{This blog is not affiliated with the VA. Though a Veteran, four yrs. all shore in Navy last year In-Country Vietnam, I don't work for the VA}
**USN All Shore '67-'71 GMG3 Vietnam In Country '70-'71 - Independent**

In 2003 some 72% of Americans fully supported the Abandoning of the Missions and those Sent to Accomplish so extremely Quickly after 9/11!!
At least some 95%, if not more as less then 1% serve them, not only still support the, just below, total lack of Sacrifice, they ran from any and all Accountability and left everything still on the table to be continually used if the political/military want was still in play in future executive/legislative wants!!
DeJa-Vu: “With no shared sacrifices being asked of civilians after Sept. 11", Decades and War From, All Over Again!!
Especially for the Corporate and Wealthy Community, investors in Defense Industries, and for these, Afghanistan and Iraq, came Two Huge Tax Cuts, with more sweetheart deals to same from states and the fed!!


Thousands of people across America don’t just talk about honoring Veterans; they walk the walk. Dedicated Volunteers Serve Veterans for Decades

On this Executive Administration, it's Cabinet and those directly around same, "Best - Ever": "We haven't had this kind of visibility from the White House—ever." Joyce Raezer National Military Family Association - Dec. 30, 2011, and plenty more of similar since Joyce, others, spoke and continues!

Ask yourself: If the Veterans Administration is so corrupt and mismanaged, as the conservative ideology, under which the seeds of are planted when they control, wants everyone to buy into as they obstruct the budgets and do extremely little after they charge same, then why does the Private sector, many problems within rarely heard about, adopt so many practices and advanced technologies developed within the VA, for free?! The VA, DoD, and in partnership with Universities and Colleges, not just Health Care are constantly in R&D and that developed that works is quickly moved into the private, for profit, sector, even as the VA is long under funded, decades, and especially during and after our wars that the few are sent into!

* * * * *
President Obama 26 August 2014
Fact: "This is not just a job of government. It’s not just a job of the veterans’ organizations. Every American needs to join us in taking care of those who've taken care of us. Because only 1 percent of Americans may be fighting our wars, but 100 percent of Americans benefit from that 1 percent. A hundred percent need to be supporting our troops. A hundred percent need to be supporting our veterans. A hundred percent need to be supporting our military families."

Fact: "We’ve been able to accomplish historic increases to veterans funding. We’ve protected veterans health care from Washington politics with advanced appropriations. We’ve been able to make VA benefits available to more than 2 million veterans who didn't have them before, including more Vietnam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange. We’ve dedicated major new resources for mental health care. We’ve helped more than 1 million veterans and their families pursue their education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill."

August 26, 2014 - Secretary Robert A. McDonald's Remarks for the American Legion's 96th Annual Convention, Charlotte, NC
Fact: "Unlike, P&G, VA may not be concerned about quarterly profit and loss statements or shareholder value, but it does have a bottom line—Veterans. "
{which is why No Government agency should be turned into a private corporate entity feeding for profit off the Countries duty and responsibility, especially the VA}
* * * * *

Fact: “We are dealing with veterans, not procedures—with their problems, not ours.” —General Omar Bradley, First Administrator of the Veterans Administration

Facts: Matthew Hoh {former Marine and foreign service officer in Afghanistan}: "We spend a trillion dollars a year on national security in this country."
"And when you add up to the Department of Defense, Department of State, CIA, Veterans Affairs, interest on debt, the number that strikes me the most about how much we're committed financially to these wars and to our current policies is we have spent $250 billion already just on interest payments on the debt we've incurred for the Iraq and Afghan wars." 26 September 2014

Fact: "If military action is worth our troops’ blood, it should be worth our treasure, too — not just in the abstract, but in the form of a specific ante by every American." -Andrew Rosenthal 10 Feb. 2013

Fact: "12 years also is a long time. We now have a lifetime responsibility to a generation of service members, veterans and their families." Dr. Jonathan Woodson 11 Sep. 2013: With 9/11 Came Lifetime Responsibility
 {two tax cuts, especially for the wealthy, came with these two recent unpaid for wars, nor the results of, DeJa-Vu all over again from the previous decades and wars from! Ignore the many issues, by those served, no need to fund!}

Fact: Sen. Bernie Sanders told Republicans: “If you can’t afford to take care of your veterans, than don’t go war. These people are bearing the brunt of what war is about, We have a moral obligation to support them.” February, 26th, 2014

Fact: 25 June 2014 U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller: Veterans' Affairs issue an 'all too similar' scene

Fact: How We Could Do More For Our Vets: "We need to go into debt to pay our debt to U.S. veterans to make sure they get the care and services we owe them."

Fact: “Why in 2009 were we still using paper?” VA Assistant Secretary Tommy Sowers “When we came in, there was no plan to change that; we’ve been operating on a six month wait for over a decade.” 27 March 2013

WHY? GOOD QUESTION THOSE SERVED SHOULD ANSWER!


