President Pays Tribute to Wounded Warriors on Soldier Ride

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 21, 2012 - President Barack Obama cheered for 22 wounded warriors taking part in a Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride yesterday, calling it "one of the most inspiring events" to take place at the White House. President Barack Obama cheers on participants in the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride on the South Lawn of the White House, April 20, 2012. (White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Soldier Rides are four-day cycling events designed to "use cycling and the bonds of service to overcome physical, mental or emotional wounds," according the Wounded Warrior Project website. This was the fourth year the White House hosted a Soldier Ride, and it included members of each military service and the Coast Guard. The events have been occurring for six years. "I'm glad to see you're all decked out in the stars and stripes, because I want anybody who sees this ride go by to know that they're in the presence of heroes," Obama told the colorful group of riders on the South Lawn. Obama pointed out a few of the riders and their physical challenges: Max Rohn, who lost a leg in Fallujah, Iraq, during a grenade attack; Leslie Smith, who lost a leg and her eyesight in Bosnia, who rode tandem yesterday; and brothers Erik and Deven Schei, who also rode together on a tandem bike. "When Erik enlisted in the Army, Deven made a promise that if anything bad ever happened, he would finish what his brother started," the president said. "During his second tour in Iraq, Erik was shot in the head by a sniper. So Deven enlisted. Then two years ago, Deven was injured in Afghanistan. And now the two brothers ride a specially made tandem bike, with Deven leading the way. They're taking on this latest challenge just like they did every other one -- together." Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki, also attended the event and cheered on the riders. The president promised to do everything he could to make sure wounded warriors and other veterans get the care and benefits they earned. "All of you have served your country. That's why now it's time for the country to serve you. That's what you deserve, and here in America we take care of our own," Obama said. The president said the riders participated in the challenge for a variety of reasons. "Some of you may be athletes looking to get the competitive juices flowing again," he said. "Maybe some of you are trying to see how far you can push yourselves. Some of you are doing it for the camaraderie and the bond that comes when you work hard alongside people who know what you're going through. "Maybe you're doing it to honor a loved one or a buddy," the president added. "But all of you are here because you believe in living your lives to the fullest. You know that each of us has a responsibility to seize the opportunities we've been blessed with. You ride because you can, and you ride for those who can't. That's what this is all about." The president also welcomed the 200 U.S. service members whom the White House invited to cheer on the riders as they circled the South Lawn.Fifty troops each represented the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Obama paid tribute to the riders' military family members who were in attendance. "[They] don't wear a uniform, but ... work just as hard and sacrifice just as much alongside you," he told the riders. The president said the soldier rides across the country remind U.S. citizens to support the men and women who serve for other Americans. He encouraged citizens to show their support for the riders and thank them for their service by cheering them along in communities around the country. Wounded warrior riders have clocked miles this year on Soldier Rides through Chicago, New York, Seattle, Phoenix, San Antonio and Miami, Key West, Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn., North Fork, Calif. and Landstuhl, Germany. "We are proud of you. Your country is proud of you," the president told the riders. He then sounded the horn to start the ride of three laps around the South Lawn of the White House.

Related Sites: Wounded Warrior Project The White House Blog: President Obama Welcomes the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride

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Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
716 720-4000

