Veteran Fall - Winter Newsletter

A HRSA-Recognized Employee Resource Group

Fall & Winter 2019 Newsletter

About Us On November 11th, we celebrate Veterans Day. This day is
the anniversary of the signing of thearmistice, which ended
The Veterans Council is an the World War I hostilities between the Allied Nations and
organization chartered by the Germany in 1918. Each year on this day, Veterans take great
pride in our military service on this day, most commonly by
Health Resources and saying to one another “thank you for serving!” On behalf of
Services Administration the Veterans Council, we would like to thank each and every
(HRSA), Office of Civil Rights, soldier, who has served and is currently serving our great
Diversity & Inclusion to assist country. Thank you for all you have done for each and every
in cultivating an inclusive one of us. We are eternally grateful for the freedom you
workplace climate that have afforded American citizens through your sacrifices.
Thank YOU for serving!
enables each HRSA
employee to participate fully in - Veterans Council

assisting HRSA to meet its
mission.

Veterans Council

Fall & Winter Disabled Veteran Benefits: In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, the Executive Branch of the
Newsletter Federal Government hired 57,062 veterans, representing a veteran new hire
2019 percentage rate of 28.1 percent. Veterans currently represent 31.1 percent of the
Federal workforce. Disabled veteran leave is provided to a Federal employee hired on
Thank you for or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating
coming out to of 30 percent or more, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability
support Veterans for which sick leave could regularly be used. Disabled veteran leave is available as a
Day on November one-time benefit during a 12-month period beginning on an eligible employee's "first
5th, 2019. Click day of employment" and may not exceed 104 hours for a regular full-time employee.
below to watch the
live recording! If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria and would like to use disabled veteran
leave, please contact [email protected]
Recording
Please be prepared to submit documentation that supports that you are a veteranwith
a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

For more information, visit OPM's Pay & Leave Fact Sheet about Disabled Veteran
Leave.

Please Click Here for more information on disabled veteran leave.

New Legislation: President Trump signed a measure on August 21st, 2019 that seeks
to remove the bureaucratic barriers for permanently disabled veterans to qualify for
student loan forgiveness. To learn more about this new legislation please visit:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/21/us/trump-veterans-student-loans.html

Rear Admiral Kerry Paige Nesseler

Rear Admiral Kerry Paige Nesseler began her career in Nursing. She received a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and is a fellow of the
American Academy of Nursing. From 1984-1986 she held a commission in the U.S.
Army Reserves. RADM Nesseler holds the rank of Rear Admiral (upper half),
Assistant Surgeon General, in the USPHS Commissioned Corps, and was appointed
Director of the Office of Global Health (OGH) at the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in
May, 2006. As Director of the Office of Global Health, Nesseler developed strategies
to maximize HRSA's participation in efforts to advance health diplomacy, improve
health systems, coordinate and advance international health policy and resource
development, especially for vulnerable populations both domestically and worldwide.
Additionally, RADM Nesseler serves as a consultant to the HHS Secretary's Office of
Global Affairs, other HHS agencies, United Nations, World Health Organization, Pan
American Health Organization, and other international groups on a variety of health
and nursing issues, including health professions migration, Pacific Basin and U.S.-
Mexico Border Health. RADM Nesseler was Instrumental in advocating for the
development of the HRSA Veterans Council. As the Executive, she has continued to
guide, support, share her expertise and provide a sense of validation to the team. We
salute and thank RADM Nesseler for her service to the nation as well as to the
Veterans Council and wish her all the best as she begins a new chapter in her life.
Congratulations RADM Nesseler on your retirement and for a job well done!

Please for our monthly Would you like to be a part of the Veterans Council?
The Veterans Council Officers propose the following three
Veterans Council meeting. Committees to assist the leadership team and Council members in
fulfilling the purpose of the Council: Membership Committee,
The Dial-in and Adobe Community Outreach and Veteran Recruitment Committee, and the
Engagement and Retention Committee. The Committees will serve to
Connect details are listed increase membership, raise awareness of Veteran issues, promote
engagement and retention of current members, design training,
below. The meeting is held inform members of professional development opportunities, and
improve Veteran recruitment at HRSA.
the 3rd Wednesday of every
Commissary, Military Service Exchange, and MWR access extended to
month. more Veterans beginning January
New law provides eligible Veterans and Primary Family Caregivers with access to
Conference Room: DOD and Coast Guard commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare, and
07SWH01 Conference Call #: recreation retail services. More Information
1-866-564-3016

Passcode: 9429352

Adobe Connect: Adobe
Connect

Next Meeting January 15th!

