Operation Vets

Veterans Treatment Courts

Operation Vets — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:16:58 +0000

When someone is arrested in Tulsa, Okla., police officers ask if they served in the military.

Veterans facing criminal charges who are in need of mental health or substance use treatment may be eligible for Veterans Treatment Court, if they live in one of the growing number of communities where these courts exist.

Veterans Treatment Courts were developed to avoid unnecessary incarceration of Veterans who have developed mental health problems.

Although most courts work with Veterans of all service eras, communities are often motivated to start these courts by concerns about Veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq and encountering legal trouble. And not just in Tulsa.

In 2010, there were 24 operational Veterans Treatment Courts, from Buffalo to Los Angeles, with several others in development. As of early 2012 there are now 88, with more on the way.

Veterans court bill gets initial approval

Operation Vets — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:16:26 +0000

AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that would create a special treatment court for veterans dealing with drug addiction and mental illness was approved unanimously Tuesday by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Maeghan Maloney, D-Augusta, would authorize the chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to establish veteran treatment courts and to seek federal funding for these courts.

The proposed courts would operate similar to county drug courts but would serve veterans exclusively. To read entire article click here.

VA Homeloans

Operation Vets — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:14:11 +0000

Home loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs continue to have the lowest serious delinquency and foreclosure rates in the mortgage industry. Veterans have also taken advantage of their home loan benefit in record numbers, as VA loan originations reached their highest total in eight years. “The continued strong performance and high volume of VA loans are a testament to the importance of VA’s home loan program and a tribute to the skilled VA professionals who help homeowners in financial trouble keep their homes,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki. Last year, VA helped 72,391 Veterans and Servicemembers who were in default on their mortgage loan retain their homes or avoid foreclosure, an increase from 66,030 from the prior year. At the same time, foreclosures on VA guaranteed loans dropped by 28 percent. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association National Delinquency Survey, VA’s foreclosure rate for the last 14 quarters and serious delinquency rate for the last 11 quarters have been the lowest of all measured loan types, even prime loans. Since 1944, when home loan guaranties were first offered under the original GI Bill, VA has guaranteed more than 19.4 million home loans worth over $1.1 trillion. More information is available at www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans.

Legislation looks to limit funds for schools that target veterans for GI Bill benefits

Operation Vets — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:13:40 +0000

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers concerned over schools targeting veterans for their GI Bill education benefits on Thursday introduced legislation to limit how much federal funding those institutions can receive. The measure is the second major legislative effort in the last month aimed at schools with high veteran enrollment and low student satisfaction, but neither measure appears likely to pass.

Bill sponsor Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said that while she’s hopeful the issue can become a bipartisan rallying point, she has talked to colleagues leery of angering for-profit education lobbyists in an election year. To read entire article click here.

Operation College Promise Announces National Advisory Council

Operation Vets — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:53:44 +0000

ORLANDO, FL ― Operation College Promise (OCP) – a nationally recognized program promoting higher education opportunity for veterans, based in Trenton, New Jersey – has tapped a group of national experts to serve on the newly- formed National Advisory Council (NAC). Representatives from across the nation met for the first time at the annual Council of College Military Educators (CCME). The group will provide guidance and strategic support for OCP initiatives including education, policy and research development.

“We are thrilled to have this talented group of individuals contributing to our growing national mission in support of student veteran success. Together, we will continue to support the transition of our nation’s military as growing numbers return home and pursue their higher education objectives. The combined leadership and resources of this entity will be invaluable as we continue to shape our growing scope,” said Wendy A. Lang, Director, Operation College Promise.

Contact: Wendy A. Lang, Director, Operation College Promise, Office: 609.989.1100; cell: 561.302.5282; walang@njascu.org http://www.operationpromiseforservicemembers.com/.

GE to hire 5,000 veterans over next 5 years

Operation Vets — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:52:05 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) – General Electric says it will hire 5,000 military veterans over the next five years and invest $580 million to expand its aviation business. The announcements are part of a four-day event that the global conglomerate is hosting with partners in Washington, D.C., that focuses on issues like manufacturing and job creation in America. To read entire article click here.

VA budget seeks 10.5 percent boost in funding

Operation Vets — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:28:03 +0000

In an era of tightened federal budgets, the Veterans Affairs Department has won a 10.5 percent funding increase justified by the return of combat troops to the U.S. and the looming drawdown of the active-duty military.

The Obama administration’s $140.3 billion VA budget request for 2013 forecasts a 9.6 percent increase in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who will seek medical treatment from VA and a 500,000 increase in the number of people filing disability and benefits claims. To read full article click here.

It also includes $1 billion to pay for President Obama’s Veterans Job Corps initiative, a major hiring initiative.

VA Joins with State Veterans Affairs Directors

Operation Vets — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:20:15 +0000

On February 13, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki participated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Association of State Veterans Affairs Directors and VA.

Coming Home Project

Operation Vets — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:50:33 +0000

The Coming Home Project ( http://www.cominghomeproject.net ) is holding a retreat for student veterans from March 28, 2012 to March 31, 2012 in “the beautiful high country near Yosemite National Park.” Lodging and meals are free, but transportation to/from is probably not. Exact location is not yet specified, but no doubt that information will be provided soon. Any interested student veterans are encouraged to apply beginning February 5, 2012!

Please refer to the following link for details, which are also summarized below:
http://www.cominghomeproject.net/event/retreat_student_veterans

Panetta: Troop numbers to fall, but no hit to active-duty pay and benefits

Operation Vets — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:41:15 +0000

WASHINGTON — Overall troop numbers will fall, ships and planes will be retired and some programs will be curtailed, but building the “smaller and leaner” U.S. military of the future won’t immediately hit the pocketbooks of active-duty troops or wounded veterans.

“I want to make it clear that cuts in spending will not fall on the shoulders of our troops,” Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey said at the Pentagon on Thursday. He and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta previewed the upcoming 2013 Defense Department budget request, which President Barack Obama will deliver to Congress on February 13. To read entire article click here.