Mental Health Support for Returning War Veterans.

Give an Hour™ is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society.

Currently, GAH is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of the troops and families affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The provide counseling to individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents. The offer treatment for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, sexual health and intimacy concerns, and loss and grieving.

GAH has been featured and Dr. Van Dahlen has been interviewed in countless articles, television segments, and radio casts in the last few months, as the mental health needs of the troops have become strikingly apparent.

For more information or to obtain a brochure, press kit, or a video about GAH, you may visit them via this LINK http://www.giveanhour.org

Tom Watson and Tom Mengesha

TURNBERRY, Scotland — On an ancient stage hard by the craggy Ayrshire coast, Stewart Cink— always quick with an autograph or an interview — became a villain.
With Tom Watson making an implausible march against Father Time and soaking in the appreciation of adoring galleries as he tried to author perhaps the greatest story in golf, Cink ruined the fairy-tale ending with a stirring finish of his own.

In the fading light by the Firth of Clyde, Cink first canned a 15-foot birdie on the 72nd hole that forced a playoff when Watson missed an 8-foot par putt on the same hole, then crushed his deflated foe as Watson "hit one bad shot after another" in a four-hole playoff. Instead of Watson winning his sixth British Open, Cink rode away with the 17-inch silver beauty known as the Claret Jug.

"The dream almost came true," Watson said.

Finishing regulation play tied with Watson at 2-under-par 278 on a course affectionately known as "Old Lady," Cink grabbed his first major championship with a six-shot win in the playoff, highlighted by birdies on the final two holes.

Watson, less than a year removed from having his left hip replaced, two months shy of turning 60 and three years from qualifying for Social Security, played like the Watson of old. Although he signed on to work as an ABC-TV commentator for the tournament, Watson began thinking during his practice rounds that he could contend — despite the 500-1 odds against him in the betting shops at the start of the week and a world ranking of 1,374. The winner of five Opens — including one here on the Ailsa Course in his epic "Duel in the Sun" against Jack Nicklaus in 1977 when he shot 65-65 to his rival's 65-66 on the weekend — knew he had a chance.

Proving to be a prophet, he flashed his trademark grin, braved the harsh elements and used his experience in links golf to subdue his younger rivals for 71 holes with superior ball-striking and clutch putting. But on the verge of becoming the oldest player, by 11 years, to win a major championship, Watson hit an 8-iron on the 72nd hole that trickled over the green, and he failed to get up-and-down.

Then his swing broke down.

But the biggest story for most of the week was Watson, who tugged at hearts in the gallery and the locker room. He also produced tears that reached all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida, where Nicklaus, 69, said on his website he shed a tear or two as Watson assumed possession of the 54-hole lead.

"I take from this week just a lot of warmth, a lot of spirituality in the sense that, you know, there was something out there. I still believe that," said Watson, who will play in his last Open next year at St. Andrews — unless he wins it. "It helped me along. It's Turnberry. Great memories here. This would have been a great memory.

"It was fun to be in the mix of it again and having the kids who are my kids' age just look up at you and say, 'All right, nice going. You can still play.' When all is said and done, one of the things I hope that will come out of my life is that my peers will say, 'You know, that Watson, he was a hell of a golfer.' "

"Whether Tom was 59 or 29, he was one of the field," Cink said. "I'm just filled with pride and honor. This article was taken from USAToday.

Possible ban on tobacco use by troops

WASHINGTON — Pentagon health experts are urging Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban the use of tobacco by troops and end its sale on military property, a change that could dramatically alter a culture intertwined with smoking.

Jack Smith, head of the Pentagon's office of clinical and program policy, says he will recommend that Gates adopt proposals by a federal study that cites rising tobacco use and higher costs for the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs as reasons for the ban.

The study by the Institute of Medicine, requested by the VA and Pentagon, calls for a phased-in ban over a period of years, perhaps up to 20. "We'll certainly be taking that recommendation forward," Smith says.

A tobacco ban would confront a military culture, the report says, in which "the image of the battle-weary soldier in fatigues and helmet, fighting for his country, has frequently included his lit cigarette."

Also, the report said, troops worn out by repeated deployments often rely on cigarettes as a "stress reliever." The study found that tobacco use in the military increased after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said the department supports a smoke-free military "and believes it is achievable." She declined to elaborate on any possible ban.
One in three servicemembers use tobacco, the report says, compared with one in five adult Americans. The heaviest smokers are soldiers and Marines, who have done most of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the study says. About 37% of soldiers use tobacco and 36% of Marines. Combat veterans are 50% more likely to use tobacco than troops who haven't seen combat.

Tobacco use costs the Pentagon $846 million a year in medical care and lost productivity, says the report, which used older data. The Department of Veterans Affairs spends up to $6 billion in treatments for tobacco-related illnesses, says the study, which was released late last month.
Along with a phased-in ban, the report recommends requiring new officers and enlisted personnel to be tobacco-free, eliminating tobacco use on military installations, ships and aircraft, expanding treatment programs and eliminating the sale of tobacco on military property. "Any tobacco use while in uniform should be prohibited," the study says.

