Military veterans Books

Book SynopsisU.S. military conflicts abroad have left nine million Americans dependent on the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for medical care. Their wounds of war are treated by the largest hospital system in the countryone that has come under fire from critics in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in the nation''s media.In Wounds of War, Suzanne Gordon draws on five years of observational research to describe how the VHA does a better job than private sector institutions offering primary and geriatric care, mental health and home care services, and support for patients nearing the end of life. In the unusual culture of solidarity between patients and providers that the VHA has fostered, Gordon finds a working model for higher-quality health care and a much-needed alternative to the practice of for-profit medicine.Trade ReviewImportant and timely. * BeyondChron *A terrific book, and I would recommend that every veteran depending upon the VA for his or her healthcare buy it. * The Veteran *Important and timely. * CounterPunch *This book offers a unique approach to an important topic and is an essential addition for institutions with programs in medicine and other health-affiliated fields (health administration, social work, etc.), public policy and administration, political science, or for any public library serving veteran and/or military populations. * Choice *For better or worse, the course of VA health care now depends on a citizenry and health policy community that possesses little firsthand experience with its services or achievements. Wounds of War is a tremendous starting point for those interested in understanding the importance of getting these decisions right. * Washington Monthly *A compelling account of the many strengths of the Veterans Healthcare System.... Gordon documents these strengths with informative statistics as well as compelling narratives of innovative programs, commendable teamwork and exemplary clinical providers.... A valued view of a system which, even with its flaws, still has remarkable strengths to offer soldiers when their service to our nation is completed. * The Pharos *Wounds of War is a valuable resource for veterans' rights advocates as well as everyone concerned with the struggle for Medicare for all. * Against the Current *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction: What Kind of Care for Veterans? 1. Promises Broken and Kept: A Short History of the VHA 2. Those Who Have Borne the Battle: The VHA's Patient Population Profile—What It Means to Be a VA Volunteer 3. Primary Care the Way It Should Be 4. Healing Minds and Bodies: Integrated Mental Health Care and Primary Care 5. Dealing with a World of Hurt: VHA Treatment of Chronic Pain 6. When Wounded Warriors Are Women: Caring for Female Veterans 7. Mental Health the Way It Should Be 8. Unpacking PTSD: From Diagnosis to Effective Treatment Profi le—Karen Parko: A Special Kind of Professional Development at the VA 9. Returning to Civilian Life: Veterans on Campus 10. Suicide Prevention: VHA Programs That Save Lives 11. Overcoming Disability: VA Rehabilitation Services Profile—Mark Smith: No Ordinary Bike Shop 12. Transcending Trauma: The Martinez Cognitive Rehabilitation Program 13. Off the Streets: Reducing Veteran Homelessness 14. Alternatives to Jail: Veterans' Justice Programs Profile—Cops and Vets: The Memphis Crisis Intervention Model 15. Specializing in Elder Care: The VA and Geriatrics 16. Knocking on Heaven's Door: The VA and End-of-Life Care 17. Better Care Where? The VHA Compared to the Private Sector Conclusion: A System Worth Saving—and Making Even Better Epilogue: Thank You for Your Service? Notes Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Nautilus Book Award and the Military Writers Society of America Gold Medal. A young combat veteran hides in his closet under a pile of clothes on bad nights. Another, home for five days, can’t figure out how to talk to his wife. And a commander’s spouse recounts the soul-draining effect of attending nearly one hundred memorial services… When therapist Elizabeth Heaney left her private practice to counsel military service members and their families, she came face-to-face with unheard-of struggles and fears. Emotions run deeply—and often silently—in the hearts of combat veterans in this eye-opening portrait of the complex, nuanced lives of service personnel, who return from battling the enemy and grapple with readjusting to civilian life. Presenting the soldiers’ stories—told in their own words—as well as her own story of change, Heaney offers an intimate perspective, not of war itself but of its emotional aftermath. Some of these stories scrape the bone; others are hopeful, even comical. Every one reveals the sacrifices of those on the front lines and the courage, grace, and honor with which they serve.Trade Review“In this deeply moving book, Elizabeth Heaney gives voice to war veterans and their families who otherwise would keep painfully hidden what she recognizes as their ‘terrible knowledge.’ Listening to their stories is an essential first step toward healing the wounds of 15 years of war.” —David Wood, Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent and author of the forthcoming book What Have We Done: the Moral Injury of our Longest Wars “The Honor Was Mine is not a book about war; it’s a book about humanity—an enlightening, powerful treatise of one person’s struggle to help a generation of warriors and their families as they face the effects of a battle that doesn’t end when they come home. If you’ve ever worn the uniform, are family of those who have or will, or simply a human being who needs to understand the price of war and those who sacrifice so much to help, read this book. The Honor Was Mine will help you understand.” —Danny Johnson, author of The Last Road Home and a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient “Elizabeth Heaney writes with humility and sincere compassion about the men and women who are continuing to pay the price for America’s wars. She paints a moving portrait of the challenges they face and the triumphs, sometimes small but never minor, that come from doing hard emotional work. She writes from a place of genuine empathy, never condescension. This book is sure to become an essential building block in the bridge across the military-civilian divide.” —LCDR Jerri Bell, USN (Ret.)

