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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The daughter of an Army veteran who died after visiting a troubled Veterans Affairs hospital in Wisconsin is unhappy that Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson mentioned her family's story in a campaign debate, saying Tuesday that Johnson didn't do enough to help the family although documents show he pressed the VA to look into the death. Candace Delis' father, Thomas Baer of Marshfield, died after suffering two strokes at the Tomah VA Medical Center in January 2015. He wasn't given anti-clotting medication or a CT scan because the scanner was down. A Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general's report found a doctor at Tomah failed to diagnose a stroke Baer had as he waited in the urgent care clinic but determined that the physician and staff did nothing wrong. The senator is locked in a tight race with Democrat Russ Feingold that could help determine which party controls the Senate. He mentioned both Delis and Baer during a debate with Feingold Friday in responding to questions about improving VA care. He said Delis told him that she never would have taken her father to the Tomah facility if she had known about problems there, which largely involved the overprescription of drugs. "It was almost as if he used our family," Delis said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "He re-opened a wound. He doesn't care about a veteran's family unless it directly impacts his cause as a positive." Delis approached Johnson for help shortly after her father's death. But she said Johnson failed to fulfill a promise to launch his own investigation. She also said Johnson's office refused to make calls to speed up a claim she filed against the VA. Johnson campaign spokesman Brian Reisinger disagreed, saying Johnson moved forcefully on the case. "Ron Johnson was deeply disturbed by the deaths of Wisconsin veterans like Thomas Baer, and he took immediate and effective action to uncover what happened," Reisinger said. Reisinger provided a letter from Johnson pressing the Department of Veteran Affairs to look into Baer's death weeks after it happened. Johnson also wrote in June 2015 to the VA inspector general's office complaining that the office briefed members of Congress on Baer's death before the family got information. In May of this year, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee that Johnson chairs released a report on systemic failures at Tomah. The report included a section devoted to Baer that found several shortcomings in the inspector general's attempts to substantiate the Baer family's allegations. As for not helping Delis pursue her claim, Reisinger said the Senate Ethics Committee has advised that senators shouldn't intervene in ongoing enforcement, investigative or other quasi-judicial proceedings. The Tomah facility was dubbed "Candy Land" by some veterans for its prescribing practices. Jason Simcakoski, a 35-year-old Marine veteran, died from "mixed drug toxicity" at Tomah in 2014. The VA acknowledged failures at the facility earlier this year and said it was working to prevent future problems. --- BY TODD RICHMONDASSOCIATED PRESS

VA Secretary Bob McDonald - and a broad swath of the veterans' community - is counting on MyVA to culturally transform the department. The comprehensive initiative is designed to change the way the agency does business. “We're trying to put the veteran at the center of everything we do,” McDonald says.  MyVA is intended to make the agency a principles-based organization instead of one governed by the kind of rules that, in May 2015, forced a veteran with a broken foot to call 911 for assistance because a VA employee refused to help him in from his car - which was pulled up just outside the emergency room door.  “MyVA encompasses health care, benefits, basically everything the VA does,” says Lt. Col. (select) Aniela Szymanski, USMCR, a MOAA deputy director for Government Relations. “It is a huge undertaking, but something had to be done.” More than 9 million veterans rely on the VA for benefits and services ranging from education and home loans to rehabilitation and health care. With more than 320,000 full-time employees staffing 167 medical centers, 863 outpatient clinics, 300 Vet Centers, 56 regional offices, nine regional loan centers, and 131 national cemeteries, if the VA were a private company, it would rank among the nation's 10 largest corporations.  Instilling meaningful change on such a grand scale might seem daunting, but the private-sector perspective of the agency's new leadership, combined with input from a broad spectrum of stakeholders and community partners, is producing results. “I don't know if there's a time when there has been greater change [in the agency],” VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson says.  With MyVA, the organization hopes to set a course of long-term excellence and reform and rebuild trust with veterans and their families and the American people. Improving the experience and the performance of employees is a critical element of the far-reaching initiative. So is the enhancement of strategic partnerships. “I've said it before, and I'll say it again,” McDonald says. “We cannot do this by ourselves.”  