Bob Herbert Losing Our Way : "And then the staggering costs of these wars, which are borne by the taxpayers. I mean, one of the things that was insane was that, as we're at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration cut taxes. This has never been done in American history. The idea of cutting taxes while you're going to war is just crazy. I mean, it's madness." Bill 'Moyers and Company': Restoring an America That Has Lost its Way 10 Oct. 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- Veterans Day, 2013: "As we pay tribute to our veterans, we are mindful that no ceremony or parade can fully repay that debt." read more>>>


Under two previous Executive administrations and wars from, father and son. With son and conservative congresses leading the extremely quick abandoning of the missions and those sent to accomplish after 9/11:

ProPublica and The Seattle Times Nov. 9, 2012 - Lost to History: Missing War Records Complicate Benefit Claims by Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans
"DeLara's case is part of a much larger problem that has plagued the U.S. military since the 1990 Gulf War: a failure to create and maintain the types of field records that have documented American conflicts since the Revolutionary War."

Part Two: A Son Lost in Iraq, but Where Is the Casualty Report?

Army Says War Records Gap Is Real, Launches Recovery Effort

3/27/15 - U.S. Nerve Gas Hit Our Own Troops in Iraq
"During and immediately after the first Gulf War, more than 200,000 of 700,000 U.S. troops sent to Iraq and Kuwait in January 1991 were exposed to nerve gas and other chemical agents. Though aware of this, the Department of Defense and CIA launched a campaign of lies and concocted a cover-up that continues today."
"When Brown and others tried to obtain their medical records to prove their illnesses were service-related, they learned that the records had disappeared."



Add in the issues of finally recognizing in War Theater and more Veterans, by the Shinseki Veterans Administration and the Executive Administrations Cabinet, what the Country choose to ignore from our previous decades and wars of: The devastating effects on Test Vets and from PTS, Agent Orange, Homelessness, more recent the Desert Storm troops Gulf War Illnesses, Gulf War Exposures with the very recent affects from In-Theater Burn Pits and oh so so much more! Tens of Thousands of Veterans' that have been long ignored and maligned by previous VA's and the whole Country and through their representatives!

How does a Country HONOR It's Fallen, by Their Own 'Sacrifice' in Taking Care of the Brothers and Sisters They Served With!!


"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." - Abraham Lincoln

"To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan" - President Lincoln

She wrote that she's proud of her service but added this: "That doesn't change the fact that I contributed - however indirectly - to human beings vanishing from the earth in a moment of sheer agony."



Homeless Veterans/Stand Downs

Are You Concerned About a Veteran? The Veterans Crisis Line Can Help>>>

For our sisters: National Women Veterans Hotline, call 1-855-VA-WOMEN1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-66361-855-829-6636) New Hotline now up and running

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Joint House and Senate Hearing: 22 September 2010

At present, 21 September 2010, they don't have any backlinks for opening statements of the participants, nor link to live stream, that may change just before the hearing or later today.

Hearing: Legislative Presentation by The American Legion Senate page.


September 22, 2010 10:00AM Full Committee
Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees Hearing to Receive Legislative Presentation of the American Legion


Hearing: Legislative Presentation by The American Legion

United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Legislative Presentation: The American Legion

September 22, 2010

10 a.m.

345 Cannon

Jimmie Foster
National Commander

Accompanied by:

Tim Tetz
Director
National Legislative Commission

James Koutz
Chairman
National Legislative Commission

Michael Helm
Chairman
National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission

Barry Searle
Director
National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission Visit page for backlinks on participants opening statements

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Posted by Unknown at 3:40 PM

21st Century Technology Will Improve Service

Should never had had the need to Upgrade, which costs more when left behind, the Country should have been properly funding the VA. It should have always been the Best care, teaching and research agency in the World. It should always have been ahead of the technology, which saves costs and time, especially as it loves feeling like the big bad boy in the World community and readily follows failed policies that create our enemies!

Message from Brandon Friedman of the VA:

At VA, we're not oblivious to the shortcomings we have in providing top-tier levels of customer service. And that's why the Department is now unveiling the Veterans Relationship Management program. Click the link below to see how VA is working to improve the customer experience--with specific emphasis on the call center. You'll hear more about this in the weeks and months ahead. --Brandon Friedman

VA Improving Veterans’ Access to Health and Benefits Information


September 21, 2010 - WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a multi-year initiative called Veterans Relationship Management (VRM) that will greatly improve Veterans’ access to health care and benefits information.

“VRM will transform Veterans’ interactions with VA by using innovative 21st century technologies,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “Veterans will have a better experience when they contact VA for assistance, and our employees will be able to quickly convey accurate, up-to-date information through call centers and the Internet.”

Ultimately, Veterans will find enhanced self-service capabilities, and VA employees will have the best tools to serve Veterans, their families and survivors better.