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Book SynopsisMany Americans believe service in the military to be a quintessential way to demonstrate patriotism. We expect those who serve to be treated with respect and dignity. However, as in so many aspects of our politics, the reality and our ideals diverge widely in our treatment of veterans. There is perhaps no starker example of this than the continued practice of deporting men and women who have served.J. Malcolm Garcia has travelled across the country and abroad to interview veterans who have been deported, as well as the families and friends they have left behind, giving the full scope of the tragedy to be found in this all too common practice. Without a Country analyzes the political climate that has led us here and takes a hard look at the toll deportation has taken on American vets and their communities.Deported veterans share in and reflect the diversity of America itself. The numerous compounding injustices meted out to them reflect many of the still unresolved contradictions of our nation and its ideals. But this story, in all its grit and complexity, really boils down to an old, simple question: Who is a real American?Trade ReviewPraise for J. Malcolm Garcia:"J. Malcolm Garcia is the keeper of forgotten stories. He is an invaluable witness and a compassionate observer of today's wars."—Fatima Bhutto, author of Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter's Memoir"I don't know if he's unheralded, but there's a writer named J. Malcolm Garcia who continually astounds me with his energy and empathy. He writes powerful and lyrical nonfiction from Afghanistan, from Buenos Aires, from Mississippi, all of it urgent and provocative. I've been following him wherever he goes."—Dave Eggers“Garcia is an exceptionally powerful voice on behalf of the people about whom he writes. As he illustrates the results of America’s military adventuring, Garcia not only takes us to the physical space of the people who are the victims of our drone attacks, our bombs, and our bullets, but he also goes where few nonfiction writers have the skill to venture—he takes us inside their heads.”—Dale Maharidge, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist"Timely and compelling, Garcia writes with great empathy, and forces us to consider the most relevant question of our time: what kind of country do we want to be? A nation that cares for our war veterans, or one that deports them into the unknown? This book is utterly of the moment, and captures our country's zeitgeist perfectly."—Brian Castner, author of The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life That Follows and All the Ways We Kill and Die: An Elegy for a Fallen Comrade, and the Hunt for His Killer "A textured, wide-ranging, and often moving investigation into the moral questions raised by the little-understood nexus between immigration policy and veterans affairs."—Alexander Zaitchik, author of The Gilded Rage: A Wild Ride Through Donald Trump’s AmericaPraise for J. Malcolm Garcia:"J. Malcolm Garcia is the keeper of forgotten stories. He is an invaluable witness and a compassionate observer of today's wars."—Fatima Bhutto, author of Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter's Memoir"I don't know if he's unheralded, but there's a writer named J. Malcolm Garcia who continually astounds me with his energy and empathy. He writes powerful and lyrical nonfiction from Afghanistan, from Buenos Aires, from Mississippi, all of it urgent and provocative. I've been following him wherever he goes."—Dave Eggers“Garcia is an exceptionally powerful voice on behalf of the people about whom he writes. As he illustrates the results of America’s military adventuring, Garcia not only takes us to the physical space of the people who are the victims of our drone attacks, our bombs, and our bullets, but he also goes where few nonfiction writers have the skill to venture—he takes us inside their heads.”—Dale Maharidge, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

