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  • Charleston spouses' club members execute Operation Cookie Drop

    Joan Tufts (right) and Jane Holba place cookies in bags Dec. 8, 2010, during the annual Team Charleston Spouses' Club Cookie Drop at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. This year, the group put together more than 500 bags and boxes of holiday cookies for servicemembers living in the base dormitories, eating

  • New approach to smoking cessation boosts quit rates for veterans with PTSD

    Smoking cessation treatment that is made part of mental health care for veterans with post traumatic stress disorder improves quit rates, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs study published in the Dec. 8 Journal of the American Medical Association. "The smoking cessation techniques used in

  • Veterans' advocates hold forum to discuss homeless vets

    More than 400 participants from across the country took part in a two-day national forum on ending homelessness among veterans.Committee members discussed strengthening preventative measures and improving collaboration among government and private-sector organizations."For twenty years, we have

  • Stanley: Pentagon must do better in hiring disabled

    Defense Department officials are doing a "pretty good" job at hiring talented, disabled people for their civilian work force, but they needs to do much better, the Pentagon's top personnel official said Dec. 8 here during his keynote remarks at the 30th annual Disability Awards Ceremony and Forum."I

  • PACAF specialized medical team conducts first peacetime mission

    Pacific Air Forces deployed the first peace-time, Critical-Care, Air-Transport Team to transfer a critically ill patient from Naval Hospital in Guam, to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, Nov. 17. The team was alerted and within three hours, boarded a commercial airliner to meet the aeromedical

  • Behavioral specialist evaluates military working dogs

    Military working dogs are a special breed and so is a specialist who works with them.Dr. Walter Burghardt, the chief of Behavioral Medicine and Military Working Dog Studies at the  Daniel E. Holland MWD Hospital here, jokingly calls his specialty "an Army of One." But right now, there are no

  • National Veterans Golden Age Games set for Hawaii

    More than 700 "golden age" veterans from the continental U.S. and the Pacific islands plan to travel to Hawaii to participate in the nation's largest sporting event for senior military veterans. The 25th National Veterans Golden Age Games, a national sports and recreational competition sponsored by

  • Admiral Mullen praises Newman's Own Foundation, military charities

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the Newman's Own Foundation and nine military charities that shared a $2.5 million award from the foundation.At the annual "Newman's Own Awards" ceremony here Dec. 2, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said the foundation's role as a funding stream in an era when

  • VA officials testing quicker access to medical records

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials are working to significantly reduce the average time needed to obtain health-care records from private physicians with the help of a private contractor and the Internet to speed claims decisions. "Innovations that will speed, simplify or improve our services

  • TRICARE benefits follow students on winter break

    With winter break approaching, many college students will visit family or friends. Making sure their TRICARE benefits follow them during holiday travel is a simple process. To avoid higher out-of-pocket costs and point-of-service charges, students should get care before heading home or elsewhere for

  • Airman saves wingman from halfway around the world

    Police officials are crediting the quick actions of a security forces Airman here with saving the life of a former Airman living halfway around the world.Senior Airman Jordan Gunterman, a 379th Air Expeditionary Wing fly-away security team leader, led authorities to his the former coworker's Florida

  • Local Boy Scouts contribute $25,000 of support to Offutt Airmen

    More than a dozen Airmen here helped unload and store 168 cases of popcorn local Boy Scouts of America troops donated to Offutt AFB for deploying Airmen. About 420 Boy Scouts contributed to this effort, raising more than $100,000. They are also sending portions of the donated popcorn to the 85th

  • Mullen speaks to World Congress on Disabilities

    The nation's wounded warriors and veterans face extraordinary challenges in the years ahead, the military's top officer told members of the World Congress on Disabilities gathered at the Dallas Convention Center here Nov. 19.With 40,000 servicemembers and veterans having suffered physical wounds

  • Council works to end life insurance compensation confusion

    A special advisory council has agreed to provide family members and survivors of fallen servicemembers and deceased veterans more options for how they receive life insurance compensation.The agreement paved the way to end confusion for survivors and family members of fallen troops, John Gingrich,

  • DOD officials establish wounded warrior task force

    Officials from the office of the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness have announced the names of 14 members who will serve on the Department of Defense Task Force for Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured servicemembers.The four-year mission of

  • Program easing medical separation rolls out forcewide

    A pilot program that eases medical separation and speeds benefit payments for servicemembers too wounded, sick or injured to stay in the military will soon roll out to the entire force. "We are proud that the disability evaluation system is making progress," a senior defense official said this week.

