The Cities Category Archive: Veterans

Minnesota veterans groups honored at the White House

Posted at 5:00 PM on April 19, 2012 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Veterans

Staff from two metro area groups that work with veterans and their families recently returned from a visit to Washington, where they were honored by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden as Joining Forces Community Challenge winners.

The first lady and Biden launched the Joining Forces initiative to support and honor America's service members and their families. The program aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society -- citizens, communities, schools, non-profits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government -- to ensure military families have the support they need. The program established the Joining Forces Community Challenge to recognize individuals or groups dedicated to improving the lives of military families.

The two Minnesota winners are:

The MSP Airport Armed Forces Service Center, a volunteer-run, free 24-7 aiport lounge for military personnel and their families. The Center was founded in 1970 by Maggie Purdum after her son was killed in action in Vietnam as appreciation for all who have served. From its founding through March 2012, more than 766,800 active duty military have passed through the Armed Forces Service Center. More than 25,800 military dependents have been served since Sept. 11, 2001.

Defending the Blue Line in Hastings. Defending the Blue Line works to ensure that children of military members have access to participate in hockey, through free equipment, hockey camps, special events and financial assistance toward association and other hockey-related costs. Founded by two Minnesota National Guard soldiers in 2009, more than 3,000 families across the United States have been served, including more than 300 recipients of hockey equipment, more than 700 children attending hockey camps and more than 2,000 professional hockey tickets have been donated.

The other winners are:
-Our Family for Families First Foundation
-Armed Forces Service Center
-Defending the Blue Line
-Give an Hour
-Project Sanctuary
-City of Richfield, Utah

In an email statement, Debra Cain, Executive Director of the Armed Forces Service Center, says the award was thrilling, "after 42 years of service (24/7), this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the AFSC. We were honored and humbled to be selected as one of five winners (out of 300 submissions)."

(Photo courtesy of Debra Cain, Armed Forces Service Center)

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Tax credit for Minnesota businesses that hire veterans

Posted at 3:14 PM on February 28, 2012 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Business, Veterans

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., today announced a new tax credit for Minnesota employers who hire veterans. The credit can be as high as $9,600 per veteran for for-profit employers, or up to $6,240 for tax-exempt organizations.

"With the unemployment rate for Minnesota's post-9/11 veterans at three times the state average, we have to do everything we can to create jobs for them after their service is done," Sen. Franken said in a news release. "This tax credit will help create opportunities to put our veterans back to work by providing an incentive for Minnesota businesses to hire them. I challenge every employer to recognize the invaluable skills and training that our veterans offer."

Employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed for more than six months are eligible for a new tax credit of up to $5,600 per veteran hired; if the veteran has been unemployed for between four weeks and six months, the employer's tax credit is up to $2,400. Employers who hire veterans with service-related disabilities may be eligible for the maximum credit of $9,600, which is an expansion of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

The new tax credits and the expansion of the WOTC were passed as part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which was enacted last November. The IRS has recently released the guidance and forms that employers can use to claim the newly-expanded tax credit for hiring veterans. Click here for more details.

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U of M to partner with foundation for veteran scholarships

Posted at 6:05 PM on February 10, 2012 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Education, Veterans

The Pat Tillman Foundation has chosen the University of Minnesota as a partner in support of the Tillman Military Scholars program, which provides educational scholarships for veterans, active service members and their spouses.

The U joins Arizona State University and Eastern Kentucky University as the new Tillman Military Scholar partners for the 2012/2013 academic year. There are eleven other university partners nationwide.

The foundation says it chose the University of Minnesota because of its campus support services for student veterans, active service members and their spouses.

The Pat Tillman Foundation established the Tillman Military Scholars program in 2008 to support educational opportunities for service members and their spouses by filling financial gaps in the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The program covers direct study-related costs like tuition and fees, housing and childcare, among other expenses. Over the past three years, the foundation has awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarship funds to 171 Tillman Military Scholars pursuing education at every level from freshmen undergraduates to doctoral degrees.

Apply to become a Tillman Military Scholar beginning Monday, Feb. 13th.

Pat Tillman died in 2004 while serving with the U.S. Army 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation in his honor.