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Book SynopsisAs seen on Fox & Friends! "Today, it was my honor to welcome John (HERO) to the Oval, with his wonderful wife Jessica. He also wrote a book that I highly recommend, Rebuilding Sergeant Peck."—President Donald J. TrumpMarine Sgt. John Peck survived an IED during the War on Terror that left him with a traumatic brain injury, amnesia, and cost him his marriage. He survived another three years later, one that left him with three and a half limbs missing. He’s one of only two living people to survive the flesh-eating fungus he contracted in recovery at Walter Reed, one that left him as a quadruple amputee. And that’s only the beginning of his story.What followed was a recovery nothing short of miraculous. With resilience and the help of advocates like actor and philanthropist Gary Sinise, FOX’s Jennifer Griffin, and Bill O’Reilly, John would use a specialized “Action Trackchair” wheelchair and a newly-built SmartHome to get a third lease on life. In 2016, Peck underwent a groundbreaking bilateral arm transplant, receiving two new arms. To date, the surgery has been successful.Today, Peck is a motivational speaker, a philanthropist for veteran and wounded warrior causes, and is pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a chef with the help of Chef Robert Irvine. From the lessons learned in a difficult childhood and as a homeless teenager, to dealing with depression in recovery, to learning how to chop with another man’s arms, Rebuilding Sergeant Peck is Peck’s account of an honest, visceral, and inspirational story that is truly unique.Trade Review"I met Marine Sgt. John Peck, a quadruple amputee who has received a double arm transplant, at Walter Reed in 2017. Today, it was my honor to welcome John (HERO) to the Oval, with his wonderful wife Jessica. He also wrote a book that I highly recommend, Rebuilding Sergeant Peck."—President Donald Trump “Rebuilding Sergeant Peck is an absolutely riveting, powerful, and inspirational story of a young Marine wounded in combat. Never have I been more moved by the will, strength, or perseverance of a warrior whose actions epitomize the term “combat mindset.” Although it is a great tragedy anytime anyone in the military is wounded or killed defending our country, Sergeant Peck’s story is beyond belief. He not only suffered from injuries that included a TBI and losing his memory, all of his limbs, and then his marriage, but after a great deal of treatment he did everything in his ability to deploy again! Sergeant Peck epitomizes the true meaning of never ever giving up despite all odds. This story should be read by all military personnel and anyone who would like to be reminded of just how powerful a person can be when his or her soul is on fire.”—Don D. Mann, Navy SEAL (ret), New Your Times bestselling author of Inside SEAL Team SIX “What I admire about John Peck is his attitude. We’re pulling for you John Peck.”—Gayle King on CBS This Morning “I met Sgt. John Peck in the fall of 2010; he has been an inspiration to me ever since. John has rebuilt his body and soul, and his is a compelling story of determination, persistence, and service.... That’s why I believe John’s book will inspire any-one regardless of whether they serve in the military or not.”—Gary Sinise, actor, author of the bestselling Grateful American, and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation “Marine Sgt. John Peck is a survivor, but he is also a thriver. His story still makes me smile. I am so grateful that he entered our lives.”—from the foreword by Jennifer Griffin, FOX News National Security correspondent “The measure of a man is his heart and head. John Peck went through hell to learn—and prove—how true that really is.”—James Carafano, director of the Foreign Policy Studies and Vice President of the Institute for International Studies at The Heritage Foundation.

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Book SynopsisAn official, up-to-date government manual that covers everything from VA life insurance to survivor benefits. Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of benefits and services provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If you’re looking for information on these benefits and services, look no further than the newest edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors. The VA operates the nation’s largest health-care system, with more than 1,700 care sites available across the country. These sites include hospitals, community clinics, readjustment counseling centers, and more. In this book, those who have honorably served in the active military, naval, or air service will learn about the services offered at these sites, basic eligibility for health care, and more. Helpful topics described in depth throughout these pages for veterans, their dependents, and their survivors include:Vocational rehabilitation and employmentVA pensionsHome loan guarantyBurial and memorial benefitsTransition assistanceDependents and survivors health care and benefitsMilitary medals and recordsAnd more

