For our DC-area friends, or those of you who may be coming to town in the near future, Synetic Theater has a special offer for MOAA members, family and friends:
Buy One, Get One Free Tickets to Synetic Theater’s newest original play, “Home of the Soldier,” for any performance, May 31 to July 1, 2012! (1800 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202 [Crystal City Metro Stop])
To redeem this special offer, go to https://www.boxofficetickets.com/go/event?id=140645, select the date you’d like to attend and then the tier of seats you prefer, select 2 tickets and enter the code MILITARYBOGO to receive the buy-one-get-one discount.
Synetic Theater is one of the DC area’s most acclaimed contemporary theaters, with over 24 Helen Hayes Awards and 92 nominations since its inception just 11 years ago. Our director and writer were inspired to create the play”Home of the Soldier” after discussions with veterans and military personnel.
Tom Brokaw hosts AMC’s Memorial Day War Heroes Weekend, celebrating and remembering America’s bravest servicemen and women.
Interspersed throughout each film will be episodes from AMC’s original short documentary series, A Path to Honor. Created by Academy® Award-winning producer and director James Moll, the four documentary shorts depict seminal moments in the lives of those who serve our country in the Armed Forces from their enlistment process, deployment overseas and active duty in the field, to their emotional homecomings.
As host, Brokaw will introduce films including:
AMC Celebrates the 45th Anniversary of The Dirty Dozen on Friday, May 25 at 8pm, and Midway at 11:30pm
The AMC Premiere of Flags of Our Fathers on Saturday, May 26 at 8pm followed by Letters from Iwo Jima at 11pm
The AMC Premiere of Hart’s War on Sunday, May 27 at 5pm
Encore airings of Midway on Monday, May 28 at 5pm, and Flags of Our Fathers at 8pm
Additional films on Friday, May 25 include: A Bridge Too Far at 9am, Academy Award®-winning Patton at 1pm, The Green Berets at 5pm and The Great Raid at 2:30am. Other films airing Saturday, May 26 include: Battle of the Bulge at 7:15am, The Green Berets at 11am, Midway at 2pm, Heartbreak Ridge at 5pm and Patton at 2am. Films on Sunday, May 27 include: To Hell and Back at 10am and Apocalypse Now: Redux at 12:30pm. Monday, May 28 will feature encore presentations of Heartbreak Ridge at 11am and The Green Berets at 2pm.
Born from a sense of inspiration over 90 years ago, Wonder® bread has been a part of American households for generations. This rich heritage inspired them to look for ways to honor those who go above and beyond in their local communities.
That’s why they’ve partnered with the USO, an organization that shares our passion for supporting and honoring America’s heroes. Together, they’re looking for an upstanding citizen to be our Wonder Bread Hero.
From now through June 8th, Wonder bread is looking to honor everyday American heroes who go the extra mile.
Visit www.wonderbreadheroes.com to nominate an everyday hero in your life for the chance to have $50,000 donated to the USO in the winning hero’s name!
The winning hero will also win $2,500 cash and a year’s supply of Wonder bread. You can also visit their Facebook page for details: www.facebook.com/wonderbread.
The Columbia University research team is seeking veteran and/or servicemember subjects for a study funded through the Social Security Administration (SSA) to understand wounded warriors’ access to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. The goal is to provide feedback and recommendations in order to increase benefits enrollment for those eligible. The research team is looking for individuals who are current or former members of the military who became disabled after 1 January 2006, are over the age of 18 and have been medically diagnosed with a disability that has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year.
Participants do not have to be current recipients of Social Security benefits. Interviews will be done either by telephone or on a face-to-face basis. Information from the study will be used to improve the quality and effectiveness of services by SSA for disabled veterans.
The study will consist of a 60-minute, audio-recorded interview.
Interviews will be conducted at Columbia University’s School of Social Work (1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY), Services for the Under-served or over the phone. You do not need to reside in New York to participate. Participants will receive an incentive payment.
If you are a veteran or servicemember who meets the criteria above, would be interested in participating, and would like more information, please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Michelle Ballan, Assistant Professor at Columbia University’s School of Social Work at 212-851-2221 or msb2008@columbia.edu.
Are you a Veteran? Looking for a job? Need benefits?
