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  • Labor Department officials award $5 million to aid homeless veterans

    Labor Department officials are awarding more than $5 million in grants to help homeless female veterans and veterans with families find jobs and work toward a "bright future," the secretary of labor announced June 30."Millions of hard-working, responsible families are at risk of losing their homes

  • Air Force trauma care center consolidates with Army

    As part of the move to the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center, the Air Force's only level 1 trauma center, will discontinue trauma care beginning July 1.All severely injured trauma patients from San Antonio, Bexar and surrounding counties, and South Texas, will go to

  • Tricare officials implement new formulary search tool

    Beneficiaries and providers can use the new Tricare formulary search tool to find the most up-to-date information about prescription medications.Located at http://pec.ha.osd.mil/formulary_search.php, the new formulary search tool allows beneficiaries to easily find which medicines are in the uniform

  • New medallion available for marking veterans' graves in private cemeteries

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced June 29 that the Department of Veterans Affairs is offering bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased's status as a veteran. "For veterans not buried in a national or state veterans

  • Intrepid Center merges art, science for brain treatment

    When National Intrepid Center of Excellence officials opened the center's doors here last week, the sense of hope in reversing the rising tide of brain injuries and psychological illness in servicemembers was palpable. From its warm design and family-friendly amenities to its best-in-the-world

  • Air Force takes steps against suicides

    The Air Force vice chief of staff testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee June 22 to address steps the service is taking to stem the rising suicide numbers. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, in testimony alongside the other service vice chiefs and the assistant commandant of the Marine

  • Services work to learn more about brain ailments, suicides

    Post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and suicides among servicemembers are interrelated problems requiring holistic prevention methods and more scientific study, military leaders told a Senate panel June 22. "The reality is, the study of the brain is an emerging science, and there still is

  • Services, VA use technology for stress, resilience outreach

    Officials from the military services and the Veterans Health Administration of the Veterans Affairs Department increasingly use digital technology to reach out to identify and treat servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The second-ranking officers of each

  • Scott agencies join to test new airframe

    More than 20 Airmen from Scott Air Force Base continued production qualification testing on the C-27J Spartan here June 8 and 9. The C-27J was originally an Army development program until April 2009 when Defense Secretary Robert Gates shifted the program to the Air Force. As such, Air Force-specific

  • Air Force officials discuss mental health options, confidentiality

    Airmen in need of psychological intervention or counseling have myriad options available through a number of Air Force programs, officials said here June 16.Although psychological screening occurs throughout an Airman's career by way of annual preventive health assessments and post-deployment

  • Special tactics squadron double amputee makes historic jump

    Air Force history was made June 15, when a wounded warrior from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron became the first active-duty double amputee to successfully participate in a personnel drop.Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows, along with 39 of his co-workers, conducted a practice parachute jump from a C-17

  • Departments cooperate on electronic health records

    The nation may never become entirely "paperless" in the way it documents patient medical records, but the military and veterans health care communities are on the right path and have the technologies in place to one day be very close, officials said last week."There was a time that we didn't have

  • Veteran wheelchair games begin July 4 in Denver

    More than 500 wheelchair athletes who are all military veterans are headed to Denver to begin competition at the 30th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The event, presented each year by officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, runs July 4 through July

  • HUD allocates $58 million to help homeless veterans

    A program announced last week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide $58.6 million to get homeless veterans off the streets this year. Vouchers will be provided to some 8,000 displaced veterans and their families across the country through the department's Veterans

  • Medal of Honor recipients promote mental-health support

    Twenty-eight Medal of Honor recipients recently launched the "Medal of Honor - Speak Out" campaign to encourage servicemembers struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other health problems to take advantage of services to help them. The Air Force, Army, Navy and

  • VA secretary announces new hotline for homeless veterans

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced June 3 the establishment of a new telephone hotline to provide emergency support and resources to homeless veterans. He made the announcement as he toured the facility at the VA medical center in Canandaigua."It is unacceptable for a single

  • Vietnam combat lessons apply today, Mullen says

    The military's top officer called on Vietnam veterans to stay connected with today's servicemembers, saying their lessons learned, especially with post-traumatic stress disorder, can help veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made

  • Servicemember care tops nation's obligations, Biden says

    Caring for servicemembers is the nation's "one truly sacred obligation," Vice President Joe Biden said May 25 here during a dinner for wounded warriors."We have one truly sacred obligation: to prepare and equip those in harm's way and to care for them when they come home," Mr. Biden said to about 50