Could you possibly be more stress-free? Veteran Podcast: Borne the Battle is an Official VA
Yoga-Pilates for veterans is gaining traction in podcast that spotlights inspiring Veteran stories, and more.
popularity, and rapidly increasing as a form of Hosted by Marine Corps Veteran Tanner Iskra, Borne the
treatment for stress reduction. The practice has Battle recognizes each battle, challenge and sacrifice our
helped thousands achieve mental and physical Veterans endure during and after their service, as well as
healing. Pilates was invented for military Veterans spotlight important resources, officers, and benefits VA
because it levitates pressure on many parts of the offers out Veterans. Here is the link:
body that can become injured.
The Council invites you to participate in: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1171416564

Yoga-Pilates DVD Sessions Borne the Battle
5600 Building, 5th Floor Fitness Studio
• Monday’s from 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm. Department of Veteran Affairs
• Thursday’s from 11:00 am - 11:45 am.
Contact: [email protected] 4.8 Stars

Have you signed up? Vet Tix provides tickets to events which reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build
life-long memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and
American life. We support our troops by honoring their service and providing positive family and life
experiences, during and after their years of service to our country. Vet Tix provides tickets to all branches of
currently-serving Military and Veterans, including immediate family of troops KIA. The Veteran Tickets
Foundation is proud to announce that to date 8,003,494 event tickets have been given out in all 50 States and
Washington, DC to our Military, Veterans and their families. https://www.vettix.org/ here are the numbers of
tickets given:

Veterans Symposium
Held on November
5th
From 9am-11am, and there were displays and games from 11am-2pm in the atrium 5th floor pavilion
Which featured guest speakers Darrick Cunningham(SAMHSA), Derrick Wyatt(AHRQ), Kent
Forde(HRSA), and David Niebuhr(AHRQ/CEPI).

Interactive games included “Who Salutes
Whom” in which participants learned about
military ranks and insignia, the “Wall of
Truths and Myths” where participants
learned about common military
misconceptions.
Posted are some pictures of the uniforms,
military rank cutouts and quotes of
passersby at the “What Does “Thank You
for Your Service” Mean to You? - Word
Search” booth, passers-by stopped by to
express (write) their sentiments, thoughts,
and or input on a post it note to place up
on the bulletin board. A word search game
was also passed out to those who had
interest. The word search game hosted a
list of 50 common words used in the
military language (lingo) used from the
Airforce, Army, National Guard, Navy, and
the Marine Corps. That is words such as
“Naviguesser”, “Say- Again”, “Boatswain”,
“Gangway” and “Moonbeam”. Care to give
it a try? A copy of this word search can be

found here: Word Search Game

Thoughts that came to mind when thinking of Veterans
based on Veteran Symposium Event!

Freedom Thank
is not free. you!

Thank Vets are
you. AWESOME!

I am grateful for our I Appreciate
Native American Male Veterans for
and Female Veterans allowing me to
close my eyes at
protecting our night with the
homeland. Thank you confidence that I
can live another
for your service. day in peace

I appreciate their Loyalty What the
courage, service, love of and Honor soldiers and
country and keeping us their families
sacrifice for
free! the greater

good

Throughout WWI and WWII American
Indians and Alaska Natives used their
traditional languages as weapons on the
battlefield. For that, I am grateful for the
power of indigenous languages. Thank you

for your service

CONTACT US

[email protected]

VETERANS COUNCIL OFFICERS

Acting President - Marian Smithey
Vice President - Marian Smithey
Secretary - Maria Wey

OCRDI Liaison to the Veterans Employment Program Manager – Mary Tom
Newsletter Editor- Brianna Smith

REMEMBER: You can always speak to one of
your Veterans Council Officers about your needs
or concerns.

We are here for you!!