  • VA officials launching new personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbook

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials are testing a new, personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbooks. The handbooks are tailored to provide enrolled veterans with the most relevant health benefits information based on their own specific eligibility. In essence, each handbook will be written

  • Remote device to monitor health on battlefield

    Pararescuemen and other medical technicians will be able to remotely determine a warfighter's health status on the battlefield with sensors designed to be worn and ingested.The Battlefield Automatic Life Status Monitor, or BALSM, is being developed by QinetiQ North America's Technology Solutions

  • Children of deployed more likely to seek mental health care

    Young children from military families are more likely to seek mental and behavioral health care when a parent is deployed than when a parent is at home, a military study has concluded.Findings also show that children of married couples -- with the father as the servicemember -- are more likely to

  • VA officials test programs to expedite payments to disabled veterans

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials launched two pilot programs to test new procedures that will speed the payment of VA compensation benefits to veterans with disabilities connected to their military service. These new programs are part of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki's

  • VA officials expand support for families of low-income veterans

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced Nov. 9 an important program designed to provide enhanced services to low-income veterans and their families who are at risk of being homeless. Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, VA officials will provide grants to private

  • Air Force officials seek Warrior Games participants

    Air Force officials are seeking 25 warriors to compete in the 2011 Warrior Games, an Olympic-style competition open to wounded, ill and injured military members and veterans.The Warrior Games were developed through the partnership between the United States Olympic Committee and the Defense

  • 'Real Warriors' campaign works to save lives

    Members of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury "Real Warriors" campaign are working to deliver the message that resources and tools are available for veterans seeking treatment for invisible wounds of war."My mission through the Real Warriors

  • Former commander in chief pays tribute to wounded warriors during visit

    Some 1,500 people, including eight wounded warriors along with families of military members killed in action in the past 10 years, welcomed former President George W. Bush when he took the stage inside the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 11. It marked President Bush's third visit to the

  • President Bush salutes veterans during visit to Air Force Museum

    Former President George W. Bush praised veterans, active-duty personnel and their families during a speech at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 11, 2010.  The 43rd president served as the keynote speaker for a special Veterans Day tribute there.President Bush began by talking about his

  • All Americans owe thanks to veterans, Biden says

    Vice President Joe Biden honored servicemembers and veterans at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 11, saying 100 percent of Americans owe their gratitude to the 1 percent who serve in the all-volunteer force."Collectively, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who served and

  • Chairman works to bridge military-civilian gap

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the eve of Veterans Day Nov. 10, asked the civilian world to reach out to veterans returning home from the wars.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking as part of the Bernard Brodie Distinguished Lecture Series at the UCLA campus here, said he is concerned that

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • New video outreach message encourages veterans to use benefits

    Television viewers across the country will be able to see a new video advertisement promoting the "care package" of services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans. The 30-second ad makes its national debut Nov. 10 during the broadcast of the Country Music Awards."VA offers a

  • Glue used in partial cornea transplant

    An ophthalmologist here recently performed a unique procedure to restore a patient's vision. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Charles Reilly completed a partial cornea transplant using a type of glue to correct a thinning cornea."The patient had a full corneal transplant in the 1980's due to Keratoconus disease,"

  • Airmen assist in transfer of patients to new Misawa City Hospital

    Members of the 35th Medical Group here teamed up with the Misawa City Fire Department and Japan Air Self-Defense Force to transfer Misawa City Hospital patients to a new downtown treatment facility Nov. 5.During the transfer, more than 80 patients, 15 of whom were critical care patients, were

  • Fisher House to be dedicated at Dover Air Force Base

    Air Force leaders, elected officials and distinguished guests are scheduled to dedicate the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen on Dover Air Force Base, Del., Nov. 10. The Fisher House for Families of the Fallen is a unique facility among the Fisher House Foundation's 49 other Fisher Houses