The military complicates attempts to curb tobacco use by subsidizing tobacco products for troops who buy them at base exchanges and commissaries, says Kenneth Kizer, a committee member and architect of California's anti-tobacco program.

Seventy percent of profits from tobacco sales — $88 million in 2005 — pays for recreation and family support programs, the study stays.

Strong leadership could make the military tobacco-free in five to 10 years, Kizer says. President Obama, he says, could set an example for the military by ending his own smoking habit once and for all. Last month, Obama said he is "95% cured" but "there are times when I mess up" and smoke.

Happy 4th of July!

To all service members deployed around the world, Happy 4th of July!

God bless!

Tom "The Adjutant" Mengesha

OIF/OEF 2006-2008

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program

After returning from a combat deployment, many service members find it difficult to find employment or may not fully understand their re-employment rights. For Disabled Veterans there is a program to help them get back to work. This program is known as Chapter 31 or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. The following was taken directly from the Veterans Administration own website.

What is the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program?

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program is authorized by Congress under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31. It is sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program. The mission of VR&E is to help veterans with service-connected disabilitiesto prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.

Services that may be provided by VR&E include:

• comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills, interests, and needs
• vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning
• employment services such as job-seeking skills, resume development, and other work readiness assistance
• assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives
• if needed, training such as On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences
• if needed, post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
• supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and referral
• independent living services

APPLY NOW ON-LINE for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefit Programs.

Click on "VONAPP" Button.

Who is Eligible for VR&E Services?

To receive an evaluation for VR&E services, a veteran must:

• have received, or will receive, a discharge that is other than dishonorable
• have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%
• submit a completed application for VR&E services

The basic period of eligibility in which VR&E services may be used is 12 years from the latter of the following:

• date of separation from active military service, or
• date the veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected disability rating.

The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)determines that a veteran has a Serious Employment Handicap

What Happens after Eligibility is Established?

The veteran is scheduled to meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) for a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the veteran is entitled to services. The comprehensive evaluation includes:

• an assessment of the veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities
• An assessment of whether service connected disabilities impair the veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills he or she has already developed
• vocational exploration and goal development

What is Entitlement Determination?

A Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determines whether a veteran has an employment handicap based on the results of the comprehensive evaluation. Entitlement to services is established if the veteran is within his or her 12 year basic period of eligibility and has a 20 % or greater service-connected disability rating and an employment handicap.

If the service-connected disability rating is less than 20% or if the veteran is beyond the 12 year basic period of eligibility, then a serious employment handicap must be found to establish entitlement to VR&E services.

What Happens after the Entitlement Determination is Made?

The veteran and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VR&E) work together to:

• select a VR&E program track leading to an employment or independent living goal
• identify viable employment or independent living services options
• Determine transferable skills
• explore labor market and wage information
• identify physical demands and other job characteristics
• narrow vocational options to identify a suitable employment goal
• investigate training requirements
• identify resources needed to achieve rehabilitation
• develop an individualized rehabilitation plan to achieve the identified employment or independent living goal

What is a Rehabilitation Plan?

A rehabilitation plan is an individualized, written outline of the services, resources and criteria that will be used to achieve successful rehabilitation. It is an agreement that is signed by the veteran and the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)and is reviewed annually to determine whether any changes may be needed.

Depending on their circumstances, veterans will work with their VRC to select one of the following Five Tracks of services (see definitions for more detail):

• Reemployment (with a former employer
• Rapid employment services for new employment
• Self-employment
• Employment through long term services
• Independent living services

What Happens after the Rehabilitation Plan is Developed?

After a plan is developed and signed, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) or case manager will continue to work with the veteran to implement the plan to achieve suitable employment or independent living. The VRC or case manager may coordinate services such as tutorial assistance, training in job-seeking skills, medical and dental referrals, adjustment counseling, payment of training allowance, if applicable, and other services as required to achieve rehabilitation.

Summary of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (Chapter 31) Process

A veteran who is eligible for an evaluation under Chapter 31 must complete an application and meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). If the VRC determines that an employment handicap exists as a result of a service-connected disability, the veteran is found entitled to services. The VRC and the veteran will then continue counseling to select a track of services and jointly develop a plan to address the rehabilitation and employment needs of the veteran.

The rehabilitation plan will specify an employment or independent living goal, identify intermediate goals, outline services and resources needed to achieve these goals. The VRC and the veteran will work together to implement the plan and achieve successful rehabilitation.

If a veteran is found not to be entitled to services, the VRC will help the veteran locate other resources to address any rehabilitation and employment needs identified during the evaluation. Referral to other resources may include state vocational rehabilitation programs, Department of Labor employment programs for disabled veterans, state, federal or local agencies providing services for employment or small business development, internet-based resources for rehabilitation and employment, and information about applying for financial aid.