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Book Synopsis“War, reclamation, and what Tim O'Brien called ‘the Lives of the Dead’ are eternal literary themes for men. Clay Bonnyman Evans has honored that lineage with this masterful melding of military history and personal quest.”—Ron Powers, co-author of New York Times #1 bestseller Flags of Our FathersIn November 1943, Marine 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr. was mortally wounded while leading a successful assault on a critical Japanese fortification on the Pacific atoll of Tarawa, and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor. The brutal, bloody 76-hour battle would ultimately claim the lives of more than 1,100 Marines and 5,000 Japanese forces. But Bonnyman's remains, along with those of hundreds of other Marines, were hastily buried and lost to history following the battle, and it would take an extraordinary effort by a determined group of dedicated civilians to find him.In 2010, having become disillusioned with the U.S. government's half-hearted efforts to recover the "lost Marines of Tarawa," Bonnyman's grandson, Clay Bonnyman Evans, was privileged to join the efforts of History Flight, Inc., a non-governmental organization dedicated to finding and repatriating the remains of lost U.S. service personnel.In Bones of My Grandfather, Evans tells the remarkable story of History Flight's mission to recover hundreds of Marines long lost to history in the sands of Tarawa. Even as the organization begins to unearth the physical past on a remote Pacific island, Evans begins his own quest to unearth and reclaim the true history of his grandfather, a charismatic, complicated hero whose life had been whitewashed, sanitized, and diminished over the decades.On May 29, 2015, Evans knelt beside a History Flight archaeologist as she uncovered the long-lost, well-preserved remains of his grandfather. And more than seventy years after giving his life for his country, a World War II hero finally came home.

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Book SynopsisWith a focus on mental illness, Shell-shocked British Army veterans in Ireland provides the first in-depth investigation of disabled Great War veterans in Ireland. The book is a result of five years of researching previously untouched archival sources including psychiatric records of former patients otherwise closed to the public. The remit of the work contributes to various historiographical fields including disability history, the social history of medicine, the cultural history of modern war, the history of psychiatry and Irish studies. It also seeks to extend the scope of the First World War with an emphasis on how war-induced disability and trauma continued to affect large numbers of ex-servicemen beyond the official cessation of the conflict.Trade Review'Michael Robinson’s study is a welcome addition to the study of war-related mental disabilities. [...] this is a balanced study that will be a welcome addition to scholars interested in the detailed history of mentally disturbed Great War veterans. The depth and breadth of research is a model for how to approach such a subject.'H-Disability'Michael Robinson has done an outstanding service both to twentieth-century Irish history and to medical military history more widely in his study of shell-shocked British army veterans in Ireland between 1918 and 1939. [...] As such it is a fine addition not only to the field of disability history but also to the wider social history of the time.'Irish Historical Studies -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1: ‘A Definitive Neurasthenic Temperament’?: The Irish Tommy and Veteran2. Neurasthenic Pensioners in Revolutionary Ireland, 1918-19213. Neurasthenic Pensioners in the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, 1922-19394. The War Hospital in Ireland5. The Service Patient Scheme in Ireland BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisAn undercover CIA officer has seven days to save her country from the world's most dangerous double-agent.The CIA's highly classified Special Activities Division is in the business of tracking people down and keeping secrets hidden. Then a botched field operation reveals some dark dealings between an officer's superiors and an informant, including a plot that could kill thousands of Americans.Knowing that her leadership is corrupt to the core, intelligence officer Amy Cornwall is forced to give up her identity and work from the shadows. But it's not easy staying hidden when your enemies are elite intelligence operatives.Will she get the truth out into the light before losing her identity, her history, her family?The countdown has already begun.___________________________________________Readers are loving Countdown . . .' A fantastic read nail biting read full of twists and turns''Couldn't put the book down''Another excellent read by James Patterson''Impressive''Great book!' __________________________________Praise for James Patterson'One of the greatest storytellers of all time' Patricia Cornwell'A writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting.' Mark Lawson, Guardian'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee Child'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian Rankin Countdown was a Sunday Times bestseller 01/04/2023Trade ReviewA writer with an unusual skill at thriller plotting * The Guardian *No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades -- Lee ChildThe master storyteller of our times -- Hillary Rodham ClintonIt's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer . . . Simply put: nobody does it better -- Jeffrey DeaverPatterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind -- Michael Connelly

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Book SynopsisJOIN SAS LEGEND PHIL CAMPION AS HE SHARES HIS DEEPLY PERSONAL LIFE STORY, WARTS AND ALLIn WHO DARES WINS Big Phil Campion reveals his chequered past, from terrible abuse suffered in a string of kids' homes to psychological abuse suffered at a top public school.Phil guides you through his soldiering career, from the so called "green army" to the brutal trial of SAS selection and all that followed. This includes years spent providing private military services across war-torn and risk-laden Africa; in between he was body-guarded the likes of Led Zep, Oasis, Kasabian, Dizzy Rascal and Pro Green.Phil takes you on his gripping, behind-the-scenes adventure acting as a roving reporter for Sky TV in Syria and Northern Iraq, more often than not under fire.Brave, riveting and truly revelatory, WHO DARES WINS is packed full of jaw-dropping stories to quicken the blood, while also telling of the psychological toll a life in conflict took on the author.'One of the best first-hand accounts of life in combat ever written'Andy McNab on Born Fearless