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U of M seeks more families for military study

Posted at 2:42 PM on February 8, 2012 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Education, Veterans

University of Minnesota researchers are recruiting more than 300 Minnesota National Guard and Reserve families for an ongoing study, called Project ADAPT (After Deployment: Adaptive Parenting Tools) , of parenting during and after deployment. Researchers are hoping to learn how best to support military families.

So far, nearly 100 families have participated since the project launched last year. More groups will follow with the next wave of returning military parents, who are expected back in Minnesota in May.

"What impresses me about this program is that it offers parents proven and practical strategies for managing family life," said Col. Greg Haase, commander of the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard. "It accomplishes this by demonstrating simple but effective skills."

Military families with children between the ages of 4 and 12 who have experienced deployment since 2001 and live in the Twin Cities, Mankato and St. Cloud are eligible to join the study. All participating families are offered parenting resources. Families are paid up to $595 over the course of the study.

The study's principal investigator is Abi Gewirtz, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development's Department of Family Social Science. The research team includes Melissa Polusny at the Minneapolis VA.

Check out my story on this ongoing study.

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Two Minnesota companies recognized for helping military veterans

Posted at 6:00 AM on November 10, 2011 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Business, Minneapolis, Veterans

On Veterans Day, Gov. Dayton is expected to recognize Richfield-based Best Buy for its Operation Patriotic Endeavor program. The program assembles and sends care packages to military service members deployed overseas. More than 600 Best Buy employees have put together 3,300 care packages to be shipped to the 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard, which is currently deployed in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

The governor and Major General Richard C. Nash, Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, will present the Yellow Ribbon Award to Best Buy. The award recognizes businesses for their commitment to supporting military employees and local communities.

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp has also been honored for its programs intended to help veterans. The company recently announced plans to double its military hiring in 2012. Beginning next year, U.S. Bank will offer employees up to two weeks paid leave to cover time they would otherwise take off unpaid, per state or federal law, in connection with a family member's military service. The time can be taken not only with the deployment of a child, parent or spouse, but may be available to extended family as well.

As of October, the company reports it employed 1,643 veterans and/or members of the guard/reserve. More than 200 have been hired this year alone.

U.S. Bank's commitment to current and former members of the military and their families also earned the company "Yellow Ribbon" status this year. And Military Times magazine named U.S. Bank as one of just 46 companies in their Best of Vets 2011 annual survey. Over 1,000 firms were surveyed for their recruiting, policies for reservists and overall corporate culture pertaining to the military.

The ceremony honoring Best Buy is scheduled for Friday from 2 to 3 p.m.
on the Best Buy campus.

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Annual StandDown for veterans this week

Posted at 4:29 PM on August 1, 2011 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Courts, Crime, Housing, Minneapolis, St. Paul , Veterans

An annual event designed to help homeless and at-risk military veterans happens this week at Fort Snelling. The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans' StandDown offers free assistance with VA and other benefits, psychological counseling, legal assistance, and help with housing, employment, and chemical dependency. Veterans can meet one-on-one with attorneys who specialize in child support, social security, consumer law, tickets, DMV, federal and state tax assistance and other issues. Free meals, clothing and haircuts will also be available. And there's a free shuttle from the Fort Snelling Light Rail Station.

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Wednesday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Welcome Ceremony will take place Aug. 2 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Scout Base Camp, 201 Bloomington Road, Fort Snelling, Minn.

The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans estimates that about one percent of Minnesota veterans - that's nearly 4,100 veterans -- will experience homelessness this year. Last year's StandDown drew about 700 veterans.

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Gay MN soldier gets Hawaiian tribute

Posted at 4:11 PM on July 21, 2011 by Tim Nelson (0 Comments)
Filed under: Suburbs, Veterans

The parents of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt say their fallen son is getting another military memorial -- and one that acknowledges he was gay, unofficially, anyway.

Jeff Wilfahrt says the member of OutServe Hawaii -- a group of gay and lesbian military personnel -- have adopted a two-mile stretch of Highway 83 on Oahu as a tribute to the fallen MP, killed in February while serving with the Army in Afghanistan. His was trained as an MP and his unit was based in Hawaii.

