Photos of Vietnam heroes needed for inclusion in The Education Center at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
The people of the state of North Carolina suffered among the greatest number of losses in the Vietnam War, sacrificing 1,610 service-men and women in combat. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s mission to honor these heroes continues with the National Call for Photos, a movement to collect photos of the more than 58,000 service-members inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. When collected, all photos will be displayed for generations to come at The Education Center at The Wall, a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
With the support of schools, volunteers, friends and family from around the country, VVMF has collected more than 25,000 pictures to date, including 1,250 from the state of North Carolina.
The task is far from complete. Generous support from volunteers, fellow service-members, family and friends is still needed in order to gather the remaining 360 photos necessary to honor our heroes from North Carolina for display at The Education Center.
With a groundbreaking planned for November, The Education Center at The Wall is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art visitor’s center and learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and the Lincoln Memorials. Visitors will better understand the profound impact the Vietnam War had their friends and family members, their home towns and the nation. The Education Center will feature the faces of the 58,272 men and women on “The Wall,” and will forever honor those who fell in Vietnam. Those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served and perished, will have their stories shared. For more information, visit www.buildthecenter.org.
“North Carolina suffered some of the highest casualty rates of any state in the Vietnam War,” said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “The Education Center at The Wall will allow Americans to put faces with the names of brave men and women who lost their lives, fostering their appreciation and respect for generations to come.”
VVMF urges the citizens of North Carolina to assist the National Call for Photos by submitting photographs of fallen service-members and generously supporting the Education Center, ensuring that the sacrifices of our military heroes are never forgotten.
How to submit a photo
If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, please help the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honor these individuals by putting a face with their name. You may use either of the following methods to submit your photograph:
Submit online
If you have a digital copy of the photograph, you can upload the photograph at http://vvmf.org/submit_other.
Mail a copy of your photograph
Make a copy of your photo. VVMF does not want original photos and cannot be responsible for returning photos. When having the photo copied, ask the photo professional to make it the highest quality possible, use a glossy finish and reproduce the photo at an 8 x 10 size, if possible. Be sure to include the photo submission form and indicate on the front of the envelope that a photo is enclosed. Mail to:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Attn: Call for Photos
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20037
For more information about how to add a photograph to the collection, please contact VVMF at (202) 393-0090 or via email at mjohnson@vvmf.org.
About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall
Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall is a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Support the Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.buildthecenter.org, calling 866-990-WALL, or by texting "WALL" to 2022.
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Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Hagan comments on Department of Defense report opening more jobs to servicewomen
U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan (D—N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, on Friday, Feb. 10, commented on the Pentagon’s decision to allow women to serve in more jobs closer to the front lines.
“Since coming to the Senate, I have fought to ensure America’s servicewomen are afforded the same opportunities for promotion as their male counterparts,” said Hagan. “The Pentagon’s recommendation is welcome progress and will open up more than 14,000 additional jobs to women in the Armed Forces. Nevertheless, more must be done to provide women in the Armed Services equal opportunities for advancement.
“I have long said that the armed forces must come up with a mechanism to give women the same leadership opportunities as their male counterparts so that they can equitably compete for advancement and promotion. Military women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have been engaged in activities that are consideredcombat-related, including serving side by side with combat units and engaging in direct combat for self defense. These brave women are exposed to the same risks as their male counterparts—including IEDs—and should be eligible for the same opportunities for advancement. As a proud member of a military family, I have nothing but the utmost respect for our troops—both men and women—and the rigorous training they undergo.”
The Pentagon’s announcement in a Department of Defense report required by the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which Senator Hagan supported. The report notified Congress that the Department of Defense intends to make two changes to rules in place since 1994 governing the service of female members of the armed forces: first, occupations will no longer be closed to women solely because the positions are required to be co-located with ground combat units; and second, a sizable number of positions will be opened to women at the battalion level in select direct ground combat units in specific occupations. Department of Defense will also continue to assess their experience with these changes to help determine whether future modifications to the 1994 rules are appropriate.
Hagan is proud and honored to have had the aid of four servicewomen in her Senate Office. Navy Veteran Jean Reaves served as a WAVE during the Vietnam era. Today, Reaves provides Veteran Affairs Services for Senator Hagan’s office. North Carolina National Guard Cpt. Jennifer Hartsock is currently Senator Hagan’s Military Liason. Hartsock served more than five years of active duty in the Army after graduating from West Point, including a 2007 Iraq tour as a Battle Captain with a Combat Engineer Unit. Lt. Col. Kristin McCann is a United States Marine and serves as a Defense Legislative Fellow to Senator Hagan. Captain Laura Keenan preceded Lt. Col. McCann as the Senator's Defense Legislative Fellow.