  • National Veterans Golden Age Games set to begin

    Hundreds of veterans from around the nation are making their way to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the 24th National Veterans Golden Age Games, the largest annual sports competition of its kind in the world. The events run from May 26 through 31."This extraordinary event is a true testament to the

  • Panel discusses post-traumatic stress

    As the frequency and length of military deployments increase, servicemembers and their families are faced with challenges associated with deployment and combat.Building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning servicemembers and veterans are important steps in

  • Program links troops with career resources

    As the United States' economic crisis lingers, returning veterans are finding it harder to translate the skills they have learned on the battlefields onto a resume, but some employers are working with the military to bridge the gap.Staff members with the Employer Partnership Office of the Armed

  • Air Force chief of staff visits School of Aerospace Medicine

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer toured the 711th Human Performance Wing's U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks City-Base, Texas, May 13.During his visit, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz reflected on the 92-year history of the school and the unique training and

  • Warrior Games closing marks new beginning

    The 2010 Warrior Games may have ended May 14, but for the wounded warriors who competed here this week, their work is just beginning, officials hope."You've just completed a rigorous test of your physical and mental skills, your strength and endurance," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint

  • Air Force earns 12 medals in track and field

    The Air Force Warrior Games team won 12 medals during the track and field events at the U.S. Air Force Academy here May 14. The track and field team won five gold, five silvers and two bronzes. Matt Sanders, a former staff sergeant, led the team with three medals, a gold in the 400 meter and 200

  • Air Force spikers take Warrior Games bronze

    The Air Force team bounced back from a loss to Army in sitting volleyball competition at the inaugural Warrior Games here May 13, ultimately earning the bronze medal.The team went 3-0 in preliminary play and matched up against an Army squad in the semifinals. The match went to three games with the

  • AFOTEC members support deployed Airmen with care packages

    Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center members put together care packages for the organization's deployed members May 7 here."The AFOTEC Key Spouse program initiated the care package program to ensure deployed members are taken care of as we continue to support their efforts and help

  • Air Force team earns first gold in Warrior Games

    The Air Force Warrior Games team earned two medals, including their first gold, in cycling May 13 at the U.S. Air Force Academy here. Senior Master Sgt. Michael Sanders took gold in the 10-kilometer recumbent bike race smoking the competition with a time of 24:03, six minutes ahead of the second

  • Trauma research team works to improve battlefield injury outcomes

    As American military members and their coalition partners fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, medics from these same countries work in collaboration to treat their battlefield wounds in theater hospitals.Combat zone injuries have changed over the years, with improved body armor protecting vital

  • Former Air Force medic participates in Warrior Games

    As a former firefighter, emergency medical technician and Air Force aeromedical evacuation Airman, retired Staff Sgt. Ricky Tackett dedicated his life to taking care of others. As a member of the Air Force team participating in the inaugural Warrior Games, people, his teammates, continue to be his

  • Air Force volleyball team remains undefeated

    The Air Force sitting volleyball team took down two Army teams May 11 and May 12 to finish undefeated in pool play and advance to the semifinals at the Warrior Games here. With only a week and a day of formal practice, Nicki Marino, the volleyball head coach, said her team stuck to the basics, which

  • Photo essay: Warrior Games basketball begins

    Team Air Force prepares for wheelchair basketball, at the Warrior Games competition here May 11. Warrior Games will be held from May 10 through May 14.View the slideshow.

  • Airmen help save lives by donating platelets

    Military members at Kandahar Airfield have a chance to help fellow servicemembers by donating blood platelets.The aphersis clinic at the Role 3 hospital uses a unique process to extract blood platelets from donors. Platelets are one of three basic components of human blood."Our mission is to collect

  • Despite illness Warrior Games Airman rolls on

    Former Staff Sgt. Jeanne Goldy-Sanitate used to be referred to as "our lady of perpetual motion." A broken back and Multiple Sclerosis may have slowed her down, but at 54 years old, she's still rolling. Ms. Goldy-Sanitate, known as Jersey Jeanne to her teammates, will be shooting, swimming and

  • Olympic path marks troops' journeys to fulfilled dreams

    The ceremony began much as any typical military procession does; with troops called to formation."I need a four-man front. Give me a four-man front," yelled a platoon leader.The troops joked and shifted, jostling about and adjusting spacing."Everybody in this row right here, shift back one," the

