News Blog

Forward Observer — The Lejeune Matter, Some Good News Finally?

U.S. Senate Finally Steps In

LVMAC Poster Art 2005

For months there has been a hold-up in the passage of an omnibus veterans benefits bill in Congress, H.R. 1627, but this time to the good. The bill had started life providing only “…for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery …”, evolved into The Honoring Americans Act of 2011 from the House and finally emerged, mutated, from the Senate as the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.  What idiot said bill ‘riders’ are bad? (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — TRICARE Prime Increase Starts in October

TRICARE Management Recommends Quarterly or Monthly Payments Due to Possible Changes

In a 23 July media release, TRICARE announced the Fiscal Year 2013 TRICARE Prime enrollment fee increases for uniformed service retirees and their families will go into effect 1 October 2012.

For all retirees, the annual enrollment fees for 2013 will be:

– $269.28 for retirees
– $538.56 for retirees and their family members (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbit — Valley’s Top Healthcare Execs Bless “Healthcare in Our Community” Initiative as Active Partners

Lehigh Valley’s Health Care Executives Met July 19 Regarding Military/Veteran Health Care

On July 19, 2012, after six months of collaboration with representatives from all the major health care providers in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) hosted a luncheon meeting at Northampton Community College to present a “Health Care in Our Community” project status report.  The following chief executive officers of the Lehigh Valley’s hospitals attended this historic gathering: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Why War Stories Matter

 DAVE VENDITTA AND HIS WAR STORY PROJECT

Newspaper Logo 70%Dave Venditta, Content Editor for The Morning Call newspaper, spoke to the Council at its business meeting on 18 July on the subject of war stories and why they matter.

He got interested in the subject in the mid-1990’s while trying to find out how his cousin, Nicky, a twenty year old helicopter pilot, had actually died in Vietnam within eleven days of his arrival. Venditta was a 15 year old at the time of the funeral, but memories of his cousin haunted him. In the end, he discovered the official version of death by enemy action was untrue. Instead, Nicky had actually died at the hands of his own while undergoing an in-country orientation. Whether or not the sergeant pulling the pin of the grenade in a demonstration of its safe use actually new it was a live grenade or thought it was a dud or practice grenade was never determined, but three died as a result. One of them was Nicky. However, in the process of relaying the news to the family, his cousins and uncles began recounting their own war stories. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Valley’s Health Care Executives Will Meet July 19 Regarding Military/Veterans Health Care

Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council to Update on “Health Care in Our Community” Initiative

On July 19, after six months of collaboration with representatives from all the major health care providers in the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) will host a luncheon meeting to present a “Health Care in Our Community” project status report. The chief executive officers of all the Valley’s hospitals will attend this historic gathering. [Editor’s Note:  This is not an event open to the public but a business meeting for those who have partnered through LVMAC.] (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Assistant District Attorney Luksa Explains DA’s Veterans’ Mentor Program

LEHIGH COUNTY SEES ITS VETERANS’ MENTOR PROGRAM AS A SUCCESS

Steve Luksa, First Assistant District Attorney for Lehigh County, spoke to the Council on 20 June at its business meeting about the District Attorney’s Veterans’ Mentor Program. Other program team members present with him were: Debbie Garlicki, Executive Aide (Public Relations), DA’s Office; Brenda Trayes, Administrative Assistant, DA’s Office; Shane Schmeckenbecker, Probation Officer II; and Maureen McManus, Executive Director of Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services

According to Mr. Luksa, the one-year old, Veterans’ Mentor Program (whose motto is “Leave no veteran behind.”) started out as part of Team MISA (Mental Illness and Substance Abuse), now in its seventh year and an effort which has reduced cost and recidivism while still protecting the community. An increasing number of veterans were using the that program, but there was no way to address treating them uniquely (as he believed they should be).  Hence the program was created. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Veterans Sanctuary: Closed Up for Good?

Treatment Trends Announces Suspension of Operations

It is with profound dismay that the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council informs you of Veterans Sanctuary’s suspension of operations. It was our only local, long-term residential addiction and PTSD services treatment facility exclusively dedicated to military veterans. This important asset to our veterans statewide is no longer accepting clients. (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC News — Lang Says Schools Need to Pay More Attention to their Veterans

LANG EMPHASIZES ROLE OF THE STUDENT VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC.

On 16 May 2012, Mr. Joshua Lang, Vice President, National Leadership Council, Student Veterans of America,  spoke to the Council at its business meeting on the topic of “Student Veterans of America and Returning Veterans.”

Mr. Lang served in the 82nd Airborne Division from 2005 to 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan. Subsequently he has served in the National Guard.  He is one from the youngest generation of veterans.

At the beginning of his talk, he highlighted the process of “getting out.”  In his experience, many veterans, especially the younger ones, are not set up for success when their term of service expires – both financially and mentally. The Department of Defense has acknowledged this and begun taking steps forward.  The Student Veterans of America, Inc. (SVC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is all about “setting up veterans prior to their getting out and sending them on the path to success.” (more…)

By LVMAC, ago

LVMAC Tidbits — Older Vets Retraining Assistance Update

“VOW to Hire Heroes” Act’s Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) About to Begin Accepting Applications

This is an update to the 28 March article.  Short story is:

  1. Applications will accepted starting 15 May but the application form is still unknown;
  2. High demand occupations the program will support are now specified;
  3. One can now sign up to receive personalized email notifications to keep abreast;
  4. Competition can expected to be heavy considering the number of slots available and the state of the economy — get up early and get there first.

And here is the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say: (more…)

By LVMAC, ago