Eye on Veterans

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:

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/

Connect with CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs

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@EyeOnVeterans

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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

[email protected]

Let’s talk about love! Andrew Carroll, Director of The Center for American Letters, returns with some of the most romantic words ever written, by service members fighting wars around the world.

This collection of over 200K letters spans the Revolutionary War to World Wars all the way up to modern emails from our current generation.

We begin with the beautiful words for a loving wife, composed on a battlefield in Virginia, during the American Civil War. Carroll continues with an intriguing love letter that was really part of a secret intelligence mission during WWII. And we hear the bitter side of love, in a response to a “Dear John” letter from a Korean War soldier.

Carroll also shows how some love letters can even bring total strangers together, as we hear about a love story that began with pen pals. And we take a whimsical look at the medical conditions associated with true love, from a pioneering African American doctor during the World War II era.

So don’t wait, grab a pen and some paper and write to the one you love, because love letters are not just for Valentine’s Day anymore. 

Check out The Center for American War Letters at Chapman University here:

https://www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/cawl/index.aspx

Connect with Navy vet and CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs

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In this interesting conversation presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, Jill Schlesinger opens with 3 vital steps every veteran needs to take, if they want to have enough money when they’re older.

Schlesinger guides us through a variety of financial planning tips and offers useful advice for the basic investor. We also discuss the difference between 401Ks and other types of investment accounts and consider which type would be right for varying types of veterans. 

We examine saving programs for your kid’s college education and unique ways to roll those funds into other types of accounts.

We even take a look at today’s housing market and consider when it’s the best time to buy a home.  

Check out “Jill on Money” weekly radio show and podcast here:

https://www.jillonmoney.com/

See Jill’s Schlesinger’s reporting on CBS News

https://www.cbsnews.com/team/jill-schlesinger/

Loans, Investments and more ... Check out Navy Federal Credit Union here:

https://www.navyfederal.org/

Contact:

Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans

[email protected]

Looking for a career in cybersecurity? This is your chance!

We talked about a new Google Cybersecurity Certificate training program with Army veteran, (Ret.) Lt. Colonel Bryan Radliff, from Syracuse University’s D'Aniello Institute for Veterans Military and Families (IVMF).

Radliff shares benefits like; no cost to veterans, 150+ hours of the latest, industry-standard training, and how it’s designed for all veterans (and family) … even without prior IT experience.

We also hear about IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity program and additional AI and CompTIA certifications currently available.

If you’re interested in a cyber career check out IVMF training and upcoming cohorts here:

https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/

Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans

[email protected]

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@philbriggsVet

@EyeonVeterans

@connectingvets  

Today we’re hearing from attorney Bart Stichman, Co-founder of National Veterans Legal Services Program, regarding the case “Soto vs United States” and how a Marine Corps combat veteran (and 9,000 other vets) had their benefit claims denied, and disputed by our government. 

The petition was filed on behalf of USMC vet, Mr. Simon Soto who was initially approved for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), but later denied the full amount after government lawyers claimed a six-year ceiling on retroactive benefits.

We open with the facts behind this case, and examine the PTSD he suffered after serving as Mortuary Affairs in Iraq, where he processed the remains of our fallen Marines and Soldiers. 

Stichman further explains:

We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.

If you need legal assistance for your VA/DoD benefit claim, check out The National Legal Services Program here:

https://www.nvlsp.org/

Contact Phil Briggs, Host, CBS Eye on Veterans 

[email protected]

Follow on X:

@philbriggsVet

@EyeonVeterans

@connectingvets