CYBER PHYSICAL THERAPY BEING TRIED BY VETERANS

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Veterans will be first to try cyber physical therapy
High-speed research networks help scientists develop and deploy future health technologies

The Internet has been transformational, changing how we communicate with friends and family, how we shop, and more recently, how we heal. Physical therapy is the latest treatment to be offered as telemedicine, with an experimental system now connecting specialists to patients to provide help they otherwise couldn't get, aiding recovery from serious ailments, from broken limbs to stroke.

In an effort to connect physical therapy with wounded veterans far from treatment facilities, researchers from the University of Texas (UT) at Dallas have developed a rehabilitation system that uses real-time video, 3-D computer-generated worlds and force-feedback "haptic" devices to re-create a physical therapy session between a patient and a therapist, all at long distance over high-speed networks.

The team demonstrated the system at the Beyond Today's Internet Summit in March 2015. Organized by US Ignite and the Global Environment for Networking Innovations (GENI), two groups dedicated to advancing the frontiers of the Internet, the event showed what new capabilities are possible with ultra-high-speed, "smart", programmable networks.

Powerful Internet brings powerful applications

Though the majority of U.S. citizens still have Internet connection speeds in the tens of megabits per second, through the GENI and US Ignite programs, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, researchers, experts and some communities are able to access gigabit networks with speeds 40-100 times faster than standard networks.

For 3-D tele-rehabilitation to be lifelike and effective requires the system to have virtually no lag-time--or latency, in networking lingo--between action and reaction.

"To transfer all of this data requires a bandwidth greater than 100 megabits per second, which we currently can't do over the Internet," said Karthik Venkataraman, a Ph.D. student working on the computer-enabled health technologies in computer scientist Balakrishnan Prabhakaran's Multimedia Systems Lab at UT Dallas."GENI and US Ignite provide the bandwidth and low latency that is required by these kinds of applications."

Reach out and touch someone

Every year, physical therapists help millions of people recover from the debilitating impacts of strokes, injuries and a range of other ailments--but not everyone has access to a treatment facility or a physical therapy professional.

"We're trying to virtualize a physical therapy session in which a patient and a therapist cannot be present at the same location," explained Venkataraman.

To bring the tele-rehabilitation to life, the system uses Microsoft Kinect to create 3-D, real-time models of the patient and the doctor. The models then join a shared virtual environment, a computer-generated space customized by the participants.

To simulate the touch aspect of the physical therapy session, the patient responds to a touch-sensitive "haptic" arm controlled by the therapist via a paired haptic device.

At the summit, the team demonstrated a physical therapy session in which two individuals practice sawing a log, a task that mimics the movements used by recovering stroke patients. The participants feel both the resistance of the log and the guiding movements of their partner, just as would occur at an in-person therapy session.

The researchers say this is just one example of what can be achieved with next-generation networks that support high-bandwidth and low-latency communication. The team is also working on extending the tele-rehabilitation system so one therapist or physician can work with multiple patients at the same time.

"This scaled-up version will ensure privacy in the sense that the patients will not be able to see other patients. Only the therapist will be able to view and monitor multiple patients," said Prabhakaran Balakrishnan, the lead researcher on the project. "The therapist will also be able to pick one patient and work with him or her on a one-to-one basis."

In collaboration with Thiru Annaswamy, a physician and assistant professor of medicine, the 3-D tele-rehabilitation system will be deployed at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center and used to help rehabilitate disabled veterans, with field trials beginning in June.

"If the patient and the therapist cannot be in the same location," Venkataraman said, "we still want to be able to give that virtual experience of him or her being together with the therapist in the same room."

-- Aaron Dubrow, (
Investigators
Balakrishnan Prabhakaran
Ovidiu Daescu
Mark Spong
Xiaohu Guo
Gopal Gupta
Dinesh Bhatia
Roozbeh Jafari
Related Institutions/Organizations
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center

VIETNAM VETERANS AND PTSD

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
PTSD and Vietnam Veterans: A Lasting Issue 40 Years Later -

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as having flashbacks, upsetting memories, and anxiety following a traumatic event. It was first officially recognized as a mental health condition in 1980, only five years after the end of the Vietnam War. For hundreds of years, these symptoms have been described under different names in soldiers from many wars. However, Vietnam Veterans with these symptoms were the first to have the term ‘PTSD’ applied to them. Despite the passage of 50 years since the war, for some Vietnam Veterans, PTSD remains a chronic reality of everyday life. In 1983, Congress requested that VA conduct a study on the prevalence of PTSD and other postwar psychological problems among Vietnam Veterans. This was the first study to evaluate the prevalence of PTSD among Veterans, and became known as the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). The NVVRS brought greater attention to the issue of PTSD as it found that as many as 15 percent of Veterans had PTSD.

