Friends of Wisconsin Veterans (formerly Friends of WDVA)

PeopleSoft and IAVA Team Up To Hire 10,000 Military Veterans

2012-02-08T19:34:00.000-06:00

WDVA Secretary John Scocos, who lists "membership" in IAVA, was as usual nowhere to be found at this major IAVA-PeopleSoft veterans hiring initiative rollout.

Scocos likes to make naive veterans in Wiscosin think he's well connected and a leading veterans advocate, but Scocos has never been a player in national veterans issues and likely never will be.

=============

23 companies join PeopleSoft, IAVA in effort to hire 10,000 military vets

Feb. 4, 2012 | 2 Comments

Written by

Jeff Swiatek

In the midst of treating 40 customers to a weekend at the Super Bowl, recruiting firm PeopleScout invited Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and former NFL coach Bill Cowher on Friday to help make a non-Super Bowl announcement.

PeopleScout will lead a national effort by 23 companies to hire 10,000 military veterans this year.

The hiring push, called the Veteran Hiring Initiative, is a response to the sobering statistic of a 13 percent unemployment rate among veterans. That's nearly 5 percentage points higher than the national average.

The high jobless rate, which soars to 30 percent for vets younger than 24, is the result of veterans being out of the civilian workforce for years and a lack of good retraining programs by the military for discharged soldiers.

PeopleScout's Chicago-based parent, SeatonCorp, has committed to hiring 2,000 veterans this year. Other companies with veteran-hiring commitments include U.S. Infrastructure Corp. of Carmel, Burger King and Fifth Third Bank.

The same companies hired 8,000 veterans last year, said Patrick Beharelle, chief executive of SeatonCorp.

Beharelle said his commitment to veterans is personal. His father, Pat Sr., was wounded while serving in the Vietnam War as an Army medic.

"You see the stresses your family goes through . . . and it kind of instills a personal commitment" to help veterans, Beharelle said during a news conference Downtown in the Canterbury Hotel, where his company hosted a job forum and lunch for clients.

The hiring push grew out of PeopleScout's efforts last year to help the U.S. Chamber of Commerce organize 100 job fairs for veterans around the country. More than 7,300 veterans were hired through those fairs.

Beharelle said the corporate hiring commitments are structured so they don't conflict with federal laws banning discriminatory hiring.

"The key is (giving veterans) priority (in being hired) and not a preference," he said. "A priority in terms of getting them to the front of the line (for job offers)."

http://www.businesswire.com/news/fox59-wxin/20120203005351/en/PeopleScout-Kicks-Veteran-Hiring-Initiative-Super-Bowl

PeopleScout Kicks off Veteran Hiring InitiativeDuring Super Bowl Weekend: 25 Percent Increase in Military Hires in Next 12 Months

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Super Bowl Winning Coach Bill Cowher, U.S. Chamber of Commerce & Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America Applaud Efforts to Help Returning Military Service Members Find Meaningful Employment

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PeopleScout, a leading provider of recruitment processing outsourcing (RPO), today announced its Veteran Hiring Initiative, a program to partner with its clients to hire more than 10,000 military veterans during the next year, an estimated 25 percent increase over 2011.

The PeopleScout Veteran Hiring Initiative is designed to help U.S. veterans find meaningful employment, and U.S. companies find outstanding talent by changing the way recruiting is done for large scale hires.

“Last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched Hiring Our Heroes, a program which includes organizing over 100 hiring fairs for veterans and their spouses. PeopleScout was one of the program’s first strategic partners. We applaud the company’s Veteran Hiring Initiative and appreciate its commitment to helping veterans find suitable work,” said Lt. Colonel Kevin Schmiegel, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce program, Hiring Our Heroes.

Executives, dignitaries and veterans from some of the world’s leading organizations joined PeopleScout at its Annual Client Forum including:

· Governor Mitchell (Mitch) E. Daniels Jr. (Indiana)

· Bill Cowher, former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl winner, and NFL commentator for The NFL Today on CBS

· Paul Rieckhoff, Founder & Executive Director, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America

· David Ludolph, VP Operations PeopleScout, formerly Staff Sergeant U.S. Air Force

· Sean Smith, Recruiter Coordinator PeopleScout, formerly Lance Corporal U.S. Marine Corps

“Facing a 13 percent unemployment rate, more than 4 percentage points higher than the overall unemployment rate, returning U.S. service members are under enormous pressure as they transition back to civilian life,” said Patrick Beharelle, CEO of SeatonCorp, parent company of PeopleScout. “The Veteran Hiring Initiative will focus on connecting world class employers that are hiring on a large scale with highly talented veterans seeking to further their careers.”

PeopleScout clients attending the Forum include: Avis Budget Group, Burger King, Calsonic, Comcast, Covance, Delta Air Lines, Fifth Third Bank, Gerdau, Premier Research, Sauer-Danfoss, USIC, and others.

The PeopleScout Veteran Hiring Initiative is built on ten industry best practices for recruiting veterans. Two of the most impactful are:

1. Establishing a Priority Screening process for veterans

For years, corporations have used priority screening processes for internal job candidates and employee referrals. As part of the Veteran Hiring Initiative, PeopleScout will provide its RPO clients a priority screening and tracking capability that identifies and prioritizes military service for a client’s open positions.

2. Incorporating thoughtful veteran sourcing into overall sourcing strategy

The strength of a recruiting program is dependent on the timely sourcing of high quality candidates. PeopleScout’s Veteran Hiring Initiative leverages a customized and comprehensive veteran sourcing program that includes aggressive utilization of military hiring fairs, veteran support organizations, veteran specific job boards etc.

Executive representatives discussed what companies can do to increase military hiring in a panel session moderated by Lt. Colonel Schmiegel. Members of the panel included:

· Jenn Crenshaw, VP, Burger King

· Shawn Harter, SVP, Fifth Third Bank

· Yvonne Trupiano, Director, Avis Budget Group

For more information on the PeopleScout Veteran Hiring Initiative, the PeopleScout Annual Client Forum, or to interview one of the key speakers, contact Ann Warren. Follow us @PeopleScoutJobs or #hiringheroes.

About PeopleScout

PeopleScout is a leading provider of recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) services aimed at helping companies with their exempt and non-exempt hiring needs. The firm's suite of services includes RPO, employment branding, on-boarding, and employee retention. Annually, PeopleScout facilitates over 220,000 hires worldwide. Industries served include airline, financial services, telecommunications, retail, utilities, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and transportation. PeopleScout's clients include some of the more recognizable names in the Fortune 500 list of companies. For more information, please visitwww.peoplescout.com or call 800-966-4803.

Contacts

ClearEdge Marketing
Ann Warren, 770-328-8384 mobile
awarren@clearedgemarketing.com

SVA Announces Google-SVA Scholarships

2012-02-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

2012 Google-SVA Scholarships

These scholarships are a huge financial boost and will encourage student veterans to excel in a very challenging STEM program.

Student Veterans of America is proud to announce a new partnership with Google that will award student veterans pursuing computer science or related degrees* with eight $10,000 scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Google's support of SVA and student veterans is one of the first of its kind and comes on the heels of their Google for Veterans and Families program. SVA is excited to offer these scholarships to student veterans nationwide that are pursuing some of America's most in-demand degrees.

Applications will be accepted from now until March 15, 2012 and finalists will be notified by the end of April. Recipients will also be invited to attend a scholars' retreat at Google Headquarters during the summer.

For more information or to apply for one of these scholarships, please visit SVA's new website and click on the Google Scholarship link after you log in.

*Please visit SVA's website for a definition of related degree programs.

Madison VAH: Madison VA hospital fights Veteran homelessness

2012-02-06T19:32:00.001-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 6, 2012

Contact: Tim Donovan or Mary Merlin

Madison VA hospital fights Veteran homelessness

MADISON, Wis. — At one time in their lives, they each raised their right hands and swore an oath to defend their nation. They stood ready to give their lives for their country. Many fought armed enemies of the United States in faraway lands.

Today they are homeless veterans — veterans without homes, but not without hope.

Veterans are significantly overrepresented in America’s homeless population. They are 40 percent more likely to be homeless than the general population, and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison is in the fight to help end their plight.

The best and most recent national data, based on a single-night “point-in-time” census taken about one year ago, found that 67,495 veterans nationwide were homeless. Considering a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs goal to end homelessness among veterans, it’s a troubling number — but it does represent a significant improvement from the previous year, when 76,329 homeless veterans were counted and from 2008 when the veteran homeless population was 131,230.

