The Flagpole e-Newsletter
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The U.S. Army Women's Foundation
Honor ~ Empower ~ Connect
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Photo : Dept of Veterans Affairs |
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The PACT Act and your VA Benefits |
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- Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
- Adds more than 20 new presumptive*conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures
- Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
- Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
- Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.
Survivors may also be eligible for VA benefits based on the PACT Act.
If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits. You can learn more about the PACT Act at VA.gov/PACT or by calling the VA at 1-800-MyVA411.
* What is a presumptive condition? To get a VA disability rating, you need to prove that your service caused your health condition. But for some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.”
If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption. Learn more at VA.gov/PACT.
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U.S. AWF Hall of Fame Inductee, CSM Gretchen Evans, receives the Pat Tillman Award |
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Photo: From ESPY Award Ceremony (YouTube) |
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Congratulations to CSM (Retired) Evans who received the 2022 Pat Tillman Award at the ESPYs! CSM Evans, who hails from Brunswick, Maine, is an author, athlete, and retired Command Sergeant Major. She is currently serving as one of the Governor of Maine's Aides-to-Camp.
To learn more about CSM Evans's incredible story and watch her acceptance speech at the ESPYs, click the links below.
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Idaho National Guard Artillery Officer Paves the Way for Others
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Story by dvidshub: 1st Lt. Abigail Cannon is the first female field artillery officer in the Idaho Army National Guard. 1st Lt. Cannon has only been in the position for nearly eight months after commissioning into the artillery as the fire support officer for the 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment. 1st Lt Cannon’s first field training exercise as the fire support officer was in June 2022 during African Lion ’22, a multinational, combined joint exercise conducted in Morocco comprising roughly 8,000 troops from the U.S., Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. Cannon was responsible for directing the daily shooting missions of the five M109A6 howitzers the Idaho National Guard brought for the two-week exercise in Morocco. She worked hand-in-hand with the Moroccan fire support officer, and together they targeted simultaneous live-fire missions.
Cannon joined the Idaho National Guard in 2015 after finishing high school in Idaho Falls and enrolled in the Boise State University Army ROTC program. After completing ROTC in 2020, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in military science. Following the BSU program, she attended the Field Artillery Basic Officers Leadership Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, graduating on the commandant’s list in the top 20 percent of her class. She returned to Idaho to make history as the state’s first female artillery officer.
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West Point Selects
First Captain
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Cadet Lauren Drysdale of Irvine, Calif., has been selected as First Captain of the U.S. Military Academy’s Corps of Cadets for the 2022-2023 academic year. She will hold the highest position in the cadet chain of command. She assumed her duties on August 8.
Cadet Drysdale, a business management major, served as the cadet basic training regimental command sergeant major. She was instrumental in transforming the new cadets of the class of 2026 during their cadet basic training. On August 13, those new cadets will join the Corps of Cadets on Acceptance Day.
As First Captain, Drysdale is responsible for the overall performance of the approximately 4,400-member Corps of Cadets. Her duties include implementing a class agenda and acting as a liaison between the Corps and the administration.
Read the official press release here:
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Cadet Lauren Drysdale named First Captain, United States Military Academy.
Photo: West Point Public Affairs
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Official Fort Lee Press Center, Photo: US Army |
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Women's Equality Day Observance |
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Women’s Equality Day, 26 August 2022, celebrates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which guarantees all American women the right to vote. The amendment changed federal law and the face of the American electorate forever. Women’s Equality Day is also about recognizing the contributions and achievements of others in their fight to be equal in other areas.
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Celebrate Women's Equality Day at Fort Lee
The U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and U.S. Army Transportation Corps in conjunction with the Fort Lee Installation Equal Opportunity Office, cordially invite you to the Women's Equality Day Observance on Thursday, the twenty-fifth of August at half-past ten o'clock in the morning at the Lee Playhouse, Fort Lee, Virginia.
In May 2022, the Naming Commission recommended LTC Charity Adams as one of two people to be honored in Fort Lee's new name. Adams was the commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all Black female battalion to serve in Europe during World War II.
Join us to hear how civilian advocates, Edna Cummings, COL USA (Ret.), and Elizabeth Helm-Frazier, MSG USA (Ret.), have worked since January 2018 to have the Six Triple Eight receive long overdue recognition. Cummings and Helm-Frazier raised funds for the 6888th Monument in FT Leavenworth, KS, co-produced an award winning documentary, and championed the effort with Congress to pass the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act.