At the top of the list, however, is the need to improve the veteran experience. “We've talked to thousands and thousands of veterans to put these transformation plans together,” says McDonald, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and an Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division.  The feedback he received is reflected in a handful of objectives designed “to achieve meaningful near-term improvements and quick wins for veterans” while also moving the organization closer to long-term success. Among them are increased access to health care, improved community care, modernization of VA contact centers, simplification of the appeals process, and a continuing reduction of homelessness among the nation's veteran population.  At a meeting of the MyVA Advisory Committee in July, held at the VA Boston Healthcare System, members of the VA's senior leadership team reported on the progress that was being made. The committee, which is chaired by retired Army Maj. Gen. Joe Robles Jr., the former president and CEO of USAA, comprises an impressive group of veterans, including, among others, the vice chancellor of Syracuse University, the head of Amazon Web Services Worldwide Public Sector, a former U.S. surgeon general, and the CEO of a $6.2 billion health care system that includes the Cleveland Clinic.  In a joint statement, members of the committee noted that while much work remained, the change they had witnessed over the past 15 months - at all levels of the department - was unprecedented.  Some don't think the changes are enough, though. Legislation proposed by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) would privatize the VA. In June, MOAA joined with 25 other veterans service organizations, including AMVETS and Vietnam Veterans of America, to send a joint letter to McMorris Rodgers stating their opposition to the bill. “The draft legislation is predicated on several flawed premises and, if enacted, would have immediate and permanent negative consequences for millions of veterans who choose and rely on VA health care,” the veterans' organizations wrote. MOAA also sent a letter on the topic of VA privatization to members of the Commission on Care (created under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act) in April.  In its final report to Congress, the Commission on Care rejected the concept of privatization. Although the commission's recommendations were not unanimous, support for a reformed VA with improved care in the community was recommended.   A veteran-centric approach  Since the access crisis in Phoenix, the VA has handled millions more appointments annually, both within its facilities and out in the community. And, as Dr. David Shulkin, VA undersecretary of health, told the advisory committee in Boston, 97 percent of those appointments now are completed within 30 days of the veteran's preferred date. Thirty-four medical centers, he said, now offer access to same-day primary care, and as of April, 90 percent of mental health patients are seen within seven days. Only 14 percent of community psychiatrists can match that, he noted. The VA also is finding innovative ways to serve veterans, from a new prosthetic arm developed in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and adaptive sports programs to telehealth services that deliver much-needed mental health care services.  “This isn't happening in the private sector because it's not cost-effective,” Shulkin said. “We are by far the largest user of telehealth in the country. No one else comes close.”  The VA is changing the way it communicates with veterans - and the way veterans are able to communicate with the VA. McDonald even has made available his cellphone number: (513) 509-8454. “I'm hoping that veterans are finding us to be more accessible than perhaps we have been in the past,” he says.  Forms are being simplified. Letters are being translated into plain English. Call centers have opened. As of June 30, veterans now have the option of a true digital enrollment process, which takes an average of only 24 minutes to complete. A mobile app allowing veterans to schedule appointments quickly and easily will be released soon.  Szymanski - who, at MOAA, often helps veterans navigate the system, while at home helping her father, a Vietnam veteran, do the same thing - looks forward to the day the VA's new website, www.vets.gov, fulfills its promise of being the only website needed to access all VA services and benefits. At this point, it's still a work in progress.  The VA also is well on its way to creating 100 community veteran engagement boards as a way to leverage all community assets - not just those of the agency - to meet the needs of local veterans. “Those are a way of reaching veterans in a positive way and improving the way that they see [the] VA - as a partner instead of an uncaring bureaucracy,” Szymanski says.   The pace of change  “Access continues to be the biggest issue, but solving it in a way that does not erode the quality of care is ultimately what veterans want and what our organization seeks to achieve,” says Carlos Fuentes, deputy director of the National Legislative Service atVeterans of Foreign Wars. “Overwhelmingly, veterans are satisfied with the care they receive. Our surveys have determined that 87 percent of veterans who use VA health care would recommend it to their fellow veterans. The quality is undisputed.”  “The challenge we have isn't to provide a quality experience. We do that,” Gibson told the advisory committee in Boston. “The problem is with the system surrounding the care.”   