The 12 percent decline from January 2010 to January 2011 puts VA on track to achieve its five-year goal of eliminating veteran homelessness by 2015.

Homeless veterans are a moving target that makes the population difficult to track. Homelessness isn’t necessarily an everyday condition for these veterans as they move in and out of shelters and are occasionally supported by friends or families. Even getting an accurate count is challenging, because the homeless can only be counted as veterans if they identify themselves that way. Some choose not to be counted as veterans and some avoid being counted at all. The census also misses those who were not homeless the one night a year the count is made, but would have been on the street or in a shelter on another night. And some homeless people simply are missed.

Getting a veteran to a homeless shelter or even into transitional housing does not solve the problem. Madison VA Hospital programs deal with veterans as whole people who, more often than not, face multiple challenges that go well beyond their lack of permanent housing. Homeless veterans tend to have fragile or non-existent family relationships, mental health or addiction issues, problems with their physical health, legal problems, financial difficulties, and chronic unemployment. These issues can amplify each other to overwhelm a veteran.

Because every single homeless veteran once wore a U.S. military uniform, they have inside them specific qualities, experiences and accomplishments that many non-veterans don’t have: they have been part of a team and entrusted to defend their country.

“We want to help them regain self-respect they may have lost and get them back on the team with their fellow veterans,” says Marybeth Urbin, a Madison VA Hospital social worker who heads the hospital’s homeless program.

The Madison VA Hospital’s resources to fight veteran homelessness have increased dramatically, including a homeless program staff nearly doubled in size over the past year to 19. The VA’s programs offer services focused on prevention, treatment, employment and job training, and housing support.

These programs and improved resources are taking hold. The number of transitional housing beds available at King, Janesville, two Madison locations and in Rockford, Ill, has doubled since October 2010 to about 120. Permanent supportive housing for veterans has also increased, and there are now 120 vouchers for homeless veterans in Madison and Rockford.

At the center of the Madison VA Hospital’s strategy to eliminate homelessness among veterans is a “no wrong door” approach, which means veterans seeking help should find it in any number of the VA’s programs or from community partners. The VA will continue to offer a full range of support necessary to end the cycle of homelessness by providing education, jobs, health care and counseling, in addition to housing.

“We treat our veterans who are homeless as the people they were born to be, not what they’ve become,” Urbin says.

William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital is a Madison-based 87-bed acute care facility that provides health care for veterans who live in a 13,600 square mile service area of 15 counties in south central Wisconsin and five counties in northwestern Illinois. A recently opened community living center provides an additional 14 beds for sub-acute transitional care, along with four hospice suites. The hospital operates an annex clinic in Madison and community-based outpatient clinics in Baraboo, Beaver Dam and Janesville, Wis., and in Freeport and Rockford, Ill. The total veteran population in the Madison VA Hospital’s service area is more than 120,000.

For more information about the Madison VA Hospital, visit www.madison.va.gov or www.facebook.com/MadisonVAHospital.

WDVA: State Veterans Affairs Agency Headquarters to Move

2012-02-06T16:34:00.000-06:00

State Veterans Affairs Agency Headquarters to Move

(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) announces that as of February 11, 2012, the department’s central office divisions and staff will be relocated within downtown Madison, from 30 W. Mifflin Street, to the new location of:

201 W. Washington Ave.

P.O. Box 7843

Madison WI 53707-7843.

The WDVA will occupy sections of the third and fourth floors of the Tommy G. Thompson Building. Services to veterans and the public will not be interrupted during the move relocation.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum and its staff will remain located on the Capitol Square, on the first, second and third floors of the Thirty On the Square Building.

The department website, main phone line, fax numbers and staff phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.

Information about the department will continue to be available as usual by visiting the department website at www.WisVets.com or by calling the main phone line at 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).

-30-

WDVA: President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

2012-02-04T01:43:00.003-06:00

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________________
February 2, 2012

President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for a new Veterans Job Corps initiative to help our returning veterans find pathways to civilian employment. The Administration’s new veteran employment initiatives, coupled with the work that President Obama has already accomplished in creating employment opportunities for veterans, will help put tens of thousands of veterans back to work.

The President’s Commitment to Veteran Employment

Today the President will announce new details of his Veterans Jobs Corps initiative which will help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military:

New incentives to hire veterans as first responders: The President will announce $166 million in 2012 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grant funding and $320 million in 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The President will also announce that preference for these grants will now be given to communities that recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters. The COPS funding preserves law enforcement jobs and spurs new ones by making grant awards to communities across the country. SAFER grants provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase and retain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities, enhancing the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards.

Hiring veterans to protect Americans as first responders and law enforcement officers: Today, the President announced he will include in his FY13 Budget the $4 billion in COPS funding first proposed in the American Jobs Act to spur police officer hiring in 2012. The Budget will also include $1 billion for SAFER grants, as proposed in the American Jobs Act, to encourage firefighter hiring. Preference for these grants will also be given to communities that hire post-9/11 veterans.

Putting veterans to work preserving and restoring America’s land and resources: The President will propose $1 billion to develop a Veterans Job Corps conservation program that will put up to 20,000 veterans back to work over the next five years protecting and rebuilding America. Veterans will restore our great outdoors by providing visitor programs, restoring habitat, protecting cultural resources, eradicating invasive species, and operating facilities. Additionally, our veterans will help make a significant dent in the deferred maintenance of our Federal, State, local, and tribal lands including jobs that will repair and rehabilitate trails, roads, levees, recreation facilities and other assets. The program will serve all veterans, but will have a particular focus on post-9/11 veterans.

Supporting veteran entrepreneurship by building our next generation of small business leaders: The President will propose an expansion of entrepreneurship training opportunities for separating service members and veterans. As part of the VA-DOD Task Force for a Career Ready Military that the President established in August of last year, the Departments of Defense and Veteran Affairs, working with the Small Business Administration, are developing a two-day entrepreneurship program as part of the Transition Assistance Program that will be available to all service members. In addition, once service members separate, SBA will offer veterans more in-depth entrepreneurial training through an 8-week online training program that will teach the fundamentals of small business ownership to over 10,000 veterans annually, as well as an expansion of the existing suite of programs and public-private partnerships supporting entrepreneurship and small business development opportunities for veterans and veterans’ families, including an intensive entrepreneurship boot camp.

Building on Progress

Since taking office, President Obama has taken key steps to support veterans in developing skills and finding work, including by:

Creating two new veterans’ tax credits: In November 2011, the President signed into law two new tax credits for hiring veterans, both of which were included as part of the American Jobs Act. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides an incentive of up to $5,600 for firms to hire unemployed veterans and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credit doubled the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities to $9,600.

Challenging the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and their spouses by 2013: Since the President issued his challenge to the private sector in August 2011, already more than 40,000 veterans and the spouses have been hired and 1,500 companies have committed to hire or train 135,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013 through the leadership of the First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and their Joining Forces initiative.

Increasing access to intensive reemployment services: Post-9/11 veterans are now able to download the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles them to enhanced reemployment services including six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling at the roughly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country. This will help serve the 250,000 unemployed Post-9/11 veterans.

Developing online tools to boost veteran employment: The Administration launched the Veterans Jobs Bank, an easy to use tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them. It already searches over one million job postings and is growing. Additionally, the Department of Labor launched My Next Move for Veterans, a new online resource that allows veterans to enter their military occupation code and discover civilian occupations for which they are well qualified.

Increasing hiring of veterans in healthcare-related fields: The President challenged Community Health Centers to hire 8,000 veterans – approximately one veteran per health center site – over the next three years and the Health Resources and Services Administration pledged to open up career-paths beyond nursing and expand opportunities for veterans to become physician assistants.

###

IAVA Reacts to State of the Union

2012-01-25T17:45:00.003-06:00

ORIGINAL IAVA ARTICLE: http://iava.org/blog/state-union-spotlights-new-greatest-generation?org=403&org=403&lvl=100&ite=1006&lea=1145&ctr=0&par=1

IAVA Reaction to State of the Union
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on January 25

Today, following the State of the Union address, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released the following statement:

“Tonight, the President introduced America to the New Greatest Generation - 2.4 million veterans who have selflessly served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. He put a powerful spotlight on these men and women as shining examples for our country. Their ambition, determination and teamwork are the values that America needs right now. They should be celebrated by all Americans—no matter their political party. Just as the World War II Generation led America out of the Great Depression, today’s veterans are ready to rebuild America and lead this generation out of our current economic crisis,” said IAVA Executive Director and Founder Paul Rieckhoff.