  • Military-connected schools benefit from grants

    Department of Defense Education Activity officials awarded more than $38 million in grants this year to public schools serving military children across the nation.Officials awarded the grants to 32 military-connected school districts to boost student achievement and ease the challenges associated

  • Vet receives four-legged friend

    Retired Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon, a former 56th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, was investigating an improvised explosive device in Kirkuk, Iraq, in October 2007, when it detonated nearly two feet from his face. As a result, Sergeant Slaydon lost his sight and his

  • Mullen: Military lags in support of women warriors

    Resources for women in the military services are lagging those of men, and officials within the military system do not yet understand the unique challenges of women in uniform, the top U.S. military officer said here Nov. 4.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to

  • Admiral, Mrs. Mullen speak out on veterans' challenges

    With Veterans Day around the corner, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and his wife, Deborah, sat down with reporters this week to raise visibility on issues important to military families and veterans.The Mullens' interviews Nov. 3 with the Pentagon Channel and other news

  • Wounded Soldier saved through use of heart, lung machine

    A wounded Soldier incurred an injury that affected his lungs, and was transported on an aeromedical evacuation mission Oct. 21, from Afghanistan to Germany. The mission was carried out aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, with the use of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machine. "This is the first

  • Airman close to death, wingman stays by his side

    What started as a stomach complaint one month ago for an Airman deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, turned into an emergency medical evacuation. Shortly after doctors at Joint Base Balad found fluid in Senior Airman Colton Brown's lungs, drainage tubes were placed, and he continued fighting for his

  • Air Guard adds psychological health directors

    Air National Guard leaders have created a new, wing-level position to provide mental health support to Airmen and their families before and after deployments."The Air Guard is the only service component that does not have military members who are mental health professionals or technicians," said

  • VA officials begin paying benefits for new Agent Orange claims

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure."The joint efforts of Congress and VA demonstrate a commitment to provide Vietnam veterans with treatment

  • Laughlin lieutenant loses leg, returns to pilot training

    A lieutenant here received word Oct. 29 that he will return to pilot training at the 47th Flying Training Wing here within the next month.1st Lt. Ryan McGuire lost a leg in a boating accident 13 months ago. Since the accident, Lieutenant McGuire has completed rehabilitation using his prosthetics,

  • Keep Focus on Troops, Mullen Tells Joint Forces Command

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the members of U.S. Joint Forces Command Oct. 29 for their efforts on behalf of the nation's warfighters while urging them to maintain that focus going forward.In a ceremony near the command's Norfolk, Va., headquarters, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

  • Motorcycle group supports military funerals

    As the U.S. Supreme Court contemplates whether protestors outside military funerals are protected under First Amendment free-speech rights, a motorcycle group that travels the country attending those funerals as a show of support and respect rides on, undeterred by the political fray.About 200,000

  • VA officials taking life-saving campaign to streets

    Nearly 1,200 life-saving advertisements are going up on city buses, bus shelters, rail and subway stations across the nation displaying a message of hope for those who have served their country and may be facing an emotional crisis. Department of Veterans Affairs officials are advertising the

  • Airmen MIA from WWII identified, returned

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Oct. 27 that the remains of two Airmen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Army Air Forces staff sergeants Claude A. Ray, 24,

  • Military spouses are heroes, first lady says

    The needs and concerns of military spouses, whose sacrifices benefit the nation, should be of concern to all Americans, First Lady Michelle Obama said Oct. 26."These women and men -- they are heroes, and it's time that we recognize the challenges they face and the obstacles they overcome and the

  • Airmen finish 860-mile trek for fallen comrades

    Hundreds of people gathered here Oct. 21 to welcome the marchers from the Tim Davis Special Tactics Memorial March. They had just completed an 860-mile march across five states that started Oct. 9 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Each of the marching Airmen carried one or more wooden batons, each

  • Airmen evacuate injured New York Times photographer from Afghanistan

    Airmen aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aeromedically evacuated a New York Times photographer from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 24. Joao Silva, a veteran war photographer based in South Africa, was embedded with an Army patrol in Kandahar province when he was

  • Air Force Village rededicated during special ceremony

    The wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz helped honor Air Force Village founders and administrators during a rededication ceremony here Oct. 22.Suzie Schwartz was the featured speaker at the ceremony, which marked 40 years of operation for this Air Force retirement home. It also