In the past, inadequate attention was paid to training, leader development, and succession planning. Leaders rarely even talked to employees. VA leadership now is actively trying to engage VA employees in the transformation process and is cultivating transparency and accountability throughout the organization. A dynamic program - Leaders Develop Leaders - is facilitating the necessary change of culture at all levels. Comprehensive planning is in place, based on a high-performance organization model, and out-of-date technology is being replaced.  “Unfortunately, Congress's inability to move key pieces of legislation has really slowed up the transformative change that MyVA is all about,” says Bill Rausch, executive director of Got Your 6, referring to the Veterans First Act, which received full bipartisan support from the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee but has yet to be brought to the floor for a vote. “There's legislation sitting on the Hill that would allow the VA to provide better service to more veterans across the country, and no one is taking action to push it though.”  “We have all this commentary about veterans in the political cycle,” McDonald says. “It's troubling to me because the fundamental work is not being done. I don't like veterans being used as political pawns.”  “It is a team effort,” Fuentes says. “We need the support of [the] VA, the veterans' community, and Congress to be able to enact the change that's necessary to rebuild trust and confidence.”  “The VA has opened up their apparatus to ask stakeholders - to ask veterans - what they need, what they want,” Rausch says. “Because [Secretary McDonald] has put the veteran at the core of every decision that's being made, I'm confident - if Congress would support the MyVA initiatives - that the VA will be well on its way to becoming a world-class organization that every veteran would proudly call 'my VA.'”    By: Christina Wood

PITTSBURGH, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wounded veterans face many challenges when they return to civilian life. Among those obstacles is maintaining a healthy diet. Years of regimented physical training and dieting during military service can be a far cry from civilian experiences. That is why Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) recently helped a group of injured veterans explore healthy lifestyles through nutrition and cooking techniques. "I didn't realize that cooking grains and using a healthy recipe could be so fun and enjoyable," said Wendy Samaroo, wife of Army veteran Timothy. "I even had so much left over that I was able to share some food with my sons and husband, who was happy to see me enjoying the program gathering." All WWP programs are personalized to encourage warriors, caregivers, and family members to reach goals for physical, mental, and emotional recovery. It is especially important for warriors – and family members – to get connected with others in their area who understand what military families go through. In a WWP survey of the wounded veterans it serves, nearly 47 percent say talking with other warriors boosts their ability to manage their mental health. "My family and I first got connected to WWP because we were new to Pittsburgh from Florida," Wendy explained. "It was hard being away from our family, but WWP has been so welcoming. WWP staff treat us like family and make us feel right at home." After getting to know other wounded warriors and family members in attendance, it was time to start cooking. Mounds of vegetables, grains, and nutrient-dense foods were presented to the attendees. "It didn't resemble what you might normally see on a dinner plate," Wendy noted. "It all looked good, but it was different than anything I had cooked before."It was a feeling shared by many, and the staff encouraged the attendees to keep an open mind. Kelsey Paul, a family member of Marine Corps veteranGeorge Powell, admitted that was a bit challenging at first."It's not always easy to be brave enough to try new foods," she said. The surprise that came as she continued her food prep was worth it. "It tasted incredible, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. It was very rewarding knowing this food was not only enjoyable, but healthy too."Through WWP's health and wellness programs, warriors not only get trained in nutrition and healthy cooking techniques, but they can also participate in weight training, yoga, cycling, and outdoor activities. Wendy hopes she can attend another event like this one, and not just so she can learn another round of recipes to try at home. "I have seen how hard it can be taking the first step when you're in a new city or around people you don't know, especially if you're feeling alone," Wendy said. "My family saw that stepping out is well worth the reward. Other warriors need to know they are worth the time it takes to do something that will get their minds off any worries, and most of all, meet a group of people who will love on them and treat them like family. WWP has helped me and my whole family so much with the healing process." To see more photos and learn more about how WWP's programs and services are making an impact on the lives of wounded warriors, visithttp://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/. About Wounded Warrior ProjectThe mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