“Although the President did not address the suicide rates plaguing our community or outline specifics for his new Veterans Job Corps initiative to reduce veteran unemployment, this State of the Union focused much-needed attention on the men and women who have sacrificed through the last decade of war. Our community definitely has challenges ahead of us, but we are not just a list of problems. We are America’s opportunity for a better tomorrow. If America invests in our futures, we will be united to lead in America’s classrooms, boardrooms, statehouses and communities. That is a transformative idea the President, both political parties and all Americans should be able to stand behind. ”

Read the full text of the State of the Union address and learn more about IAVA’s call for the President to issue three promises: Hire Veterans, Protect Veterans’ Benefits from Budget Cuts and Fight Suicide.

On eve of State of the Union, Another Military Success for Obama

2012-01-25T17:40:00.003-06:00

American hostage in Somalia rescued by US Navy SEALs in overnight raid

U.S. military forces launched a dramatic raid in Somalia that freed an American and a Dane held hostage. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.

By Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News chief Pentagon correspondent

Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET: The Navy SEALs that rescued the American and Danish hostages in Somalia on Tuesday were not the same individuals that killed Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials told NBC News, contradicting an earlier news service report.

Published at 1:15 a.m. ET: In a daring nighttime raid Tuesday, U.S. Navy SEALs rescued two hostages, including one American, who were being held by kidnappers in Somalia, U.S. officials tell NBC News.

American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and a 60-year-old Dane, Poul Thisted, were working for a Danish relief organization in northern Somalia when they were kidnapped last October. U.S. officials described their kidnappers as heavily armed common criminals with no known ties to any organized militant group.

According to the U.S. officials, two teams of Navy SEALs landed by helicopter near the compound where the two hostages were being held.

As the SEALS approached the compound on foot gunfire broke out, the U.S. officials said, and several of the militants were reportedly killed. There is no word that any of the Americans were wounded.

Danish Refugee Council

Poul Hagen Thisted, a Danish national who was taken hostage in Somalia alongside American Jessica Buchanan in October 2011. The pair were freed by a U.S. Navy SEALS raid.

The SEALs gathered up Buchanan and Thisted, loaded them onto the helicopters and flew them to safety at an undisclosed location. The two hostages were not injured during the rescue operation and are reported to be in relatively good condition.

The two had been working for the Danish Refugee Council on a demining project in northern Somalia. The humanitarian group has been providing relief to some 450,000 refugees in the Somalia-Kenya border region.

News reports at the time said the two were kidnapped Oct. 25 along with a Somali colleague when their three-car convoy was stopped on the way to an airport. A self-proclaimed Somali pirate said they had been kidnapped for ransom by pirates stymied by Western nations' efforts to stop the seizure of ships off the coast. The fate of the Somali colleague was unclear.

STORY: Second American, a writer, held in Somalia; rescue next?

The first indication of the rescue operation came Tuesday night in Washington from President Barack Obama himself.

As the president entered the House chambers to give his State of the Union Speech, he pointed to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta standing in the crowd and said, "Leon. Good job tonight. Good job tonight."

The president made no mention of the hostage rescue, but finished his speech with a reference to the killing of Osama bin Laden last May in a similar operation to the one conducted by Navy SEALs Tuesday night.

Updated at 5:57 a.m. ET: In a statement sent to NBC News and other media, Obama says that he authorized the operation to rescue Buchanan.

"Thanks to the extraordinary courage and capabilities of our Special Operations Forces, yesterday Jessica Buchanan was rescued and she is on her way home," he says. "As Commander-in-Chief, I could not be prouder of the troops who carried out this mission, and the dedicated professionals who supported their efforts."

Obama, who spoke to Buchanan's father Tuesday night, says she was "selflessly serving her fellow human beings when she was taken hostage by criminals and pirates who showed no regard for her health and well-being."

He says he told her father that "all Americans have Jessica in our thoughts and prayers, and give thanks that she will soon be reunited with her family."

"The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice," Obama adds. "This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people."

Updated at 6:50 a.m. ET: A statement from U.S. Africa Command says U.S. forces had received "actionable intelligence" about Buchanan and Thisted and decided to take action.

"During the course of the operation, the rescue force patrolled to the location and confirmed the presence of Mrs. Buchanan and Mr. Thisted guarded by nine captors," the statement says. "All nine captors were killed during the assault."

General Carter F. Ham, of U.S. Africa Command, says in the statement that the raid, which took place near Gadaado, was "boldly conducted by some of our nation's most courageous, competent, and committed special operations forces."

"Thanks to them a fellow American and her Danish co-worker are safe and will soon be home with their families," he adds.

Updated at 6:55 a.m. ET: A statement from Panetta says he is "grateful to report that there was no loss of life or injuries to our personnel."

He says the rescue -- "undertaken in a hostile environment" -- showed the "superb skills of courageous service members who risked their lives to save others."

"They are heroes and continue to inspire all of us by their bravery and service to our nation," he says.

Updated at 10:35 a.m. ET: Pentagon officials told NBC News that they are characterizing the people who took Buchanan and Thisted hostage as "criminal suspects," rather than pirates. They said the U.S. military has no firm information about whether the captors were connected to pirates or an Islamic militant group like al-Shabaab.

SOURCE: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/25/10229917-american-hostage-in-somalia-rescued-by-us-navy-seals-in-overnight-raid?org=403&org=403&lvl=100&ite=1006&lea=1145&ctr=0&par=1

GOP Candidate Proposes Tax cuts at the Expense of Military Members and Veterans.

2012-01-13T07:36:00.000-06:00

GOP Candidate Proposes Tax cuts at the Expense of Military Members and Veterans.

Military service members and veterans pay and benefits are under attack once again. As you may recall last November during the supercomittee debt debate Veterans for Common Sense and Votevets.org teamed up to take a strong stance against possible VA cuts. This week GOP Candidate Jon Huntsman unveiled his economic plan.

Among other key issues he proposed ending all tax expenditures. Which would result in taxing combat pay. Can you think of a more outrageous insult to our military service members? I cannot.

He also proposes taxing BAH and BAS payments that our military families depend on. The unpatriotic and ungrateful insults keep coming after ETS with new taxes on VA disability payments. All the while eliminating capital gains,dividend taxes and lowering corporate tax rates.
To ask our nation's brave military and veterans to sacrifice even more is outrageous and morally unconscionable. Anyone who would suggest taxing military members fighting for our freedom or veterans wounded in that fight to fund a tax cut for the rich is unpatriotic and morally bankrupt and not fit to be commander-in-chief. At Veterans For Common Sense we pledge to remain vigilant to protect our military members and veterans rights and benefits from any who would threaten them. They earned them.

The 1% have borne the burden of a decade of conflicts and we only ask for a square deal afterwards. We are proud to be entering into our second decade fighting for America and her veterans. To continue to fight we need your support, please donate to VCS today by visiting this link https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=2069

Thank you for your support.

Patrick Bellon
Iraq Veteran
Executive Director

Independent Budget Critical Issues

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-06:00

Download the full report at www.independentbudget.org

The Independent Budget

Critical Issues Report For Fiscal Year 2013

As the United States reflects on the fateful anniversary—September 11, 2001—that obligated millions of service members to be deployed into combat theaters, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to face rising pressure to meet the needs of these veterans and of veterans before them. While the future of United States military deployments remains uncertain, the lasting impact of the physical and psychological traumas that some service members experienced during that time may require a lifetime of care. The sacrifices these brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, coastguardsmen, and marines have made will leave them dealing with a lifetime of physical and psychological wounds. It is for these men and women and the millions who came before them that The Independent Budget veterans service organizations (IBVSOs)—AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars—set out each year to assess the status of the one federal department whose sole task it is to care for them and their families. VA, and the veterans it serves, now face a new dynamic in which pressures resulting from the federal debt and deficit may dictate the level of services the agency can provide, whether arbitrary or not. In fact, these pressures may force VA to provide health-care services and benefits with fewer resources than might actually be necessary to meet full demand. This is a sobering proposition.

