
“I whole-heartedly share in the Governor’s commitment to public safety and ensuring that our armed forces are well-trained and equipped to provide support and assistance here in California and abroad at a moment’s notice,” said Kight. “I am honored to take on this new position serving the California National Guard as adjutant general and I look forward to using my knowledge and experience to uphold California’s military forces’ outstanding legacy of service.”
 
Kight, 59, of Sacramento, earned a Master of Strategic Studies from Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, a Master of Science degree in human resources management from Gonzaga University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in social welfare from California State University, Chico and an Associate of Arts degree in general studies from Monterey Peninsula College. She also graduated from Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $180,201. Kight is a Republican.
 
The Governor also thanked Wade for his years of dedicated service to the California National Guard as he transitions to his newly selected position as deputy chief of staff for operations, Joint Forces Command-Naples, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Response Force, Naples, Italy.
 
“Major General Wade has been an exceptional leader of the California National Guard, working to keep our state and nation safe and our men and women in uniform trained for success,” said Schwarzenegger. “On behalf of all Californians, I thank Major General Wade for his service to our state and extend my best wishes for an exciting and fulfilling future as he represents and serves our country with NATO.”
 
The Military Department is responsible for the command, leadership and management of the California Army and Air National Guard whose purpose is to provide military service support to California as well as the nation. The California National Guard protects the public safety of the people of California by providing military support to civil authorities during natural disasters and other emergencies, and provides support to the local communities. These services are provided through 118 armories, four Air National Guard air bases and four Army Aviation flight facilities located throughout California. The California National Guard is the largest National Guard force in the United States, with an assigned strength of approximately 16,606 Army National Guard and 4,757 Air National Guard members. Of these 21,363 men and women, 1,975 are currently deployed and since September 11, 2001, more than 32,449 California National Guard personnel have been deployed both at home and abroad.

via nationalguard.com

 

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White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011 – Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

White House Seeks $125 Billion for Veterans in 2011

February 1, 2010

Homelessness, Claims Increases and Access – Priorities for VA Budget

WASHINGTON – To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Our budget proposal provides the resources necessary to continue our aggressive pursuit of President Obama’s two over-arching goals for Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “First, the requested budget will help transform VA into a 21^st century organization.  And second, it will ensure that we approach Veterans’ care as a lifetime initiative, from the day they take their oaths until the day they are laid to rest.”

The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes $60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).

“VA’s 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues that are of critical importance to our Veterans – easier access to benefits and services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral that results in Veterans’ homelessness,” Shinseki said.

Reducing Claims Backlog

The president’s budget proposal includes an increase of $460 million and more than 4,000 additional claims processors for Veterans benefits.  This is a 27 percent funding increase over the 2010 level.

The 1,014,000 claims received in 2009 were a 75 percent increase over the 579,000 received in 2000.  Shinseki said the Department expects a 30 percent increase in claims – to 1,319,000 – in 2011 from 2009 levels.

One reason for the increase is VA’s expansion of the number of Agent Orange-related illnesses that automatically qualify for disability benefits.  Veterans exposed to the Agent Orange herbicides during the Vietnam War are likely to file additional claims that will have a substantial impact upon the processing system for benefits, the secretary said.

“We project significantly increased claims inventories in the near term while we make fundamental improvements to the way we process disability compensation claims,” Shinseki said.

Long-term reduction of the inventory will come from additional manpower, improved business practices, plus an infusion of $145 million in the proposed budget for development of a paperless claims processing system, which plays a significant role in the transformation of VA.

Automating the GI Bill

The budget proposal includes $44 million to complete by December 2010 an automated system for processing applications for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.  VA also plans to start development next year of electronic systems to process claims from other VA-administered educational programs.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill authorizes the most extensive educational assistance opportunity since the passage of the original GI Bill in 1944.  Over $1.7 billion in regular Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments have been issued since the implementation of the program on Aug. 1, 2009.  In 2011, VA expects the number of all education claims to grow by 32 percent over 2009, going from 1.7 million to 2.25 million.

“To meet this increasing workload and process education claims in a timely manner, VA has established a comprehensive strategy to develop industry-standard technologies to modernize the delivery of these important educational benefits,” Shinseki said.

Eliminating Homelessness

The budget proposal includes $4.2 billion in 2011 to reduce and help prevent homelessness among Veterans.  That breaks down into $3.4 billion for core medical services and $799 million for specific homeless programs and expanded medical care, which includes $294 million for expanded homeless initiatives.  This increased investment for expanded homeless services is consistent with the VA secretary’s established goal of ultimately eliminating homelessness among Veterans.

On a typical night, about 131,000 Veterans are homeless.  They represent every war and generation, from the “Greatest Generation” to the latest generation of Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  To date, VA operates the largest system of homeless treatment and assistance programs in the nation.

