RSSVetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:10, Thursday, October 1, 2009
www.vetjobs.com
The Veteran Eagle is a newsletter for veterans, transitioning military, their family members and friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward the newsletter to veterans and friends.
This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Maid Brigade and TECHEXPO Top Secret
Contents:
1. Message from the Top
2. History of Columbus Day
3. History of Navy Day
4. USAF Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program
5. VA Combat Vet Refunds
6. DOL One Stops
7. VA to Begin Distributing Emergency GI Bill Payments
8. Veteran Courts
9. New Scam Using the VA
10. New Al Qaeda Bomb Technique Seen As Severe Threat to Airline Security
11. Officials Announce Family Program Expansion
12. US Chamber Veteran Event in November
13. Flag Code
14. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of September 29, 2009
15. Significant Events this Month in Military History
Thank you for reading this VetJobs Veteran Eagle newsletter. If you like the newsletter and what VetJobs, the VFW and endorsing veteran service organizations do to assist veterans and their family members find employment, please go to www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!
From the VFW:
VFW Store – Your Purchase Helps Veterans, Military Troops and Their Families http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=250
Do you need a home loan? Receive a Paid-in-Full Life Membership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org) when you obtain a home loan through Guaranteed Rate Mortgage. If you are already a life member, you may donate the life membership to a returning service member or other eligible veteran, or a $400 donation may be made to the VFW in your name. To apply visit https://www.guaranteedrate.com/apply/vfw.php
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1. Message from the Top
Have you ever been to a function where the United States flag is presented and seen people who do not put their hand over their heart as the flag goes by? Or been to a political event and seen individuals who do not rise when the group is saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Unfortunately, this is happening more now than in the past. Much of this improper behavior is due to ignorance. Much can be attributed to the fact that many schools in the effort to be politically correct do not teach flag manners – how to honor and display the American flag.
Case in point, I was recently at a town hall meeting where four protestors deliberately sat through the presentation of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. This was disturbing to many of the attendees, and while it is the right of the protesters to make a political statement by refusing to honor the flag of our country, I considered it an insult and a public display of their gross ignorance. There are better ways to protest than to dishonor the flag of the United States.
For members of the military who have served and fought for our country, few things evoke such strong emotion as seeing the flag presented at a ceremony to honor an event or seeing a flag draped over a coffin as a sign of mourning for a hero or loved one.
An unfurled flag symbolizes the love and pride that we have as a nation. The flag is a poignant reminder of America’s greatness and our fortune to live in a country which values freedom above all else. The flag signifies the commitment made by our forefathers and fallen comrades who battled bravely to defend the honor of this sacred emblem of a free federal republic that signifies American unity, power and purpose as a nation. Our flag continues the promise of liberty, justice and freedom for all. The flag reflects America’s continuing pledge to uphold our democratic based ideas and work for peace throughout the world.
So starting with this newsletter, I will be adding a paragraph each month on how to properly display the flag – See article 12 below. Be sure to fly your flag at both home and at your place of work. If you need a flag, a great place to buy one is at the VFW Store at www.vfwstore.org.
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This month we celebrate the 234th birthday of the United States Navy. At an October 13, 1775 meeting in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns. The frigates were to be manned by crews of eighty and to cruise the Atlantic for three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the Navy. If you meet a current or former member of the Navy, say Happy Birthday!
Other events celebrated this month include:
October 12 – Columbus Day
October 13 – Navy Day.
September 15 through October 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month
October 31 – Halloween.
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Several veterans have called in complaining about having to go to a company URL to apply to a job as it used to be that they could just mail in a resume or hand one to a recruiter. In one case the veteran was frustrated having stood in line at a career fair to talk to a recruiter for nearly 40 minutes only to have the recruiter look at his resume, say it looks good, and told him to go apply on line.
Over the last several years, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has come out with many onerous record keeping requirements levied on employers from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) which amended the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFDCCP). These record keeping requirements are costing the business sector tens of millions of dollars to comply. OFCCP has quadrupled the number of auditors in the last year as DOL has found this practice to be very lucrative and are conducting audits that can cost companies tens of thousands of dollars in assessments, the new politically correct way to say fines. Thus to comply with all the record keeping requirements (many of which contradict each other – go figure!), companies have resorted to using the efficiency of the Internet to keep track of all the things now demanded by DOL. I can appreciate the frustration of those having to deal with these systems, but you need to adapt as the requirements are not going to go away. And for many employers, having a candidate use the Internet portal tells the employer the candidate has some basic computer skills.
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On the economic front, the US economy may have bottomed out and is slowly starting to climb out of the recession. Many pundits and politicians like to claim it is due to the stimulus package passed by congress, but I rather doubt that is the reason since less than five percent of the stimulus package has been spent!