BEIJING (AP) -- For Yu Shuiping and other Chinese veterans, the country they served has yet to show its gratitude. Fed up with paltry pensions and benefits, they're taking to the streets, hoping to shame the government into recognizing what they say is its obligation to those who battled in harsh conditions along the country's borders. While largely peaceful, the sporadic protests amplify concerns over labor unrest and threaten to undermine rank-and-file support for Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's campaign to modernize the world's largest-standing military by attracting better qualified and more highly motivated soldiers. "We support the party and the government, and we don't oppose the party or hate society," Yu said in a phone interview from his home in the central province of Hunan. "We just want better treatment." Yu has for years been petitioning the government for more benefits, although he declined to discuss the specifics of his efforts. Activist Huang Qi, who tracks unrest in China, estimates that veterans have staged as many as 50 protests this year, highlighted by a demonstration last week outside the Defense Ministry in central Beijing, where such actions are extremely rare. Surrounded by police and plain-clothes officers, roughly 1,000 veterans from across the country, many dressed in their old uniforms, sang and marched for hours before being taken away in buses. Behind the heavy security response lies the specter of street action by laid-off workers that has long haunted China's communist leaders, obsessed with preserving social stability at all costs. Following a wave of worker protests in the early 2000s, China faces a new round of cuts in coal mines, steel mills and other state firms, throwing millions of workers on the scrapheap. Such veterans' protests go back decades and are now facilitated by adept use of social media. The government censors information about them and veterans are highly reluctant to discuss their plight with foreign media for fear of being accused of disloyalty. Thus far, however, their actions have borne little fruit. According to most accounts, the central government's response has been to fob them off on local authorities, who then fail to act on their complaints. The authorities work to ensure some veterans are satisfied, thus keeping them from forming a united front, said Neil Diamant, a professor of Asian law and society at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, who studies the veterans' issues. They also arrest emerging veterans' leaders, infiltrate the groups and monitor their communications, detaining large numbers if necessary, he said. "So far, this has allowed them to muddle though. My guess is that they just wait them out, hoping that age will eventually prevent many from becoming overly feisty," Diamant said. Veterans also lack high-level contacts or powerful advocates, while the wars they fought in have never been particularly popular. Their status in society doesn't come close to matching the prestige the ruling Communist Party bestows on them, and most Chinese are more likely to sympathize with causes such as pollution and corruption that affect their daily lives. Their appearances outside government offices are met with a firm though non-confrontational response from the security forces, who in Beijing tend to load them onto buses and drive them to the outskirts of the city where they are detained until agents from their local governments arrive to take them home. "Having served in the army and taken part in war, we hope only that the government not treat us harshly," said Yu, who added he did not take part in the recent protest in Beijing. In a written response to a question from The Associated Press, the Defense Ministry said resolving veterans' concerns were taken very seriously and that a new set of policies were being rolled out to address them at the local level. "The temporary living difficulties of a portion of retired soldiers will gradually be resolved," the ministry said. For the military, the immediate priority is finding work for the 300,000 soldiers being cut under an order issued last year by Xi. While demobilized soldiers used to be given jobs in state companies, that possibility no longer exists. And with a slowing economy and tightening job market, there's no certainty that the private sector will be able to absorb them in such numbers. While reemployment poses its own challenges, for older veterans such as Yu, pensions and benefits are the main concern. Despite operating the world's largest standing army, with 2.3 million personnel, China doesn't have a central government body to handle veterans' affairs, such as the U.S. Veteran's Administration. Instead, cash-strapped local government offices are responsible for their welfare, and treatment varies widely across the country. While the government requires that their incomes be marginally higher than the average in their home regions, that's often not the case, especially in the countryside where most veterans live and are provided as little as 400 yuan ($60) per month, according to Yu. Urban dwellers suffer from a huge disparity depending on where they live, ranging from a token amount to something closer to the local average income, he said. Given the lack of centralized information, it's difficult to tell how many veterans are now receiving pensions, including those who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, the 1962 border war with India and the 1979 invasion of Vietnam. The localized and scatter-shot nature of the system also precludes any unified figure on what the government spends on veterans. Meanwhile, China's fast-growing defense budget hit $146 billion this year, making it the world's second largest after the United States, and includes significant expenditures on welfare for troops currently serving. In the military's quest for excellence, shoddy treatment of veterans could harm efforts to attract the best recruits. That's part of the reason protesting veterans aren't harshly treated, said Gao Wenqian, senior policy adviser for Human Rights in China, which has been monitoring the protests. "Stable morale among the military is one of (Xi's) biggest concerns," Gao said.   BY CHRISTOPHER BODEENASSOCIATED PRESS

