Every year vets shred the slopes of Snowmass, Colorado at The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.

We’re joined by Army veteran, Frances Osorio-Rivera, who as a single leg amputee went from being severely injured to becoming an inspiring pro kite surfer. Rivera, a Puerto Rico native and self-described “island girl” shared how despite her injury, she was determined to back in the water and resume kite surfing. She also described how attending the Winter Sports Clinic changed her life.

We also talked with Alex Maytre, VA Recreational Therapist and adaptive sports expert. He highlighted his previous work helping vets discover the thrills of scuba diving in Miami and describes how VA works to help vets achieve their wildest dreams.

From the ski slopes to kite surfing to scuba diving, their stories reveal how outdoor adaptive sports truly help vets heal and experience the power of feeling stoked!

For more on adaptive sports resources, upcoming events and more …

Check out the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here:

https://www.wintersportsclinic.org/

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This week we’re catching up with The American Legion's Executive Director of Government Affairs, Mario Marquez, a retired Marine Corps Sgt. Major, with a deep background in veterans affairs and national security.

We open with memories from Iraq deployments, and an experience with Houthi rebels in Yemen. That led us to our first discussion about the recent Signal message app scandal involving DoD, DNI, CIA and Senior White House officials. Marquez says if he had shared discussions of pending military strikes, "he would have been court martialed".

Marquez also discusses the impact of recent VA layoffs, the Legion’s commitment to protecting veteran benefits and his private conversations with VA Secretary Doug Collins.

We close with a fascinating Op-Ed from former Ranger and Special Forces veteran Jack Murphy.

He calls out veterans like Sec Def Pete Hegseth and DNI Tulsi Gabbard for downplaying the danger of the messages shared on Signal. He also reveals how this is a much bigger problem than they want you to believe.

See why veterans benefit from membership in the American Legion here:

https://www.legion.org/

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When it comes to getting a degree, veterans and their families often face challenges non-veteran students don’t.  American Military University (part of APUS) President, Nuno Fernandes understands this on a personal level. 

We hear how his humble upbringing in Portugal, mirrors the challenges that inspired many Americans to join the military in the first place.

But despite the challenges of transition from military service, veterans have proved they have the grit and determination to succeed, and Fernandes describes how American Military University is designed specifically for them.

We hear how AMU keeps college tuition affordable, open to the entire family and offers personalized career assistance from veterans on staff.

We also examine how veterans outperform traditional college students and hear

some incredible veteran graduate success stories.

Check out American Military University’s courses and degree programs here:

https://www.amu.apus.edu/military/

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This week we’re looking at online degree programs for veterans, from

American Military University (AMU), one of the top online Universities for military

and veterans.  We begin with two enlisted veterans that have done it.

Former Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dan Roby shares how it’s never too late

to earn your degree (he earned his at the age of 53), and former Army Staff

Sgt. Tonda Navarrete describes how vets can succeed in today’s rapidly

changing workforce with AMU’s cutting-edge majors in AI, Business and Cyber.

We also hear how AMU is dedicated to delivering higher education to active duty military,

veterans and even their children, through incredibly affordable tuition. 

They also share some success stories from other veteran student graduates.

Check out American Military University’s courses and degree programs here:

https://www.amu.apus.edu/military/

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In this era of VA budget cuts and workforce layoffs, we talked about it with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Communications Chief, Air Force veteran Dan Clare.

After a recent meeting with VA Secretary Doug Collins, who recently spoke at DAV’s Mid-Winter Conference, Clare shared how Collins claimed his #1 priority was taking care of our vets, but did not offer any details about how exactly he’s going to do it.

Clare explains that massive cuts to VA staff, seems ill-advised considering over 800K new veterans have recently registered for VA care and over 1M claims have been filed, since the PACT Act, toxic exposure bill, became law three years ago.

We also dove into the benefit claims process, and how DAV is there to help all veterans get their applications processed and ensure they stand a chance at getting approved. Clare also discussed alternative health care treatment options DAV members want to see in the future.

