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April 2019 Veterans Voice Newsletter
Message Message from the Director
Message from the Director - April 2019
The month of April is already shaping up to provide you with lots of opportunities to get involved and stay involved. 

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If It's Veterans and Military Day, It Must Be Carson City  
Every two years the Nevada Legislature meets to conduct the business of the State. When lawmakers are in session, Nevada law carves out the third Wednesday of March as Veterans and Military Day at the Legislature (VAMDAL). It is a special day dedicated to recognizing and honoring Nevada's veterans, military members and their families. The day is hosted through a partnership by NDVS, the Nevada National Guard and the United Veterans Legislative Council.

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This "Depot" Has No Ammo - It's Armed with Eager Volunteers
Most military members know about ammunition depots - large storehouses of ordnance located on Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Naval bases around the nation. But there is another depot that is loaded with the good will that emanates from its many employees who, like todays military, are also volunteers. Nationwide, the company known to millions as Home Depot reports it has transformed more than 41,000 homes and facilities, committed a half-billion dollars to veteran-related causes, and otherwise is all-in when it comes to supporting the men and women of America's armed forces.

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City of Sparks Hosts Veterans Memorial Plaza Groundbreaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Veterans Memorial Plaza was held Friday, March 29, 2019 at the Sparks Marina. Approximately 300 people gathered for the event as the Reed High School band helped kick off the ceremony by playing, "Home Means Nevada."  The colors were presented by the Nevada National Guard and Melissa Dahir sang the national anthem. 

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Gulf War Veteran? Free Gift for You!
The State of Kuwait is providing a special "thank you" to the men and women who served in Operation Desert Storm. Gulf War veterans may receive a free commemorative, first-edition book, The Liberation of Kuwait. It includes a companion, feature-length documentary on DVD. The set retails for $49.95 but is yours, free, because of your service.

The high quality book was published in 2016 by Remember My Service Productions. It is full color and printed on heavy glossy paper. The 9" X 11" book has a hardcover and dust jacket.

We regret we cannot mail the free book sets due to cost. But you may arrange to pick up your free copy by emailing hendryt@veterans.nv.gov. We can make arrangements for you to pick up your copy from the nearest NDVS office. Thank you for your service!
Korean War Veteran? This Free Gift is For You!
For a limited time, and for the first time ever, the nationally acclaimed book Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth and The Remembered War, a 2014 GI Film Festival-selected documentary, are being bundled together in a collector's edition commemorative book and DVD set.

Both the book and DVD remember and honor the brave Americans who served during the Korean War. Their fight for freedom in a war-torn, distant land has nourished a modern and prosperous Republic of Korea, one of the world's most powerful testaments to the fruits of liberty.

The books are a gift from the South Korean government and are made available to you, Korean War veterans, at NO COST! The book retails for $49.95 but again, it is yours free, if you are a Korean War veteran. While we honor the service of all who veterans, this offer is a special gift reserved only for those who served in combat during the Korean War.
The high quality book was published in 2016 by Remember My Service Productions. It is full color and printed on heavy glossy paper. The 9" X 11" book has a hardcover and dust jacket.

We regret we cannot mail the free book sets due to cost. But you may arrange to pick up your free copy by emailing hendryt@veterans.nv.gov. We can make arrangements for you to pick up your copy from the nearest NDVS office. Thank you for your service!
HealthHealth and Wellness
Local Hospitals and VA Increase Robotic Surgery
The word "robot" may conjure up visions of science fiction books and movies involving metallic creatures who can range from being cute to downright scary. But today, robots are no longer simply works of science fiction. They are very real and in the medical community, robots are becoming a very useful tool, especially when it comes to robotic surgery.

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Military Housing Now Under Spotlight
Military housing on some military installations is coming under scrutiny after complaints began surfacing that some of the housing contains mold, vermin, poor water quality and other unfavorable living conditions.
 