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Book SynopsisJOIN SAS LEGEND PHIL CAMPION AS HE SHARES HIS DEEPLY PERSONAL LIFE STORY, WARTS AND ALLIn WHO DARES WINS Big Phil Campion reveals his chequered past, from terrible abuse suffered in a string of kids' homes to psychological abuse suffered at a top public school.Phil guides you through his soldiering career, from the so called "green army" to the brutal trial of SAS selection and all that followed. This includes years spent providing private military services across war-torn and risk-laden Africa; in between he was body-guarded the likes of Led Zep, Oasis, Kasabian, Dizzy Rascal and Pro Green.Phil takes you on his gripping, behind-the-scenes adventure acting as a roving reporter for Sky TV in Syria and Northern Iraq, more often than not under fire.Brave, riveting and truly revelatory, WHO DARES WINS is packed full of jaw-dropping stories to quicken the blood, while also telling of the psychological toll a life in conflict took on the author.'One of the best first-hand accounts of life in combat ever written'Andy McNab on Born Fearless

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Book SynopsisThe Constitution provides Congress with broad powers over the Armed Forces, including the power "to raise and support Armies," "to provide and maintain a Navy," and "to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces. "It also provides the Senate with the authority to provide Advice and Consent on presidential nominations of all other Officers of the United States, which includes military officers. On the basis of its constitutional authority, Congress has passed a number of laws which govern important aspects of military officer personnel management, including appointments, assignments, grade structure, promotions, and separations. This book provides an overview of active duty general and flag officers (GFOs) in the United States Armed Forces -- including authorizations, duties, and compensation -- historical trends in the proportion of GFOs relative to the total force, criticisms and justifications of GFO to total force proportions, and statutory controls.

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Book SynopsisThe reports that make up this book examine various veteran issues, including what constitutes basic eligibility for veterans benefits, military benefits for former spouses and answers to frequently asked questions such as What Benefits can former spouses of members or retirees of the uniformed services receive under law? This book also discusses three types of VA (Veterans Affairs) housing assistance the loan guaranty program, direct loan programs and Specially Adapted Housing program their origins, how they operation, and how they are funded. The report also has a section that discusses the default and foreclosure of VA-guaranteed loans. Finally, the last chapter answers frequently asked questions on health care for veterans, including questions on eligibility and enrollments, medical benefits and costs to veterans and insurance collections.

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Book SynopsisIn response to concerns about access to medical care at many Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics across the country in Spring 2014,1 Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA, P.L. 113-146, as amended). On 7 August 2014, President Obama signed the bill into law. Among other things, the act establishes a new program that would allow the VA to authorise care for enrolled veterans through the Veterans Choice Program if they meet the eligibility requirements.

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Book SynopsisIn 2016, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) centralized distribution of the disability compensation claims workload through the National Work Queue, which prioritizes and distributes claims to regional offices based on their capacity; however, there are gaps in VBA''s guidance for processing claims with errors. Chapter 1 examines (1) how VBA manages workload and performance for the disability compensation claims process, (2) how well VBA''s timeliness and accuracy measures capture its regional offices'' performance in processing these claims, and (3) how well selected regional offices communicate with VSOs and congressional caseworkers about these claims. The Department of Veterans Affairs'' (VA) plan for implementing a new disability appeals process while attending to appeals in the current process addresses most, but not all, elements required by the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (Act). Chapter 2 examines the extent to which VA''s plan (1) addresses the required elements in the Act, and (2) reflects sound planning practices identified in prior GAO work. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 focus on the extent to which VA''s plan: addresses the required elements in the Act, and reflects sound planning practices previously identified. Chapter 6 examines (1) what is known about the quality and timeliness of VBA contracted exams; (2) the extent to which VBA monitors contractors'' performance; and (3) how VBA ensures that its contractors provide qualified and well-trained examiners. Chapter 7 addresses: (1) what is known about the quality and timeliness of VBA contracted exams; (2) the extent to which VBA monitors contractors'' performance to ensure that they provide high quality and timely exams; and (3) how VBA ensures that its contractors provide qualified and well-trained examiners.