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO: President Obama Signs the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Vete...

VA ON COUNTING HOMELESSNESS VETERANS AND FINDING THEM A HOME

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
Counting Every Veteran on the Way to Ending Homelessness
January 28, 2015, 10:34:00 AM
Counting Every Veteran on the Way to Ending Homelessness
VA Leaders Join Community Partners and Volunteers in Nation-wide Homeless Count

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald is taking a firsthand look at the issue of homelessness among Veterans by participating in this year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count in Los Angeles, California. The PIT Count typically takes place in locations around the country during the month of January.

Secretary McDonald remains committed to the goal of eliminating Veteran homelessness. The January 2014 PIT Count revealed that 49,993 Veterans were homeless on a single night representing a 33-percent decline in homelessness among Veterans since 2010.  In FY 2014 alone, through VA’s various homeless programs, more than 72,000 Veterans and their family members were placed in permanent housing or prevented from becoming homeless.

“There is no question that the goal to end Veteran homelessness is within reach, and we remain laser-focused on it,” said Secretary McDonald. “Ending Veteran homelessness in America is more than hitting a number, it’s about helping communities put a system in place that can house every Veteran experiencing homelessness today and prevent it in the future. I am so heartened that over 440 mayors, governors, county executives and other local officials have joined us and are committed to ending Veteran homelessness in their communities. We will continue our work until all Veterans have a place to call home.”

By estimating the number of homeless Veterans, the PIT Count gauges progress in achieving President Obama and VA’s goal of ending Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.  Annual data from the PIT Count also assists VA staff and partner agencies in targeting homeless resources where they are needed most.
VA has a wide range of programs that prevent and end homelessness among Veterans, including health care, housing solutions, job training and education. Also since 2010 there has been nearly 43-percent reduction in unsheltered homeless Veterans.

As part of VA’s continued commitment to ending Veteran homelessness, Secretary McDonald, has directed his senior VA leaders to take part in this year’s count in cities across the United States and learn how the organizations they lead can continue to support VA’s efforts to end Veteran homelessness.  Twenty senior VA leaders will participate in PIT counts everywhere from New York to California to places in between.

The PIT Count is led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year to estimate the number of Americans, including Veterans, who are homeless.

As a result of VA’s work with HUD, as well as the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and other federal, state and local partners, significant progress has been made since VA’s initiative to end Veteran homelessness began in 2010.

More information about VA’s homeless programs is available at www.va.gov/homeless. Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless should contact their local VA Medical Center and ask to speak to a homeless coordinator.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK SUPPORTS VET-OWNED BUSINESSES

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK 
Ex-Im Bank Supports Veteran-Owned Businesses as they Export Products Abroad and Support Jobs at Home

Washington, D.C. – As Veterans Day approaches, the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. remains proud to support veterans across all of the branches who continue to serve the nation by exporting quality, made-in-America goods and services abroad, while creating more jobs in local communities across the country.

“Veterans Day—as well as the Marines’ birthday on November 10th—affords us a wonderful opportunity to thank our veterans for their service, and to reaffirm our support for veteran-owned businesses as they seek out opportunities in the global marketplace,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “Those who bravely served our country, and returned home to start and run businesses, deserve to have reliable support standing behind them as they sell quality products and promote American economic leadership overseas—and Ex-Im Bank is proud to be a part of that support for countless veteran-owned businesses.”

The following veteran-owned small business success stories underscore the commitment the Bank has made to ensuring that those who sacrificed for this country are supported in turn. Ex-Im equips these businesses with the financing support needed to grow, win sales in global markets, and create good-paying American jobs.

Jeco Plastic Products, headquartered in Plainfield, Ind., sells custom high-tolerance pallets to customers abroad.

Jeco opened for business in 1973, but it did not start exporting until joining forces with Ex-Im Bank in 1999. Since then, Jeco has shipped products to Germany, Austria, Japan, Mexico, and Canada, among others.  The export growth, in turn, has led to the creation of 23 jobs and could very well lead to the creation of 27 more over the next two years. Approximately 65 percent of company sales are export related.