Most bases have modern living quarters, including Nellis AFB outside of Las Vegas. But some other locales have not been so fortunate and critics point out military personnel and their families should be entitled to safe and secure base housing.

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Representatives Susie Lee and Debbie Lesko Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Facilities Where Veterans Can Use Child Care Benefits
Today, Representative Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the Vet Centers Child Care Parity Act, a bipartisan bill with Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), that will expand locations where veterans can access child care services to include Vet Centers.
 
"Many veterans choose to receive care at Vet Centers, yet under a current pilot program, they can only access child care benefits at VA facilities," said Representative Susie Lee (NV-03). "I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Rep. Lesko to ensure that all veterans, especially women veterans, can focus on getting the treatment they need without worrying about where they can get access to child care. Veterans and their families make enormous sacrifices for our freedoms, and caring for their children should not restrict where they can access their benefits."

ProgramsPrograms and Services
Nevada Veterans Advocate (NVA) Conference
The next NVA conference is April 6-7 at Harrah's in Reno. This conference will offer 14 of the 20 courses in the NVA online course. Anyone interested in learning about the resources and programs available for veterans and veteran families can enroll for this conference. Once you complete all 20 courses in the NVA Program, you receive a certificate and an NVA logo shirt. Many people take the NVA courses for their own personal knowledge, but NDVS utilizes NVAs to help provide outreach to and identify the 180,000 veterans living in northern Nevada. NDVS participates in a wide variety of outreach activities including: health fairs, employment fairs, farmer's markets and a variety of local festivals and events.

There will be complimentary coffee and snacks each day!

For more information about the Nevada Veterans Advocate program, contact Justin Prazak at 775-321-4719 or prazakj@veterans.nv.gov.
Patriot Employer Program
The Patriot Employer Program (PeP) is designed to increase veteran hiring by providing Nevada businesses with information and resources on veteran hiring.
 
The PeP program is a free, on-line training program that can be accessed by following the steps outlined on the NDVS website.
 
The course includes information on:
  • The benefits of hiring a veteran;
  • How to find and recruit qualified veterans;
  • How to help veterans succeed in the workplace; and
  • Federal and State financial incentives for hiring veterans.
 
Businesses with a representative completing the course are eligible to receive a Patriot Employer Program Certificate, signed by the Governor, for public display as well as a PeP window decal. This conveys to the public a business is veteran friendly.
 
PeP Outreach
Since its creation in 2017, NDVS has conducted outreach to more than hundreds of employers to promote the Patriot Employer Program, strengthen relationships, and improve access to employment opportunities for veterans, service members, and their families.
 
NDVS has built strong relationships with our State and local workforce and employment partners to help improve employment outcomes for veterans and to provide resources for employers. We will continue to work together to promote priority service to military members and veterans living and working in Nevada.
NewsNews You can Use
Nellis AFB Welcomes New 'Officer' - Captain Marvel!
Caption: Brie Larson (left) gets hands-on help from Brigadier General Jeannie Leavitt, 57th Wing Commander (right), on a recent trip to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to research her character, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel, for Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel."
Photo: Brad Baruh
©Marvel Studios 2019
All types of aircraft can be seen and heard flying across the skies by residents of North Las Vegas. One of America's most important Air Force facilities is located on Clark County property adjacent to the city. And local residents sometimes swear they also see various types of alien spacecraft cruising through the area's cloud cover. Surely it can be said that sightings of flying machines near an airbase are to be somewhat expected.
 
However, what may be new to the local Nevada atmosphere is the description of a super heroine winging her way through the clouds over such North Las Vegas landmarks as Jerry's Nugget, VFW Post 10047, Broadacres Swapmeet and the veterans memorial at the Grant Sawyer building on the south end of town.

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The Air Force May Get its First Female Battlefield Airman this Spring

Nevada Veterans in the News 
Thank you to Veterans Reporter News for allowing us to share information and stories of interest to veterans and military members in southern Nevada!
 