  • A different way to take the pain

    Acupuncture has long been a form of medical care, originating in ancient China and moving west through the world. It has only recently started to gain momentum during the last few decades in the U.S.Recently, military medical officials have begun investigating a type of acupuncture and its benefits

  • Vandenberg officials hold memorial service for fallen Airman

    A memorial service was held for a fallen Airman Oct. 13, at the Base Chapel here. Hundreds of people filled the chapel's pews to pay their final respects to Senior Airman Daniel Johnson, a 30th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician who was killed in action Oct. 5, west of

  • State-of-the-art cardiovascular services available at Travis AFB

    With equipment that can only be found in four other hospitals in the nation, surgeons here recently performed the first operations while using a new state-of-the-art, hybrid cardiovascular operating room. It took a team of medical professionals here three years to bring the cardiovascular services

  • One step at a time: Airman recovering after crash

    Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis wanted nothing more than to walk through the doors to the 8th Special Operations Squadron building.His friends and colleagues cheered him on as he accomplished that goal Oct. 8; a feat that just a few months ago seemed nearly impossible.Sergeant Curtis was a flight engineer

  • DOD, VA healthcare officials combine specialties to provide 'one-stop shop'

    Through a joint venture between Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials, medical professionals here are offering DOD and VA patients a combined clinic for heart, lung and vascular care.The Heart, Lung and Vascular Center at David Grant USAF Medical Center, which opened Oct. 13, is the

  • Special tactics Airmen walk for fallen comrades

    Fifteen special tactics Airmen carrying 50-pound rucksacks departed from here Oct. 9 on a mission to honor the memories of their fallen comrades.The 860-mile trek, known as the Tim Davis Special Tactics Memorial March, will stretch across five states and will consist of six teams walking 24 hours a

  • USO Gala honors servicemembers, families

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen was among the military, government and community leaders and celebrities who gathered to salute servicemembers and their families at the annual USO Gala here Oct. 7.The event featured entertainment, award presentations to five servicemembers and

  • Flying the wounded home

    Afghan airmen and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisers worked as one to transfer a patient from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, during a reverse aeromedical evacuation mission to Forward Operating Base Bostic in Konar province, Afghanistan Sept. 27.A reverse medical evacuation takes a

  • Military launches domestic violence awareness campaign

    Defense Department officials are observing National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by reminding the military community about resources and programs to help in preventing or stopping domestic violence.President Barack Obama issued a National Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation Oct. 1,

  • VA officials extend coverage for Gulf War veterans

    Veterans of the Gulf War as well as current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan now have a smoother path toward receiving health care benefits and disability compensation for nine diseases associated with their military service, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced Sept. 29.A

  • Grant approved for burn victim research

    A major improvement is coming in the field of dermatology and plastic surgery, specifically in the recovery and care for wounded warrior burn victims."As I've studied cosmetic improvement in burn victims, I've noticed more improvements in the range of motion than in the cosmetics because the scars

  • Former NCO fights through PTSD

    Before a nine-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq, an active-duty security forces member stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was on the fast track. He was promoted below-the-zone to senior airman and selected for staff sergeant on first attempt. Before he was medically retired due to

  • Shinseki: Evidence led to new Agent Orange presumptions

    Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki defended his decision to add heart disease, Parkinson's disease and leukemia to the conditions VA officials can presume in Vietnam War veterans to be caused by Agent Orange exposure.Speaking before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Sept. 23,

  • Medical leaders cut ribbon on BAMC pediatric ward, ICU

    Air Force and Army medical leaders christened the new Brooke Army Medical Center pediatric ward and intensive care unit during a ribbon-cutting ceremony here Sept. 21. Staffed primarily by Air Force personnel, the majority of Wilford Hall Medical Center inpatient pediatric services moved to BAMC in

  • Collaboration improves treatment of unseen scars of war

    Several times every week, a team of about 50 specialists gathers around a conference table at the National Naval Medical Center here to assess the progress of every wounded warrior undergoing treatment at the hospital. They bring an array of expertise to the discussion, with specialties in

  • Clinic offers disabled veterans new outlook on life

    Sitting in a kayak, gliding across the water, Richard Worlitz was at peace. Here, there were no boundaries, no limitations. And limitations are something he is very familiar with. An Air Force veteran, Mr. Worlitz is both visually and physically handicapped. He lost his vision six years ago and,