“Jeco has grown 300 percent since we started using Ex-Im Bank so we could offer open account terms to overseas customers,” said Craig Carson, owner and CEO of Jeco. “We anticipate an additional 300 percent growth from our existing base if we continue to have Ex-Im Bank support. We have routinely displaced low-cost alternatives from competitors in China on the basis of technology and kept the production base in the U.S. We could not have done this without Ex-Im Bank, and probably would not have survived the downturn in 2008 and 2009.”

Carson graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1968 and commanded an airborne infantry company in Vietnam.

Energy International Corporation (EIC), based in Canton, Mich., exports a variety of products that includes HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) electromechanical components, cooling towers, fire and smoke curtains, fire dampers, and industrial plumbing.

The company was founded in 1979 by Dr. Nassib Fawaz, a U.S. Army veteran, to meet a need for HVAC and electromechanical components for construction projects in the Middle East. Today the company employs 170 people, 18 of whom work in the company’s Canton office.

Since it started using Ex-Im Bank products in 1985, EIC has transacted more than $100 million in business over the years. Total revenue in 2013 amounted to nearly $15.7 million, and exports accounted for all of it.

“Plain and simple, without Ex-Im Bank we would not have been able to finance our export receivables,” said Fawaz. “Our sales have expanded by more than 100 percent since receiving Ex-Im Bank support.”

Surface Armor, a small business based in Rockwall, Texas, exports temporary surface protection films and tapes.

Founded in 2005 by a service disabled veteran who had served for seven years in the U.S. Air Force, the company now employs eight people. Since taking advantage of Ex-Im Bank financing in 2014, the company, which previously exported to Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Europe, has expanded its export reach to China. Due to Ex-Im Bank’s support, annual sales have grown by more than $100,000.

“Without credit insurance coverage from Ex-Im Bank, we would not have been able to provide credit terms to customers in China and would not gotten that business,” said Rick Pietrykowski, owner of Surface Armor. “Previously we could not offer foreign buyers favorable credit terms.”

100,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS PLEDGED TO VETERANS

FROM:  LABOR DEPARTMENT 
Construction industry pledges to hire more than 100,000 veterans in announcement with Joining Forces and US Labor Department

WASHINGTON — In an announcement today at A National Symposium: Veterans' Employment in Construction, hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor and Joining Forces, First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez celebrated a broad coalition of construction employers and associations that have collectively pledged to hire 100,000 veterans over the next five years.

Also at the announcement were representatives of the construction companies making these hiring commitments, veterans who have completed apprenticeships in the construction industry, and other leaders in the field.

In an op-ed running in this morning's Wall Street Journal, the First Lady writes:
"Today, more than 100 American construction companies came together to announce that they plan to hire more than 100,000 veterans within the next five years. They made this commitment not just because it's the patriotic thing to do, and not just because they want to repay our veterans for their service to our country, but because they know that it's the smart thing to do for their business."
"All men and women who have sacrificed for our country in our armed services deserve opportunities for good jobs worthy of their character and their achievements," said Secretary Perez. "The Department of Labor will do whatever it takes to help our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs, and I am inspired by the commitment displayed today by the construction industry and all our partners in helping to achieve that mission."

The construction industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years – outpacing the steady growth of the economy as a whole and helping to strengthen local communities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that construction is one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation, with job growth of more than 1.5 million jobs between now and 2022 – an annual growth rate of 2.6 percent.
Construction companies large and small – from national firms like Jacobs and Bechtel, to regional firms like Cianbro Construction, to local contractors and subcontractors across America – are stepping up to ensure their industry welcomes home the nation's heroes with good-paying jobs. More than 80 additional companies are committing their existing training and employment programs to fill new construction jobs with veterans.

The construction industry was represented at the announcement by executives of several participating companies, with Larry L. Melton, project executive for Bechtel and Marine Corps veteran delivering remarks. "Veterans are invaluable to the construction industry. Men and women who serve in the military often have the traits that are so critical to our success: agility, discipline, integrity, and the drive to get the job done right," Melton said. "Bechtel is passionate about supporting veterans and we continue to expand our efforts to hire transitioning military members."

Lori Sundberg, senior vice president of human resources at Jacobs also stated: "We are pleased to support programs that provide career opportunities for our military veterans. Many of the skills and abilities gained during military training and service are highly transferable to the skills we require to successfully serve our clients around the world. We are proud of the veterans working at Jacobs and appreciate their military service, their dedication, and the value they add to our company."