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Book SynopsisThe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 included a provision "to assess the panoply of benefits and programs available government-wide to separating servicemembers intended to provide the skills and education necessary for such members to achieve meaningful and fulfilling employment in their civilian lives." Chapter 1 describes the comprehensive inventory of federal programs providing assistance to servicemembers, veterans, and their families -- including information from the administering agencies on who is eligible to receive services, the programs'' objectives, and the available services. Chapter 2 provides a general discussion of legislative provisions and proposals relating to the military benefits for former spouses. Chapter 3 contains information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. Military medical care is a congressionally authorised entitlement that has expanded in size and scope since the late 19th century. Chapter 4 answers selected frequently asked questions about military health care. Chapter 5 discusses the standards and procedures governing the disposition of medical malpractice claims that servicemembers and non-servicemembers assert against the United States, as well as pertinent considerations for Congress. DOD has taken steps to modernise its Military Health System to ensure that it operates efficiently. Chapter 6 assessed the extent to which the services use validated dental clinic staffing models that also incorporate cross-service staffing standards, and have recruited and retained military dentists and measured the effectiveness of their recruitment and retention programs. The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), enacted in 1972, provides cash benefits to a surviving spouse or other eligible recipient(s) of a retiree or deceased member of the uniformed services. Chapter 7 describes the categories of beneficiaries eligible for survivor benefits under the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), the formulas used in computing the income level (including the integration of SBP benefits with other federal benefits), and the costs of SBP participation incurred by the retiree and/or the beneficiary. Chapters 8 and 9 provide information on the military retirement system.

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Book SynopsisNearly 40,000 providers hold privileges in VHA''s 170 VA Medical Centers (VAMCs). VAMCs must identify and review any concerns that arise about the clinical care their providers deliver. Chapter 1 examines, among other things, selected VAMCs'' reviews of providers'' clinical care after concerns are raised and VHA''s oversight of these reviews, and VAMCs'' reporting of providers to the NPDB and SLBs and VHA''s oversight of reporting. Chapter 2 summarizes the implementation and oversight of VHA processes for reviewing and reporting providers after quality and safety concerns have been raised at selected VA medical centers. Veterans suffer a disproportionately higher rate of suicide than the civilian population. Chapter 3 focuses on the extent to which VHA conducts activities for its suicide prevention media outreach campaign, and evaluates the effectiveness of its campaign. The Faster Care for Veterans Act of 2016 called for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a pilot program under which veterans can use an Internet website or mobile application to schedule and confirm appointments at the department''s medical facilities. Chapter 4 examines the extent to which VHA (conducts activities for its suicide prevention media outreach campaign, and evaluates the effectiveness of its campaign. VAMCs use reusable medical equipment (RME) which must be reprocessed-that is, cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized-between uses. Improper reprocessing of RME can negatively affect patient care. To help ensure the safety of veterans, VHA policy establishes requirements VAMCs must follow when reprocessing RME and requires a number of related oversight efforts. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss VHA''s oversight of VAMCs'' adherence to RME policies and challenges VAMCs face in operating their Sterile Processing Services programs, and any efforts by VHA to address these challenges. VHA has designated patient advocates at each VAMC to receive and document feedback from veterans or their representatives, including requests for information, compliments, and complaints. Chapter 7 examines the extent to which VHA has provided guidance on the governance of the program; provided guidance on staffing the program; assessed the training needs of patient advocates and monitored training completion; and monitored patient advocacy program data-entry practices and reviewed program data. Community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC) are an important part of the Department of Veterans Affairs'' (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care delivery system. These clinics are geographically separate from VA medical centers (VAMC) and provide outpatient services, including primary care and mental health care. Chapter 8 reviews VHA''s use of contracts to carry out core functions. Selected Department of Veterans Affairs'' (VA) medical centers (VAMC) use generally similar approaches for managing their pharmacy inventories. Chapter 9 describes approaches selected VAMCs use to manage their pharmacy inventories and assesses the extent to which VA oversees VAMCs'' efforts to manage their pharmacy inventories. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has made progress improving opioid safety through its Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI). Chapter 10 examines the extent to which VHA has met OSI goals established in 2014 and (2) the extent to which VHA providers adhere to key opioid risk mitigation strategies.