“Since coming to the Senate, I have fought to ensure America’s servicewomen are afforded the same opportunities for promotion as their male counterparts,” said Hagan. “The Pentagon’s recommendation is welcome progress and will open up more than 14,000 additional jobs to women in the Armed Forces. Nevertheless, more must be done to provide women in the Armed Services equal opportunities for advancement.
“I have long said that the armed forces must come up with a mechanism to give women the same leadership opportunities as their male counterparts so that they can equitably compete for advancement and promotion. Military women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have been engaged in activities that are consideredcombat-related, including serving side by side with combat units and engaging in direct combat for self defense. These brave women are exposed to the same risks as their male counterparts—including IEDs—and should be eligible for the same opportunities for advancement. As a proud member of a military family, I have nothing but the utmost respect for our troops—both men and women—and the rigorous training they undergo.”
The Pentagon’s announcement in a Department of Defense report required by the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which Senator Hagan supported. The report notified Congress that the Department of Defense intends to make two changes to rules in place since 1994 governing the service of female members of the armed forces: first, occupations will no longer be closed to women solely because the positions are required to be co-located with ground combat units; and second, a sizable number of positions will be opened to women at the battalion level in select direct ground combat units in specific occupations. Department of Defense will also continue to assess their experience with these changes to help determine whether future modifications to the 1994 rules are appropriate.
Hagan is proud and honored to have had the aid of four servicewomen in her Senate Office. Navy Veteran Jean Reaves served as a WAVE during the Vietnam era. Today, Reaves provides Veteran Affairs Services for Senator Hagan’s office. North Carolina National Guard Cpt. Jennifer Hartsock is currently Senator Hagan’s Military Liason. Hartsock served more than five years of active duty in the Army after graduating from West Point, including a 2007 Iraq tour as a Battle Captain with a Combat Engineer Unit. Lt. Col. Kristin McCann is a United States Marine and serves as a Defense Legislative Fellow to Senator Hagan. Captain Laura Keenan preceded Lt. Col. McCann as the Senator's Defense Legislative Fellow.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
President Obama’s plan to put veterans back to work
In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for a new Veterans Job Corps initiative to help our returning veterans find pathways to civilian employment. The Administration’s new veteran employment initiatives—coupled with the work that Obama has already accomplished in creating employment opportunities for veterans—will help put tens of thousands of veterans back to work.
The President’s commitment to veteran employment
The President announced Thursday, Feb. 2, new details of his Veterans Jobs Corps initiative, which will help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military:
• New incentives to hire veterans as first responders: The President will announce $166 million in 2012 Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Grant funding and $320 million in 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants. The President will also announce that preference for these grants will now be given to communities that recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters.
The COPS funding preserves law enforcement jobs and spurs new ones by making grant awards to communities across the country. SAFER grants provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase and retain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities, enhancing the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards.
• Hiring veterans to protect Americans as first responders and law enforcement officers: The President announced he will include in his FY13 budget the $4 billion in COPS funding first proposed in the American Jobs Act to spur police officer hiring in 2012. The budget will also include $1 billion for SAFER grants, as proposed in the American Jobs Act, to encourage firefighter hiring. Preference for these grants will also be given to communities that hire post-9/11 veterans.
• Putting veterans to work preserving and restoring America’s land and resources: The President will propose $1 billion to develop a Veterans Job Corps conservation program that will put up to 20,000 veterans back to work over the next five years protecting and rebuilding America. Veterans will restore our great outdoors by providing visitor programs, restoring habitat, protecting cultural resources, eradicating invasive species and operating facilities. Additionally, our veterans will help make a significant dent in the deferred maintenance of our federal, state, local and tribal lands, including jobs that will repair and rehabilitate trails, roads, levees, recreation facilities and other assets. The program will serve all veterans, but will have a particular focus on post-9/11 veterans.