The event will be live-streamed on Facebook.
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Col. Edna Cummings, U.S. Army retired; and Master Sgt. Elizabeth Helm-Frazier, U.S. Army retired will be the featured speakers at the Fort Lee Women's Equality Day on August 25, 2022. (Photo: Dept. of Veterans Affairs )
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Female Mentoring and Morale Program (FMMP)
25 August 2022, 1800-1930 (EST)
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August's Female Mentoring and Morale Program (FMMP) will conclude the 2-session discussion on the life of Single Soldiers and Civilians in our formations and offices. This session will include candid talks on the challenges Single Parents face daily as they proudly serve while managing a family, along with covering new activities and events the Army's BOSS program offers.
Topic: BOSS: Caring for Our Single Soldiers/Civilians & Single Parents (Part 2)
Date/Time: Thursday, 25 August 2022 @ 1800-1930 (EST)
Guest Speakers:
SFC Jamie Ramsdell - President of the Fort Lee BOSS Program
SSG Devyn J. Pierson - Fort Lee BOSS Coordinator
PFC Ashley Adams - Fort Lee BOSS Program Representative
Program Managers from the Military Family Life Counseling (MFLC)
To access this month's meeting, please register in advance by clicking below.
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To register for this and all future sessions, either register above or email the Female Mentoring and Morale Program (FMMP) ft.LeeFMMP@gmail.com.
Zoom Access Link will be emailed to registered members.
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Upcoming Events
September 12, 2022 - AUSA “Leading Great Teams” podcast
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MG Michelle Schmidt is tentatively scheduled to serve as a guest at the next AUSA "Leading Great Teams" podcast, on Monday, 12 September. She recently assumed her duties as the Director of Force Development (Army G-8).
October 10, 2022 - US Army Women's Foundation Professional Development Forum
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The US Army Women's Foundation will host a Professional Development Forum, Monday, October 10, 2022, 1:30-3:30 PM EST at the AUSA Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. Panelists will include
- LTG Jody Daniels, Chief of the Army Reserve
- LTG Donna Martin, The IG of the Army
- CSM Veronica Knapp, CSM of the 101st Airborne, Air Assault
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SGM Julie Guerra, SGM HQDA G2
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October 14-16, 2022 - Military Women’s Memorial 25th Anniversary Celebration
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The 25th Anniversary of the Military Women's Memorial will take place October 14-16, 2022. Check out their website for more information.
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Share Your Photos
The U.S. Army Women's Foundation's mission is to promote public interest in the Army and recognize and honor the service of all U.S. Army women, past and present. We are expanding our storytelling and want you to be a part of it.
Please share your favorite photos and Army memories with us.
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Visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
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The Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) hosted a KDVA Reunion from 26-28 July in Washington, DC. The event coincided with the rededication of the Korean War Memorial's "Wall of Remembrance," featuring the names of more than 36,000 Americans who died supporting the War and over 7,100 Koreans who died while augmenting the Army.
Other reunion events included discussions on the ROK-US Alliance and a panel on "Women in Korea Defense," highlighting the significant contributions women servicemembers made while supporting the ROK-US Alliance.
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"Women in Korea Defense" Panelists. Left to Right: BG (Ret) Anne Macdonald; LTG (Ret) Karen Gibson; MG (Retired) Jan Edmunds; Professor Hong, Kyu Duk, and MG (Ret) Tammy Smith. |
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Thank You to our Sponsors!!
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Thank you to our Corporate Sponsor FLUOR! Fluor Corporation salutes our military and continues to support the US Army Women's Foundation and our scholarship programs.
Fluor sponsors organizations in communities around the world through their foundation. Fluor's giving programs focus on organizations worldwide where the company has a presence. They also support the military community by providing meaningful, challenging career opportunities where military skills and experience may be a perfect fit.
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GEICO Military is proud to serve Military personnel and offer discounts for insurance. Active duty, retired Military, or members of the National Guard or Reserve’s are all eligible for a Military Discount of up to 15 percent on your total insurance premium.
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Remember to share the eFlagpole newsletter with your friends! |
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