  • Warrior Games Airman attributes survival to active lifestyle

    Before a motorcycle accident in 2008, Staff Sgt. Richard Pollock II lived in the gym. He was a competitive body builder, a lean 235 pounds with only 10 percent body fat. In August 2008, Sergeant Pollock was on his way to work on his motorcycle when he collided with a car that ran through a stop

  • Running for wounded warriors

    Members of the 4th Force Support Squadron here hosted a Wounded Warrior Project half marathon and 10-kilometer race May 1 that was open to the local community. The event raised money for and awareness of the project, which helps honor and empower wounded servicemembers. The Wounded Warrior

  • Motorcycle champions rev up safe riding message

    Pentagon officials hosted their fourth annual motorcycle safety event May 8 here to rev up interest in learning the right way to ride.World-class riders including Keith Code, the director of the California Superbikes School, and Jeff Tilten, the co-producer of the safety film "Semper Ride," came out

  • Warrior Games team completes training, ready to compete

    Members of the Air Force team competing in the inaugural Warrior Games here completed their final week of training May 7. The 17 wounded, ill and injured Air Force team members will compete against Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Sailors May 10 through 14. The teams will compete in a variety

  • Chairman tells servicemembers it's okay to get help

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff wants service members to know it is okay to get help for behavioral health-related conditions. In a new video spotlighting Tricare's behavioral health care benefits, Adm. Mike Mullen sends a strong message to servicemembers struggling with feelings of

  • Warrior Games to include pentathlon ultimate challenge

    The inaugural Warrior Games competition May 10 through 14 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., will feature individual and team events and an ultimate champion multi-sport challenge for a Chairman's Cup trophy. During a "DOD Live" bloggers roundtable May 6, Robert E. Moore

  • Surgeon commends benefits of tech advances, joint efforts, AFSO 21

    Technological advances, joint efforts and a focus on Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century have led to great strides in military combat and peacetime healthcare, said Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Richard A. "Rick" Hersack, the command surgeon of the Air Force Materiel Command.In the technological

  • Chaplains discuss suicide prevention

    Air Combat Command chaplains gathered April 27 through 29 to discuss the problem of suicide during a Comprehensive Airman Fitness conference in Newport News, Va. During the conference, Dr. Thomas Joiner, the event's keynote speaker, shared his concern about the pandemic of suicide. "Worldwide, over

  • Yellow Ribbon event provides rest, eases redeployment

    Rest and relaxation mixed with reintegration seminars and veteran resources, coupled with plenty of chocolate was the theme for the 60-day Yellow Ribbon Event April 16 to 18 at Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa.Yellow Ribbon coordinators from the 514th Air Mobility Wing planned this event for more than

  • Air Force senior leaders break ground for special Fisher House at Dover

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, and Ken Fisher, Fisher House Foundation chairman, participated in a special groundbreaking ceremony May 1 for a Fisher House on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Although this is the 53rd Fisher House to be built,

  • Airmen send wounded cyclists off at White House

    More than 200 Airmen and uniformed members from across the services gathered on the White House's south lawn April 27 to give wounded servicemembers a send-off as they began a bike trip from the nation's capital to Annapolis, Md.The White House to the Lighthouse Challenge, the fourth such trek

  • Fisher House groundbreaking ceremony set May 1

    The groundbreaking ceremony for the Fisher House and Meditation Pavilion for the Families of the Fallen at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center is scheduled for May 1here.AFMAO members will direct the Fisher House as it provides free on-base lodging for families who come here to witness

  • Avatar project seeks to help military amputees

    In the movie "Avatar," Jake Sully, a former Marine who lost the use of both legs in combat, climbs into a vessel that magically restores his body when he assumes a new, 10-foot-tall avatar identity.A new project being funded through the Advanced Army Medical Technology Initiative promises to bring

  • Mullen appeals to philanthropists to assist veterans

    The military's top officer turned to America's philanthropic community April 27 to help military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan avoid the devastation of substance abuse, mental illness and homelessness.Community non-profit groups are the answer to meeting veterans' needs after they've left the

  • Combat photographer to compete in Warrior Games

    Not once, but twice. Twice, in 2004 and 2007, a combat photographer who was assigned to the 1st Combat Camera Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., was wounded in Iraq.It was her combat wounds in 2007 that caused retired Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall to give up her dream as a combat photographer