U.S. Missile Defense Counters Growing Threat

By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 19, 2012 - Six days after North Korea's failed long-range rocket launch, the head of the Defense Department's Missile Defense Agency testified on Capitol Hill about bolstering U.S. defenses against a growing ballistic missile threat. Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly appeared yesterday before the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee to discuss the administration's fiscal 2013 budget request of $7.75 billion for his agency. The request is a reduction of more than $650 million from the fiscal 2012 appropriation. Since 1999, the United States has invested more than $90 billion in missile defense. The latest request, O'Reilly said, "balances our policies as documented in the 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review [with] U.S. Strategic Command's integrated air and missile defense priorities, [Missile Defense Agency] technical feasibility assessments, affordability constraints and current intelligence community estimates of the ballistic missile threat." But the director expressed concern to the panel about two critically needed programs that are in jeopardy because of past congressional funding reductions. The first, he said, is a missile defense sensor capability provided by the precision tracking space system, which allows space-based tracking of ballistic missiles. The second is the need to develop a second independent layer of homeland defense with the SM-3 IIB interceptor, a highly deployable missile that would destroy threat missiles earlier in their flight paths than the current architecture. "I request your support for these programs," O'Reilly said, "so that our homeland benefits from the same layered missile defense approach that we successfully employ in our regional defenses." The director described improvements made last year to the complex ballistic missile defense system designed to protect the United States and its allies. These include activating a new missile field and a fire-control node at Fort Greely, Alaska; activating an upgraded early warning radar in Thule, Greenland; and upgrading the reliability of three ground-based interceptors, or GBIs, he said. "This year," O'Reilly told the panel, "we continue to aggressively pursue the agency's highest priority -- to conduct a missile intercept with the newest version of the GBI's exo-atmospheric kill vehicle after two previous flight-test failures." A failure review board of government and industry experts redesigned critical GBI kill vehicle components and established more stringent manufacturing and component requirements, he added. "These requirements have previously not been encountered anywhere in the aerospace industry," O'Reilly noted, adding that these have caused delays in preparing for the next flight tests. "We will fly a nonintercept test by the end of this year to verify we have resolved all issues, and then we will conduct our next intercept flight test early next year to reactivate the {ground-based midcourse defense] production line," the director said. "We will not approve the execution of a flight test until our engineers and independent experts are convinced that we have resolved all issues discovered in previous testing." Also this year, the agency will activate a hardened power plant at Fort Greely, increase the firepower of fielded GBIs by testing and upgrading GBI components, and boost the capability of sea-based X-band radar, the tracking and discrimination radar used for the GMD element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. "Regional defense highlights over the past year include the on-time deployment of the first phase of the European Phased Adaptive Approach," O'Reilly said, "consisting of the command-and-control node in Germany, forward-based radar in Turkey and an Aegis missile defense ship on station in the Mediterranean Sea." The agency also demonstrated the first Aegis intercept of a 3,700-kilometer target using remote forward-based radar, he said, and the simultaneous intercept of two missiles by the terminal high-altitude area defense system, called THAAD. The THAAD element gives the missile defense system a globally transportable, rapidly deployable ability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles in or out of the atmosphere during the final, or terminal, flight phase. "This year the first two THAAD batteries will be available for deployment, increasing the number of Aegis-capable ships to 29," the director said, and three SM-3 Block IB flight tests will show that last year's flight-test failure is resolved. Coming up, he said, the largest missile defense tests in history will involve the first simultaneous intercepts of multiple short and medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles by Patriot forward-based radar. The United States has missile defense cooperative programs with the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Israel, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland, Italy and many other nations. O'Reilly said the agency works with more than 20 countries, "including our cooperative development programs with Israel and Japan and our first foreign military sale of THAAD to the United Arab Emirates," and supports technical discussions with the Russians on missile defense. Phases 2 and 3 of the European phased, adaptive approach to missile defense are on track to meet the 2015 and 2018 deployment dates, the director said.

Biographies: Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly Related Sites: Missile Defense Agency Related Articles: Experts Testify on DOD Missile Defense System

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Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
716 720-4000

VA Increases Mental Health Care Workforce

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs WASHINGTON, April 20, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will add approximately 1,600 clinicians -- to include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers -- as well as nearly 300 support staff, to its existing mental health workforce of 20,590, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced yesterday. The staff increase is part of an ongoing review of the VA's mental health care operations, Shinseki said. "As the tide of war recedes, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to anticipate the needs of returning veterans," he said. "History shows that the costs of war will continue to grow for a decade or more after the operational missions in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended. As more veterans return home, we must ensure that all veterans have access to quality mental health care." VA's ongoing comprehensive review of mental health operations has indicated that some VA facilities require more mental health staff to serve the growing needs of veterans, officials said. . It projected the need for the 1,900 additional mental health staff largely because of increasing needs for the Veterans Crisis Line, as well as an expected increase in compensation and pension and integrated disability evaluation exams. "Mental health services must be closely aligned with veterans' needs and fully integrated with health care facility operations," VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel said. "Improving access to mental health services will help support the current and future veterans who depend on VA for these vital services." VA will allocate funds this month from the current budget to all 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks across the country to begin recruitment immediately. Under the leadership of President Barack Obama and Secretary Shinseki, officials said, VA has devoted more people, programs, and resources toward mental health services to serve the growing number of veterans seeking mental health care from VA. Last year, VA provided specialty mental health services to 1.3 million veterans, officials said. Since 2009, VA has increased its mental health care budget by 39 percent and has seen a similar increase in the number of veterans receiving mental health services, as well as a 41-percent increase in mental health staff. VA has enhanced services through the integration of mental health care into the primary care setting, developing an extensive suicide prevention program, and increasing the number of Veterans Readjustment Counseling Centers. VA's Veteran Crisis Line has received more than 600,000 calls, resulting in more than 21,000 rescues of veterans in immediate crisis. "The mental health of America's veterans not only touches those of us at VA and the Department of Defense, but also families, friends, co-workers, and people in our communities," Petzel said. "We ask that you urge veterans in your communities to reach out and connect with VA services." Veterans in need of immediate help can receive assistance by calling the Crisis Line at             1-800-273-8255       (push 1) or texting 838255.