By the end of 2010, VRM will deliver improved telephone services to enable Veterans to reach a call center agent faster. Recording and review of calls will ensure the quality of services provided to Veterans. To help guarantee success, VRM enhancements will be rolled out in six-month increments.

An important component of VRM is the Internet site, which puts the Veteran in the driver’s seat for information. VA collaborated with the Department of Defense to provide a single sign-on capability for both Servicemembers and Veterans. Single sign-on will quickly establish an individual’s identity and allow that person to complete transactions without having to re-enter information.

Self-service access through the Internet site (www.ebenefits.va.gov) is already available in some benefit areas, including military personnel records, VA home loan eligibility certificates, and status information on compensation and pension claims.

VRM is just one of the many initiatives VA is launching to help Veterans get timely access to health care and benefits.

VA provides tax-free compensation, pension, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation, employment and insurance benefits to eligible Veterans, their families and survivors through 57 VA regional offices.

Disability compensation is paid to a Veteran for disabilities that are a result of -- or made worse by -- injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, active military, naval or air service. Pension is a benefit paid to wartime Veterans with limited income, and who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 or older.

For additional information, go to www.va.gov or call VA’s toll free benefits number at 1-800-827-1000.

# # #
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Posted by Unknown at 2:57 PM

A Family now To Come Home To.....

Couple Gives Soldier New Family


Army Spc. Christopher Sandri relaxes in his room and shares a laugh with his adoptive mother, Dorean Sandri, of Green Bay, Wis., while chatting online. Dorean and her husband, John, adopted Chris in 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger

Sept. 20, 2010 - When Army Spc. Christopher Sandri travels home for leave this month, he plans on enjoying home-cooked meals and fishing for bass.

Sandri, an infantryman serving in U.S. Division Center with the 3rd Infantry Division’s Company A, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, said the best moments of leave, however, will be those spent with his parents, John and Dorean Sandri of Green Bay, Wis.

Sandri didn’t have parents to visit while on leave or to send him care packages while he was deployed to Iraq’s Anbar province from October 2007 to April 2008. When his unit returned to Fort Stewart, Ga., he stood alone on the parade field while other soldiers went home with their families.

“I pretty much sucked it up and went to the barracks,” he said. {read rest}

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Posted by Unknown at 11:10 AM

Opening Lines of Communication: VA with VSO's and MSO's

AUSN Meets with Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki and Assistant Secretaries on Veterans Issues

Secretary Shinseki Vows Improvements; Opens Lines of Communication Between VA and VSOs and MSOs


Sep 20, 2010 - During a two-day special meeting held September 15 and 16, 2010, with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and Military Service Organization (MSOs) at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN)’s Director of Government Affairs, Captain Ike Puzon, USN, met with Secretary Shinseki and all VA Under and Assistant Secretaries to understand and discuss key programs for Veterans from all eras, and their families. Secretary Shinseki vowed to improve in three areas: access for veterans, breaking the backlog for claims, and improving service to veterans from all eras.

This was a first-of-kind event for VSOs and MSOs to meet and interact with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs along with his highest ranking Under and Assistant Secretaries and Directors of Veterans Services. The working session and meetings were extraordinarily informative and initiated the start of a new path for interface between VSOs and MSOs in supporting Veterans, service members, and their families. The interface with senior leadership was open and positive. The comprehensive two day event was by special invitation for 56 associations.

“This is was an extraordinary, transparent meeting with Veterans Administration leadership. Every leader from Secretary Shinseki down took time to meet with VSOs, explain programs, and answer questions and concerns. This has never been done before! This shows a major move forward in service to Veterans,” said Puzon. {read rest}

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Posted by Unknown at 7:03 AM

Health Care Resource Sharing: VHA and the DoD

HEALTH CARE RESOURCES SHARING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - VHA Publications - 9/16/10

{This is a four page pdf download publication}


Department of Veterans Affairs VHA DIRECTIVE 2010-040
Veterans Health Administration
Washington, DC 20420 September 16, 2010

HEALTH CARE RESOURCES SHARING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
1. PURPOSE: This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive defines policy regarding the sharing of health care resources with the Department of Defense (DOD).
2. BACKGROUND {four page pdf to rest of publication}

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Posted by Unknown at 6:44 AM

MHS Quarterly Newsletter - Sept. 2010

Military Health System Clinical Quality Management Quarterly Newsletter - Sept. 2010

{This is a ten page pdf download with working links}


MHS Clinical Quality Management Summit 2010
Communicating what is working within healthcare and in particular within the MHS, as well as capitalizing on collaborative opportunities was the goal of the second annual DoD- TMA Quality Summit held August 24-26 in Leesburg, VA. Over 100 quality healthcare leaders from across the MHS, including Tri-Service direct care, purchased care, and designated providers were in attendance. Several key strategies were focused on including, the Quadruple Aim and the Medical Home Model initiative. {10 page pdf Newsletter}

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Posted by Unknown at 6:33 AM
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