  • Official urges Gulf War vets to seek VA care

    Gulf War veterans with medical symptoms should seek treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs in light of a recent study stating Gulf War service is a cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, a senior military health system official said April 25 here.If Gulf War veterans seek care

  • Warrior Games approaching fast

    With fewer than three weeks to go, the Air Force team is making preparations for the Department of Defense's inaugural Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 10th through the 14th.What started as an e-mail from one athlete asking questions about the upcoming event turned into a process of

  • VA officials strive to prevent veteran suicides

    With more than 6,000 veterans committing suicide every year, and 98 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan taking their own lives during fiscal 2009 alone,  Department of Veterans Affairs officials are redoubling their outreach to veterans and promoting the toll-free suicide-prevention hotline. National

  • Better prosthetics coming for wounded warriors

    From developing a new microprocessor-controlled prosthetic leg to a non-chafing socket device, the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center here is making big strides in advancing prosthetic science to improve wounded warriors' quality of life.The center reaches out to a broad spectrum

  • Air Force officials announce AFAF competition winners

    Air Force officials have announced their Group 1 winners of the annual Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign, which provides Airmen the opportunity to contribute to four official Air Force charitable organizations.The campaign, which started Feb. 8 and runs until May 7, features

  • VA officials mark 85 years of 'discovery, innovation and advancement'

    Eighty-five years of enriching the lives of veterans and all Americans through top-notch medical research will be spotlighted April 26 through 30 when members of the Department of Veterans Affairs celebrate National VA Research Week.On April 22, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott Gould

  • Wounded warrior to compete at Warrior Games

    Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr. laid in a hospital bed at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio after an improvised explosive device left 80 percent of his body covered in third-degree burns in December 2005.He was missing fingers from both hands and had severe inhalation burns when doctors told

  • Capital-area medical centers set for reorganization

    With a reorganization of units overseeing military medicine in the national capital area under way, interim steps are in place to maintain good care and emergency preparedness during the transition.As part of a Base Realignment and Closure Commission action announced in 2007, Walter Reed Army

  • Mullen reaches out to local communities on behalf of veterans

    Investing in America's military veterans through education and employment opportunities will benefit local communities greatly, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during the World Leader's Forum at Columbia University here April 18. Columbia University is the first of

  • Balad becomes divert base for wounded troops

    Senior U.S. Air Forces Central Command medical officers have temporarily named Joint Base Balad as the new hub for all aeromedical evacuations following worldwide air travel disruptions caused by ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruptions. The Air Force Theater Hospital received its first

  • Keesler chief to compete in Warrior Games

    A chief master sergeant here is one of only 20 Airmen and Air Force veterans to participate in the inaugural Warrior Games, May 10 through 14, in Colorado Springs, Colo.Chief Master Sgt. Damian Orslene, the 81st Training Support Squadron superintendent, will represent the Air Force and compete with

  • Military's top doctors discuss centers of excellence

    The military's top doctors were on Capitol Hill April 13 to give their assessment of the Defense Department's Medical Centers of Excellence, four hospital centers they say are on their way to becoming the best in the world for research and treatment.Dr. Charles L. Rice, assistant secretary of

  • Cancer survivor to compete in Warrior Games

    It's been two years and three months since Senior Master Sgt. Michael Sanders overcame an aggressive form of cancer. Despite undergoing extensive treatment and recovery efforts, Sergeant Sanders has made sure to keep fitness a part of his lifestyle, achieving perfect scores on physical training

  • First lady visits Pentagon, salutes military families, wounded warriors

    First lady Michelle Obama visited the Pentagon April 9 to thank military members, their families and civilians for their ongoing sacrifices in service to the nation.Defense Secretary Robert Gates introduced Mrs. Obama, who emerged before hundreds of spectators in the Pentagon courtyard. "She

  • Academy, VA team up for ambulatory surgery services

    A $14-million cooperative venture between officials from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Department of Veterans Affairs, funded by the Department of Defense and VA's Joint Incentive Fund, will bring much-needed ambulatory surgical care to veterans in southern Colorado.Medical procedures for

  • VA official emphasizes addressing mental health issues early

    Close collaboration between Defense and Veterans Affairs department officials, plus proactive military screening policies are helping to identify and treat mental-health issues in returning combat veterans before they escalate into more serious, long-term problems, said the Veteran Affairs

  • Chaplain provides ministry to Airmen in combat area

    As the final rotation of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group chaplain office draws to a close, the two-person team went on a final mission to neighboring forward operating bases around Baghdad International Airport.Although the purpose of this last trip was to provide pastoral care and help facilitate