For Veterans, yoga offers multiple health benefits! If chronic pain has you down, give yourself a lift - with yoga. Research increasingly shows yoga may be an effective prescription for pain relief. Physical activity, in general, is the best thing you can do to break the cycle of chronic pain, according to Dr. Donna Ames, a psychiatrist with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Pain causes you to favor the parts of your body that hurt by becoming inactive, adopting unnatural positions - such as stooping over to one side - or overusing other parts of your body. Yoga may help relieve chronic pain not only through movement, but also through deep breathing and meditation, which reduce stress and help take your mind off your pain. Stress can make pain worse by lowering your tolerance to it and by increasing cortisol, a body chemical that causes inflammation, or swelling and redness. A person in pain becomes anxious and begins breathing too quickly, explained Ames. Rapid breathing can build up acid in your muscles that can make your anxiety and pain worse. By learning to breathe more deeply and slowly, you can calm yourself and break the cycle of increasing anxiety and pain. What is Yoga Anyway? Yoga is a mind and body practice that combines performing different postures with breathing and relaxation techniques. Millions of people across the United States practice yoga in health clubs, yoga studios, recreation centers and a growing number of VA Medical Centers (VAMC). Yoga helps you focus on the present, rather than the past or future. Those who practice yoga on a regular basis may enjoy: Less stress and anxiety Less back pain and pain in general Improved sleep Better heart health Lower cholesterol and blood pressure Increased balance, flexibility and strength Because there are many different kinds of yoga, you should talk with your health care team and a yoga instructor before starting a class. Some forms of yoga are more physically demanding, while others focus more on relaxing. Just as everyone's pain is different, so is treatment. "One type of yoga program might help one Veteran but not another," said Ames. For instance, some yoga moves, such as back bends or head stands, can be very dangerous for Veterans with certain spinal or eye problems. A yoga practice can be tailored to your individual needs and body, according to Ames. Yoga can even be done seated. Your VA health team can help you choose the best treatment plan for your pain based on your health history, type of pain and personal needs. Use My HealtheVet's pain journal to track and record your pain level and share this information with your care team. Less Pain, More Sleep Volunteer Joyce Smith leads yoga classes at the Memphis VA. Here, she shows a yoga pose to Veteran Mildred Raef. Operation Desert Storm Marine Corps Veteran Matt Crowder walked into his first yoga class in 1997, when he moved to California. Chronic low-back pain kept him from running, and swimming and walking didn't help. "Before I found yoga, I often had trouble sleeping soundly through the night," said Crowder. "Each yoga class gave me more confidence that I would eventually feel better." Not only is Crowder still doing yoga, he teaches classes both at a private yoga studio and as a volunteer at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Though his days are not pain-free, he said yoga "provides pretty effective pain management." For Crowder, the best part of yoga has been the "cumulative effect" of stretching. "I never learned how to stretch," he said, "and I didn't know how to exercise safely with my [back] condition." While he teaches a gentler form of yoga at the VAMC, the power yoga class Crowder leads at the studio keeps him motivated to keep practicing and learning. Deep breathing is what helps him move through his day safely and calmly. Some pleasant bonuses of his yoga practice are less stress and better sleep, which Crowder said result from less pain and more physical activity. Five things to Know about Yoga Some VAMCs offer free yoga classes to Veterans. Your health care team or VAMC patient advocate can help you find a suitable class Some Veterans use yoga to help their Posttraumatic Stress Disorder because it can improve sleep and help relieve stress, anxiety and depression A yoga class can provide a social outlet and chance to connect with other Veterans Not all instructors are trained alike - there is a wide range of training programs. Make sure you choose a qualified yoga instructor with the proper experience and credentials Yoga practice is very individual. Just because the Veteran next to you can hold a pose all day doesn't mean you should. Listen to your body and go at your own pace. If you have chronic pain, why not give yoga a try? Pain might be the only thing you have to lose. Learn More My HealtheVet Healthy Living Centers Online Yoga Take Control with Yoga National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Yoga for Vets