• Supporting veteran entrepreneurship by building our next generation of small business leaders: The President will propose an expansion of entrepreneurship training opportunities for separating service members and veterans. As part of the VA-DOD Task Force for a Career Ready Military that the President established in August 2011, the departments of defense and veteran affairs—working with the Small Business Administration—are developing a two-day entrepreneurship program as part of the Transition Assistance Program that will be available to all service members.
In addition, once service members separate, SBA will offer veterans more in-depth entrepreneurial training through an eight-week online training program that will teach the fundamentals of small business ownership to more than 10,000 veterans annually as well as an expansion of the existing suite of programs and public-private partnerships supporting entrepreneurship and small business development opportunities for veterans and veterans’ families, including an intensive entrepreneurship boot camp.
Building on progress
Since taking office, Obama has taken key steps to support veterans in developing skills and finding work, including by:
• Creating two new veterans’ tax credits: In November 2011, the President signed into law two new tax credits for hiring veterans, both of which were included as part of the American Jobs Act. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides an incentive of up to $5,600 for firms to hire unemployed veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credit doubled the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities to $9,600.
• Challenging the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and their spouses by 2013: Since the President issued his challenge to the private sector in August 2011, already more than 40,000 veterans and the spouses have been hired, and 1,500 companies have committed to hire or train 135,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013 through the leadership of the First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and their Joining Forces initiative.
• Increasing access to intensive reemployment services: Post-9/11 veterans are now able to download the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles them to enhanced reemployment services, including six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling at the roughly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country. This will help serve the 250,000 unemployed Post-9/11 veterans.
• Developing online tools to boost veteran employment: The Administration launched the Veterans Jobs Bank, an easy-to-use tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them. It already searches more than 1 million job postings and is growing. Additionally, the Department of Labor launched My Next Move for Veterans, a new online resource that allows veterans to enter their military occupation code and discover civilian occupations for which they are well qualified.
• Increasing hiring of veterans in healthcare-related fields: The President challenged Community Health Centers to hire 8,000 veterans—approximately one veteran per health center site—over the next three years, and the Health Resources and Services Administration pledged to open up career-paths beyond nursing and expand opportunities for veterans to become physician assistants.
The President’s commitment to veteran employment
The President announced Thursday, Feb. 2, new details of his Veterans Jobs Corps initiative, which will help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military:
• New incentives to hire veterans as first responders: The President will announce $166 million in 2012 Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Grant funding and $320 million in 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants. The President will also announce that preference for these grants will now be given to communities that recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters.
The COPS funding preserves law enforcement jobs and spurs new ones by making grant awards to communities across the country. SAFER grants provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase and retain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities, enhancing the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards.
• Hiring veterans to protect Americans as first responders and law enforcement officers: The President announced he will include in his FY13 budget the $4 billion in COPS funding first proposed in the American Jobs Act to spur police officer hiring in 2012. The budget will also include $1 billion for SAFER grants, as proposed in the American Jobs Act, to encourage firefighter hiring. Preference for these grants will also be given to communities that hire post-9/11 veterans.
• Putting veterans to work preserving and restoring America’s land and resources: The President will propose $1 billion to develop a Veterans Job Corps conservation program that will put up to 20,000 veterans back to work over the next five years protecting and rebuilding America. Veterans will restore our great outdoors by providing visitor programs, restoring habitat, protecting cultural resources, eradicating invasive species and operating facilities. Additionally, our veterans will help make a significant dent in the deferred maintenance of our federal, state, local and tribal lands, including jobs that will repair and rehabilitate trails, roads, levees, recreation facilities and other assets. The program will serve all veterans, but will have a particular focus on post-9/11 veterans.
• Supporting veteran entrepreneurship by building our next generation of small business leaders: The President will propose an expansion of entrepreneurship training opportunities for separating service members and veterans. As part of the VA-DOD Task Force for a Career Ready Military that the President established in August 2011, the departments of defense and veteran affairs—working with the Small Business Administration—are developing a two-day entrepreneurship program as part of the Transition Assistance Program that will be available to all service members.
In addition, once service members separate, SBA will offer veterans more in-depth entrepreneurial training through an eight-week online training program that will teach the fundamentals of small business ownership to more than 10,000 veterans annually as well as an expansion of the existing suite of programs and public-private partnerships supporting entrepreneurship and small business development opportunities for veterans and veterans’ families, including an intensive entrepreneurship boot camp.