The Independent Budget will be released in February 2012 concurrent with the release of the President’s proposed budget for VA. This Critical Issues Report is designed to alert the Administration, Members of Congress, VA, and the public to those issues concerning VA health care, benefits, and benefits delivery that we believe deserve special scrutiny and attention. The IBVSOs are releasing this report early as a guide to policymakers so they can assemble an adequate budget for the current fiscal year while preparing to develop the advance appropriation for the medical care accounts for fiscal year (FY) 2013. The Independent Budget will present a detailed funding analysis and recommendations for FY 2013 in February 2012. Through these efforts, if Congress responds appropriately, the IBVSOs believe VA will be positioned to successfully meet the challenges of the future. We also hope that this report will provide direction and guidance to the Administration and Members of Congress to steer both policy and budget to the benefit of veterans served by VA.2

In order to best inform policymakers in Congress and the Administration, the IBVSOs have identified six major issues that warrant consideration. This Critical Issues Report will examine the following matters in more detail:

• CRITICAL ISSUE 1: Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care and Benefits Programs

As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction begins deliberations about federal spending and debt,it is imperative that VA health-care and benefits obligations be respected.

• CRITICAL ISSUE 2: Reforming the Benefits Claims-Processing System

The Veterans Benefits Administration is at a critical juncture in reforming an outdated, inefficient, and overwhelmed disability claims-processing system, and strong leadership is required by both Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that this system is finally and truly reformed.

• CRITICAL ISSUE 3: Transition, Employment, and Training for Today’s Veterans

Successful transition from military service to civilian life hinges on veterans’ ability to be competitive in the workforce; therefore, it is imperative that Congress fund employment, training, and education programs to meet the increasing needs of individuals repatriating from overseas deployments.

• CRITICAL ISSUE 4: The Continuing Challenge of Caring for War Veterans and Transitioning Them to Civilian Life

A new generation of war veterans is repatriating. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs face challenges in meeting the needs of these veterans and the needs of their families to make this crucial transition seamless and effective. VA must continue to find ways to work more collaboratively with the DOD while sustaining needed programs for older generations of war veterans and their dependents.

• Critical Issue 5: Transformation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care Delivery Model—Patient-Centered Medical Home or Patient-Aligned Care Teams

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is undergoing change in the way it delivers health care. As the VHA implements a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model, VA leadership must ensure that the unique health-care needs of the veteran population are met while sustaining quality and satisfaction.

• CRITICAL ISSUE 6: Maintaining VA’s Critical Infrastructure

The Department of Veterans Affairs must receive adequate funding to maintain current structures and reduce the backlog of critical infrastructure gaps in utilization, space, condition, and safety that are outlined in VA’s Strategic Capital Investment Plan.

Professor uses theater skills to improve veterans’ lives

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Professor uses theater skills to improve veterans’ lives

Published: January 6th, 2012

Category: Spotlights

Charlie Mitchell
Assistant Professor

University of Florida
School of Theater & Dance
College of Fine Arts

Charlie Mitchell is using improvisational theater to heal, one “Zip Zap Zop” at a time.

Mitchell, a theater professor, leads weekly improv sessions at the HONOR Center in Gainesville, a Veterans Affairs facility that serves as a transitional residence for once-homeless veterans.

He and retired classics professor Karelisa Hartigan created the program last year to help veterans to improve their social skills.

Every Thursday, about eight to 12 veterans meet to work on exercises, such as “Zip Zap Zop,” a focusing game. One player says, “zip,” and points to another, who must say “zap.” The next person who is pointed to must say “zap,” and then on to the person who says “zop.” The pattern continues, teaching players to listen and be less isolated.

Then they move on to games that are more complex, such as role play exercises, where Mitchell plays a job interviewer and veterans practice professional interviewing.

“In a lot of these cases, these guys have forgotten how to communicate and connect with people,” he said. “In our sessions we try to help them relate to other people, even if it’s through silly games.”

Mitchell earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from Ithaca College and a master’s degree in playwriting fromBoston University. He worked as a director, playwright and actor in Chicago and earned a doctorate in theater from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Today, he teaches theater appreciation and improvisation for political and social change in addition to his work with veterans.

One of the most important exercises the veterans do is called “Difficult Conversations.” Here, a veteran identifies a conversation he needs to have but is worried about – perhaps reconnecting with a family member, or explaining an addiction to a friend.

Mitchell often plays the other person so the veteran can act out what he or she might say. The scene is practiced several times, with other veterans suggesting how to improve the conversation after each take.

At the end of each session, the group wraps up by discussing what they learned. Mitchell said that the reaction to improvisation is always “overwhelmingly positive.” Sometimes the veterans talk about life skills: how to listen, how to be patient, how to act in social situations. Other times, he said, the veterans are thankful they had a good time.

“Most of these guys are not in a joyful time,” he said, “so to bring them a little bit of fun, even if it’s just for that hour, is huge.”

Writer: Meg Wagner

More Subtle Cuts to Veterans Programs from the Scocos-Walker Administration

2012-01-12T14:52:00.000-06:00

There's always a "reason" justifying more cuts to veterans programs that keep drip drip dripping out of the Scocos-Walker Administration.

This week eliminating one whole day every week from the operating hours of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Instead of eliminating Sundays - already open only four hours per day, this latest Walker-Scocos cut to all things veterans amounts to a 16% cut in the Wisconsin Veterans Museum's overall operating hours.

Justifying that cut? "Everyone else is already doing it".

That doesn't change the fact that these are real cuts to real veterans programs.

What kind of cuts from the Walker-Scocos Adminstration are next for veterans?

Interesting aside: the WVM has finally cut free from WDVA on its new website. Though apparently not from Scocos's micromanagement.

===================

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/January12/0112/0112dva.pdf

(MADISON)— The Wisconsin Veterans Museum announces new service hours starting Monday, January 30, 2012, when the main Museum galleries and gift store at 30 West Mifflin Street, Madison, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday Noon to 4:00 p.m. (April through September).

The Research Center on 3rd floor will remain open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The new schedule closes the Museum galleries and store on Mondays, allowing staff the opportunity to safely conduct routine exhibit and operational maintenance within those spaces. Monday closures are routine in the museum profession, and are common for a variety of reasons. These include cost savings but are more commonly linked to the need to have vacant galleries at least one day per week to allow for physical plant maintenance, cleaning and artifact rotation and exhibit maintenance.

Approximately 75 percent of regional museums surveyed close on Mondays, including the Wisconsin Historical Museum, Chazen Museum of Art and Milwaukee Art Museum. Please visit our updated and redesigned website at www.wisvetsmuseum.com for more information about public programs, hours of operation and various online resources. Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff members look forward to continuing to serve our members and the public.

Should you have any questions, contact Kristine Zickuhr, Assistant Director, at (608) 261-6802. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a free public educational activity of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and is located at 30 W. Mifflin St., across the street from the State Capitol.

For more information on the Museum, visit www.wisvetsmuseum.com.

President Obama Signs Jobs Bill Into Law

2012-01-12T13:42:00.000-06:00

This article is from

http://www.dav.org/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=532

Veterans’ Jobs Bill Signed Into Law

President Barack Obama addressed a group of veterans, including Washington Headquarters Executive Director Barry Jesinoski, prior to signing the VOW to Hire Heroes Act into law.

A DAV delegation was among those to witness President Obama signing into law a measure to improve the employment outlook for veterans. The VOW to Hire Heroes Act will help service members be better prepared for the transition to civilian status, expand career counseling and make it easier for them to convert their military occupational specialties to related job qualifications. The measure also expands education and training for unemployed veterans of previous eras and offers tax incentives for employers to hire veterans who have been out of work for six months or longer. It also provides disabled veterans up to one year of additional Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits.

“With an unemployment rate over 12 percent, veterans are faring worse than others in the jobless population,” said National Commander Donald L. Samuels. “More than 850,000 of our nation’s veterans can’t find a job. That is totally unacceptable, and this legislation will make a real difference in the lives of those veterans and their families.”

“This legislation responds to one of DAV’s legislative priorities,” National Legislative Director Joseph A. Violante said. “Our membership is on record in support of efforts to eliminate employment barriers that impede the transfer of military job skills to the civilian labor market and increase the civilian labor market’s acceptance of the occupational training provided by the military.”

“When our brave men and women return from military service, it is vital that they have every opportunity to obtain gainful employment,” Washington Headquarters Executive Director Barry Jesinoski said.

The measure combined provisions in the Hiring Heroes Act (S. 951) and the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (H.R. 2433) into a single, comprehensive package that received broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

“DAV members and supporters took an active role in ensuring the bill’s passage in Congress,” Jesinoski said. “The message our grassroots advocacy program sent to lawmakers was simple: America’s veterans have the experience, discipline and leadership skills that employers are looking for. The only thing veterans need is the opportunity to put those skills to work.”