VA HEALTH CARE REPORT: UTILIZATION BY U.S. VETERANS

FROM:  VETERANS AFFAIRS 

VA Health Care Utilization by Recent Veterans
October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2013.

VA presents a report four times a year containing data on Veterans who have used VA health care and who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), or Operation New Dawn (OND).
Findings

Approximately 58 percent (998,004) of all separated OEF/OIF/OND Veterans have used VA health care since October 1, 2001.

Between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013, a total of 605,527 of these Veterans accessed VA health care.

The frequency and percent of the three most common diagnoses were: musculoskeletal ailments (590,485 or 59.2 percent); mental disorders (552,169 or 55.3 percent); and symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions (conditions that do not have an immediately obvious cause or isolated laboratory test abnormalities) (545,771 or 54.7 percent). A Veteran can have more than one diagnosis.
About the report

The VA health care utilization report is created by comparing a Department of Defense roster of returning Veterans to VA’s electronic inpatient and outpatient health records.

The data used in the report provide valuable information about Veterans who have accessed VA health care. The report does not represent all recent Veterans who have become eligible for VA health care, who have ever served in OEF, OIF, or OND, or who are currently serving in these conflicts.

Carefully designed epidemiology studies are required to answer specific questions about the health of all Veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE VIETNAM WAR

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
Army Launches 50th Anniversary Commemoration of Vietnam War
By J.D. Leipold
Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2013 - The afternoon in the Pentagon auditorium on Aug. 28 was a time for reflection on a war that spanned 10 years and cost the country the lives of more than 58,000 young men and women. It was also an occasion to honor and thank nine Vietnam War veterans who'd served a total of 14 tours in-country and 225 years in uniform.
Kicking off the Pentagon's first event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the conflict, Army Lt. Gen. Raymond V. Mason, deputy chief of staff for logistics, opened the ceremony recalling personal memories as well as his broader experiences as a young American citizen.
"I was a young Army brat and it was difficult for me to watch my dad come back after his third tour in Vietnam and not get treated appropriately, at least in my mind," Mason said. "I was just a pretty young guy at that time, but I could feel that it wasn't right. It struck me, and I knew if I ever had the opportunity to make that right I would do the best I could.

"Today, we are recognizing nine of our patriots and their families who stood up to the test of their generation and their decade," he continued. "I think it's well overdue. Nothing is more important than pausing and reflecting on the sacrifices of what these great men and women did and those who gave their last full measure."

On March 8, 1965, America's ground war in Vietnam began when 3,500 Marines were deployed with the American public's support. By Christmas, nearly 200,000 soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors were in the country. At war's end on April 30, 1975, nearly 3 million Americans had been on the ground, in the air and on rivers of Vietnam. More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives.

While the official 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be in 2015, the president and Congress requested the secretary of Defense to begin planning the Vietnam War commemoration in 2007.

The goal is to get more than 10,000 corporations, civic groups as well as government and community organizations to join as partners and help sponsor hometown events to honor Vietnam veterans, their families and those who were prisoners of war and missing in action.

To date, 4,921 commemorative partners have signed on, including Army logistics, or G-4, which became the first.

Following Mason's remarks, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell thanked him and his team for leading the way to celebrate the contributions of Vietnam veterans.

The son of an Air Force senior master sergeant, Campbell told of his years growing up on military bases around the world before attending West Point, and then recalled his first interaction with Vietnam veterans while a lieutenant in Germany.

"Both the battalion commanders were Vietnam veterans ... all the platoon sergeants, all the first sergeants, all the company commanders were Vietnam veterans," Campbell said. The vets, he said, instilled in him their hard-fought lessons-learned from Vietnam and wanted to make sure the young lieutenants and soldiers wouldn't make the same mistakes they had.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Claude "Mick" Kicklighter serves as director of the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration. During the Pentagon event he previewed the timeline of plans for honoring Vietnam veterans across the country over the next few years.

"Veterans of Valor," a 30-minute documentary with the nine honorees recalling humorous and somber anecdotes of their war experiences and interspersed with still photographs of themselves in Vietnam was also premiered.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAGEL ADDRESSES VFW NATIONAL CONVENTION

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
Hagel Calls on Vets to Partner in Reshaping Military
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2013 - Opening his address today to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention with a tribute to Korean War veterans, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called on the nation's 22 million veterans to become partners in helping the Defense Department work through "historic transition and change."