Building on progress
Since taking office, Obama has taken key steps to support veterans in developing skills and finding work, including by:
• Creating two new veterans’ tax credits: In November 2011, the President signed into law two new tax credits for hiring veterans, both of which were included as part of the American Jobs Act. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides an incentive of up to $5,600 for firms to hire unemployed veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credit doubled the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities to $9,600.
• Challenging the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and their spouses by 2013: Since the President issued his challenge to the private sector in August 2011, already more than 40,000 veterans and the spouses have been hired, and 1,500 companies have committed to hire or train 135,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013 through the leadership of the First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and their Joining Forces initiative.
• Increasing access to intensive reemployment services: Post-9/11 veterans are now able to download the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles them to enhanced reemployment services, including six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling at the roughly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country. This will help serve the 250,000 unemployed Post-9/11 veterans.
• Developing online tools to boost veteran employment: The Administration launched the Veterans Jobs Bank, an easy-to-use tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them. It already searches more than 1 million job postings and is growing. Additionally, the Department of Labor launched My Next Move for Veterans, a new online resource that allows veterans to enter their military occupation code and discover civilian occupations for which they are well qualified.
• Increasing hiring of veterans in healthcare-related fields: The President challenged Community Health Centers to hire 8,000 veterans—approximately one veteran per health center site—over the next three years, and the Health Resources and Services Administration pledged to open up career-paths beyond nursing and expand opportunities for veterans to become physician assistants.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hagan hails federal, state partnership protecting the military community
U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan (D—N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking Committees and an advocate for consumer protections, Friday, Jan. 27, hailed a new federal-state partnership and the development of a database to combat consumer financial fraud directed at military members, veterans and their families. The Repeat Offenders Against Military Database was developed by the Department of Defense, the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
“The development of this database is a huge service to North Carolina, which has the third largest military footprint in the nation,” said Hagan, who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Banking Committees. “Too often, our servicemembers and their families become victims of unlawful or predatory financial practices. Last May, I was proud to host a roundtable at Fort Bragg with Holly Petraeus, who heads the CFPB's Office of Servicemember Affairs, to hear from military leaders and families about the unique financial challenges facing our military communities. I will continue working to ensure that our servicemembers and their families, who sacrifice so much for our country, are protected from predatory financial practices.”
The ROAM Database will track completed enforcement actions against companies and individuals who repeatedly scam military personnel. Law enforcement officials across the country—including state attorneys general, United States attorneys, and judge advocates from all five branches of the armed forces—will be able to search the ROAM Database for publicly available information about completed civil and criminal legal actions against perpetrators of financial scams aimed at military personnel, veterans and their families.
Law enforcement officials can contribute data and request access to the database, which should be up and running by early February, by sending an email to ROAMDatabase@cfpb.gov.
Hagan is a member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking Committees, and she is a founding member of the Military Family Caucus. She cosponsored the Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act to protect military families from wrongful foreclosures.
Hagan hails from a strong military family—her father-in-law was a two-star Marine General; her brother and father served in the Navy; her husband, Chip, is a Vietnam veteran who used the GI Bill to help pay for law school; and she has two nephews who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The development of this database is a huge service to North Carolina, which has the third largest military footprint in the nation,” said Hagan, who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Banking Committees. “Too often, our servicemembers and their families become victims of unlawful or predatory financial practices. Last May, I was proud to host a roundtable at Fort Bragg with Holly Petraeus, who heads the CFPB's Office of Servicemember Affairs, to hear from military leaders and families about the unique financial challenges facing our military communities. I will continue working to ensure that our servicemembers and their families, who sacrifice so much for our country, are protected from predatory financial practices.”
The ROAM Database will track completed enforcement actions against companies and individuals who repeatedly scam military personnel. Law enforcement officials across the country—including state attorneys general, United States attorneys, and judge advocates from all five branches of the armed forces—will be able to search the ROAM Database for publicly available information about completed civil and criminal legal actions against perpetrators of financial scams aimed at military personnel, veterans and their families.
Law enforcement officials can contribute data and request access to the database, which should be up and running by early February, by sending an email to ROAMDatabase@cfpb.gov.
Hagan is a member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking Committees, and she is a founding member of the Military Family Caucus. She cosponsored the Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act to protect military families from wrongful foreclosures.