DAV NATIONAL ADJUTANT: Hiring Veterans Is Good Business

2012-01-12T13:40:00.002-06:00

The following article is from DAV

http://www.dav.org/news/Adjutant.aspx

Hiring Veterans Is Good Business

ShareThis

Secretary of Veterans Affairs and DAV life member Eric K. Shinseki said in November that nearly 3 million Americans have joined the military since the terrorist attacks a decade ago, and about 1.25 million have already left the services. He also noted that an additional million will be leaving the military and trying to join the civilian workforce during the next few years. This influx of disciplined, motivated veterans represents a huge opportunity for businesses. Yet as many as one in eight post-9/11 veterans cannot find a job. That is significantly higher than the national unemployment rate, which has hovered around 9 percent for some months.

Historically, veterans, and especially disabled veterans, have fared worse than the non-veteran population in the job market, even during good economic times. That trend persists in spite of well-publicized campaigns urging employers to hire former service members.

Part of the problem has been the significant disconnect between employers and veterans entering the civilian workforce. Many employers don’t realize that these men and women bring a unique set of skills that would benefit their companies and help them grow and become more competitive. Veterans are creative problem-solvers and expert team-builders, and they have an excellent work ethic, attributes any business enterprise would want on board.

Another issue is that many veterans have difficulty matching their military skills and knowledge with equivalent civilian jobs. However, tools such as an online job bank and military skills translator are readily available to both employers and veterans.

Fortunately, several major corporations and many smaller businesses have committed to recruiting veterans. The federal government has stepped up efforts to hire more veterans also. At the Department of Veterans Affairs, for example, veterans make up about a third of its workforce, and the agency aims to increase that to 40 percent.

Congress recently approved legislation to provide tax credits and other incentives for businesses that hire veterans, with emphasis on disabled veterans and those who have been out of work for longer than six months.

Could it be that private companies and the public sector are finally realizing something the DAV has known for the past 91 years? Yes, hiring veterans is good for business, good for veterans and good for the economy as well. In fact, 360 disabled veterans have joined our ranks as National Service Officers or Transition Service Officers since 9/11.

As further evidence of the desirability of employing veterans, the online job site Monster’s quarterly survey of employers, Veteran Talent Index, found that those who hire veterans are very satisfied with their experience. In fact, 69 percent of employers who responded to the survey reported that veteran workers perform their jobs “much better” than nonveterans. Not only that, but the survey also found that 65 percent of veterans said they would relocate to anywhere in the country for the right job. Fewer than half of all job seekers found on Monster said they would relocate for a job. That is something employers should take into account when recruiting talent.

Employers must understand that the men and women who have served and sacrificed to keep our nation safe and strong aren’t asking for any kind of special consideration. All they ask is for a chance to prove their worth and succeed, just like anyone else. So, it will be well worthwhile for companies to take advantage of this well-trained, highly skilled and motivated talent pool. Hiring veterans is the right thing to do.

IAVA President to Politicians: Our Troops Aren't Props

2012-01-11T07:17:00.000-06:00

The following is from Forbes, and recirculated as today's top story by Iraq and Afghanistan of America (IAVA).

After leading the way forward for Walker in getting lots of photo ops with veterans at the Wis. Veterans Homes, Scocos should read and heed because the same that goes for troops goes for veterans in VSO gear. And the same principle that troops aren't anyone's props or toys goes for veterans as well.

Since Scocos claims to be an IAVA "member" on his resume, that means he's getting IAVA's emails.

That's if he bothers to read them.

===================================================

The following article is from Forbes and is cross-posted to www.iava.org

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulrieckhoff/2012/01/10/a-message-to-all-candidates-our-troops-arent-props/?org=403&org=403&lvl=100&ite=633&lea=1145&ctr=0&par=1

Paul RieckhoffContributor

+ Follow on Forbes

The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

LEADERSHIP

|

1/10/2012 @ 1:18AM |805 views

A Message to All Candidates: Our Troops Aren't Props

+ Comment now

Our troops are many things to many people. Heroes, parents, diplomats, victims, villains, victors. But as the GOP Primary races roll through New Hampshire this week, there is one thing that all of America must understand they’re not: political props.

And that’s not just my opinion, it’s the law.

This is why so many of us in the military and veterans community were so shocked and outraged last Tuesday night when we saw Corporal Jesse Thorsen step up to the microphone in uniform and endorse Ron Paul for President. We know the law–the military law under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). We know Article 88 of UCMJ prohibits contemptuous speech by commissioned officers against the President and certain elected officials at penalty of court-martial. We also know that service members are only allowed to attend political rallies as spectators, according to Department of Defense Directive 1344.10, which states, “In keeping with the traditional concept that members on active duty should not engage in partisan political activity, and that members not on active duty should avoid inferences that their political activities imply or appear to imply official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement…” And we troops and veterans understand why this directive exists.

It exists, like most laws, to protect the common good. It exists to protect our troops, our politics, and our democracy. It is what makes America different. It is what protects our political system from being hijacked by our military–and it’s what keeps us from becoming a junta.

Since I first commented on this issue on Twitter on the night of the Iowa Caucus, the conversation has been intense. And healthy. Primarily because it underscores how little much of the civilian public understands about our military, and it reveals a dangerous, unprecedented civilian-military divide in which less than one half of 1% of our nation has served in combat. Many well-intentioned people have fired back at me saying things like, “He’s a soldier! He risked his life! He’s entitled to free speech! He’s entitled to his views as much, if not maybe more, than anyone else!”

Actually, he’s not.

Every one of us who has worn the uniform understands that you give up certain freedoms when you sign your contract with Uncle Sam. You give up the freedom to choose where you work, when you have time off, and what you can wear. And, you also give up what you can say. It’s part of the deal. And we’re okay with that. Like Christmas or missing the birth of our children, it’s another sacrifice we make in service to our nation. Maybe one of the biggest. And we definitely understand it.

We are taught in basic training, and often reminded by senior leaders, about the rules governing political activity. As Admiral Mike Mullen, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in 2008 for Joint Forces Quarterly, “Keeping our politics private is a good first step. The only things we should be wearing on our sleeves are our military insignia.”

It’s not that we aren’t passionate about candidates like the rest of America. It’s all about the rules. Want to donate to your favorite candidate? Great. Want to go to a political event or rally? Sure. Just don’t do it in uniform, use your rank, or identify yourself (overtly or implied) as a representative or spokesperson of the military. You can get your politics on, just don’t cross the line. Afghanistan veteran Rajiv Srinivasan wrote an even more emotional explanation in TIME last week, writing that Corporal Thorsen’s actions were “disgraceful … [and] soil the American military uniform, one of the few icons that is still good in our country.”

Still not convinced?

Okay. So if you’re alright with this soldier’s decision to endorse the candidate of his choosing in Iowa, then I assume you’d be okay with General Martin Dempsey, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, standing up and endorsing president Obama’s reelection, or the candidacy of Mitt Romney–or any other candidate that catches his fancy?

Negative.

As we say in the military, that’s a no-go. It can’t happen. And that’s why thankfully, it doesn’t.

Now, there are plenty of times politicians push the limits of rules to get the “strong-on-defense” optics of a wall of uniforms behind them at a podium. Presidents do it often, and legally they can, provided it’s not a campaign speech or a political convention. Bush did it. Obama has done it, too. But hopefully, the President won’t do it again. And if he does, after reading this piece, I hope you will call him and his campaign out on it.

Candidates can also sneakily push the limit. Last October 7, Mitt Romney gave his Afghanistan speech at The Citadel before a group of cadets (most of whom are not yet officially military personnel). He pushed the limits, but legally. And most Americans didn’t know the difference.

But Corporal Jesse Thorsen should have known better. And Ron Paul and his campaign definitely should have known better.

