Jul 06 Watch 6:10 Why America’s longest war is getting longer By PBS News Hour The Obama administration revised up the number of troops it plans to keep in Afghanistan by the end of the year. With a current force of 10,000 there, President Obama said he will reduce the number to only 8,400 in… Continue watching
Jun 30 Pentagon ends ban on transgender troops in military By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Pentagon is poised to announce new rules allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the U.S. military, amid concerns from senior military leaders who believe the department is moving too fast and has yet to resolve many details. Continue reading
Jun 16 Watch 5:50 Why the Navy is making a major change in its approach to PTSD By PBS News Hour For years, the military has struggled to deal with the unseen, psychological wounds of war, especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has instituted major changes to the rules affecting sailors and Marines who suffer from PTSD. Continue watching
Jun 16 VA benefits chief retiring, was suspended in relocation scam By Matthew Daly, Associated Press The acting head of the Veterans Benefits Administration is retiring — three months after he was suspended for allowing two officials to manipulate the agency's hiring system for their own gain. Continue reading
Jun 03 How veterans see the wait time issue By Joshua Barajas Last week, the head of the Department of Veteran Affairs compared wait times to the wait for rides at a Disney theme park. Now veterans share their reactions to McDonald's comments and suggestions for improving care. Continue reading
Jun 02 Army’s gay civilian leader calls his promotion ‘remarkable’ By Associated Press Army Secretary Eric Fanning is the first gay head of a military service branch. Continue reading
May 31 This innovative, wound-filling sponge just saved its first soldier By News Desk XSTAT, a device designed to staunch bleeding from combat wounds -- when traditional methods are too slow or insufficient -- was successful in its first documented use in the field. Continue reading
May 29 Column: How I answer my students’ tough questions about military service By Darrell Jones Darrell Jones, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, shares how he teaches his classes about the history of Memorial Day and how he answers the question often posed by his students: does he know anyone who… Continue reading
May 27 Column: How one military veteran teaches his students about Memorial Day By Demetrius Ball High school teacher Demetrius Ball hopes that by sharing a little about what life was like in the military, his students might further understand the meaning of Memorial Day. Continue reading
May 23 VA chief compares wait times for veteran care to Disney park lines By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Monday that the VA should not use wait times as a measure of success, comparing waits for VA health care to the hours people wait for rides at Disney theme parks. Continue reading