Hagan hails from a strong military family—her father-in-law was a two-star Marine General; her brother and father served in the Navy; her husband, Chip, is a Vietnam veteran who used the GI Bill to help pay for law school; and she has two nephews who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
First Lady Michelle Obama announces coordinated effort by America’s academic institutions to combat PTSD & TBI
130 medical schools and research facilities to join forces to serve veterans and families
As part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine committed to creating a new generation of doctors, medical schools and research facilities that will make sure our heroes and their families receive the care worthy of their sacrifice. Recognizing veterans, service members and their families’ dedication and commitment, 130 schools associated with the AAMC and AACOM—including UNC-Chapel Hill—pledged to leverage their missions in education, research and clinical care to train the nation’s physicians to meet the unique health care needs of the military and veterans communities.
“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families," Obama said. "By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned."
Together, the AAMC and AACOM are committing to improve the education in their medical schools, the research in their laboratories and the clinical care in their hospitals to better address the health issues that military families face. Specifically, these organizations are committing to:
• Train their medical students as well as their current physicians, faculty and staff to better diagnose and treat our veterans and military families;
• Develop new research and clinical trials on PTSD and TBI so that we can better understand and treat those conditions;
• Share their information and best practices with one another through a collaborative web forum created by the AAMC; and
• Continue to work with the VA and the Department of Defense to make sure that everyone is providing the best care available.
“Because of our integrated missions in education, clinical care and research, America’s medical schools are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in this important effort,” said Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges. “Medical schools have long recognized the sacrifice and commitment of our military, veterans and their families. The relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and academic medicine dates back to the end of World War II and serves as a model for successful partnerships between public and private institutions. Our work with the White House on Joining Forces is a natural extension of our efforts in this area and renews our commitment to the wellness of our nation’s military.”
“A central component of the White House Joining Forces Initiative is wellness, and I am pleased to announce AACOM’s participation in a new Joining Forces effort that could have a significant impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans.” Dr. Stephen C. Shannon, President and CEO of AACOM, said.
Obama and Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve our country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure veterans and military families have the support they have earned. The initiative focuses on key priority areas—employment, education and wellness while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice and needs of America’s veterans and military families. More information is available at www.JoiningForces.gov.
The following is a list of the 130 universities and colleges participating in this program:
· University of Alabama School of Medicine
· University of South Alabama College of Medicine
· University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
· Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
· AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine of Arizona
· University of Arizona College of Medicine
· Loma Linda University
· Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
· Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Stanford University School of Medicine
· UC Davis Health System
· University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
· David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
· Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
· Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Colorado School of Medicine
· Yale School of Medicine
· Georgetown University School of Medicine
· George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
· Howard University College of Medicine
· Florida State University College of Medicine
· Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University
· Nova Southeastern University College os Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Florida College of Medicine
· USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
· Emory University School of Medicine
· Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University
· Mercer University School of Medicine
· Morehouse School of Medicine
· University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
· Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
· Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
· Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
· Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
· Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
· The Chicago Medical School in conjunction with the Lovell Federal Health Care Center
· University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
· University of Illinois College of Medicine
· Indiana University
· University of Kansas Medical Center
· University of Kentucky College of Medicine
· University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
· Tulane University School of Medicine
· Boston University School of Medicine
· Harvard Medical School
· Tufts University School of Medicine
· University of Massachusetts Medical School
· Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
· Uniformed Services University of the Health Science's F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
· University of Maryland School of Medicine
· University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
· Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Michigan Medical School
· Wayne State University School of Medicine
· University of Minnesota Medical School
· Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine AT Still University
· Saint Louis University
· University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
· University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
· Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
· University of Mississippi School of Medicine
· Creighton University School of Medicine
· University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
· The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
· Wake Forest School of Medicine
· University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
· University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
· Dartmouth Medical School
· Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
· University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School
· University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
· University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of New Mexico School of Medicine
· University of Nevada School of Medicine
· Hofstra North Shore - LIJ School of Medicine
· New York Institute of Technology New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
· State University of New York Upstate Medical University
· Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University at Buffalo State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
· Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
· The Ohio State University
· Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
· University of Toledo College of Medicine
· Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
· Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
· Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
· Pacific Northwest University of Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Commonwealth Medical College
· Drexel University College of Medicine
· Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
· Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
· Penn State University College of Medicine
· Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Temple University School of Medicine
· University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
· Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
· Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
· Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
· University of South Carolina School of Medicine
· University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville
· University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
· Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Meharry Medical College
· Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
· Baylor College of Medicine
· The Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine
· Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
· Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
· The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
· The University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
· University of Texas Medical School at Houston
· University of Utah School of Medicine
· Eastern Virginia Medical School
· University of Virginia School of Medicine
· Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
· Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
· Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Washington School of Medicine
· Medical College of Wisconsin
· University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
· The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University
· West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
· West Virginia University School of Medicine
As part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine committed to creating a new generation of doctors, medical schools and research facilities that will make sure our heroes and their families receive the care worthy of their sacrifice. Recognizing veterans, service members and their families’ dedication and commitment, 130 schools associated with the AAMC and AACOM—including UNC-Chapel Hill—pledged to leverage their missions in education, research and clinical care to train the nation’s physicians to meet the unique health care needs of the military and veterans communities.