The soldier will likely be punished by his chain of command. However, outside of a few tough questions from the media, and maybe losing a few votes, Ron Paul won’t get much blowback on this. The lowly soldier will take the hit, and the real source of the problem will get off basically scot-free. Pretty awful. But unfortunately, after ten years of war in this country, we’re all kind of used to that. After all, it’s the same thing we saw happen after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

So in this big election year, if politicians (at every level of elected office nationwide) really respect our military and veterans, they won’t just use them as political props or patronizingly applaud them at rallies. Instead, they’ll ensure they have a robust, aggressive veteran-specific platform to invest in thisNew Greatest Generation and their families. A platform where they commit to protecting VA funding and the Post-9/11 GI Bill from budget cuts. One that includes a plan to get vets jobs as veteran unemployment hit 13% last week. They should commit to small business loans for vet entrepreneurs starting their own businesses. They should pledge to rapidly improve the VA, and to combating the skyrocketing suicide rate. They should promise to fight any changes to the DoD budget that nickel-and-dime our service members and their families by increasing fees and co-pays on troops and retirees as a way of cutting costs. And finally, they can support up-and-coming young veterans within either party (or no party) running for office at a time with the lowest percentage of veterans serving in Congress since World War II. That’s how the candidates can really support our troops–and invest in America’s future.

The next 11 months of the Presidential campaign are sure to be full of attacks, debates, political posturing and excessive pandering. But one thing that it should not be filled with is politicians using our troops for their own partisan political agenda. Our service members have been used in more than enough political debates in the last few years, by both parties. And they’ve definitely had their fill of fighting.

So consider this is a warning and a plea to every single candidate this election year: let’s respect our troops and our democracy, and keep them out of this one–especially, if you want to be our Commander-in-Chief. If you want that job for the next four years (or eight), you should know whether it’s on the battlefields of Fallujah or Helmand, or the primaries of New Hampshire and South Carolina, our troops aren’t a prop.

And they’re nobody’s toys.

Crossposted at www.iava.org.

Team Walker waited 3 years before investigating Kavanaugh -- just days before Walker declared candidacy for Governor

2012-01-09T20:08:00.000-06:00

Avoiding all responsibility for his appointees' actions, Walker told the press this week: "My chief of staff at Milwaukee County, Tom Nardelli, brought to my attention concerns about a local veterans organization and funds collected several years ago for an event honoring veterans. Mr. Nardelli, with my support, asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney to investigate those concerns. We appreciate learning that the District Attorney's office investigated those concerns."

But the criminal complaint shows some gaping holes and questionable timing.

In 2006, investigative reports now show Kavanaugh stole more than $11,000 in veterans funds donated to support Walker's 2006 "Operation Freedom" veterans extravaganza at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Who was the bookkeeper? One of Walker's County Executive staff members, Denise Wink.

But somehow Walker's office just winked at the missing money, and in late 2007, Walker -- ignoring Wink's bookkeeping shortfalls that rested solely on Kavanaugh -- reappointed Kavanaugh to another term on the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Commission.

The light bulb finally went on for Team Walker, and, "In 2008," Walker's chief of staff Tom Nardelli belatedly concluded that Kavanaugh had stolen the more than $11,000.

Yet the investigative reports show Walker's Chief of Staff did nothing. At least not until the next year.

And so despite knowing what Kavanaugh had done, Team Walker kept right on winking at the missing veterans money.

At least until just coincidentally about the time Walker decided to run for Governor.

Flash forward to April 28, 2009. On that day, Scott Walker announced he was running for Governor.

But unbeknownst to the public, Walker's chief of staff had finally just gotten around to asking for that investigation of the money that had now been missing for nearly 3 years.

And so, in April 2009, it appears to have finally all begun to unravel. DA investigators interviewed Walker's chief of staff on April 23rd. But where it gets interesting is the timing.

Ever so curiously, despite having concluded the previous year that Kavanaugh had stolen the money, Nardelli phoned up Kavanaugh on April 27, 2009 -- just one day before Walker's big announcement and four days after being interviewed by DA investigators -- and told Kavanaugh he had to give back the money. According to what Nardelli told the DA investigators, Kavanaugh "agreed."

Nardelli then waited until later to write up a memo documenting what he and Kavanaugh had purportedly talked about. The May 9, 2009 "Purple Heart Update" contained all the alleged details of the Nardelli-Kavanaugh phone call.

So let's get this right. Despite having known since the year before about Kavanaugh's stealing and right before Walker announces he's running for Governor, Walker's chief of staff finally asked for an investigation of Kavanaugh, spilled all the details to the investigators, tells the investigators he believes Kavanaugh stole the money, yet then 4 days later later calls up Kavanaugh to tell him he has to give the money back? And makes that phone call just one day prior to his boss announcing his candidacy for Governor?

Something doesn't smell right. At all.

But what's more bizzare is Walker's actions.

Despite the ongoing investigation, despite the fact that his chief of staff initiated that investigation of Kavanaugh (which Walker is now taking credit for), despite the fact that Kavanaugh is now under active investigation by the DA's office, Walker turns around and puts Kavanaugh -- not out on his ear as he should have -- but right in the middle of the Walker "Leadership Team of Veterans" supporting Walker for Governor. And at the same time, Kavanaugh is allowed by Walker to continue to serve on the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Commission.

Despite being under investigation.

Despite Team Walker having asked for that investigation.

Despite Walker's chief of staff telling investigators he had concluded way back in 2008 that Kavanaugh stole the money.

Now roll the clocks forward to this week, January 2012.

The news media around the country goes into a feeding frenzy as arrests and felony charges are announced, finally bringing to a conclusion Kavanaugh's stealing from veterans that began nearly six years ago.

Trying to shift blame and responsibility away from himself, Walker tried to take credit for justice being done when he told the press this week: "My chief of staff at Milwaukee County, Tom Nardelli, brought to my attention concerns about a local veterans organization and funds collected several years ago for an event honoring veterans. Mr. Nardelli, with my support, asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney to investigate those concerns. We appreciate learning that the District Attorney's office investigated those concerns."

But if Walker's chief of staff -- and you -- had those serious concerns, then why did Walker put Kavanaugh on his "Veterans Leadership Team" and keep Kavanaugh on the county Veterans Service Commission?

Walker's position is weak. Either he thought Kavanaugh was in the wrong and held him accountable, or Walker thought everything was hunky dory.

And if Walker thought Kavanaugh was a thief stealing from veterans, then like any average Joe, Walker would have kicked Kavanaugh off the Veterans Service Commission like flicking a light switch and kept Kavanaugh away like the plague -- not put him right in the middle of his "Leadership Team" to help him get elected to high public office.

Alternately, if Walker thought everything was hunky dory, then Team Walker would not have asked for an investigation, and =certainly wouldn't be trying to take credit today for this week's coming to justice for Kavanaugh.

Walker can't have it both ways. Either Walker thought Kavanaugh was in the wrong, or he didn't. And Walker's actions in keeping Kavanaugh on his Veterans Service Commission and putting him front and center on his election campaign's "Leadership Team" speak much louder than Walker's words today trying to take credit for asking for the investigation.

Evidently, Walker chose to ignore the most obvious evidence that one of his close political allies was stealing from veterans or just didn't care.

But that's not stopping Scott Walker from shamelessly putting the spin on the actual facts surrounding Kavanaugh's abhorrent stealing from veterans, conveniently ignored for years until deciding to run for Governor, conveniently leaving Kavanaugh blameless and holding a key public veterans position until finally throwing Kavanaugh under the bus this week while seeming to say, "See, I knew it all along, and this coming to justice is all thanks to me, your Commander in Chief."

Scott Walker, we read you loud and clear. You say one thing, yet do another. Just like a number of your appointees and political allies, past and present.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Representative Berceau Disappointed that Walker is Merely Disappointed: Should be outraged that appointees apparently stole tens of thousands from veterans

2012-01-09T18:46:00.004-06:00

For Immediate Release
January 9, 2012

Representative Berceau Disappointed that Walker is Merely Disappointed

Should be outraged that appointees apparently stole tens of thousands from veterans

Madison – State Representative Terese Berceau (D – Madison) today decried Governor Walker’s apparent lack of concern over multiple felony charges filed last week in an ongoing criminal corruption probe. Timothy Russell and Kevin Kavanaugh are accused of embezzling over $60,000 for personal and political use from a charity set up to aid military veterans and their families. As county executive, Walker appointed both men to high-ranking positions in Milwaukee County. Last week, Walker said he was “very disappointed” about the alleged theft.

“Tim Russell is charged with stealing more than half of all the money donated to Operation Freedom in 2010,” Berceau noted. “Walker personally approved the decision to give Russell control over the group’s finances. If a long-time confidant and trusted friend had violated my trust and that of the public in this way, you can be certain that I would be much more than ‘disappointed’. I think most people believe outrage, embarrassment, and feelings of betrayal would be more appropriate.”