  • Combat stress team strives to connect

    Maj. Kim Floyd and Senior Airman Jessica Delgado just want to talk. Major Floyd, a psychologist deployed from the 92nd Medical Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and Airman Delgado, a mental health technician deployed from the 5th Medical Group at Minot AFB, N.D., make up the Combat Stress

  • Veterans Affairs officials tackle root causes of homelessness

    No one who has ever served the United States in uniform should ever end up living on the street, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki insisted. So he and VA officials are committed to ending homelessness among America's veterans within the next five years, and said he's already seeing signs

  • Shinseki vows to reduce VA's claims backlog

    Prioritizing the work ahead shortly after his first anniversary on the job, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said his focus for the year ahead is on reducing the disability claims backlog. "We are going to break the back of the backlog this year," Secretary Shinseki said during an

  • Brothers in arms reunited for the first time

    Retired Staff Sgt. Brian Isenhour and retired Airman 1st Class Brandon Gauvreau had never met each other before, but the two had more in common than they knew.Both incurred traumatic brain injuries while on active duty and both attended the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in

  • Eight coaches selected for Warrior Games

    Air Force officials recently announced the names of eight Air Force members selected to coach the 2010 Air Force team for Department of Defense's inaugural Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 10 to 14."We received an overwhelming response from hundreds of people interested in coaching

  • VA secretary releases draft Gulf War task force report

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced March 31 that the department's Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Task Force has completed the final draft of a comprehensive report that will redefine how VA officials address the concerns of veterans who deployed during the Gulf War in 1990 and

  • Assistant VA secretary, U.S. Olympians join veterans on ski slopes

    The assistant secretary for Veterans Affairs and two U.S. Olympic athletes joined each other on the slopes during the 24th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic March 31 here.VA Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth, Bode Miller and Casey Puckett skied with the veterans as part of the

  • New sexual assault response program created at Sheppard AFB

    A program is now in place that gives Airmen in Training here a bigger role in sexual assault prevention and response.Officials with the 82nd Training Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office recently created the Air Force's first student advocate program. Students against Sexual Assault and

  • An Air Force veteran's story: From combat controller to Paralympian

    In the blink of an eye your life can change forever.That's exactly what happened to Sean Halsted when he fell 40 feet to the ground while fast roping from a helicopter during a training mission at Hurlburt Field, Fla. He went from an active-duty combat controller to a U.S. Paralympian in the 2010

  • Clinic provides disabled vets pathway to paralympics

    Air Force veteran Sean Halsted was a decent skier before he fell 40 feet out of a helicopter while on a fast rope during a search-and-rescue training exercise in 1998. Paralyzed from the waist down, he feared his active days were behind him. Three years after his accident, Mr. Halsted reluctantly

  • Luke Airmen volunteer to assist disabled veterans at winter sports clinic

    Seven Airmen volunteers from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., are here primarily to help transport disabled veterans during the 24th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic March 28 through April 2.  But they also are assisting in other areas as the need arises.The winter sports clinic promotes

  • Shinseki urges disabled vets to conquer mountain, doubts

    Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki opened the 24th Annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here March 28, encouraging participants to conquer the mountain and prove to themselves what they're able to achieve.Secretary Shinseki challenged more than 400 disabled veterans

  • 20 athletes selected for Warrior Games

    Air Force officials here recently announced the names of 20 athletes selected for Department of Defense's Warrior Games May 10 through 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo.Wounded, ill and injured active duty, Guard and Reserve members, as well as retired members and veterans from the Army, Marine Corps,

  • VA officials propose change to aid veterans exposed to Agent Orange

    More than 100,000 veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to qualify for disability pay under a proposed regulation published by Department of Veterans Affairs officials that adds three new illnesses to the list of health problems found to be

  • Theater hospital wall preserves memory, sacrifice

    The 20-by 30-foot flag thousands of patients have passed under on their way to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Joint Base Balad often is photographed in military circles. But lesser known, though no less poignant, are the walls of the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility's recreation room.