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Book SynopsisChapter 1 assesses (1) the status of the Army''s near- and long-term modernisation efforts; and (2) the extent to which the Army has applied. Chapter 2 addresses the Army''s progress in: (1) establishing Army Futures Command, and (2) developing its near-term and long-term modernisation strategies. Chapter 3 reports on Army readiness, skills shortages, equipment maintenance and modernisation, acquisition, training, force structure. Chapter 4 assesses the extent to which the Air Force (1) had aircraft maintainer staffing gaps, (2) experienced attrition of maintainers and took steps to help retain maintainers, and (3) met its annual technical school completion rate goals for maintainers. Chapter 5 describes (1) how DOD currently facilitates public access to proceedings; (2) challenges the public faces in gaining access to or obtaining information on proceedings; and (3) what is known about potential options to address public access challenges, including any related trade-offs.

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Book SynopsisThis book will captivate readers interested in the legacy of the Civil War, the role of military veterans after they return to civilian life, and the fight against racism in America. Steven A. Goldman looks at the contentious post-Civil War era from the perspective of that special breed, Union soldiers who lived by the bayonet and survived to carry on the fight for equality in the decades to come. He explores the root causes of this historic contest, the changing attitudes of northern servicemen with respect to the Civil War’s purpose, and the psychological effect of involvement in what, from hindsight, was an unfinished work in the cause of freedom and equality for all Americans. Relying on unpublished letters and other primary sources, Goldman uses the veterans’ words and actions to depict their steadfast struggle to preserve the memory and understanding of why the war was fought, and to confront the implications of remembrance, commemoration and reconciliation for America's future.

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Book SynopsisKnown in health care circles for his ability to fix ailing hospitals, David Shulkin was originally brought into government by President Obama, in an attempt to save the broken Department of Veterans Affairs. When President Trump made him the first VA secretary without military experience-a fact Dr. Shulkin first learned from his television-he was as shocked as anyone.Yet this surprise was trivial compared to what Shulkin encountered as the VA secretary: a team of political appointees devoted to stopping anyone -- including the secretary himself -- who stood in the way of privatising the organisation. In this uninhibited memoir, Shulkin opens up about why the government has long struggled to get good medical care to military veterans and how the current government has stopped even trying. This is a book about the commitment we make to the people who risk their lives for our country, how and why we've failed to honour it and why the new administration is making things worse than they've ever been.

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Book SynopsisRestore your faith in love and family with one Army wife's courageous story of how she helped her husband recuperate from losing both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan.Paige received the phone call that every military wife prays will never come. Her husband, Army Sergeant Josh Wetzel, stepped on an improvised explosive device while patrolling in Afghanistan. The blast resulted in the immediate loss of his legs. His survival was uncertain, and in the days to come, this traumatic incident began an unbelievable journey of faith for them as a couple.Paige's vulnerability as she struggles physically, emotionally, and spiritually, will remind you of the power of commitment and love in the face of adversity. You will discover the bravery and grit of a woman who stood behind the battle lines but faced a battle of her own to save her marriage and her family. As a military wife, Paige had to come to terms with the priorities of the military: God, Country, and then Family.

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Book SynopsisIt was front-page news throughout the country - the largest gathering of Union and Confederate veterans ever held. “[It] will be talked about and written about as long as the American people boast of the dauntless courage of Gettysburg,” declared a woman who accompanied her father to the reunion. But as the years passed, the memorable event was all but forgotten. John Hopkins’s The World Will Never See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913 goes a long way toward making sure the world will remember.The 1913 Gettysburg reunion is a story of 53,000 old comrades and former foes reunited, and of the tension, even half a century later, between competing narratives of reconciliation and remembrance. For seven days the old soldiers lived under canvas in the stifling heat on a 280-acre encampment run by the U.S. Army. They swapped stories, debated still-simmering controversies about the battle, and fed tall tales to gullible reporters. On July 3, the aging survivors of Pickett’s Division and the Philadelphia Brigade shook hands across the wall on Cemetery Ridge, in the reunion’s climactic photo op.Some of the battle’s leading personalities were in attendance including Union III Corps commander Dan Sickles, who at 92 was still eager to explain to anyone who would listen the indispensable role he had played in the Union victory. Also present was Helen Dortch Longstreet, the widow of Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, who devoted her life and considerable energies to defending the reputation of her general. Both wrote articles from the reunion that were syndicated in newspapers across the country. There was even a cameo appearance by a young and as yet unknown cavalry officer named George S. Patton Jr.Hopkins fills his marvelous account with detail from the letters, diaries, and published accounts of Union and Confederate veterans, the extensive archival records of the reunion’s organizers, and the daily stories filed by the scores of reporters who covered it.The World Will Never See the Like offers the first full story of this extraordinary event’s genesis and planning, the obstacles overcome on the way to making it a reality, its place in the larger narrative of sectional reunion and reconciliation, and the individual stories of the veterans who attended. Every reader interested in Gettysburg will find this a welcome addition to their library.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors discuss topical issues relating to veterans including transfusion therapy for veteran patients; low serum vitamin D and its association with metabolic syndrome in African American and Caucasian American male veterans; eye care issues in veterans; substandard and lack of affordable housing in the veteran population; the rehabilitation of shaken soldier syndrome; and genetic markers in suicidal and non-suicidal veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Book SynopsisA broad range of medical care services and benefits are offered to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. This book examines a variety of medical conditions which afflict veterans, basic eligibility criteria for VA administered veterans'' benefits, types of medical care offered and social policy considerations. Topics include suicide and VA prevention efforts; PTSD and substance use among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans; traumatic brain injury among veterans; veterans'' mental health; VA community living centres; outpatient clinics; and veterans'' medical care appropriations.