Salute to Vietnam Vets Day (pages 1, 2 &3):
 
 
Poppy "Thank You" Lunch (page 5):
 
 
Society of Military Widows Chapter 34 Lunch Meeting (page 8):
 
The Veterans Reporter News is a free newspaper.  You can pick up the printed newspaper at places where veterans and families visit:  Leatherneck Club, VA Hospital and Clinics, Elks Lodge, Libraries, and various merchants who advertise in this newspaper.  Check out the advertisements throughout the newspaper.  These Veterans and Supporters paid ads pay for the printing of the newspaper twice a month.
 
To read the entire paper, click on the link below; to read the latest issue, using the arrows to turn the pages: https://www.veteransreporternews.com/digital/e6-2019/html5forpc.html?page=0
EmploymentEmployment/Education
State of Nevada Career Fair for Veterans, Military, and General Public 
Governor Steve Sisolak has announced the State of Nevada's Veterans Coordinator will hold a career fair featuring employment opportunities and other resource information for Nevada veterans, military, and members of the public on April 5th in Reno. Several State of Nevada agencies will be on-site to discuss job opportunities and benefits of a career in state government.
 
The first hour of the career fair will be open exclusively to active duty military personnel, veterans, Nevada National Guard members, and members of the U.S. forces reserves, as well as their spouses. The remaining three hours of the event will be open to the public, as well as veterans, military members, and their spouses.

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Nevada GOED Partners with Truckee Meadows Community College to Offer Students Tuition-Free
Data Analytic Classes to Learn Skills Employers Need 
The Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) has teamed with Truckee Meadows Community College to provide nearly 250 Nevadans a seat in two newly created online courses to learn real-world data analytics skills employers are seeking.

Students can apply for one of the tuition-free seats starting today. Through the use of the Workforce Innovations for the New Nevada (WINN) grants, the courses will give skills that Nevada employers like Renown Health, Lift 361 and Grand Rounds, want. Nevada companies say they will need to hire nearly 100 workers with data analytic skills in the next year.

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RememberAlways Remember
Always Remember, Never Forget - April 2019
April - Month of the Military Child
 
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. Sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.
 
 
April 1, 1954 - U.S. Air Force Academy was founded in Colorado.
 
The U.S Air Force Academy was established April 1, 1954, the culmination of an idea years in the making. Airpower leaders, long before the Air Force was a separate service, argued that they needed a school dedicated to war in the air, to train Airmen. After September 1947, when the Air Force was established as a separate service, this idea finally had the legitimacy of the new service behind it.
 
 
April 5, 2003 - In the 18th day of Operation Iraqi Freedom US 3rd Infantry troops entered Baghdad for the first time.
 
Coalition troops took several objectives surrounding the capital in the north and northwest. US warplanes hit Iraqi positions near the commercial center of Mosul. Up to 3,000 Iraqi fighters were killed as American armored vehicles moved into Baghdad.
 
 
April 6, 1917 - The Coast Guard becomes part of the U. S. Navy by Executive Order.
 
Coast Guard aviators were assigned to naval air stations in this country and abroad. One Coast Guardsman commanded the Naval Air Station at Ille Tudy, France, and won the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Another commanded Chatham Naval Air Station and he piloted one of two HS-1 seaplanes that attempted to bomb and machine gun a surfaced U-boat off the coast of New England. The bombs failed to explode, however, and the U-boat escaped.
 
 
April 9, 2003 - Baghdad falls, ending Saddam Hussein's 24-year rule.
 
U.S. forces seized the deserted Baath Party ministries and helped tear down a huge iron statue of Saddam, photos and video of which became symbolic of the event. The abrupt fall of Baghdad was accompanied by massive civil disorder, including the looting of government buildings and drastically increased crime.
 
CalendarMark Your Calendar
Mark Your Calendar - April 2019
Click here for some events happening in April! 
Nevada Department of Veterans Services 
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