U.S. forces are coming home from Iraq by the end of the year, the U.S. Postal Service will stop accepting mail addressed to military post offices in Iraq starting Nov. 17, Defense Department officials said.
Military post offices in Iraq also will stop processing mail Nov. 17, and service members there should begin now to advise those who send them mail about the Nov. 17 deadline.
Mail still in the postal system through Nov. 17 will be processed and delivered to service members in Iraq, officials said.
In November, U.S. military postal service responsibilities in Iraq will transition to State Department embassy or consulate post offices for service members assigned to Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.
These sites will provide letter and parcel mail services to service members assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.
The transition will be closely coordinated with the U.S. Postal Service Agency, which will delete ZIP codes for Iraq military post offices from the USPS database to prevent undeliverable mail from entering the postal system after Nov. 17, according to defense officials.
If APO mail arrives in Iraq after a service member departs, mail will be redirected to the new mailing address provided or, if no mailing address was provided, returned to sender.
Any mail mistakenly accepted by a USPS post office after Nov. 17 will be returned to sender once it reaches the International Gateway in New Jersey.
U.S. service members in Iraq who do not receive an absentee ballot by Nov. 17 should contact their U.S. Local Election Office to change their address. Unit voting assistance officers can provide state-specific voting details.
Service members who are remaining in Iraq after Nov. 17 and who are there on behalf of or are assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq should coordinate with their chain of command and the servicing State Department mail location to receive a new mailing address.
According to defense officials, conditions and situations in the Iraq transition change often. Officials recommend that service members check the Military Postal Service Agency website and USPS Postal Bulletins frequently for updates.
More Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are receiving mental health care from the Veterans Affairs Department, but officials in a recent report still cited barriers that may be preventing some from getting the care they need.
According to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, only a little more than 8 percent of those who served in those wars sought help from VA from 2006 to 2010.
The number of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan getting treatment increased from about 34,500 in 2006, or 4 percent of the total, to just more than 139,000 in 2010, the GAO reported. That means 12 percent of the 1.2 million veterans who sought mental health care last year are veterans from the latest wars.
The report states that some veterans are hindered to receive care because they’re concerned about their privacy, they may not know the services exist, or they simply cannot get to a treatment center if they live somewhere rural, the report stated. VA officials also believe younger veterans may have a perception that the system caters to older veterans, the report said. Plus, veterans just starting out in their civilian lives are often balancing priorities such as school, family and work, and seeking help doesn’t always make the list.
There are an estimated 2.6 million living veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 23 million total veterans dating back to World War II, according to the GAO.
But the two most recent conflicts are different when it comes to diagnosis and treatment for mental health issues, the report states. Since the VA has changed how it screens for mental disease, more troops may have their conditions recognized, the report said.
Now, troops are screened for PTSD, depression, substance abuse disorders and sexual trauma when they visit a primary care clinic, the report said.
Veterans were most commonly diagnosed with adjustment reaction, depressive disorder, episodic mood disorder, neurotic disorder and substance abuse disorder.
Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were most likely to be diagnosed with adjustment reaction, which includes post-traumatic stress disorder. In those five years, 96,916 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were diagnosed with PTSD.
But VA is making changes to accommodate more patients, the report said.
Is it enough?
From 2008 to 2011, the VA opened 60 Vet Centers to offer free counseling, bringing the total of these outlets to 292, and it plans to open eight more by the end of this year. It has also increased the number of mental health workers by nearly 7,000 to 21,000 this year, the GAO reported.
The VA redesigned its websites for the Office of Mental Health Services and the National Center for PTSD and uses sites such as Twitter and Facebook to get the word out about mental health help.
View the highlighted page from the GAO or View the entire report from the GAO
The assistance in mental health is crucial as suicide among our military has been increasing each year. Nearly a decade after the United States went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the suicide rate among soldiers and veterans – though lower than the civilian rate – is rising sharply, leading to criticism that the military leaders aren’t doing enough to help service members. President Obama acknowledged the severity of the problem this year when he finally began sending condolence letters to families.
One suicide is too many and one soldier suffering from PTSD or depression is also too many.
Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting the organization’s website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Today we continue to have young men and woman fighting the War on Terrorism. Some of these veterans will fall in to a life of homelessness. There are still veterans from previous wars that are becoming homeless, while some continue to remain homeless.
Would you like to help a veteran have a second chance on life?
The Pennsylvania American Legion started a non-profit organization to help address the homeless veterans problem through transitional housing, helping to secure a better job and going back to school. Our program is designed to enhance the quality of life for the veteran and their children. It is designed to help them become productive tax paying citizens again by securing a good, decent job. Over the past 21 years, we have had over 655 veterans go through our program with an 85% success rate. Our homes are located in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We have a full-time director to help in achieving our vision of giving every homeless veteran a second chance at the American dream.
In order for The American Legion to finance this program, we are asking for your support. We will be sponsoring a dinner on January 15, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, Moon Township. There will be a cash bar beginning at 5:30 PM with dinner following at 7:00 PM. Dinner tickets are $25.00 per person and include a program book. Ads can be placed in the program book at the following prices:
Full Page $70 (of which $50 can be used for a tax write off)
½ Page $50 (of which $30 can be used for a tax write off)
¼ Page $40 (of which $21 can be used for a tax write off)
Please make checks for dinner tickets and ads payable to: PA American Legion Housing for Homeless. Mail to: Ron Conley, 709 Hope Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15220.
The remodeling and upkeep of these homes is the responsibility of The American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans, Inc. We need your support!
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support
Click here for the donation letter
Click here for the dinner reservation
The American Legion is sponsoring a College Fair to help shrink the costs of college for students and their families. This college fair is unique because it’s hosted by veterans. The men and women who have served our country by protecting our freedoms is now working to help the young men and women of our state attend college.