Every major conflict in U.S. history has been followed by a period of "realignment and redefinition," with "enormous ramifications and consequences for our entire defense enterprise," the secretary noted.

As the Defense Department undergoes the latest realignments and reshapes the military for the future, Hagel called on veterans "who helped build our military into the strongest, most capable and most respected on Earth" to help ensure it remains that way.

"All of us at the Pentagon, and across this administration, value your perspective and devotion to our military men and women," he told the group. "We will need your help and partnership as we manage through a period of historic transition and change.

"As I look out across this audience, I see thousands of veterans whose lives have been committed to helping our service members, their families and our veterans succeed, and to ensuring this country honors their legacy with policies that are worthy of their sacrifices," Hagel continued. "All of you, and the roughly 22 million veterans across this nation, have an important role to play in the debate over our country's future national security priorities."

Hagel pointed out that veterans of past wars depended on their elected representatives to ask the right questions and establish the proper policies before sending them into conflict. "You all have fought and put your lives on the line for this country," he said. "You did so with the expectation that you would be given the equipment, training and support you needed to succeed."

The secretary noted that many of the veterans, particularly those of the Korean War, have seen firsthand the human toll of sending a hollow force to war.

"Not one American should ever be ordered into battle without our leaders being as sure as they can be that their decision is worthy of the sacrifices that will be made by our sons and our daughters," he said.

The secretary began his address leading a thunderous applause for veterans of the Korean War whose service led to the armistice agreement signed 60 years ago this week. Hagel noted that he will join President Barack Obama and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki for a July 27 ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial here to commemorate the formal signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953.

The armistice agreement ended the fighting in a three-year conflict between North Korea and China and South Korea and United Nations forces led by the United States.

"The upcoming observance is a chance for the country to fully express its profound gratitude for your service and sacrifice," Hagel told the veterans. "The Korean War veterans here today, and all across the country, should know that your fellow citizens are proud of what you accomplished, and what your generation has contributed to our security and prosperity."

KOREAN WAR VETEANS HONORED WITH DISPLAY

 

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, center, Ahn Ho-young, South Korean ambassador to the United States, left, and Lewis M. "Lew" Ewing, national director of the Korean War Veterans Association, cut the ribbon June 18, 2013, to dedicate a new permanent display in the Pentagon to commemorate the Korean War. Hagel thanked Korean War veterans at the event for their service, and said the war and their service will never be forgotten. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Hagel Dedicates Pentagon Korean War Exhibit
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2013 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today dedicated what he called a "magnificent" permanent display in the Pentagon to honor veterans of the Korean War.

The display opened in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the 1953 armistice that ended hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, and of the U.S.-South Korean alliance.

"We not only acknowledge you, we thank you," Hagel said to Korean War veterans who attended the dedication of the display, located on the first floor of the Pentagon's "A" ring. "We assure you that through this dedication today, your efforts and your noble cause will live on. You have helped shape history in a unique and magnificent way."

The exhibit comprises a collection of photographs, videos, weapons and other artifacts of the Korean War. It also highlights the advancements of women, medicine and technology and the integration of African-Americans into the U.S. military.

"The Korean War has been known in this country too long as 'The Forgotten War,'" Ahn Ho-young, South Korea's ambassador to the United States, said at the dedication ceremony. "We should change it to 'The Forgotten Victory.'"

Since the war, South Korea has made significant economic progress and a transition to democracy, Ahn said, and has an important role in global issues. "[The war] was a victory and must not be forgotten," he added.

Echoing Ahn, Hagel said the South Korean people have come far in many ways.

"I know of no other nation that has done as much in such a little bit of time to improve their people and the region, and I know of no country [that is] a better ally to the United States than the Republic of Korea," the secretary said. "We are grateful for this relationship, [and] ... what anchors it ... is that special bond of people wanting a better life, who are willing to risk anything for it."

Referencing his recent trip to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, Hagel emphasized how the 60-year bilateral relationship between the United States and South Korea was evident in the two nations' relationships with Japan, the Philippines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Chinese and European allies.

"This special relationship is bigger than just the Korean Peninsula or the North Asia region," the secretary said. "It has affected the world."

The secretary said he is particularly proud of the Americans who left their cities and towns and "went far away to a very bloody conflict in a distant land, where very few knew a lot about the Korean Peninsula." Yet when the veterans returned home to the United States, he added, little acknowledgment of their service awaited them.