  • Technology improving veterans' access to health, benefits information

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials are launching a multi-year initiative called Veterans Relationship Management, or 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

  • Disabled veterans sports clinic begins in San Diego

    The third annual National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic began here Sept. 20, as more than 200 disabled veterans came out to participate in a number of activities, including surfing, kayaking, cycling, and track and field events. The week-long clinic gives veterans with disabilities an opportunity

  • President Obama reaches out to veterans

    President Barack Obama said he wants to make sure veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the so-called "Stop Loss" program get the retroactive pay they deserve."You served with honor," President Obama said. "You did your duty. And when your country

  • More focus needed to end suicides, Mullens say

    A silent killer is rapidly infiltrating the military, claiming lives at an alarming rate each year.It does not discriminate, taking aim at the young and old, male and female -- from the battle-hardened Soldier to the new recruit."It's an area that can't get enough focus right now," said Navy Adm.

  • Shaw commanders take warrior care a step further

    Airmen today face a strong challenge. The intense battle rhythm through constant deployments and reintegration after returning from those deployments causes stress physically, emotionally and psychologically, on both Airmen and their families."Because of this, the Air Force has been showing the

  • SecAF thanks American Legion for care of Airmen, veterans

    The secretary of the Air Force addressed thousands of Legionnaires at the American Legion's 92nd National Convention here Sept. 1 to thank them for their devotion to Airmen and veterans. In his speech to the nation's largest veterans service organization, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said the

  • VA secretary addresses traumatic brain injury conference

    Recognizing the longstanding, integrated collaboration shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki gave the keynote address at the fourth annual Traumatic Brain Injury Military Training Conference Aug. 30 here."We -- DOD and VA -- simply

  • Toolkit helps separating servicemembers land jobs

    Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines separating from the military can get extra help in finding a job from a new Defense Department resource.Specialists in the Pentagon's Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy Office, part of the Office of Personnel and Readiness, recently developed the Career

  • Mental health clinic works to help Airmen, families

    Members of the 673rd Medical Group Mental Health Flight here have been working hard to meet the mental healthcare needs of military members and their families.The military life can be a stressful one, said Maj. Alexsa Billups, a member of the 673rd MDG. "It's up to the individual people to come to

  • VA secretary calls for "forbearance" by mortgage companies

    Veterans in the Gulf States impacted by the recent oil spill may qualify for delayed mortgage payments if their mortgages already are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. "We are strongly urging mortgage companies to extend every possible forbearance to veterans whose livelihoods have

  • Volunteer mentors support families of fallen

    The day Scott Warner saw Marines standing at his front door, his world came to a crashing halt.The servicemembers told Mr. Warner that his son, Marine Pvt. Heath Warner, had been killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq's Anbar province.Mr. Warner and his family, including his two younger sons, tried to

  • 'Boot Camp' class helps Airmen get fit to fight

    Airmen here who are unable to meet fitness standards, or those who just want to participate in a high-caliber fitness routine attend "boot camp," a fitness class offered through the Health and Wellness Center.In the past few months, more and more Airmen have begun to take advantage of the strenuous

  • Ramstein AB medics prepare for emergency situations

    Medics here sharpened their skills during Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility training Aug. 2 to 6.A team of nurses, medical technicians, communications specialists and medical administrative technicians, exercised the capabilities of Ramstein Air Base's MASF, which is one of only three in the

  • Leadership key to tackling suicide, Medal of Honor recipient tells guardsmen

    Leadership at all levels is the key to lowering the suicide rate among servicemembers, a Medal of Honor recipient told National Guard members here Aug 8. Retired Army Maj. Drew Dix received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. Now, he has been talking with servicemembers about resiliency

  • Major learns to get back up after fall

    Waking up alone, face down and bleeding, on the sun-baked granite rock after falling face-first 50 feet from the top of a mountain is where U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet David Garay found himself June 2, 1997, only one day after his 19th birthday.Garay, now a major, lived through the fall and

  • Medical researchers help wounded warriors

    A team of medical researchers from the 59th Medical Wing Clinical Research division is here working to help servicemembers affected by vascular, or circulatory, injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan."Vascular injury rates in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are five times higher than previously reported