Biographies: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki Related Sites: Veterans Affairs Veterans Crisis Line

This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/.

Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

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Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
716 720-4000

Afghanistan & Iraq Veterans for Congress (AIVC) proudly endorsed West Point graduate, veteran and business owner Ric Killian

Fishkill, NY: Today Afghanistan & Iraq Veterans for Congress  (AIVC) proudly endorsed West Point graduate, veteran and business owner Ric Killian in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District. 

Said AIVC founder Kieran Michael Lalor, "Ric Killian is the quintessential citizen soldier. He is a businessman with a military background and political experience. We need Ric Killian and his track record of successful leadership in Congress."

Killian, a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, served five years of active duty before serving more than two decades as an Army Reserve officer and attaining the rank of Colonel.  Killian served in both Afghanistan and Iraq as well as in the Pentagon's Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. 

Continued Lalor, "Ric Killian has deep experience in the private sector as real estate developer and understands first-hand how government regulations and taxation reduce economic opportunity."

In the North Carolina General Assembly Ric Killian chaired the Homeland Security, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee.  He has been rated a "consistent supporter of the free enterprise position" by the North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation.

Of AIVC's endorsement Killian said, "It is great to have the support of AIVC, a conservative veterans organization with a strong record of helping candidates win primary and general elections."

Conduced Lalor, "Killian offers clear and bold solutions to the challenges we face as a country.  He is unequivocally committed to the repeal of ObamaCare and to balancing the federal budget. Ric Killian's candidacy represents a great opportunity to send to Washington a passionate and articulate advocate for conservative values. 

Contacts

Afghanistan & Iraq Veterans for Congress
Kieran Lalor
845.616.3509
Kieran@iraqvetsforcongress.com
www.IraqVetsforCongress.com

Ric Killian for Congress
Lee Teague
704.351.7079
Lee@killianforcongress
www.KillianForCongress.com

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Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
716 720-4000

Soldier Missing in Action from Korean War Identified

            The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

            Army Pfc. Richard E. Clapp, 19, of Seattle, Wash., will be buried April 25, at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

            On Sept. 2, 1950, Clapp and the C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment came under fire near Yulchon, South Korea, and Clapp was killed in action.  The Army was unable to identify his remains at the time, and the remains were buried as "Unknown" in a military cemetery on the Korean Peninsula.

            In 1951, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula.  The unknown remains were interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

            In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, the remains were exhumed for identification.  Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as radiograph comparison, and dental records to identify Clapp.

            Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Korean War.  Identifications continue to be made from the remains that were returned to the United States, using forensic and DNA technology.

            For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-901-7097.

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Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
716 720-4000

Miller: “These Are Wounds That Cannot Wait”

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, issued the following statement on VA's announcement to hire additional mental health practitioners:

"Today, VA announced that they are hiring 1,900 new mental health care practitioners. We have seen high vacancy rates across the country—which in some areas are as high as 23 percent—and this is a start to ensure our veterans receive the care they need.

"There is much more, however, that VA needs to do to address gaps in services and ensure veterans undergoing treatment are not lost in the system.

"I expect VA to also increase training of employees who are the first touch points for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) to provide effective intervention when it is needed most and properly identify the signs and behaviors of suicide risk. It is also imperative that wait times for those seeking care are decreased. These are wounds that cannot wait.

"Further, I expect VA to submit a revised budget detailing how funds for mental care are being reallocated and account funding that may have been diverted to other accounts and put back into mental health, where it rightfully belongs.

"There are a surge of veterans coming home, and VA must be prepared to meet their needs. If they are unable to do so, it is imperative that VA find community-based providers to match the right treatment for each veteran. Right now, too many veterans fall through the cracks. We can avert tragedy with the proper outreach and care. I am hopeful VA's decision today, stemming from years of pressure and increased funding from Congress, will expand access for veterans and help them lead full and long lives."

For more news from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, please visit:

Veterans.House.Gov

Find us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/HouseVetsAffairs or follow us on Twitter at:

@HouseVetAffairs

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041912 Mental Health Statement FINAL.pdf
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Sean P Eagan

Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans

Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
716 720-4000