"Very few people knew where Korea was," he said. "But ... it was just as important in any conflict we've been in. The Republic of Korea still plays a key role as a very key ally in maintaining peace, stability and security in that part of the world."

Hagel offered his gratitude to Korean War veterans on behalf of the Defense Department's men and women.

"We acknowledge your service, everything you've done, what you mean to this country [and] the world, and the model you've provided for our young men and women for generations to come," Hagel told veterans. "It will be evidenced by this great display that we are dedicating today."




 

NURSING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS

FROM: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Translating veterans’ medical skills into nursing careers
Today, at the White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new program to help military veterans with health care experience or training, such as medics, pursue nursing careers. The program is designed to help veterans get bachelor’s degrees in nursing by building on their unique skills and abilities.

Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at HHS, the Veterans’ Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will fund up to nine cooperative agreements, of up to $350,000 a year. Funding of $3 million is expected to be awarded by the end of fiscal year 2013 (September 30).

"The Veterans’ Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program recognizes the skills, experience and sacrifices of our veterans, while helping to grow our nursing workforce," Secretary Sebelius said. "It helps veterans formalize their skills to get jobs, while strengthening Americans’ access to care."

Program funding will go to accredited schools of nursing to increase veterans’ enrollment in and completion of baccalaureate nursing programs, and to explore ways to award academic credit for prior military health care experience or training. The institutions will also train faculty to provide mentorships and other supportive services.

"Through this innovative program, veterans with valuable medical expertise can now help fill the ranks of nurses across the nation," said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.

This new program is an important step forward in addressing needs identified in the February 2013 White House report, "The Fast Track to Civilian Employment: Streamlining Credentialing and Licensing for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Spouses."

USDA MICROLOAN PROGRAM OFFERS UP TO $35,000 FOR ASSISTANCE



Photo Credit:  USDA

 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

USDA Finalizes New Microloan Program
Microloans up to $35,000 aim to assist small farmers, veterans, and disadvantaged producers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new microloan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed to help small and family operations, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers secure loans under $35,000. The new microloan program is aimed at bolstering the progress of producers through their start-up years by providing needed resources and helping to increase equity so that farmers may eventually graduate to commercial credit and expand their operations. The microloan program will also provide a less burdensome, more simplified application process in comparison to traditional farm loans.


"I have met several small and beginning farmers, returning veterans and disadvantaged producers interested in careers in farming who too often must rely on credit cards or personal loans with high interest rates to finance their start-up operations," said Vilsack."By further expanding access to credit to those just starting to put down roots in farming, USDA continues to help grow a new generation of farmers, while ensuring the strength of an American agriculture sector that drives our economy, creates jobs, and provides the most secure and affordable food supply in the world."



The new microloans, said Vilsack, represent how USDA continues to make year-over-year gains in expanding credit opportunities for minority, socially-disadvantaged and young and beginning farmers and ranchers across the United States. The final rule establishing the microloan program will be published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Federal Register.


Administered through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Operating Loan Program, the new microloan program offers credit options and solutions to a variety of producers. FSA has a long history of providing agricultural credit to the nation’s farmers and ranchers through its Operating Loan Program. In assessing its programs, FSA evaluated the needs of smaller farm operations and any unintended barriers to obtaining financing. For beginning farmers and ranchers, for instance, the new microloan program offers a simplified loan application process. In addition, for those who want to grow niche crops to sell directly to ethnic markets and farmers markets, the microloan program offers a path to obtain financing. For past FSA Rural Youth Loan recipients, the microloan program provides a bridge to successfully transition to larger-scale operations.


Since 2009, USDA has made a record amount of farm loans through FSA—more than 128,000 loans totaling nearly $18 billion. USDA has increased the number of loans to beginning farmers and ranchers from 11,000 loans in 2008 to 15,000 loans in 2011. More than 40 percent of USDA’s farm loans now go to beginning farmers. In addition, USDA has increased its lending to socially-disadvantaged producers by nearly 50 percent since 2008.


Producers can apply for a maximum of $35,000 to pay for initial start-up expenses such as hoop houses to extend the growing season, essential tools, irrigation, delivery vehicles, and annual expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, marketing, and distribution expenses. As their financing needs increase, applicants can apply for an operating loan up to the maximum amount of $300,000 or obtain financing from a commercial lender under FSA’s Guaranteed Loan Program.


