Category: VA

Like the Veterans we care for, rural communities are as engaging and exciting as you can imagine. From opportunities to be closer to family and friends, or just enjoying a greater sense of privacy, there’s a lot to be said for rural communities. Regardless of what appeals to you, you can find the pace of…

David Emanuel Hickman was born in January 1988 in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduating from Northeast High School in 2006, where he was a football star and Taekwondo black belt, Hickman joined the Army in 2009. Hickman was a specialist in the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team at the Army’s…

Army Veteran Terrill Giere has been out of the military for more than 20 years, but he still has the fighting spirit of a soldier. After battling heart failure and a stroke, relying on a left ventricular device (LVAD) to keep him alive, and then developing a potentially deadly infection, Giere recently received a life-saving heart…

Nicholas Straber, a Boy Scout and a senior at Triton Central High School, is following in his family’s tradition by undertaking a community service project aimed at aiding homeless Veterans in Indianapolis by partnering with Indianapolis VA. Straber and his fellow Troop 104 members planned and executed a donation drive to acquire needed personal supplies…

In 2024, 53% of men and 47% of women reportedly experienced some form of romance scam in an online dating environment. Romance scams targeting Veterans often begin innocently on dating apps or websites, social media platforms or even through email. Scammers create convincing personas and may pose as fellow Veterans, active duty military personnel, or…

Motivated and dedicated are the two words that best describe Stark Hill, a licensed practical nurse, telehealth clinical technician and preceptor. She tackles all those jobs and more to support Veterans at the Chattanooga VA Clinic in person and online through VA’s telehealth services. Hill’s journey did not start in the halls of Chattanooga, nor…

Editor’s note: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering. For many Veterans, the transition to civilian life comes with challenges. The Veterans Community Support (VCS) Program by Your Next Mission provides a comprehensive…

At Ralph H. Johnson VA, our commitment to Veterans extends beyond medical care to ensuring Veterans’ families feel supported and valued. We’re proud to spotlight our Ambassador of Excellence, Rocheryl Michael, a dedicated information receptionist who works in the family lounge. With over 30 years of service in the medical field, Michael brings a wealth…

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins delivered an uplifting message today as VA employees nationwide returned to in-person work. This transition follows President Trump’s January 20, 2025, presidential memorandum directing federal agencies to phase out telework and resume office-based operations, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and efficiency in delivering services to Veterans. “This is an…

Northern Indiana VA’s Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) department in Marion, Indiana, provides fresh produce from its garden and greenhouse to Veterans. This initiative benefits those living in long-term care units, the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program and acute mental health units. The effort is part of the facility’s Green Environmental Management System and…

This month’s Center for Women Veterans Book Corner author is Air Force Veteran Ericka E. Kelly, who wrote “Take Charge of Your Military Transition.”  Kelly was the 17th Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Air Force Reserve Command and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve. Under that role, she…

Army Veteran Jimmy Villanueva is quick to flash a smile, but that wasn’t always the case. For more than two decades, the former transport and supply soldier lived without most of his front teeth due to a motorcycle accident. Now, Villanueva has a mouthful of pearly whites thanks to VA’s Homeless Veterans Dental Program (HVDP).…