“I’m inspired to see our nation’s medical schools step up to address this pressing need for our veterans and military families," Obama said. "By directing some of our brightest minds, our most cutting-edge research, and our finest teaching institutions toward our military families, they’re ensuring that those who have served our country receive the first-rate care that they have earned."
Together, the AAMC and AACOM are committing to improve the education in their medical schools, the research in their laboratories and the clinical care in their hospitals to better address the health issues that military families face. Specifically, these organizations are committing to:
• Train their medical students as well as their current physicians, faculty and staff to better diagnose and treat our veterans and military families;
• Develop new research and clinical trials on PTSD and TBI so that we can better understand and treat those conditions;
• Share their information and best practices with one another through a collaborative web forum created by the AAMC; and
• Continue to work with the VA and the Department of Defense to make sure that everyone is providing the best care available.
“Because of our integrated missions in education, clinical care and research, America’s medical schools are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in this important effort,” said Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges. “Medical schools have long recognized the sacrifice and commitment of our military, veterans and their families. The relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and academic medicine dates back to the end of World War II and serves as a model for successful partnerships between public and private institutions. Our work with the White House on Joining Forces is a natural extension of our efforts in this area and renews our commitment to the wellness of our nation’s military.”
“A central component of the White House Joining Forces Initiative is wellness, and I am pleased to announce AACOM’s participation in a new Joining Forces effort that could have a significant impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans.” Dr. Stephen C. Shannon, President and CEO of AACOM, said.
Obama and Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve our country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure veterans and military families have the support they have earned. The initiative focuses on key priority areas—employment, education and wellness while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice and needs of America’s veterans and military families. More information is available at www.JoiningForces.gov.
The following is a list of the 130 universities and colleges participating in this program:
· University of Alabama School of Medicine
· University of South Alabama College of Medicine
· University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
· Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
· AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine of Arizona
· University of Arizona College of Medicine
· Loma Linda University
· Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
· Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Stanford University School of Medicine
· UC Davis Health System
· University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
· David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
· Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
· Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Colorado School of Medicine
· Yale School of Medicine
· Georgetown University School of Medicine
· George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
· Howard University College of Medicine
· Florida State University College of Medicine
· Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University
· Nova Southeastern University College os Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Florida College of Medicine
· USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
· Emory University School of Medicine
· Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University
· Mercer University School of Medicine
· Morehouse School of Medicine
· University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
· Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
· Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
· Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
· Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
· Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
· The Chicago Medical School in conjunction with the Lovell Federal Health Care Center
· University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
· University of Illinois College of Medicine
· Indiana University
· University of Kansas Medical Center
· University of Kentucky College of Medicine
· University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
· Tulane University School of Medicine
· Boston University School of Medicine
· Harvard Medical School
· Tufts University School of Medicine
· University of Massachusetts Medical School
· Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
· Uniformed Services University of the Health Science's F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
· University of Maryland School of Medicine
· University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
· Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Michigan Medical School
· Wayne State University School of Medicine
· University of Minnesota Medical School
· Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine AT Still University
· Saint Louis University
· University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
· University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
· Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
· University of Mississippi School of Medicine
· Creighton University School of Medicine
· University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
· The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
· Wake Forest School of Medicine
· University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
· University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
· Dartmouth Medical School
· Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
· University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School
· University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
· University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of New Mexico School of Medicine
· University of Nevada School of Medicine
· Hofstra North Shore - LIJ School of Medicine
· New York Institute of Technology New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
· State University of New York Upstate Medical University
· Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University at Buffalo State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
· Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
· The Ohio State University
· Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
· University of Toledo College of Medicine
· Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
· Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
· Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
· Pacific Northwest University of Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Commonwealth Medical College
· Drexel University College of Medicine
· Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
· Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
· Penn State University College of Medicine
· Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Temple University School of Medicine
· University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
· Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
· Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
· Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
· University of South Carolina School of Medicine
· University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville
· University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
· Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
· Meharry Medical College
· Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
· Baylor College of Medicine
· The Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine
· Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
· Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
· The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
· The University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
· University of Texas Medical School at Houston
· University of Utah School of Medicine
· Eastern Virginia Medical School
· University of Virginia School of Medicine
· Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
· Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
· Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
· University of Washington School of Medicine
· Medical College of Wisconsin
· University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
· The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University
· West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
· West Virginia University School of Medicine
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Hagan cosponsors bill to protect military families from foreclosure
United States Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) yesterday cosponsored a bill to increase foreclosure protections for military personnel serving overseas and their families. Hagan is a member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking committees.