USDA farm loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies, or be to construct buildings or make farm improvements. Small farmers often rely on credit cards or personal loans, which carry high interest rates and have less flexible payment schedules, to finance their operations. Expanding access to credit, USDA’s microloan will provide a simple and flexible loan process for small operations.


Producers interested in applying for a microloan may contact their local Farm Service Agency Office.


The Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, has worked tirelessly to strengthen rural America, maintain a strong farm safety net, and create opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its most productive periods in American history thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers.

THE FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND DR. JILL BIDEN WORK TO RALLY NATION BEHIND VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, discuss the accomplishments of the Joining Forces campaign as its one-year anniversary approaches during an interview with American Forces Press Service in Washington, D.C., April 6, 2012. The first lady and Dr. Biden launched the campaign to rally national support from all sectors of society to honor and support service members, veterans and their families. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
Mrs. Obama: Nation Must 'Step up Forever' for Military Families
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2012 - As First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden mark the first anniversary of their "Joining Forces" campaign this week, the two say they will continue to solidify its successes so a structured effort to help military families is a permanent part of American culture.

The pair reflected on the campaign's success during an April 6 interview here with American Forces Press Service.

"This has been a phenomenal first year," Obama said. "But the truth is, Jill and I have been working this issue since our husbands took the oath of office" in January 2009.
Obama and Biden, wife of vice president Joe Biden, said they've been amazed by the outpouring of support by American civilians. More than 100 companies have committed to participate in the administration's goal of the private sector hiring of 100,000 spouses and veterans. They also noted a Joining Forces commitment from the nation's medical colleges to better train civilian health-care providers in caring for war veterans and their families.

"We've seen Americans -- 13 million of them -- step up to pledge hours of service," Obama said. "It's been phenomenal to see a grateful nation step up to help military men and women who sacrifice so much for us."

Biden, a community college professor, said she's been gratified by progress in the education arena. Teachers colleges have incorporated military family matters into curricula to help teachers-to-be understand the unique challenges their students from military families face, she said. And more and more school systems recognize course credits of military family members who must relocate frequently, she added.

Teachers are doing small things that make a big difference, Biden said. Some conduct parent-teacher conferences with deployed parents on the Internet. Others -- as the teacher of Biden's granddaughter did when the Bidens' son, Beau, was deployed to Iraq -- display photos of deployed parents to help children cope.
Obama and Biden said they have felt privileged to meet with military families across the nation.

"Every American should have the privilege of getting to know a military community, a family, a unit, because these men and women are the best this country has," the first lady said. "I'm always in awe of what they are able to manage, what they sacrifice, and doing it with such grace and poise. It's been a gift to shine light on these military men and women."
Biden also spoke of the resilience of military family members.

"They face a lot of difficulties and challenges in their lives," she said, noting that most military members relocate at least 10 times in their career. "That's tough on a family -- to pack up, lose friends, make new friends, get new sports teams -- but they never complain. They just feel it's part of their job."

Obama said she expects the campaign's second year will continue progress in those areas and more. A major goal, she said, will be to build on successes in professional license portability for military spouses. Thirteen states already have passed legislation to make it easier for military spouses who work in fields such as teaching, nursing, real estate, and social work to transfer their professional licenses easily from one state to another, and 13 more have pending legislation, she said.

The outpouring of support for the Joining Forces campaign has proven that Americans want to help military families and need the structure the campaign provides, Biden said.
"Americans want to help. All they need is a little direction," she said. "They're saying, 'OK, give us ideas.'"

Obama said she expects the campaign to endure indefinitely.
"Our husbands, and Jill and I, we're committed to making sure this becomes part of our culture," she said. "I know the president and the vice president are working with the [Defense and Veterans Affairs departments] to set up a structure to ensure this continues, regardless of who's in office.

"These are lifelong commitments," she added. "As a Blue Star mom, Jill is always in, and I consider myself an honorary Blue Star mom. ... This is a forever issue for us."
The important thing for civilians to understand, Obama said, is that these issues don't end when wars end. "That's when the hard work begins for many of these families," she said. "When someone is on active duty, they're still transferring. Their kids are still going from school to school to school."

The first lady noted that 1 percent of Americans serve in the all-volunteer force to protect everyone else. "So, we have to step up forever," she said. "I think our country is ready to do that. It just helps to have a structure like Joining Forces."