“When you appoint people to positions of public trust and responsibility who you already know are ethically challenged, then it is you who shares in the responsibility for the "disappointing," yet logically predictable outcomes. Whether you have the moral courage to accept that responsibility is, of course, another matter,” said Anthony Hardie, former Executive Assistant for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

This is just the latest revelation in a long string of questionable associations between the governor and the people he chooses to hire. These ethical lapses are part of a larger culture of abuses of power, secrecy, and dishonesty that have been occurring for the past year under the leadership of Walker and others currently running our state.

“Instead of taking responsibility for his poor hiring and appointment decisions, Walker tried to minimize the situation, saying people were using the charges to “try and twist things.” It is becoming more obvious every day that Walker and his administration do not reflect Wisconsin values, Wisconsin ethics, or the Wisconsin Way,” Berceau said.

###

Legion Commander Speaks Out Regarding Criminal Charges: Efforts to Support Veterans and Their Families Too Vital to Be Harmed

2012-01-08T14:29:00.002-06:00

For Immediate Release

Contact: Department Adjutant David Kurtz (608) 697-6319

Legion Commander Speaks Out Regarding Criminal Charges

Efforts to Support Veterans and Their Families Too Vital to Be Harmed

PORTAGE (January 6, 2012)- "Allegations of criminal misconduct emerging from a John Doe probe by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisolm are disturbing to the community at large and to the veterans community in particular. The idea that funds earmarked for the families of service members killed in action is

particularly abhorrent. Of great concern to our organization is the potential for these developments to damage our on-going efforts to assist Wisconsin veterans. But the actions of an isolated few will not discourage us from supporting our comrades and their families," stated American Legion State Commander Denise H. Rohan of the Elmer Peterson Post No. 333 of Sun Prairie.

Legion Management of Funds Cited as "Exemplary"

"While it is gratifying that the criminal complaint against Timothy Russell points to the performance of American Legion Post 23 as "exemplary", it is hardly surprising", continued Commander Rohan, "as the states' largest veterans' service organization, our record of exemplary service to Wisconsin veterans dates back to 1919. The

Wisconsin American Legion Troop and Family Support programs disbursed over $85,000 in direct emergency aid to Wisconsin veterans in CY2011 alone."

"We want the public to understand that the efforts of The American Legion to provide direct emergency aid, sponsorship of Veterans Job Fairs, operation of our rehabilitation camp and service programs for veterans will continue unabated. All our efforts are made possible through the monetary support donations we receive. We will not allow the criminal charges against isolated individuals to divert us from our mission. I want to reassure the public that The American Legion will continue to manage precious resources entrusted to us in a professional manner and to do everything we can to ensure that veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to Wisconsin

have a smooth transition home. We have been supporting their families during their deployments and we will be here when the sensational stories of today fade to the background. We will not sit quietly and allow the damage done by a few bad apples to hamper our efforts," concluded Commander Rohan.

The Wisconsin American Legion is the state's largest veterans' service organization with over 65,000 members and 518 posts in communities across Wisconsin and has been serving troops, veterans, and youth since 1919. For more information on the Legion's programs and membership, please visit www.wilegion.org.

-30-

Scott Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds from Exemplary American Legion to Embezzeling Walker Staff Member

2012-01-06T18:50:00.000-06:00

The following article is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-ordered-transfer-of-control-of-veterans-event-funds-7m3mlgc-136793723.html

Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds

e-mail
print

By Dave Umhoefer of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 6, 2012 |(160) COMMENTS

Transferring control of funds for an annual veterans event - from an American Legion Post to an organization run by then-County Executive Scott Walker's aide Tim Russell - was ordered by Walker in October 2009, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday against Russell.

Walker made the move after the Alonzo Cudworth American Legion Post No. 23 had performed what prosecutors now say was "exemplary" work in managing the books of Operation Freedom, a recurring event honoring veterans held at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Russell's nonprofit entity, known as Heritage Guard Preservation Society, had "expressed a desire" to take over management of the funds, according to a memo of understanding Walker signed on Oct. 20, 2009.

"I have identified a nonprofit corporation to which I am transferring Operation Freedom," Walker told the Cudworth Legion Post in a letter mentioned in the criminal complaint. "This new structure will allow the community to take ownership of it."

Walker reiterated that intention to reporters Thursday, saying he wanted to consolidate oversight under Heritage because it could focus solely on Operation Freedom.

The October 2009 transfer memo was cosigned by Russell and Walker.

Russell, a longtime Walker political and governmental aide, wore two other hats in 2009 and 2010: as Walker's deputy chief of staff, and later, after a promotion in March 2010, as the county housing director.

Now he stands accused of taking more than $20,000 from Operation Freedom funds for his own use.

The complaint also says Russell set up Heritage's books with three phony officers and directors - county employees James Tietjen and Kelly Rindfleisch as secretary/treasurers, and Domingo Leguizamon as vice president. All three told John Doe investigators they were unaware they were listed as officers.

Close ties

Russell worked on and off for Walker at the county, starting as his executive assistant in May 2002 and passing through several other county jobs within the county executive's office and elsewhere in county government. In between, Russell regularly took a role in Walker's county executive campaigns. Walker first won that office in 2002 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

Russell's highest-paying county stint was as associate economic development director, starting in April 2003. He was paid about $83,000 a year in that post. Walker also nominated Russell to lead the county's economic development office in late 2004, but county supervisors voted down the Russell appointment the following April on a 12-7 vote amid complaints that Russell was unqualified and a Walker campaign functionary.

Walker took the unusual step at the time of sending a letter beseeching County Board Chairman Lee Holloway to back Russell's appointment, saying he was needed to provide continuity on the county's efforts to market vacant Park East Freeway corridor land.

Supervisor John Weishan Jr., a frequent Walker critic, said Thursday he and others were irritated at Walker repeatedly placing Russell in county posts despite concerns Russell did campaign work on county time.

Russell's last job with the county was director of housing, a stint that ran about 10 months. Holloway fired Russell from that job Dec. 28, 2010, as one of his first official acts as interim county executive after Walker quit to become governor.

Holloway did so because of his ongoing concern that Russell was "too political," said County Board spokesman Harold Mester.

Like Walker, Russell attended Marquette University though he's several years older than the governor. Russell graduated in 1986, the year Walker began there.

Russell directed the Milwaukee office of former Gov. Tommy Thompson from early 1987 through late 1989, leaving for a post at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

At WHEDA, Russell first worked as a marketing specialist and later headed the agency's southeastern Wisconsin office, according to a Russell résumé on file at the county.

He also ran unsuccessfully for a state legislative seat in 2002, worked as public affairs consultant, ran a bed-and-breakfast inn and served as a real estate agent.

Switching control

Here's a recent timeline on Russell's role with the Heritage Guard veteran's group and Operation Freedom, based on the complaint and Journal Sentinel reporting:

In 2008, the county executive's office discovered financial discrepancies involving the handling of Operation Freedom funds. At the time, the funds were under the control of a chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, whose treasurer was a Walker appointee to a county veterans committee. That treasurer, Kevin Kavanaugh, was charged Thursday with embezzling from Operation Freedom donations.

In January 2009, Russell was promoted to Walker's deputy chief of staff from a lesser position in Walker's office.

In February 2009, because of the concerns over the Purple Heart's work, Walker transferred the treasurer duties to the Cudworth Legion Post.

In mid-2009, Walker's then chief of staff, Tom Nardelli, went to the district attorney's office with suspicions about missing money under the Purple Heart management of funds back in 2007. Darlene Wink, a Walker staffer then in charge of Operation Freedom, had earlier raised concerns within Walker's staff.

In August 2009, Todd Hunter - a lawyer who helped set up Heritage Guard in 2004 as an advocate for preservation of historic buildings on the VA grounds - turned over control of the nonprofit organization to Russell.

On Oct. 20, 2009, Walker transferred about $19,000 in Operation Freedom funds to Heritage Guard, as well as control of its finances. The Walker and Russell memo transferred the "ownership, responsibility and operation" of Operation Freedom to Heritage Guard, which the memo said "had expressed a desire to administer, manage and continue this worthwhile event."

Walker terminated the county's agreement with the Cudworth Legion Post, which had managed the funds in exemplary fashion, the complaint says.

The memo said Walker agreed to serve as the chairman of the advisory committee that was to be created for Operation Freedom. After that point, Russell actively raised private funds for the event. County executive office employees processed donation payments into a Heritage Guard account that Russell controlled, the complaint says.