Veterans Register Now: VAforVets.VA.gov/Detroit
More than a typical Hiring Fair: Onsite interviews with federal agencies and private sector employers Training in federal resume building and successful interview techniques Career coaching All experience levels and career types welcome.
Call 1-855-VA4Vets to start working with a coach today! This event is FREE for Veterans seeking jobs.
JUNE 26 – 28, 2012
10:00AM to 7:00PM
Detroit’s COBO Center
One Washington Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48226
More than a Typical Open House: This VA hosted event will showcase: Wide variety of innovative services provided to Veterans, including Federal benefits (both financial and health), state, local and faith-based organizations Onsite medical exams will be available for eligible Veterans Electronic access to benefits and medical record via eBenefits and MyHealtheVet Find out about Virtual Care (access to medical care through telephonic means) and other cutting edge services Get your questions answered…face to face. This event is FREE for attendees. Come see what YOUR VA has to offer!
Picture the “shake weight,” only infinitely cooler because it goes to war and can save the lives of our servicemembers – then you have what is being dubbed the Throw-Bot. It’s built to be thrown over walls, into rooms, and can ever survive being thrown from a three story building.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is releasing for public comment a draft of its strategic report to address key issues facing women Veterans. The plan outlines steps for improvements to care and services for women Veterans that are sustainable, accountable and a part of the department’s culture and operations.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki formed a task force to develop an action plan to address women Veterans’ issues. Since then, the group has conducted a broad survey of department experts to identify those issues and organize them by priority. The draft report is an interim step prior to VA finalizing its overall plan.
The report comes at an important juncture in VA’s history that demands a review of the quality, quantity, and types of services and programs it provides to women Veterans. The number of women Veterans using VA has increased 83 percent in the past decade, from about 160,000 to over 292,000 between fiscal years 2000 and 2009, compared with a 50 percent increase in men.
The public notice and instructions for how to submit comments will be posted at www.regulations.gov. The draft written report will be open for comment for 30 days, and responders will have a number of options to provide both electronic and written feedback. Readers will also be able to participate in a public discussion board on the Internet at: http://vawomenvetstratplan.uservoice.com/forums/159415-general.
The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 is being implemented, and with that, starting today, unemployed veterans ages 35-60 can apply for retraining under the Montgomery GI Bill for in-demand jobs. Learn more about the program, eligibility, and important dates, through the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 110-357) signed into law on October 8, 2008, requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 350,000 silver dollar coins in commemoration of the legacy of the U.S. Army Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. The coin designs are emblematic of the courage, pride, sacrifice, sense of duty and history of the Infantry. As authorized, the United States Mint is producing 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar coins in proof and uncirculated qualities. Surcharges from this commemorative coin program are authorized to be paid to the National Infantry Foundation.
Coin Designs
The obverse (heads side) design of the 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar features a modern Infantry soldier on rocky ground charging forward and beckoning the troops to follow, symbolizing the “Follow Me” motto of the Infantry. Inscriptions are LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and 2012. The representation of the contemporary soldier captures the essence of the Infantry’s motto.
The reverse (tails) design features the crossed rifles insignia, the branch insignia of the Infantry. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The insignia is a universally recognizable symbol of the Infantry, as all members wear it.
Both 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar designs were approved by the Department of the Treasury on July 19, 2011, at the recommendation of the United States Mint, after consultation with the National Infantry Foundation and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, as well as review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Dr. Patricia Watson is the project manager of a military culture course that is being developed for the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Integrated Mental Health Strategy. It is titled “Military Culture Training for Healthcare Professionals,” and is intended for providers both within VA and DoD and outside these systems, as not all providers have served in the military. This online training will help them become more familiar with military culture and values. The curriculum will be launched later this summer.
Dr. Watson is looking for veterans to volunteer to take part in filming for this course Tuesday, May 15 through Thursday, May 17.
Filming will be Center for Deployment Psychology, 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 602, Rockville, MD 20852. The location is metro accessible. They plan to interview 8-10 veterans, and each interview requires one hour of time.
If you are a veteran and interested in participating, please contact Dr. Watson by phone at (808)756-7259 or by email at patricia.j.watson@dartmouth.edu.