WASHINGTON – Hearing loss, including tinnitus, which is a ringing, buzzing or other type of noise that originates in the head, is the most prevalent service-connected disability among Veterans, with more than 30 million Veterans suffering from a form of it due to frequent exposure to loud noises from weaponry and aircraft. Because of the pervasiveness of hearing loss among Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is recognizing October as Audiology Awareness Month by highlighting important VA research on the subject and advances made in treating Veterans with hearing loss. “VA researchers have a rich history of contributions to audiology,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin. “From working with the National Institutes of Health to develop and evaluate hearing aids to a comprehensiveprotocol for managing tinnitus at VA and other audiology clinics nationwide, VA is proud to be a leader in this field.” VA researchers conduct a wide range of studies in audiology—from biomedical investigations to large clinical trials and epidemiologic database studies. Much of the work takes place at VA’s National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research in Portland, Oregon, one of the world’s leading facilities for research in the field. Studies include older Veterans whose hearing problems have been compounded by aging and younger Veterans who may have suffered hearing loss as a result of blasts in Iraq or Afghanistan. Recent VA research includes the following: In 2013, researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System published the results of a study comparing group and individual visits for hearing aid fittings and follow up. The team found no differences in how well the hearing aids performed, or how often they were worn. They concluded that group visits could reduce costs while providing community support for patients. In 2014, VA researchers in Loma Linda, California, linked exposure to jet propulsion fuel with auditory processing problems—changes that occur inside the brain rather than the ear. A 2015 VA study yielded promising results on transcranial magnetic stimulation as a tinnitus treatment. The therapy involves holding a magnetic coil to the head. The team now hopes to conduct a larger trial. A 2016 study of nearly 200 Veterans with tinnitus explored the impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on how Veterans manage the hearing condition, and offered guidance for clinicians. Below are a few examples of ongoing studies: VA researchers in Pittsburgh, Sioux Falls, Omaha, and Portland are collecting data from nearly 470 Veterans to learn more about auditory complaints in those who have been exposed to blasts. The team will focus on the interplay among hearing problems, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. A VA trial aims to improve monitoring of hearing changes caused by the drug cisplatin, used to treat cancer. Some 4,000 Veterans receive the drug in a typical year, and up to 40 or 50 percent will experience some hearing loss or tinnitus. The researchers say early detection can prevent significant damage. Together with a lab group at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, VA researchers are seekingbiomarkers—including cellular changes— that could warn of impending hearing loss. The work is expected lead to new preventive measures or treatment. In addition to VA’s audiology research work, the Department announced last month – ahead of National Audiology Awareness Month – that Veterans who need routine audiology appointments will be able to directly schedule them, without the need for a referral from their primary care provider. The move is expected to get Veterans into appointments more quickly. The new expedited process was piloted at three VA sites last year and is now being rolled out nationwide. For more information VA’s audiology services, visit www.ncrar.research.va.gov. Information about VA research on audiology may be found at www.research.va.gov/topics/hearing.cfm.   ###

The American Legion, in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training and others, will host a Hiring Our Heroes job fair in Warwick, R.I., on Oct. 18. The event will be held at the National Guard Armory, 541 Airport Road in Warwick. An employment workshop will kick off the event from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., when job seekers will be able to meet with a team of hiring experts. The Hiring Our Heroes employment workshop focuses on résumé writing, tips for navigating hiring fairs and interviewing techniques. After the workshop, a job fair will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will feature prospective employers seeking to hire veterans, servicemembers and their spouses. Current military personnel, veterans and their families are welcome to attend. Attendees should come with their résumés in hand, and be prepared to network or even interview on the spot. No registration is necessary; however, registering for the event allows job seekers to upload their résumés to be viewed by employers ahead of time. Register online here.