Wilfahrt's parents, Lori and Jeff, say they're sorry the military couldn't acknowledge their son's sexuality, despite the sacrifice he made for the service and his country.

Wilfahrt's parents were in Hawaii last week for the return of Andrew's unit for a memorial service. "Even the company officers were weeping at (Andrew's) loss," Jeff Wilfahrt said.

Corporal Wilfahrt, who grew up in Rosemount, already already has several tributes, including his name on an official unit memorial in Hawaii and an MP outpost named after him in Afghanistan. That's the sign outside it, at right.

But the Hawiian remembrance is the only one that will, at least indirectly, acknowledge his sexuality. Wilfahrt's father says the OutServe members want to commemorate Andrew as a gay soldier, but can't do so overtly, "since remnants of Don't Ask, Don't Tell still pertain."

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A new home for the families of injured veterans to be dedicated

Posted at 5:20 PM on June 3, 2011 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Housing, Minneapolis, Veterans

The Minneapolis VA Medical Center will officially open Fisher House II, a new 20-room facility designed to be a "home away from home" for families of veterans receiving care at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Each family gets a private room and access to a shared kitchen and living area.

Here's a story I did on the project.

The dedication ceremony will be Thursday, June 9th at 10 a.m. at east 54th Avenue and Minnehaha, across from the VA.

Speakers will include Robert Petzel, VA Undersecretary of Health; Tom McDonough, Chair of the Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation; Steve Kleinglass, Director of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System; Janet Murphy, Director of the VA Midwest Health Care Network; and Ken Fisher, Chairman of the Fisher House Foundation, Inc. Also attending will be about 400 veterans, families, and VA staff.

Parking near the Fisher House is limited. There will be reserved parking in Lot 11 on the Minneapolis VA Medical Center grounds. Look for signage on East 54th Avenue.

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Free legal clinic for veterans coming to Minneapolis VA Medical Center

Posted at 1:49 PM on May 26, 2011 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Courts, Crime, Housing, Veterans

Veterans of any war who need legal assistance or advice are invited to a free clinic at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. The event is part of a series of similar clinics organized by the Minnesota Justice Foundation in partnership with
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.

Veterans can speak with attorneys, law students, veterans service officers, child support officers, and VA Mental Health Homeless Program intake folks and get help with questions, legal forms, and counsel in the areas of child support, family, employment and Social Security law.

Tuesday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

VA Medical Center

Flag Atrium Balcony Room 2B 114 (ask information desk for directions)

1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis

FREE Parking at the VA Medical Center

For more information, contact Nathaniel Saltz at MACV: 612-726-1327 or nsaltz@mac-v.org.

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Demographics on Guard troops preparing to deploy

Posted at 7:30 PM on March 9, 2011 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Veterans

The Minnesota National Guard has released some interesting data on the troops deploying to Kuwait later this summer:

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Troops showing signs of strain after nearly 10 years of war

Posted at 12:10 PM on February 9, 2011 by Jessica Mador (0 Comments)
Filed under: Minneapolis, Veterans

The nation has about 12,000 special operations forces deployed around the world, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. But after nearly 10 years at war, commanders this week said they're worried about the toll repeated deployments are taking on troops and their families.

Minnesota's Army National Guard 34th Infantry Division, known as the Red Bulls, are preparing for another deployment. Maj. Gen. Richard Nash announced recently that about 2,400 soldiers are expected to start training in May and head to Kuwait, where they will provide security as US troops pull out.

This will be yet another deployment for many of these soldiers, who've already served in Iraq or Afghanistan over the last several years.

From the AP's Lolita C. Baldor's story on concerns about the effects of repeated deployment on special operations forces:

Adm. Eric T. Olson ... said the demand for the specialized units in Afghanistan is insatiable, forcing troops to deploy to war at a rate that is off the charts. And he said he does not see that demand declining in the next several years. Officials say they are taking measures to ease the strain on service members and families and devoting more resources to programs for wounded and ill service members.

Scientists at the Minneapolis VA have been studying National Guard soldiers to try and pinpoint why some people are more resilient to combat stress than others, and to research the connection between PTSD, TBI, concussion and other things.

They expect to release more findings this spring.

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