For many sectors, the federal stimulus may provide the economic shot in the arm that is critical to stemming catastrophic job and population losses. But these short-term stimulus projects must be conceived, developed, and managed in the context of a longer-term plan for economic health of the economy. If the economy is indeed resetting itself, as the data suggest, then communities and regions must commit to a longer-term vision, strategies, and implementation plans to ensure continued growth. Few, if any in our various government organizations, have such vision or strategic plans.
Some indications that the economy is improving include:
-Jobless claims fell to the lowest level since July
- The Federal Reserve reported that American households were $2 trillion richer on June 30 than they were three months earlier, the first time in two years that household net worth had increased.
- The Conference Board reported the index of leading economic indicators rose 0.6% in August, the fifth straight increase.
-In some markets home prices have increased the most since 2005.
- Gross domestic product contracted at a 1.2% annual rate from April to June, the smallest drop in a year.
- The “cash for clunkers” effort and first-time homebuyer credits are giving manufacturing and housing, the two areas at the center of the economic slump a boost last quarter, but will not help as the economy moves forward.
-Many economists predict the worst is over and the third quarter will be a strong growth quarter.
- The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has jumped 57% since it reached a 12-year low on March 9 of this year.
- Encouraged by government subsidies to buy cars, U.S. consumer spending soared 1.3% in August. This is the fastest increase since the post-9/11 shopping binge eight years ago.
- Declines in business stockpiles, which dropped last quarter at the fastest pace on record, have set the stage for a pickup in manufacturing.
- The drag from housing is dissipating. Sales of new homes rose last month to the highest level in almost a year.
- And finally, payroll decline is slowing.
While all this is good news, we still have a long, long way to go before the economy is sound again. Importantly, while the worst of the housing sub-prime debacle caused by the Congress and the socialistic Community Re-investment Act has passed, the country still faces the possibility of a similar debacle in the commercial real estate sector. How that will play out is still very much up in the air.
Let us hope that some of our leaders in Congress will follow the much heralded moves by European governments away from socialism to capitalism. Europe had been the largest test bed for socialism in world history and all the European states have concluded socialism does not work. The ideas were great until they had to start paying the bills. Hopefully our government leaders will learn from the European experience!
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So where are the jobs? According to a recent study by the Partnership for Public Service, federal agencies will need to hire more than 270,000 new employees for mission-critical jobs in the next three years, including more than 11,500 information technology professionals. This will make the federal government the leading employer in the country. This may be the right avenue for you in finding a job. There are pros and cons to working for the federal government, and the labyrinth of the federal application process can be very frustrating. Federal Computer Week has published an excellent article on applying to federal jobs titled 5 Problems with Federal Hiring – 5 Reality Checks. You can read it at http://fcw.com/articles/2009/09/28/management-federal-hiring-process.aspx
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Scams directed at military and their families are again occurring. I have received many reports that Veterans are being contacted by a “Patient Care Group” representing that they are helping administer VA prescriptions and stating that the pharmacy billing procedures have changed and they are therefore requesting Veteran credit card numbers for prescription payments in advance of filling their prescriptions. This is false. The VA does not call Veterans asking to disclose personal financial information over the phone. The VA has not changed its processes for dispensing prescription medicines. For more information, see article 9 below.
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Please look at article 12 below concerning a special program called Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes Summit sponsored by the United States Chamber of Commerce. If you can attend on November 12, you will be participating in a very exciting program. I will be attending and look forward to seeing you there!
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Finally, October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and women 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. And men are victims, too. More than 834,000 men report being domestically assaulted annually. People who are abused often feel as though no one will believe them, or they think they have nowhere to go for help.
While we cannot concern ourselves with every detail of a person’s life, we can be aware of changes in behavior, moods and certainly appearance of those around us. If you are in a leadership position, part of the responsibility of being a leader is taking care of those for whom you are responsible. It is your responsibility to make sure your people are OK, both at work and at home. The mark of a good leader is the ability to listen and then act.
Please be aware. For more information, visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence at http://dvam.vawnet.org/. No one deserves to be abused!
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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email.
Remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans
Best regards,
Ted Daywalt
President
/—-October Veteran Eagle sponsor is Maid Brigade—-\
At Maid Brigade we know that military veterans make excellent franchise owners. In fact, over 10% of Maid Brigade franchise owners are veterans. They know what it takes to own and run a successful business – a combination of hard work, leadership and sound judgment. That’s why Maid Brigade wants to reward as many as 100 qualified veterans who have what it takes to own a business. The Gold Award is a Maid Brigade Select Market Franchise valued at $45,000
Advantages to owning a Maid Brigade Franchise:
- A residential cleaning service, Maid Brigade has been a recession-resistant business, having weathered previous recessions of the 1980s, 1990s and post 9/11, without a drop in same store sales.