Legionnaire Zachary L. Green knew at a very early age that he wanted to become a Marine. The valuable skills he learned in the Corps played an integral part in shaping his success as an entrepreneur. Green left the military and became a firefighter with the Wyoming Fire Department in Ohio. It was there, while sitting on the back of a fire truck, that he found the inspiration to create products designed to keep firefighters and civilians safe. Green was determined to find a way for firefighters to see while navigating dark stairwells and rooms through use of photoluminescent technology. The Marine took what he learned about the technology behind military Kevlar helmet bands with "cat eyes" and applied the same concept to similar gear worn by firefighters. His self-illuminating products create a light source sufficient enough to rely on during treacherous, low-visibility scenarios. The innovative technology is essential to accomplishing the mission of many occupations due to the products’ self-sustaining capabilities. “As a firefighter, this is something that I am very passionate about,” Green said. “Anything that relies on batteries or electricity is going to fail when you need it the most.” The Cincinnati native’s company, MN8-Foxfire, showcased the first set of products – an illuminating helmet band and a do-it-yourself illuminating adhesive strip kit for stairwells and other indoor areas – in 2010. Since then, the product line has grown to include self-illuminating neon exit signs and reflective visual coatings for fire hydrants, ladders and other tools. The highlight of Green’s journey as an entrepreneur occurred recently when he witnessed members of the New York City Fire Department on television wearing his technology while performing a rescue at one of the new World Trade Center Towers. It touched the Legionnaire to see the nation’s heroes outfitted with his company’s products. Today, more than 60,000 firefighters in over 25 countries use Foxfire products on the job. Green attributes much of his company’s success to the capabilities of his products paired with the fact that the technology is also environmentally friendly, cost-saving and safer than current battery-operated equipment. The Legionnaire never imagined his business would grow as rapidly as is has. Like many other business owners, Green faced hurdles and was even told he would fail by people close to him. “The key is to adapt and overcome obstacles that may arise," he said. "It is similar to military leadership and confidence courses. It doesn’t matter how you move your ammo can over the wall with your web belt. What matters is that you applied creativity and worked together. “   by Andrea C. Dickerson

Marine Corps veteran Cole Lyle channeled the inspiration he felt for the brothers and sisters in arms he served with during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. While in country, Lyle dedicated the sparse free time he had volunteering at Camp Bastion Field Hospital and Medical Treatment Facility’s Trauma Clinic, which was understaffed at the time. Little did the Marine know, what he witnessed there would be inextricably linked to his life – even after his separation from the military. Lyle returned to the states after his deployment and found himself diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during a post-deployment health assessment. He sought help for his PTSD from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To supplement the concoction of prescribed sleep aids and anti-depressants prescribed to treat his symptoms, Lyle also sought counseling at VA Vet Centers. None of that could stop his world from spiraling downward. Lyle left the Marine Corps in 2014, simultaneously juggling a divorce while additionally experiencing unemployment. “Intra-personal relationships were harder to maintain than necessary, along with not having the familiar support system of my fellow Marines and the chain of command,” he said. “In the same few months, I would experience what most veterans now are all too familiar with: the loss of military friends to preventable suicide.” That series of events prompted Lyle to take matters into his own hands. “Life as I’d known it had been ripped away, and one night alone, I decided to end it all," Lyle said during his testimony on personal experiences with PTSD, at a hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security in April. "It is only for the timing of a friend, a fellow Marine, arriving on my doorstep at that exact moment that I’m here right now. Semper Fidelis, indeed,” The next day, Lyle quit his medications cold turkey. The Marine decided to try a different approach to combat the unwavering residual effects of his PTSD. After spending months on waiting lists to obtain a service dog through various charities, Lyle purchased a German Shepard named Kaya using more than $10,000 of his own money and with the help of his family. “I found out that service dogs were an option, but they were not provided by the VA,” Lyle said. “I went to the non-profit organizations leading the charge on this issue, but they had long wait times due to their constrained budgets and the high demand. I was incredulous that the VA did not provide dogs. It seems like a very obvious solution.” Through Assistance Dogs International, Lyle trained Kaya to help him deal with his nightmares and anxiety attacks. Lyle says her presence and assistance helps reduce many of his symptoms. “In a very intangible way, dogs provide a sense of purpose that medications can’t," he said. "They give us a reason to wake up in the morning." Now, the pair attend college classes and professional sporting events together. Lyle rappelled into the political arena as a lobbyist after a trip to the nation’s capital. While walking around D.C., a senator stopped Lyle, inquiring about the circumstances that led him to use a service dog. “Everywhere I go, people always ask me why I have a service dog, because