June 4, 2009

Veterans Program Bringing Men, Minorities Into Teaching Field.

 The Washington Post (6/4, Glod) reports, "Troops to Teachers, which has placed about 11,500 teachers nationwide in 15 years, is one way" the Obama Administration "aims to draw more men and minorities into schools and fill demand in the fields of math, science and special education. About 82 percent" of the veterans "who sign up are men," while almost "40 percent of...participants are members of racial or ethnic minorities." One of the program's creators, US Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), "sees it as one option for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans," and "is leading an effort on Capitol Hill to expand the program...into more schools in middle-class communities."

Impact: Teaching program

Record Number Participating In Golden Age Games.

 In continuing coverage, the Birmingham (AL) News (6/4, Gordon) reports, "The number of participants in this year's National Veterans Golden Age Games in Birmingham is the highest in the 23-year history of the event. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs," an event co-sponsor, "685 competitors, including 44 World War II veterans, are on hand for this year's games." That total "is higher than the 658 who participated in last year's games." VA officials "say the number of participants in the games has grown steadily since they began." The News (6/3, Gordon) published a similar story on its "Breaking News" blog. WBRC-TV Birmingham, AL (6/3, 10:07 p.m. CT), meanwhile, aired a similar report, while the WBRC-TV (6/3) website ran a similar story. The website for CBS42-TV Birmingham, AL (6/3) also covered the games, as did the American Forces Press Service (6/4, Carden).

Impact:t: Golden Age Games

Defense launches campaign and Web site to destigmatize traumatic stress

By Bob Brewin 05/26/2009

The Defense Department launched a multimedia campaign that includes a new Web site designed to reduce the stigma that combat veterans and their families say they feel when seeking mental health care.  The effort includes the new Real Warriors Web site, which is hosted deliberately outside a military Internet domain because troops have reported that seeking help for mental health problems could harm their military careers.
Impact: DoD, PTSD Campaign