  • 'Today's Air Force' features taking care of Airmen

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the Air Force takes care of Airmen, while encouraging them to take care of themselves. Plus, with troops from more than 40 nations fighting alongside U.S. Airmen in Afghanistan, bilateral training is as important as ever. Find out how Airmen are teaming up

  • VA officials set to kick off winter sports clinic

    More than 400 injured veterans have signed up to take part in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., the largest adaptive event of its kind in the world, scheduled from March 28 through April 2."This VA winter clinic is an extension of the superb

  • Chief of chaplains announces corps' annual award winners

    The Air Force chief of chaplains recently announced the chaplain corps' 2009 annual awards. "All nominees are to be applauded for their amazing performance and exceptional dedication to duty," said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil R. Richardson. "But the accomplishments of the winners exemplified first

  • New members appointed to VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has appointed six new members to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises Department of Veterans Affairs officials on a wide array of issues affecting women veterans."VA remains committed to providing quality, timely care

  • New protocol to provide early brain injury detection

    Defense Department officials are rolling out a new set of guidelines for the treatment of mild traumatic brain injury among servicemembers in combat areas. "We're morphing from a symptom-based approach in theater to an incident-based approach," a senior official said March 15 during a "DoDLive"

  • Blood platelet donations vital in deployed environment

    When a servicemember is critically injured in Iraq or Afghanistan and in need of a blood transfusion, it is the responsibility of technicians in the 932nd Blood Support Detachment here to ensure units of blood platelets are collected and shipped out to the caretakers tending to the wounded. Medical

  • Policy to mandate head injury evaluations

    Defense Department officials said they expect to launch a new policy in the coming months that will make head-injury evaluations mandatory for all servicemembers who may have concussions. The current guidelines for treating servicemembers with such injuries allows for them to come forward on their

  • Latest issue of Airman magazine available

    In the latest issue of Airman magazine, the "Ghostwalkers," Airmen with a unique mission hone their skills for action outside the wire.Whether they are called to secure a captured airfield or provide force protection in a combat zone, these security forces warriors depend on each other. Intensive

  • VA secretary seeks improved Agent Orange claims process

    Veterans Affairs officials announced March 9 an aggressive new initiative to solicit private-sector input on a proposed fast-track Veterans' claims process for service-connected presumptive illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. "This will be a new way of doing business and a

  • Air Force mortuary staff ensures dignity, honor for fallen

    Under a deluge of rain, the 757 touched down here late at night, returning Army Staff Sgt. Michael David P. Cardenaz home. He had been killed just a few days before in an enemy attack in Afghanistan. With family and friends near, an Army carry team marched in slow, measured steps to the aircraft,

  • 'Dot Mil Docs' celebrates 100th episode

    Dot Mil Docs, the Military Health System's official podcast, celebrates its 100th episode this week. Dot Mil Docs is a weekly audio podcast that features military medical professionals and other military health experts from across the DOD. The program upholds the Military Health System's commitment

  • Defense secretary asks entire department to reinforce trust

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called on every member of the Defense Department to play a personal role in creating a secure environment that will help to prevent more tragedies like the Nov. 5 shooting rampage that left 13 people dead at Fort Hood, Texas. Secretary Gates issued a memo March

  • DOD board to reassess service disability ratings

    Recommendations from a congressionally directed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review resulted in 61 percent of applicants having their status changed from a medical separation to retirement on the permanent disability list, said Michael LoGrande, president of the PDBR.PDBR

  • Brain Injury Awareness Month highlights facts about head trauma

    Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, has been labeled a "signature injury" of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also occurs in non-combat settings in association with motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, assaults and falls. In 2009, Department of Defense officials reported 20,199

  • Doctors perform military first hand transplant

    A group of military and civilian doctors performed a historic surgical procedure at Wilford Hall Medical Center here Feb. 17.  They transplanted a human hand from one woman to another.The patient is the first female and only the 10th person in the United States to undergo this surgery. This also is

  • Analysis program focuses on preventing combat injuries

    Every time a servicemember is killed or wounded in combat, it sets off a sweeping process aimed at identifying what happened, who perpetrated it and how it might have been prevented, and instituting changes to reduce the likelihood of it being repeated.The Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of

  • National Resource Directory offers single Web site for wounded warriors

    Officials with the federal departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor and Defense unveiled an improved Web site for wounded warriors Feb. 26. "VA is committed to tapping into the full powers of the Internet to provide accurate, timely, easy to find and easy to understand information that improves the

  • VA officials announce funding for polytrauma center in San Antonio

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced the award of two contracts totaling $41.5 million to create a polytrauma center for the care of the most severely injured veterans and to improve the existing wards at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center in San Antonio."A top priority for VA is