I don’t have an injury that they can see,” Lyle said. “The senator said he didn’t think that it was right that the VA doesn’t provide service animals. He called me to his office, and we talked about it for a few minutes.” The senator urged Lyle to write out a detailed plan that included the importance of how service dogs positively impact veterans and reforms he would like to see made. Lyle took the senator’s words to heart, drafting what is now known as the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act. Introduced in the House March 16, and passed on to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the proposed legislation would create a five-year, $10-million pilot program mandating the VA to pair veterans suffering from PTSD with service dogs. “The goal is not to replace pills or therapy with dogs," Lyle said. "Those things work for some people. Give veterans other options if those two don’t work for them. "I would like to see this legislation benefit veterans from past and current conflicts in order to benefit those that might serve in future wars. I would hate to see future veterans struggle from the same issues as those who served in the past.” Currently, the House bill sponsored by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has 124 cosponsors. The Senate version was recently introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and was also referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs. A number of notable government officials support the proposed legislation including Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.). “This bill has a wide swath of support in the Senate and House,” Lyle said. “This proposed piece of legislation is great because it provides options for those who have already tried evidence-based treatments and have not seen success.” At the American Legion’s 98th Convention in Cincinnati, a resolution was passed urging the VA to clearly define regulations and current eligibility requirements for a veteran to receive a referral to agencies providing service dogs for mental and/or physical conditions until Congress passes legislation mandating VA to provide service animals for eligible veterans. With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, Lyle said he hopes the legislation will be passed soon and bring a sense of relief to veterans struggling to cope with everyday life. “Service dogs provide a positive avenue to regain a small sense of purpose so veterans can get out of post-traumatic stress and into post-traumatic growth," he said.   By Andrea C. Dickerson

PHOENIX (AP) -- Despite a new report raising serious questions about the quality of care within the Phoenix VA Health Care System, a top official in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs said Wednesday that significant progress has been made. VA Undersecretary for Health David Shulkin addressed the VA Inspector General's report while introducing a newly appointed director for the Phoenix system. The report, which was released Tuesday, found Phoenix VA staff inappropriately canceled medical consults that possibly contributed to the death of one veteran who did not get a recommended stress test. Consults include appointments, lab tests, teleconferencing and other planned patient contacts. "That is a situation we take very seriously," Shulkin said. Shulkin said the cancellations were not made by managers, but lower-level staff who were unclear about the proper way to cancel consults. "That's why we've invested in additional training, in additional auditing and additional clarification of our policies to make sure that everyone is clear on how to do this," Shulkin said. However, he said the report also showed how the Phoenix facilities have improved in the last two years such has more hiring, 70,000 square feet of additional space and "fast track" care for the emergency room. "We've seen our consults and our wait times come down significantly. And most important, we've seen our patient satisfaction - what veterans are saying about their care and their access to care in Phoenix - rise significantly from 66 percent into the mid-70s," Shulkin said. Yet, the report states there were 38,000 open consults at the Phoenix VA as of last July. The Phoenix system enrolls about 85,000 veterans Shulkin acknowledged more needs to be done including a less archaic appointment scheduling system and more medical staff. Nearly 730 employees have been hired at the Phoenix system since it became the center of a national scandal in April 2014, according to Shulkin. Veterans Affairs internal investigations identified 35 veterans who died while awaiting care. Earlier in the day, Shulkin and new director Rima Ann Nelson met with veterans groups as well as members of Arizona's Congressional delegation, including Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who is challenging McCain in the November election. McCain, in a statement, expressed continued skepticism of Nelson. She previously was the director of the VA Regional Office in Manila, Philippines and the medical center director for the St. Louis VA Health Care System, where she faced accusations of mismanagement. "As ground-zero of the scandal in veterans' health care, the Phoenix VA clearly has a long way to go to fully reform," McCain said. "It is unacceptable that Ms. Nelson is the seventh director in three years - no organization can operate efficiently with such a high turnover rate." In contrast, Kirkpatrick said she left the meeting feeling hopeful. "The meeting was productive and included an in-depth introduction to the Phoenix VA's new leadership," Kirkpatrick said in a statement. "I have expressed my repeated concerns about the many ways the Phoenix VA is failing our veterans - these are troubling, systemic problems that too often start at the top." Shulkin praised Nelson as a leader who knows how to make decisions and acts on behalf of veterans, calling her part of the solution.