- Daytime hours – no nights or weekends
- Low overhead/no accounts receivables
- Top 20% franchisees average over $1.6 million annually
- 25+ years in business with over 400 locations in the US and Canada
Maid Brigade owners manage their businesses – hiring others to do the cleaning. For more information about owning a Maid Brigade Franchise, go to www.maidbrigadefranchise.com.
The contest started on Independence Day and ends on Veterans Day. Enter now for your opportunity to own an award-winning Maid Brigade Franchise! For more information on the contest, please visit http://www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com/.
\—–Please visit your October Veteran Eagle sponsor Maid Brigade —-/
2. History of Columbus Day
The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America by Europeans took place on October 12, 1792 in New York City. The event, which celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the New World, was organized by The Society of St. Tammany (also known as the Columbian Order). San Francisco’s Italian community held their first Columbus Day celebration in 1869. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison urged citizens to participate in the 400th anniversary celebration of Columbus’ first voyage. It was during this event that the Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, was recited publically for the first time. Colorado was the first state to observe the holiday in 1905. In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as “Columbus Day” and in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.
3. History of Navy Day
In the United States, the Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on October 27 because it was the birthday of the Navy-supporting President Theodore Roosevelt. Although meeting with mixed reviews the first year, in 1923 over 50 major cities participated, and the United States Navy sent a number of its ships to various port cities for the occasion. The 1945 Navy Day was an especially large celebration, with President Harry S. Truman reviewing the fleet in New York Harbor. In 1949, Louis A. Johnson, secretary of the newly-created Department of Defense, directed that the U.S. Navy’s participation occur on Armed Forces Day in May, although as a civilian organization the Navy League was not affected by this directive, and continued to organize Navy Day celebrations as before. In the 1970s, the “birthday” of the Continental Navy was found to be October 13, 1775, and so CNO Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define October 13 as the new date of Navy Day.
/—October Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\
TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:
10/6, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm
10/20, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm
10/21, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm
Interview with leading government contractors. Full schedule of event details, & pre-registration at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm. For professionals with active security clearance only. Free admission
\—–Please visit your October Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/
4. USAF Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program
The secretary of the Air Force has initiated two voluntary recalls to active duty programs and expanded the number of eligible Air Force specialties for an existing one to help minimize the service’s critical shortage of rated officers.”The rapid expansion of unmanned aircraft systems as well as other emerging missions and rated requirements that directly support contingency operations created a demand for experienced, rated officers that exceeds current Air Force levels,” said Col. William Foote, the Air Force Personnel Center director of personnel services. The Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program allows the secretary of the Air Force to order retired Air Force rated officers to active duty. The Voluntary Limited Period Recall Program and Voluntary Permanent Rated Officer Recall Program allow Reserve officers the opportunity to apply for recall to extended active duty. Rated officers include pilots, combat systems officers and air battle managers. More than 225 officers have already received orders and are returning to active duty. Information about the rated recall programs, to include detailed eligibility criteria and application requirements, can be found on the Air Force Personnel Center’s “ASK” Web site. Click on “Voluntary Officer Return to Active Duty” under the Military Quick Links section to learn more. Interested officers may also call the Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102. For more information, call A1 Field Operating Agency Public Affairs at (210) 565-2334 or e-mail afpc.pa.dlist@randolph.af.mil.
5. VA Combat Vet Refunds
Many veterans are eligible for a retroactive refund of co-payments they made for medical services and prescriptions associated with treatments related to their combat experience. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is currently reviewing medical records to determine which veterans are eligible for the refunds. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-108) extended the period of enhanced enrollment eligibility and cost-free care for conditions that may be related to combat operations. The law allows any combat veteran, discharged from active duty on or after 28 January of 2003 to be eligible for Priority Group 6 enrollment up to five years after they leave the service. Combat veterans discharged before that date – who did not previously enroll in the VA health-care system – are also eligible for Priority Group 6 enrollment through 27 January of 2011. VHA plans on mailing letters in November to veterans affected by the extended eligibility period, informing them they will receive refunds by the end of December. Combat veterans are encouraged to call VA’s Health Resources Center toll-free with any questions at (800) 983-0932.
6. DOL One Stops
Free Government-Backed Assistance: With a little patience, you can receive job search assistance for free. Each state receives funding from the federal government for career centers. To find a one-stop career center, visit www.servicelocator.org.
7. VA to Begin Distributing Emergency GI Bill Payments
National news services are reporting that the Veterans Affairs Department will begin issuing emergency checks for up to $3,000 to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans whose payments under the new GI Bill have been delayed. Those checks will be distributed at VA regional offices beginning Friday. The agency “says it does not know how many students will request emergency funds, but it has approximately 25,000 claims pending. In order to get the payments out, the VA has said it is calling for mandatory overtime as well as the hiring of more employees. Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting October 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing. A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting October 1.