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Book SynopsisOver 1.9 million warriors have deployed for Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, two of our Nation''s longest conflicts. The physical and psychological demands on both the deployed and non-deployed warriors are enormous. In the 5 years from 2005-2009, more than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces took their own lives, an average of 1 suicide every 36 hours. This book examines suicide prevention efforts of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) with a focus on suicide surveillance; suicide risk and protective factors; and suicide prevention interventions.

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Book SynopsisMilitary personnel issues typically generate significant interest from many Members of Congress and their staffs. Recent military operations in Iraq and ongoing operations in Afghanistan, along with the operational role of the Reserve Components, further heighten interest in a wide range of military personnel policies and issues. This book provides an overview of select policies and developments with regard to military personnel including: reserve component personnel issues; military pay and benefits; military retirement reform; military justice and court-martial review; military funeral honours and military cemeteries; the repeal of "Don''t Ask, Don''t Tell"; and military base closures.

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Book SynopsisThe Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the Department of Defense (DOD), supplies more than 8,000 different items ranging from uniforms and body armour to tents and canteens. Military uniforms are procured through competitive contracts. This book provides an overview of military uniform assessment and procurement.

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Book SynopsisTwo combat-related conditions that affect some veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and that have generated widespread concern among policymakers are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). This book explores the clinical care that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the health care system within the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides for recent combat veterans; VHA''s co-ordination with the Department of Defense for the care of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; the prevalence of PTSD and TBI among veterans of those conflicts and the occurrence of those conditions among recent combat veterans using VHA''s services; and the costs to VHA of providing care and management to recent combat veterans for these conditions.

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Book SynopsisIn approximately 10 years of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, over 283,000 female members have been deployed, over 800 have been wounded and over 130 have died. On numerous occasions women have been recognised for their heroism, two earning Silver Star medals. This outcome has resulted in a renewed interest in Congress, the Administration, and beyond in reviewing and possibly refining or redefining the role of women in the military. This book examines the role of women in combat with a focus on the laws, policies and regulations restricting the service of female members in the U.S. Armed Forces and the perceptions and current operational environment.

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Book SynopsisThe United States Military Academy at WestPoint is one of America’s oldest and most reveredinstitutions. Founded in 1802, its first and onlymission is to prepare young men—and, since1976, young women—to be leaders of characterfor service as commissioned officers in the UnitedStates Army.Carved from Granite is the story of how West Pointgoes about producing military leaders of character.As scholar and Academy graduate Lance Betrosshows, West Point’s early history is interestingand colorful, but its history since then is far morerelevant to the issues—and problems—that face theAcademy today.Betros describes and assesses how well West Point hasaccomplished its mission— not hesitating to exposeproblems and challenge long-held assumptions.Here is the most authoritative history of the modernUnited States Military Academy written to date.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the eligibility requirements, benefit availability, benefit payments, participation, and obligations of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides benefits to veterans and servicemembers who serve on active duty after September 10, 2001. Participants may be eligible for payments to cover tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, tutorial and relocation assistance, and testing and certification fees.

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Book SynopsisThe Air Force currently plans to spend $11.7 billion to modernize and improve reliability of the F-22A, its fifth generation air superiority fighter. Originally designed to counter air threats posed by the former Soviet Union, the post-Cold War era spurred efforts to add new missions and capabilities to the F-22A, including improved air-to-air and robust air-to-ground attack capabilities. This book provides an analysis of the modernization program for the F-22A fighter jet, with a focus on cost, technical and sustainment risks; and a comparison with the Legacy fighter modernization program.

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