Follow this blog to Wordpress in October 2012....

Hi everyone,

I am dissatisfied with the Blogger platform, so this entire blog is going to migrate to Wordpress between now and early October 2012.

Follow me over there and you should hear more from me soon. I will post the direct link once it is up and running for you.

A Brief Pause, but Most of the Older Posts are Still Valid

Hi All,

I apologize that I have not posted any fresh information in a few weeks; things have been a bit overwhelming in my personal life, but I expect I will have more time to post new material soon.

I am also still strongly contemplating moving this blog to Wordpress because the templates here on Blogger are just so awkward to use; I will try to decide soon.

So, ignore the ugly look of the blog for now; much of the material I posted prior is still valid, and I plan to post more stuff in a few weeks once my personal affairs are back in order.

In the mean time, Happy Labor Day Weekend to all! Stay safe out there.

Resource for "Invisible Injuries" from the Wounded Warrior Project

The esteemed Wounded Warriors Project has a special website dedicated to veterans who are coping with so-called "invisible" disabling conditions such as Traumatic Brain Injury, combat stress, and PTSD:

Restore Warriors
www.restorewarriors.org

The site is focused on recovery, camaraderie, and inspiration to help you recover from and/or adapt to your "invisible" injury.

References to different helpful resources are provided, including professional resources accessible online in the privacy of your own home.

Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS)

Are you a disabled veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan who is interested in scuba diving certification or fun group dive excursions (like swimming with the fish in the Baltimore Aquarium) despite recovering from severe injuries?

If yes, you might be interested in and eligible for a free program offered through Walter Reed medical center of Bethesda, Maryland called "Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS)" (you can be from any military branch to participate, not just the Army).

The goal is not just leisure--scuba diving can provide physical therapy benefits for recovering service members as well.

Full details are available on the SUDS website:
http://sudsdiving.org/

SBA Small Business Seminar for Veterans in Brownsville Texas Area, June 28th

Free Small Business Administration (SBA) event for small veteran-owned businesses to be held on June 28th in Brownsville, Texas:

PROCUREMENT FOR VETERANS

Whether you’re just starting a small business or expanding to take advantage of federal contracting opportunities, your business needs the right tools at the right time in order to succeed.  Come see if you qualify for SBA’s procurement and financing programs.

• Learn about 8(a)/Federal HUBZone programs (SBA Contracting Programs).
• Learn about the VetBiz program (to be conducted by PTAC-Procurement Technical Assistance Center).
• Learn about SBA Patriot Express Loan Program.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Call us to confirm your seat today!

Date: June 28, 2012

Time: 10:00AM--12:00PM

Location: International Innovative Center (ITEC)

310 Mexico Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520 

No fees required!

Seating is limited, we ask that no more than two representatives from each company attend. This seminar is subject to change. Please call today to (956)427-8533, X228, for reservations or register at http://events.sba.gov/eventmanagement/eventlisting.aspx?state=TX

Free Museum Admissions for Military Families This Summer

The Blue Stars Museum Initiative "a collaboration among the National Endowment of the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,500 museums across America" (according to its website) "offers free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 28, through Labor Day, September 3, 2012." The website has a clickable map to help you locate participating museums in your area.

http://www.nea.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index2012.php?st=VA#list

Wounded Warrior Rehab on the Slopes of Colorado

I am always on the lookout for interesting  and inspiring Wounded Warrior athletic, rehabilitation, and outdoor programs, and I recently discovered an awesome skiing, sledding, and snowboarding organization that combines all three elements--the Vail Veterans Program, which has been in operation for about 10 years now helping veterans cope with their medical issues through therapeutic activities on the slopes and mountainsides of Colorado.

To learn more about this program, check out their website (link below) and I will also try to reach out to this organization to find out if there is a long waiting list (or not) and how a veteran can get on the list.

Vail Veterans Program Website:
www.VailVeteransProgram.com

June 26-28 Detroit Veterans Job Fair

This veterans job fair to be held June 26-28, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan at the COBO Center is sponsored by the VA and it looks like it is going to be huge!

The main website is:
http://vaforvets.va.gov/veterans/aboutva/hiringevents/Pages/EVENT_Detroit_June2012.aspx

There will be dozens and dozens of private/commercial companies and federal agencies hiring and looking for veterans, so polish up your resume and give it a try.