  • Leaders say volunteers key to Guard's success

    National Guard leaders said that if citizen-Soldiers and citizen-Airmen continue to deploy in support of overseas missions, their family readiness groups will need to be supported at the same pace."If we allow these rotations and what we do to become common, accepted and routine, then we need to

  • Obama reaffirms commitment to veteran care

    Caring for veterans is a moral obligation, President Barack Obama said Aug. 2 in a speech at the Disabled American Veterans National Convention in Atlanta. "Every American who has ever worn the uniform must know this: your country is going to take care of you when you come home," President Obama

  • VA chief addresses importance of care for women veterans

    Women in today's military serve closer to the front lines of combat than ever before, and as they become veterans, Veterans Affairs specialists will be ready to handle their care, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said July 29. Speaking at a forum on women veterans at the Women in Military Service for

  • 509th Medical Group earns outstanding HSI rating

    Whiteman Air Force Base's 509th Medical Group earned the highest rating in seven years for the entire Air Force during a recent Health Services Inspection July 12-16. "We received an outstanding in the three areas and an outstanding overall which means we're doing an exceptional job in making sure

  • VA officials approve $2.8 million for Gulf War illness research

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have approved $2.8 million to fund three new research projects that focus on testing or developing new treatments for illnesses affecting veterans who served in the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991. The research incorporates recommendations of the department's Gulf

  • August is National Immunization Awareness Month

    Air Force medical officials are encouraging Airmen, their families and all beneficiaries to raise their personal awareness of immunization health during National Immunization Awareness Month in August. Vaccines are one of the best public health interventions for the prevention of infectious

  • Wounded warriors complete 'Sea to Shining Sea' journey

    A group of wounded veterans amassed at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco May 22 for a two-month cross country ride that ended July 24 in Virginia Beach, Va. The nearly 4,000-mile trek was called Sea to Shining Sea, and it showed 17 veterans who've overcome life-changing injuries such as

  • Assistant vice chief attends POW/MIA dinner

    The Air Force's assistant vice chief of staff and director of the Air Staff represented the service at the 41st annual National League of Families of American POW/MIAs Annual Dinner July 22 in Arlington, Va.The League of Families held its 41st annual meeting July 21 through 24 and sponsored the

  • DOD, VA officials committed to wounded warrior care

    Caring for wounded and injured servicemembers is among the highest priorities for officials within the Defense Department, the acting deputy assistant defense secretary for clinical and program policy told Congress today. Dr. Jack Smith, a medical doctor, testified before the House Committee on

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits key to recruiting and retention

    Proposed changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would improve military readiness, a senior Pentagon official said July 21 at a Capitol Hill hearing.Robert E. Clark, assistant director for accessions policy in the office of the defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness, also said education

  • Cancer survivor takes on challenge of open road

    A C-130 Hercules flight engineer with more than 700 deployed flying hours who is also a cancer survivor is riding his bike 4,000 miles across the U.S.Senior Airman Brian Petras from the 50th Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., is participating in the Sea to Shining Sea ride hosted

  • Air Force Deployment Transition Center welcomes premier class

    After six months of a combat deployment, followed by two straight days of travel, a 31-member explosive ordnance disposal team waited at the Ramstein Air Base baggage claim July 2 unsure of what the next three days would bring.Some of the EOD team members from the 755th Air Expeditionary Squadron in

  • Seven WWII Airmen buried at Arlington National Cemetery

    The remains of seven Airmen missing in action from World War II were buried July 15 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.The Airmen are Capt. Joseph M. Olbinski, Chicago; 1st Lt. Joseph J. Auld, Floral Park, N.Y.; 1st Lt. Robert M. Anderson, Millen, Ga.; Tech. Sgt. Clarence E.

  • Outreach 'essential' to suicide prevention, official says

    Preventing suicide among servicemembers and veterans calls for comprehensive education and communication, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said here July 14.Testifying before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Army Col. Robert

  • VA eases claims process for veterans with PTSD

    The Veterans Affairs Department will publish a final regulation July 13 intended to ease the claims process and improve access to health care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The new rule, to be published in the Federal Register, will relax the evidence requirement if the PTSD