And although DAV members hope the new administration will deliver results, they have yet to hear anything specific from VA or when they will deliver promising new treatments.

If you’re a vet who has been affected by federal layoffs or cancelled contracts …

Contact DAV so they can share your opinions here:

https://www.dav.org/defend-veteran-jobs/

DAV has support for all veterans submitting VA benefit claims.

Find the help you need navigating your benefits process here:

https://www.dav.org/find-your-local-office/

About DAV:

https://www.dav.org/

We are dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

This mission is carried forward by:

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As we experience an uncertain time of change and massive government layoffs, the state of Maryland is expanding its support for veterans.

We talked with Tony Woods, Army veteran and Secretary of Maryland Veterans, Military and Families, about the specific ways they’re supporting vets.

We begin with his days leading troops in Iraq. Woods also shares a surprising personal revelation about his time in the Army, and the policy that led to his leaving the military.

After his own career changes he describes his entrance into government, and an alliance with fellow Army combat veteran, Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

He describes how his department is supporting vets through; college education programs, VA benefit claims assistance and financial support for veteran-owned small businesses.

See how Maryland programs support veterans here:

https://veterans.maryland.gov/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs

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Luke Graziani, is a U.S. Army Veteran with 4 deployments to Iraq and AFG. After checking his email on February 13, he cringed after reading he was being fired from his public affairs officer role at The Bronx VA Hospital.

He shares how despite having stellar performance reviews from his supervisor, the letter from DOGE cited “job performance” as one of the reasons for his termination.

Graziani also describes how this move will force other VA staff (who don’t even work at the hospital) to pick up the slack, and how there is still no official word on whether his supervisors appeal for an exemption will be heard, or if he'll ever be allowed return to work.

Find out more about Luke Graziani here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-graziani/

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The Purple Heart Foundation supports military veterans and their families in many ways. We talked with CEO, Stephen Ruckman, and US Army Reserve MSG Henika "Nika" Carroll about her 23 years of service and how their short-term financial assistance grants helped her overcome crippling debt.

Carroll also shares personal advice for making VA disability claims, and Stephen Ruckman highlights other generous PHF programs for veterans.

As the funds necessary for these grants run out immediately after becoming available, we hear how to donate in order to keep this vital mission alive.

For more on financial assistance or to make donation check out The Purple Heart Foundation here:

https://purpleheartfoundation.org/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs

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Tim Jensen, a Marine Corps combat veteran, is on a mission to stop veteran suicide.

The powerful veteran activist and head of Grunt Style Foundation (advocacy arm of America’s patriotic T-Shirt brand Grunt Style) talked with us about the current state of suicide prevention.

Jensen shared a surprising connection between suicide and psychotropic drugs, and others for anxiety, depression and even meds used to help vets quit smoking.

He also illustrated how alternative medical treatments, widely known to improve the lives of vets with head injuries and PTSD, are being underutilized or even ignored.

We discussed the political games unfolding as DOGE cuts continue to slice the federal workforce.

And we examine the path forward; including upcoming meetings with House Veterans Affairs committee members, a GSF-VFW partnership, and a proposal currently being reviewed by officials in the Trump administration.

For more on veteran support, suicide prevention and ways vets can find brotherhood through Grunt Style Foundation, check out:

https://www.gruntstylefoundation.org/

See more Grunt Style patriotic apparel here:

https://www.gruntstyle.com

More veteran news at:

Connecting Vets

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After the recent Executive Order for Federal employees to return to the office, Jenna Carlton, DoD employee and founder of The Millennial Veterans Facebook group is facing a tough choice- stay in her current job, or quit.

She described how her DoD job was fully remote from first the day she was hired. She shared how they live over an hour away from base, but found a way to effectively make her family schedule work with minimal in-office requirements.

After the recent order, she is grappling with the reality that her job may now cost too much to keep.

Beyond the impact on her family, Carlton also shares how this decision is impacting vets nationwide and could even disrupt Naval fleet readiness in the months to come.

For more on her story and other veteran content follow The Millennial Veteran Facebook group on Instagram and Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/themillennialveterans/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs

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