We Remember World War II Veterans on D-Day Today

World War II veterans, we remember you and salute you today on this anniversary of D Day, which was June 6, 1944.

Today I am especially thinking of Mr. Jack A. of Crofton, Maryland, who was there in 1944 and lost good friends that day. Thank you for your service, Jack!

Are you or your loved one already registered in the electronic database for the World War II monument in Washington, DC? You can check online here:
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=registry.asp&subpage=intro

June 2012 is PTSD Awareness Month

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has consolidated a number of PTSD resources on this government website:

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/ptsd_awareness_month.asp

Interesting items on this site include:

• PTSD symptom checklist
• Portable PTSD app--help and advice through your smartphone
• Video clips from people who have received PTSD treatment and discovered that it was helpful

It's OK to seek PTSD treatment--you've been through extreme circumstances other people don't necessarily understand, so talking to somebody who understands PTSD can help you feel better, or at least less alone.

To talk to other military members about PTSD totally anonymously, you can go to:
www.notalone.com

or: www.ptsdanonymous.com

Free Memorial Day Perks and Discounts for Veterans 2012

Happy Memorial Day Weekend 2012, everybody!

Thank you, veterans and families, for everything you do for our country.

Thank you, Dad, for getting on that ship to Japan in 1945 not knowing that the atomic bomb would be dropped a few days later to spare you from tragedy. I would not have had the courage to get on that ship myself, certainly not as a teenager, like you did. My Dad was William A. Fielding of the USN (1927-2003).

The website www.veteranownedbusiness.com has a great running tally of all the freebies, discounts, and perks for veterans available this weekend--take a look at it here:
http://www.veteranownedbusiness.com/blog/memorial-day-military-discounts-freebies-specials-deals/

Have a safe and fun weekend, everyone!

Department of Labor Women Veterans Twitter Event on May 22nd

The following announcement is from the United States Department of Labor:

In recognition of Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day

You are cordially invited to:

The U.S. Department of Labor’s

Women Veterans Twitter Town Hall

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 12 noon (EDT)

Hosted by:

U.S. Department of Labor

Women’s Bureau

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service

Employment and Training Administration

With special guests from:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

John 14:2, Inc., Women Veterans Interactive

Business and Professional Women’s Foundation

To join, you can send the Women’s Bureau your questions by e-mail to womensbureaunetwork@dol.gov before Monday, May 21 by 3 p.m. EDT or follow @USDOL. You can tweet questions in advance and throughout the event using hashtag #VetsTownHall.

We look forward to hearing from you on Tuesday. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

U.S. Department of Labor - Women's Bureau - 200 Constitution Ave., NW - Washington, DC 20210
202.693.6710 (telephone) - 202.693.6725 (fax) - website: www.dol.gov/wb/

Armed Forces Week 2012 Benefit: Free National Park Passes

The White House announced today:

"Starting on Armed Forces Day, this Saturday, May 19, we will be offering all active duty military a free annual pass that will grant access to service members and their dependents, to more than 2,000 sites across the country, including National Parks.

"The annual pass will be accepted at all public land sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees, including those managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps.

"From Yosemite to Acadia to the Grand Canyon, we are putting out a welcome mat for our military families at America’s most beautiful and storied sites.

"Service men and women from all five branches of the military – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, including the Reserves and National Guard – are eligible just by showing a current, valid military identification card. The pass is also available for the family members of active duty military, which is critical because we know that military spouses and children make sacrifices for our country every day too."

Where and how to get your free park passes:
  http://store.usgs.gov/pass/military.html

Baltimore Career Expo for Veterans on May 3, 2012

Military.com is hosting a free job fair for veterans featuring prominent employers like Northrop Grumman, ManTech, and USAA in Baltimore, Maryland on May 3, 2012.

The full details and registration can be accessed here:
http://www.military.com/career-expo/2012-baltimore-career-fair/?ESRC=careerexpo.se

SRA Wounded Warrior Hiring Program

SRA International, based out of Fairfax, Virginia, has committed to hiring service disabled veterans through its Wounded Warrior Program.

SRA currently employs about 6,100 people, according to a Washington Post article published yesterday.

If you are interested in employment with this federal contractor, check out their Careers for Wounded Warriors page at http://www.sra.com/careers/veterans/