Targeting Mental Health, Preventing Suicides

“The 2011 budget proposal continues the department’s keen focus on improving the quality, access and value of mental health care provided to Veterans,” Shinseki said.

The spending request seeks $5.2 billion for mental health, an increase of $410 million (or 8.5 percent) over current spending, enabling expansion of inpatient, residential and outpatient mental health services, with emphasis on making mental health services part of primary care and specialty care.

The secretary noted that one-fifth of the patients seen last year in VA’s health care facilities had a mental health diagnosis, and that the department has added more than 6,000 new mental health professionals since 2005, bringing to 19,000 the number of employees dedicated to mental health care.

The budget request will enable the department to continue expanding its programs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), along with the diagnosis and treatment of depression, substance abuse and other mental health problems.  Shinseki called PSTD treatment “central to VA’s mission.”

The proposed spending will continue VA’s suicide prevention program.  Since July 2007, the department’s suicide prevention hotline has received nearly 225,000 calls from Veterans, active-duty personnel and family members.  The hotline is credited with saving the lives of nearly 7,000 people.

Reaching Rural Veterans

For 2011, VA is seeking $250 million to strengthen access to health care for 3.2 million Veterans enrolled in VA’s medical system who live in rural areas.  Rural outreach includes expanded use of home-based primary care and mental health.

A key portion of rural outreach – which shows promise for use with Veterans across the country – is VA’s innovative “telehealth” program.  It links patients and health care providers by telephones and includes telephone-based data transmission, enabling daily monitoring of patients with chronic problems.  

The budget provides an increase of $42 million for VA’s home telehealth program.  The effort already cares for 35,000 patients and is the largest program of its kind in the world. 

Serving Women Veterans

The 2011 budget provides $217.6 million to meet the gender-specific health care needs of women Veterans, an increase of $18.6 million (or 9.4 percent) over the 2010 level.  Enhanced primary care for women Veterans remains one of the Department’s top priorities.  The number of women Veterans is growing rapidly and women are increasingly using VA for their health care.

Shinseki said the expansion of health care programs for women Veterans will lead to higher quality care, increased coordination of care, enhanced privacy and dignity, and a greater sense of security among women patients.  

Among the initiatives for women in the 2011 budget proposal are expanded health care services in Vet Centers, increased training for health care providers to advance their knowledge and understanding of women’s health issues, and implementing a peer call center and social networking site for women combat Veterans.  This call center will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Delivering World-Class Health Care

During 2011, VA expects to treat 6.1 million patients, who will account for more than 800,000 hospitalizations and 83 million outpatient visits.  

The total includes 439,000 Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, for whom $2.6 billion is included in the budget proposal.  That’s an increase of $597 million – or 30 percent – from the current budget.

The proposed budget for health care includes:

·         $6.8 billion for long-term care, an increase of $859 million (or 14 percent) over 2010.  This amount includes $1.5 billion for non-institutional long-term care; 

 

·         Expanding access to VA health care system for more than 99,000 Veterans who were previously denied care because of their incomes;

 

·         $590 million for medical and prosthetic research; and 

 

·         Continuing development of a “virtual lifetime electronic record,” a digital health record that will accompany Veterans throughout their lives.

VA is requesting $54.3 billion in advance appropriations for 2012 for health care, an increase of $2.8 billion over the 2011 enacted amount.  Planned initiatives in 2012 include better leveraging acquisitions and contracting, enhancing the use of referral agreements, strengthening VA’s relationship with the Defense Department, and expanding the use of medical technology.

Preserving National Shrines

“VA remains steadfastly committed to providing access to a dignified and respectful burial for Veterans choosing to be buried in a VA national cemetery,” Shinseki said. “This promise requires that we maintain national cemeteries as shrines dedicated to the memory of those who served this nation in uniform.”

The requested $251 million for cemetery operations and maintenance will support more than 114,000 interments in 2011, a 3.8 percent increase over 2010.  In 2011, the department will maintain 8,441 acres with 3.1 million gravesites.  The budget request includes $37 million to clean and realign an estimated 668,000 headstones and repair 100,000 sunken graves.

Building for the Future

$1.15 billion requested for major construction for 2011 includes funding for medical facilities in New Orleans; Denver; Palo Alto, Calif.; Alameda, Calif.; and Omaha, Neb.  Also budgeted for 2011 are major expansions and improvements to the national cemeteries in Indiantown Gap, Pa.; Los Angeles; and Tahoma, Wash., and new burial access policies that will provide a burial option to an additional 500,000 Veterans and enhance service in urban areas.

A requested budget of $468 million for minor construction in 2011 would fund a wide variety of improvements at VA facilities.

#   #   #  

via www1.va.gov

Great news, and funding is LONG overdue for women veterans!

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On Iraq’s Front Lines, It’s ‘A Woman Thing’

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