Posts Tagged ‘Military Families’

U.S. Special Operations Command could establish three pilot programs to assess the feasibility of providing family support activities for the immediate family members of personnel assigned to special operations forces, according to the portion of the draft fiscal 2014 defense authorization bill scheduled to be marked up Wednesday by the House Armed Services’ Military Personnel Subcommittee. The measure directs the commander of Special Operations Command to identify family support activities that have a direct and concrete impact on the readiness of special operations forces but that do not duplicate programs being provided by the military departments …

The number of military veterans going to college has taken off since 2009 when education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill first became available. In 2012, 945,052 veterans used their GI Bill education benefits, up from 564,487 in 2009, according to the Veterans Affairs Department. Traditional colleges and universities have not been the biggest beneficiaries, though, as enrollment by veterans at for-profit private universities surpassed four-year public institutions in the 2009-2010 school year …

ADC has formed a strategic partnership with Walmart to support the effort by the nation’s largest retailer to provide jobs to military veterans entering the civilian workforce after serving their country. The partnership is intended to build on Walmart’s recent pledge to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran in the year after he or she leaves active duty, a commitment the company projects will result in hiring and training more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years …

The pace at which soldiers are leaving the Army has increased at Fort Benning, Ga., this year, as the Maneuver Center of Excellence already has topped its total of 4,300 separations in 2012. Last year about 150 soldiers left each month, but now more than 200 service members are leaving the military per month, said Eddie Perez, the post’s transition services manager …

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s announcement Tuesday that civilian employees would be forced to take 11 days of unpaid leave during the last three months of the fiscal year provided exceptions for significant segments of the workforce, including workers at DOD schools and the Navy’s four public shipyards. About 11,000 teachers, aides and other workers at DOD Education Activity schools will be limited to a maximum of five days of furloughs, which will be taken at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year …

Since 2009, a group of more than 100 nonprofit organizations in San Diego has helped personnel separating from military service start their lives as civilians. The San Diego Veterans Coalition helps ensure that veterans can obtain needed health care, education, legal assistance and job counseling. About 15,000 service members leave the military each year in San Diego, reports NBC News …

Three measures intended to improve quality of life for service members, their families and veterans appear headed for passage in the South Carolina Legislature, the latest effort by Palmetto State lawmakers to support the military. The state has paid close attention to a list of 10 military-friendly policies the Pentagon is encouraging states to adopt. The policies cover issues such as the portability of professional licenses for military spouses, easing the way for personnel to receive licensing and academic credit for military training and experience, and increasing access to child care …

Chisago County, Minn., located outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul, is participating in a relatively new national program focused on serving National Guard and Reserve veterans and their families. VetCorps was launched in November 2011 to help returning veterans and their families access critical services and support, including mental and physical health services, housing and employment assistance …

Montana became the 46th state to adopt an interstate agreement designed to smooth the transition for military children transferring to a new school district after Gov. Steve Bullock signed Senate Bill 203 last week. “We thank Governor Bullock for signing the interstate compact and the supporters in Montana for helping to resolve education transition issues for military children. We look forward to having all 50 states on board …

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed two bills this week intended to make it easier for veterans to re-enter the civilian job market by granting them credit for experience gained in the military. One bill permits the state to waive the skill test requirement for obtaining a commercial driver’s license for veterans who have experience operating commercial vehicles in the military. The waiver would not apply to applicants seeking a license to drive a school bus or a commercial bus that transports more than 16 passengers …