8. Veteran Courts
The House VA Committee held a roundtable discussion on judicial courts that only hear nonviolent cases involving veterans. Modeled after drug and mental health treatment courts, judges are able to order counseling, substance abuse treatment, mentoring, job training, housing assistance, and job placement services as alternatives to incarceration, which is far more expensive. Ten veterans’ courts currently operate in New York, Alaska, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, with other states working to establish similar programs. Invited guests included three judges from Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Edwardsville, IL, as well as a VA medical center director and others involved in mentoring and treatment programs. For more on the hearing, visit the House VA website at http://veterans.house.gov/.
9. New Scam Using the VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is warning Veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to update VA prescription information. Veteran Service Organizations have brought to VA’s attention that callers are misrepresenting the VA to gain personal information over the phone. They say VA recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and ask for the Veteran’s credit card number. Veterans with questions about VA services should contact the nearest VA medical center or call, toll-free, 877-222-8387.
10. New Al Qaeda Bomb Technique Seen As Severe Threat to Airline Security
The CBS Evening News reported Al Qaeda has developed a new tactic that allows suicide bombers to breach even the tightest security. Aviation experts are particularly concerned. When al Qaeda operative Abdullah Asieri tried to kill Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef last month, he avoided detection by two sets of airport security including metal detectors, palace security and spent 30 hours in the close company of the prince’s own secret service agents. Using a trick from the narcotics trade, which has long smuggled drugs in body cavities, Asieri had a pound of high explosives plus a detonator inserted in his rectum. The blast left the prince slightly wounded. As an assassination, it was a failure. But as an exercise in defeating security, it was perfect per Chris Yates, an aviation security consultant. This is the nightmare scenario. On a plane at altitude the effects of such a bomb could be catastrophic and there is no current security system that could stop it.
11. Officials Announce Family Program Expansion
American Forces Press Service reports that the Pentagon’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy are expanding a popular child care. Beginning October 1, YMCA respite child care will be expanded to licensed child care programs at YMCAs in all states that wish to participate in the program. Currently, the service is offered at select YMCAs in nine states to provide temporary relief or a short break for the parent or guardian who is responsible for caring for a deployed service member’s child. The care is provided at no cost for children through age 12 for up to 16 hours of care per month, per child. Eligibility extends to families while their active duty spouse is deployed to a remote location for at least six months, as well as to Title 10 families of deployed Guard and Reserve personnel and those serving at independent duty locations. For a listing of the participating YMCAs and for a copy of the registration form, visit the Military OneSource Web site.
12. US Chamber Veteran Event in November
On November 12 the United States Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation will host its second annual Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes summit to focus on employment issues facing returning military, veterans, reservists, National Guard and their families. Key leaders of the U.S. military and members of the veteran’s affairs community, including keynote speaker General Eric Shinseki, will discuss ways the private sector can support our returning military personnel while benefitting from that workforce’s extensive training and experience. For more information, please visit http://ncf.uschamber.com/businessstepsup2009/. If you attend, please be sure to tell the Chamber you heard about the event via VetJobs Early Eagle!
13. Flag Code
The Flag Code, a national guideline on ways in which the flag is to be respected, states that no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America. When rendering the Pledge of Allegiance, persons should stand at attention, face the flag, and if in uniform, salute, or otherwise place the right hand over the heart. Persons wearing the caps of veteran service organizations may salute. Uniformed organizations like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts should render respect to the flag in accordance with the traditions of the organization whose uniform they are wearing.
14. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of September 29, 2009
The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 109,188; Navy Reserve, 6,405; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,949; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,559; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 656. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 140,757, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2009/d20090929ngr.pdf
15. Significant Events this Month in Military History
1781 – British troops under General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the American Revolution.
1775 – The US Navy was established.
1901 – The first British Navy submarine was commissioned.
1944 – Battle of Leyte Gulf
1950 – The invasion of North Korea started.
1952 – Battle of Hill 598 began, Korean War
1957 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, first man-made earth satellite.
1962 – The U.S. began its blockade of Cuba to compel the Russians to remove long-range missiles aimed at the United States.
1964 – The Chinese exploded their first atomic bomb.
1965 – The Battle of the La Drang Valley, Vietnam War.
1968 – The Bombing of North Vietnam ended.
1969 – Battle of Loc Ninh, Vietnam War
1971 – Operation Jefferson Glenn, the last major operation in which US ground forces participated in Vietnam
1973 – Egypt and Syria launched military offensive against Israel
1983 -Terrorist attack on Marine Barracks, Beirut
1983 – Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada
1993 – Battle of Bakhara Market, Mogadishu, Somalia
2000 – Bombing of the USS Cole by Al-Qaeda terrorists
2001 – Operation Enduring Freedom began in Afghanistan
2001 – War on Terror Began
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