Category: VA

We’ve heard a lot of war stories over the years from the Veterans we’ve interviewed for the “My Life, My Story” project. Here’s one where “she made him calm.” Because our project focuses on Veterans’ entire lives—not just their time in service—we also hear a lot of stories about first loves, broken hearts and the…

If you are a student or recent graduate seeking a career at VA, consider the Pathways Programs. Established to help talented people like you find work in the federal government, Pathways consists of three distinct programs: the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program and the Presidential Management Fellows Program. Through the Pathways Internship Program, students…

Glendoria Chatman-Scott has been helping people for 50 years at North Texas VA. Her journey began when the facility was just a single building surrounded by 100 acres of farmland. Today, she stands as a testament to dedication, having touched countless lives throughout her career. “I’m just here to help people. As many as I…

VA has announced a new policy limiting the display of flags at VA facilities, effective immediately. The policy is intended to establish consistency across the department and aligns with longstanding Department of Defense guidelines. Under the new directive, only specific flags may be publicly displayed or depicted at VA facilities. These include the United States…

Two frontline driven employee innovative projects at Gulf Coast VA have recently been selected as FY25 VHA Innovators Network (iNET) Spark-Seed-Spread Investments. Over 350 applicants applied to the FY25 iNET Spark-Seed-Spread Investment Program this year. The applications are carefully chosen by facility and national leadership within the VHA Innovators Network for their potential to spark…

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 transitioning Veterans, the construction industry is a popular sector to find a new career. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics,…

When Coast Guard and Air Force Veteran David Sitthideth first learned about American Corporate Partners (ACP), he had been out of the military for over 10 years. With ACP, he sought mentorship to secure a position that offered greater financial stability for a secure future. Given his interest in engineering, he was matched with a…

VA Boston’s recreation therapy department, in collaboration with Adaptive Sports New England and the New England Patriots Wheelchair Football Team, hosted an introductory Veterans Wheelchair Football Clinic at the Brockton VA campus. During the clinic, 17 Veterans received hands-on instruction from Vernon Crawford, former New England Patriots linebacker. Assisting were members of the Patriots Wheelchair…

In this episode of the PTSD Bytes podcast, host Dr. Colleen Becket-Davenport discusses PTSD and lethal means safety with Dr. Joseph Simonetti, an addiction medicine physician and clinician investigator with the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center.   Lethal means safety and PTSD Lethal means are objects or tools that someone…

Whether your thoughts pop all over like popcorn or you feel stuck in a single thought, you can benefit from mindfulness. Simply put, mindfulness is being present and aware without passing judgment. You give yourself the gift of undivided attention without criticism. One way to find focus and practice mindfulness is through mindful breathing. Try…

Gulf Coast VA is proud to be one of six VA medical centers participating in a groundbreaking initiative that uses technology to foster connection and improve well-being for Veterans. Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Innerworld and VA Immersive, the hospital is evaluating the potential of a metaverse-enabled peer social support platform. This…

According to the National Eye Institute, 4.2 million Americans ages 40 and older are visually impaired. Of these, 3 million have low vision. By 2030 when the last baby boomers turn 65, the number of Americans who have visual impairments is projected to reach 7.2 million with 5 million having low vision. For Veterans who…