Click Here for the informative flyer
The American Legion presented over $5 Million in awards in 2009 around the country.
The American Legion invites you and your family to Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland, Allegheny County on November 15, 2010 for scholarship opportunities.
These scholarship opportunities include:
- Regional and local presented by veterans organizations
- Government programs like ROTC (Army, Navy and Air Force), the 5 Military Academies, the GI Bill, USAR and the National Guard
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Contests including written, spoken and participated in (including Legion Baseball, Scouting, Boys and Girls State, Essay and Speech Contests)
There is money out there, let us help you find it.
We are leaders!
More information coming soon - check back!!
Survival in an emergency
To prevent acts of terrorism on American soil, we must enlist all of our intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security capabilities. These threats and hazards include terrorism, natural disasters, large-scale cyber attacks, and pandemics. To protect our homeland we should continue to integrate and leverage state and major urban area fusion centers that have the capability to share classified information; establish a nationwide framework for reporting suspicious activity, and implement and integrated approach to our counter terrorism information systems to ensure that the analyst, agents, and officers who protect us have access to all relevant intelligence throughout the government. As we do everything within our power to prevent these dangers, we also recognize that we will not be able to deter or prevent every threat.
That is why we must also enhance our resilience-the ability to adapt to changing conditions and prepare for, withstand, and rapidly recover from disruption. To keep Americans safe at home, we are also integrating our homeland security efforts seamlessly with other aspects of our national security approach, by strengthening our preparedness and resilience.
By effectively managing emergencies, we are building our capability to prepare for disasters to reduce or eliminate long term effects to people and their property from hazards and to respond to and recover from major incidents. You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.
In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days or weeks. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kid and developing a family communications plan.
There are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. You should learn more about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them. In addition, learn about the emergency plan that have been established in your area by your state and local government. Emergency preparedness is no longer the sole concern of earthquake prone Californians and those who live in the part of the country known as “Tornado Alley.” For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.
In closing, a reminder that September is National Preparedness Month and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. There are three simple steps in accomplishing this: Get Prepared, Get Trained and Get Involved!
Written by Eugene R. Paul National Security Chairman Department of Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2010) – While loudly applauding its intent, leaders of The American Legion say that new federal legislation designed to bolster small business may not do enough to support veteran-owned enterprises.
The legislation being questioned by The American Legion is H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010. Introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) this past May, H.R. 5297 would create a $30 billion small business lending fund to be administered by the Secretary of the Treasury, as well as provide $12 billion in tax breaks to help small businesses.
“The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act is a terrific piece of legislation in its purpose,” says Joe Sharpe, director of The American Legion’s economic commission, “but it does very little, if anything, to correct the sorry circumstances facing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses today.”
Government regulations require that three percent of all appropriate government contract money be awarded to eligible small businesses owned by service-disabled military veterans. Yet, to date, awards have totaled only about half that mandate.
“We are not asking for preferential treatment, but simply some legislative language that levels the playing field,” says Sharpe. “Without going into minute detail, let’s just say the current wording does not do the job.”
Jimmie Foster, national commander of The American Legion, says “Historically, the federal government has done very poorly with regards to implementing veteran preference rules on contracts. This time, from our point of view, things must be different. When implementation of this law is accomplished, veteran-owned businesses must finally be able to gain the recognition – and contracts – they deserve. The American Legion will campaign hard to make sure that happens.”
Do you know someone whose enlistment was involuntarily extended by stop/loss?
Do you know someone whose enlistment was involuntarily extended between September 11, 2001 - September 30, 2009?
If so, do them a favor and tell them that they have until October 21, 2010 to file a claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP). The $500 a month payment for each month they were involuntarily extended was part of the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Over $127 million has already been paid to approximately 30,000 Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy members, veterans or beneficiaries but there are thousands of others who have not filed claims.
It is estimated that there are approximately 80,000 eligible Soldiers, 12,000 eligible Airmen, and 5,000 eligible Marines who have not filed. While approximately 250 Sailors are eligible only 18 have filed so far.
To file a claim tell your friends (or children) to go to http://www.defense.gov/stoploss. There you can find links to get the claims forms and service links to get instructions on how to file. The average payment has been $3700. This should not be ignored.
This fall, members of your Post, Unit Squadron or Chapter can take one day and learn about the many different programs and projects concerning the Pennsylvania American Legion. For a $15 registration fee, “students” choose one of eight courses, which will be filled on a first come first served basis.
The General Course provides information on all Department programs, activities and more.
The Adjutant Course is a 1/2 day course which covers membership, various forms as well as other information. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
The Auxiliary Course is an all day class that covers issues pertaining to the Pennsylvania American Legion Auxiliary.
There will also be a 1/2 day SAL Course. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course
The Service Officer Course is an all day class that will give insight on filing claims and assisting veterans in need.
The Home Association Course is an all day class that will educate attendees on bookkeeping, IRS forms, small games of chance and the Home Association’s relationship to the Post.
Another class is the Legion Riders Course for the entire day. This will inform the students about the different aspects of the Legion Riders.
The final program is the Chaplain Course for those who are or may want to become a Chaplain and will explain your obligations and duties within your Post as the Chaplain. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
For your convenience Department offers tow “colleges”. Choose to attend October 30, 2010 at Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA) or November 6, 2010 at the Latrobe High School in Latrobe PA. Opening program begins at 8:30 am with all classes starting at 9:00 am.
Registration fee includes course material, a full course lunch and a Legion College pin.
Both facilities are non smoking.
Click Here for the Legion College application
View a video of the 2009/2010 year in review.
The 2010 Department Convention held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel was a great success. View the great pictures below.