One thing that did not change: The county always ran Operation Freedom, dating to 2003, whether the money-handling job was in the hands of the Purple Heart, the Legion or Heritage Guard and Russell.

If it's not broken... Walker Should Have Left it with the American Legion

2012-01-06T14:54:00.002-06:00

The following is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-ordered-transfer-of-control-of-veterans-event-funds-7m3mlgc-136793723.html

Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds

e-mail
print

By Dave Umhoefer of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 6, 2012 |(108) COMMENTS

Walker reiterated that intention to reporters Thursday, saying he wanted to consolidate oversight under Heritage because it could focus solely on Operation Freedom.

The October 2009 transfer memo was cosigned by Russell and Walker.

Now he stands accused of taking more than $20,000 from Operation Freedom funds for his own use.

Close ties

Holloway did so because of his ongoing concern that Russell was "too political," said County Board spokesman Harold Mester.

Like Walker, Russell attended Marquette University though he's several years older than the governor. Russell graduated in 1986, the year Walker began there.

Russell directed the Milwaukee office of former Gov. Tommy Thompson from early 1987 through late 1989, leaving for a post at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

At WHEDA, Russell first worked as a marketing specialist and later headed the agency's southeastern Wisconsin office, according to a Russell résumé on file at the county.

He also ran unsuccessfully for a state legislative seat in 2002, worked as public affairs consultant, ran a bed-and-breakfast inn and served as a real estate agent.

Switching control

Here's a recent timeline on Russell's role with the Heritage Guard veteran's group and Operation Freedom, based on the complaint and Journal Sentinel reporting:

In January 2009, Russell was promoted to Walker's deputy chief of staff from a lesser position in Walker's office.

In February 2009, because of the concerns over the Purple Heart's work, Walker transferred the treasurer duties to the Cudworth Legion Post.

Walker terminated the county's agreement with the Cudworth Legion Post, which had managed the funds in exemplary fashion, the complaint says.

One thing that did not change: The county always ran Operation Freedom, dating to 2003, whether the money-handling job was in the hands of the Purple Heart, the Legion or Heritage Guard and Russell.

Scocos Screws Up. Again.

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-06:00

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's bumbling Veterans Affairs Secretary, one more bad choice in Walker's growing lineup of bad choices related to veterans issues, has screwed up yet again.

In a pair of open letters circulated yesterday to Wisconsin veterans and employers by the constantly over-inflating Secretary, Scocos called Walker, "Wisconsin’s Commander in Chief."

Apparently Scocos hasn't read the U.S Constitution, which as a military officer he's sworn to uphold and defend, and as a good Republican is supposed to be focused on restoring as the principle law of the land.

Section 2. Clause 1. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Office, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Maybe Scocos wasn't talking about that. Maybe Scocos was referring to state emergencies when the National Guard isn't on federal duty, right?

In that case, perhaps Colonel Scocos was too busy tieing his shoes with his head wrapped back up and around to see this major new law signed into law by then-President George W. Bush, a fellow Republican:

The John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 Pub.L. 109-364

Federal law was changed in section 1076 so that the Governor of a state is no longer the sole commander in chief of their state's National Guard during emergencies within the state. The President of the United States will now be able to take total control of a state's National Guard units without the governor's consent.^[14] In a letter to Congress all 50 governors opposed the increase in power of the president over the National Guard.^[15]

Or maybe Scocos just likes the idea of a military regime running everything. We wonder whether he still keeps quotes by Machiavelli framed next to his desk a daily personal reminder from his favorite role model.

Scocos is an idiot. But what else is new?

...and Scott Walker sure can pick the winners from among the 400,000+ Wisconsin veterans, can't he?

Felonious Veteran Appointee: Walker's Actions Speak Louder than his Words

2012-01-05T21:37:00.005-06:00

In response to today's news that Military Order of the Purple Heart leader Kevin Kavanaugh and two Walker campaign and administration staff were arrested on multiple felony charges related to embezzlement, embattled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker had this to say:

"My chief of staff at Milwaukee County, Tom Nardelli, brought to my attention concerns about a local veterans organization and funds collected several years ago for an event honoring veterans. Mr. Nardelli, with my support, asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney to investigate those concerns. We appreciate learning that the District Attorney's office investigated those concerns."

But Walker's actions speak louder than words. The missing money for Operation Freedom at the Milwaukee County Zoo was in 2007, and Kavanaugh and MOPH were said to have been "uncooperative" in responding to Walker's office according to the investigator's report.

So a lot of missing money and zero cooperation in tracking it down? So three years later, why didn't that stop Walker from reappointing Kevin Kavanaugh in NOVEMBER 2010 to continue to serve on the Milwaukee Veterans Commission?

Spinning His Way out of the Web

"In terms of the recall, obviously anyone can try and twist things but I in the end think people will realize it was my office at the time that brought this to the attention of the district attorney's office," Walker told the press today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Kavanaugh, 61, of Cudahy, is charged with five felonies for theft and fraudulent writings by a corporate officer. He was the treasurer of the Milwaukee Purple Heart chapter at the time of the dispute over the $11,000 for Operation Freedom.

Prosecutors say he stole more than $42,000 in donations intended to families of U.S. service members killed or wounded in Iraq.

Kavanaugh was also released on a $20,000 signature bond on his five felony counts related to plundering the Purple Heart funds.

Kavanaugh embezzled money given to the Military Order of the Purple Heart , according to the complaint. Kavanaugh was finance officer for the organization's Milwaukee-area chapter, named for the late war veteran Michelle Witmer.

The bulk of the Purple Heart money Kavanaugh took came from money raised for "Operation Freedom," an annual event for veterans sponsored by Walker during his stint as county executive and held at the Milwaukee County Zoo, according to a criminal complaint.

Indeed it was Walker's office that brought this to the attention of the DA's office. That's because Walker's longtime staff member was also charged today, using money donated to Operation Freedom to pursue GOP political goals, among others, including flying to Atlanta to meet with GOP Presidential contender Herman Cain.

Stay Tuned

Walker is developing quite a lineup of REAPPOINTMENTS of unqualified, incompetent, unethical, immoral, and even criminal veterans to important veterans affairs posts.

Where will the spotlight turn next? Perhaps an ongoing illegal coverup of similar criminal activity at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King led by another Walker veterans affairs REAPPOINTEE?

Friends of Wisconsin Veterans (formerly Friends of WDVA)

PeopleSoft and IAVA Team Up To Hire 10,000 Military Veterans

PeopleScout Kicks off Veteran Hiring InitiativeDuring Super Bowl Weekend: 25 Percent Increase in Military Hires in Next 12 Months

Contacts

SVA Announces Google-SVA Scholarships

Madison VAH: Madison VA hospital fights Veteran homelessness

WDVA: State Veterans Affairs Agency Headquarters to Move

WDVA: President Obama’s Plan to Put Veterans Back to Work

IAVA Reacts to State of the Union

IAVA Reaction to State of the UnionPosted by Michelle McCarthy on January 25

On eve of State of the Union, Another Military Success for Obama

GOP Candidate Proposes Tax cuts at the Expense of Military Members and Veterans.

Independent Budget Critical Issues

Professor uses theater skills to improve veterans’ lives

Professor uses theater skills to improve veterans’ lives

More Subtle Cuts to Veterans Programs from the Scocos-Walker Administration

President Obama Signs Jobs Bill Into Law

Veterans’ Jobs Bill Signed Into Law

DAV NATIONAL ADJUTANT: Hiring Veterans Is Good Business

IAVA President to Politicians: Our Troops Aren't Props

LEADERSHIP

|

1/10/2012 @ 1:18AM |805 views

A Message to All Candidates: Our Troops Aren't Props

Team Walker waited 3 years before investigating Kavanaugh -- just days before Walker declared candidacy for Governor

Representative Berceau Disappointed that Walker is Merely Disappointed: Should be outraged that appointees apparently stole tens of thousands from veterans

Legion Commander Speaks Out Regarding Criminal Charges: Efforts to Support Veterans and Their Families Too Vital to Be Harmed

Scott Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds from Exemplary American Legion to Embezzeling Walker Staff Member

Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds

Close ties

Switching control

If it's not broken... Walker Should Have Left it with the American Legion

Walker ordered transfer of control of veterans event funds

Close ties

Switching control

Scocos Screws Up. Again.

Felonious Veteran Appointee: Walker's Actions Speak Louder than his Words

IAVA Reaction to State of the Union
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on January 25