Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment
Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I enjoy reading your column in the Washington Times. I am an active duty Marine who served in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983. I know we have been trying for years to have the postal service issue a commemorative stamp honoring the soldiers, sailors, and Marines who died in Lebanon from 1982-1984. We have stamps for Elvis and Daffy Duck, why not one for those who paid the ultimate price? Many parents of these men are getting on in years and have given up hope of a commemorative stamp. Any recommendations?
Chuck D.
Lt. Col., USMC
Dear Chuck:
The Sarge will once again share your wishes with the U.S. Postmaster General, the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Congress. For years, U.S. Rep. Constance Morella (Republican, Maryland’s 8th District) has championed the effort to honor those 241 members of the armed forces who were killed by a terrorist bomb on October 23, 1983. If we can honor Elvis Presley and cartoon characters such as Daffy Duck, America must also honor those in our military who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Shaft Kudos
The Sarge was honored to appear before some very special VA employees. This year’s Leadership VA (LVA) members are participating in a VA-based executive program which trains a minimum of 70 competitively selected participants a year. LVA intends to expand participants' leadership skills and develop keener insight into the internal and external forces that affect VA. The exchange of information and viewpoints will broaden personal and professional perspectives and lay a foundation for a network of VA leaders who share a deep commitment to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to public service in its broadest sense.
The LVA program was established in 1978 and has operated successfully each year since. It is the only major VA program that trains people from all organizational elements together. The LVA has successfully promoted demographic, geographic, organizational, and professional diversity within the Department.
Any VA employee who is GS-13 (or equivalent) through SES is eligible to apply. The program is usually announced in August of each year. Approximately 350 applications are received each year for the 70 positions. Selection decisions are usually announced in January.
Overseen by a Board of Trustees appointed by the VA Secretary, the LVA is chaired by the Deputy Secretary and is made up of Administration heads, Assistant Secretaries, and a number of other Senior Staff Office officials. The program has been rated consistently as highly effective. To date, 1,522 senior VA employees, throughout the organization and across the nation, have participated in LVA. The success of this program has led to the founding of the Leadership VA Alumni Association (LVAAA), which produces a newsletter, conducts an Annual Forum, and has other activities to continue the network.
The following sessions are planned for the 2002 program year:
More information about Leadership VA is available by calling (202) 501-3415.
And to good buddy Jim Mayer, executive director of the LVA, I’m proud of you, Jim. You have a hell of a program for our nation’s vets.
The Sarge applauds the Department of Veterans Affairs for their initiative to provide veterans with the ability to "read" prescription labels using technology such as talking labels. This initiative will be very beneficial to veterans with visual disabilities. The DVA is planning to incorporate this capability into its existing Pharmacy application in 2003. The Prosthetics Service will provide readers for disabled veterans. Field costs and acquisition options for readers are in the process of being determined.
A smart salute to chair Jay Rockefeller and his Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs for passing several critical provisions that benefit veterans. The legislation includes provisions to improve health care and benefits and increase VA's role in emergency preparedness. The legislation will now go before the full Senate for consideration. The four bills that passed out of committee combine several individual pieces of legislation that were previously introduced. Highlights of the language reported by the committee follow:
The Veterans' Long-Term Care and Mental Health Enhancement Act would exempt veterans earning less than $24,000 per year from the VA's co-pay for prescription drugs. The income threshold would increase with the number of dependents of each veteran. The Act would require the VA Secretary to provide both institutional and non-institutional long-term care for an additional five years. The Act would also expand and improve service to veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental illnesses and authorizes the VA Secretary to open as many as 10 additional centers for mental illness research, education, and clinical activities.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness Act of 2002 would authorize the Secretary to furnish health care during a major disaster, or medical emergency. This would allow the VA to fulfill its mission to provide medical assistance during a catastrophic event. This Act would create an Assistant Secretary of Operations, Preparedness, and Security to oversee and lead emergency operations. VA emergency preparedness centers would be established to concentrate on medical strategies to prevent the medical crises that might follow a chemical, biological, or radiological disaster.
The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (COLA) of 2002 would increase the rates of veterans' disability benefits for eligible veterans, their dependents and surviving spouses. The adjustment would increase at the rate of social security benefits.
The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2002 would require the VA to work with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review studies concerning hearing loss caused by acoustic trauma.
Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.
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