“This bill will ensure our servicemembers do not return home from war to find a foreclosure sign in their yard,” Hagan said. “North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and it is our duty to protect our heroes and their families from wrongful foreclosures. I will work with my colleagues to advance this important bill in Congress this year.”
The Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011 would incentivize financial institutions to comply with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Enacted in 2003, SCRA is intended to prevent active duty military from certain financial and legal hardships as a result of their absence due to military service. Unfortunately, financial institutions have repeatedly failed to comply with the SCRA. Major loan servicers have been responsible for mistakes that led to thousands of mortgage overcharges and a number of unlawful foreclosures and evictions.
During testimony in the House of Representatives earlier this month, an executive from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. testified that the company “failed to comply with aspects of the law” in overcharging 4,500 servicemembers and improperly foreclosing on 18.
The bill would double the maximum criminal penalties for violations of its foreclosure and eviction protections. It would also double civil penalties in cases where the Attorney General has commenced a civil action. In addition, the bill will give servicemembers the time they need after returning from deployment to regain solid financial footing.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and, in addition to Hagan, it was cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jon Tester (D-MT).
“This bill will ensure our servicemembers do not return home from war to find a foreclosure sign in their yard,” Hagan said. “North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and it is our duty to protect our heroes and their families from wrongful foreclosures. I will work with my colleagues to advance this important bill in Congress this year.”
The Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011 would incentivize financial institutions to comply with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Enacted in 2003, SCRA is intended to prevent active duty military from certain financial and legal hardships as a result of their absence due to military service. Unfortunately, financial institutions have repeatedly failed to comply with the SCRA. Major loan servicers have been responsible for mistakes that led to thousands of mortgage overcharges and a number of unlawful foreclosures and evictions.
During testimony in the House of Representatives earlier this month, an executive from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. testified that the company “failed to comply with aspects of the law” in overcharging 4,500 servicemembers and improperly foreclosing on 18.
The bill would double the maximum criminal penalties for violations of its foreclosure and eviction protections. It would also double civil penalties in cases where the Attorney General has commenced a civil action. In addition, the bill will give servicemembers the time they need after returning from deployment to regain solid financial footing.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and, in addition to Hagan, it was cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jon Tester (D-MT).
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Hagan highlights high unemployment among veterans
U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) commented on national February unemployment numbers and the number of unemployed veterans. The national unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 percent in February. Despite progress on overall unemployment, unemployment among returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan still exceeds national unemployment. In February 2011, unemployment among these veterans was 12.5 percent, and among males, it was even higher: 13.3 percent.
“The unemployment numbers for our returning heroes from Afghanistan and Iraq are particularly troubling,” Hagan said. “I have cosponsored the Hire a Hero Act, which would make a tax credit for businesses that hire veterans permanent and extend the credit to members of the Guard and Reserve. North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am continuing to look for additional ways to help connect our veterans to employment opportunities.”
The Hire a Hero Act, introduced last month by Hagan and Scott Brown (R-MA), extends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include members of the Guard and Reserve and makes the credit permanent for veterans.
“The unemployment numbers for our returning heroes from Afghanistan and Iraq are particularly troubling,” Hagan said. “I have cosponsored the Hire a Hero Act, which would make a tax credit for businesses that hire veterans permanent and extend the credit to members of the Guard and Reserve. North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am continuing to look for additional ways to help connect our veterans to employment opportunities.”
The Hire a Hero Act, introduced last month by Hagan and Scott Brown (R-MA), extends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include members of the Guard and Reserve and makes the credit permanent for veterans.
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