http://www.vetsfirst.org Vetsfirst Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:00:57 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en by Terry Moakley VetsFirst Board of Directors Chair Almost 43 years ago while serving in the United States Marine Corps, I dove into a river and fractured my neck at the sixth cervical vertebrae. I was face down in the water unable to move anything for what seemed like an eternity. Then, ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/life-begins-anew-at-home/ The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is one of only a few federal agencies for which the President requested an overall spending increase for the coming fiscal year. For fiscal year 2011, which begins on October 1, 2010, the President is seeking $125 billion for the VA. Specifically, the President ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/the-presidents-fy-2011-budget-includes-resources-to-address-the-va-claims-backlog-but-will-they-work/ On January 20, VetsFirst participated in the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Roundtable on Veterans Service Organization Priorities for 2010. During the roundtable, VetsFirst had the opportunity to present our current public policy priorities. VetsFirst's 2010 public policy priorities work toward systemic changes that must be realized to ensure the continued ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/vetsfirst-presents-2010-public-policy/ VetsFirst wants you to know that the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) will be hosting listening sessions around the country to hear your ideas about how to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including veterans. The first of ODEP's six listening sessions will be held ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/listening-sessions-on-veterans-employment/ For the first time in decades, Congress has allocated funding levels for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that are in line with the recommendations of many veterans organizations, including VetsFirst. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill was part of an multi-agency funding bill that ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/advance-funding-for-the-department-of-veterans-affairs-is-an-advance-for-veterans/ While at my local VA hospital a few weeks ago, I noticed many copies of the 2009 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors prominently displayed where I was being photographed for my new VA identification card. I tucked a copy in my backpack for passing time on ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/dont-ignore-benefits-for-dependents/ In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court confronted the issue of the overwhelming impact that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has on combat veterans. This decision sends a signal to courts, lawyers and the medical/legal community that PTSD cannot be ignored when veterans are tried and sentenced for violent crimes. In ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/supreme-court-takes-on-ptsd-in-combat-veterans/ Those VetsFirst members who visit this site frequently know that we have expanded our mission recently. Over the years, a major focus for our veteran members with spinal cord injuries, diseases or disorders is to make certain that they are receiving the benefits that they are entitled to by law from ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/seeking-to-help-more-veterans-with-disabilities/ I had the distinct honor of representing VetsFirst on the birthday of the Marine Corps at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, at a terrific event sponsored by the New York State Department of Veterans Affairs. The audience included, among others, leaders of veterans service organizations and veterans ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/veteran-educate-thyself/ VetsFirst, a new national nonprofit organization that will help all of America's disabled veterans, their spouses, dependent family members and survivors receive healthcare, compensation, rehabilitation and other benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was announced today by United Spinal Association. VetsFirst membership will embrace all generations of veterans, ... http://www.vetsfirst.org/vetsfirst-offers-full-membership-to-all-disabled-veterans-their-dependents-and-survivors/