NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS)
October 2019 Newsletter
DVS's monthly newsletter shares information about DVS programs & initiatives, upcoming and recent events, and news affecting NYC veterans and their families. To recommend content or find more information, please connect with us at www.nyc.gov/vets, on social media @nycveterans, or via email at press@veterans.nyc.gov.
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DVS Commissioner Loree Sutton Steps Down
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On Wednesday, October 3rd, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Loree Sutton, MD, Brigadier General (ret.), will step down from her role as the Commissioner of DVS. The announcement was made at a farewell ceremony at the Intrepid Air, Sea, and Space Museum.
As the founding Commissioner for DVS, Loree Sutton oversaw the creation of the first municipal-level agency dedicated to serving veterans. Team DVS would like to thank Commissioner Sutton for her service and commitment to New York City's veterans and their families. It has been an honor to serve under her leadership.
Commissioner Sutton will depart DVS at the end of October.
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Mayor Appoints Lt. Col. James Hendon as Next
DVS Commissioner
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Mayor de Blasio has appointed James Hendon, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, to succeed Loree Sutton as the next Commissioner of DVS.
Hendon previously served as the Director of the NYU Veterans Future Lab, a small business incubator for veteran entrepreneurs, and was the CEO of the Energy Economic Development Corporation. Before entering the civilian workforce, Hendon spent seven years in the U.S. Army as an active duty Infantry Officer.
"I'm excited to build on the work of Commissioner Sutton and her unsung, world-class team so that we can continue to foster purpose-driven lives for New York City service members, veterans, and their families," said incoming DVS Commissioner Hendon.
Hendon will begin serving as DVS Commissioner on November 1st.
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DVS Releases Start-Up Report
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To commemorate Commissioner Sutton's leadership, we have released our "Start-Up Report", an account of the department's growth trajectory over our first three years. The report documents DVS's notable achievements and looks back at our evolution from the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA) to the first New York City agency to be created in two decades.
Click here to view or download the DVS Start-Up Report.
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DVS is seeking a Press Secretary to join our Communications team. The Press Secretary manages media relations and is responsible for crafting smart and clear messaging for the agency.
We are looking for an exceptional writer who understands how to use digital media to address New York City's veteran community. If you think you are the right person for the job, apply to job ID 417120 at https://on.nyc.gov/2pBjph2.
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Veterans Month Newsletter
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Keep your eyes open for our special Veterans Month Newsletter on Friday, November 1st. Stay updated on all the special events, volunteer opportunities, and resources Veterans Month has to offer!
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Awarding Service
The New York City Mayor's Office awarded Veteran Peer Coordinator Tommie Loyd with the 2019 Mayor's Excellence in Customer Service Award for his work serving homeless veterans. During his time at MOVA and DVS, Tommie has housed nearly 200 veterans.
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"They wanted to have a home their grandkids can visit."
Army veteran Linda Woods and Marine veteran Gary Robinson met and fell in love while they were both living in single-room occupancy housing. Earlier this month, Veteran Peer Coordinator Sabine Phineus helped them move into permanent housing for the first time in their relationship.
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9/11 Museum Day of Service and Remembrance
Deputy Assitant Commissioner Quamid Francis delivered remarks at the 9/11 Museum Day of Service and Remembrance, where volunteers built bikes for children of service members and first responders.
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September VAB
The latest Veterans Advisory Board Meeting was held on September 25th at the Staten Island Borough Hall. Members of the community addressed the VAB to highlight issues that uniquely impact Staten Island veterans. Associate Commissioner Alexis Wichowski represented DVS at the meeting.
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Community Partner Breakfast
DVS's Public-Private Partnerships Team attended BMCC's first Community Partner Breakfast to discuss strategies for deepening college-community partnerships.
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VetSource Procurement Summit
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We're teaming up with the Institute for Veteran and Miltary Families (IVMF) and Grow with Google to host VetSource, a one-day event that will connect veterans and military spouse-owned businesses to local government agencies and some of the largest companies in the country, including Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, and Fiserv. Learn about their supplier diversity and how they can help take your business to the next level!
Where
Grow with Google New York City Learning Center
111 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
When
Wednesday, October 30th | 9 am - 5 pm
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DVS has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Cooperation NYC (LISC NYC) to create the VSO Legacy Project, an initiative designed to help Veteran Service Organizations across the five boroughs secure their legacy by modernizing their buildings and developing affordable housing for homeless veterans.
We invite VSO representatives to join us for our VSO Legacy Project Launch Meeting on Wednesday, October 30th. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A and hear from other organizations who have secured their legacy with support from LISC NYC.
Open to VSO representatives only.
Register by October 23rd by contacting DVSevents@veterans.nyc.gov or call 212-416-5250.
Where
DVS Headquarters
1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, Room 2208
When
Wednesday, October 30th | 3 pm - 5 pm
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DVS and DOF Partner for the NYC Veteran Employee Appreciation Event
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To celebrate Veterans Month, we've partnered with the NYC Department of Finance and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to host an evening of honor and appreciation for New York City's employee veterans.
Where
31 Chambers Street, New York, NY
When
Thursday, November 14 | 6 pm - 8 pm
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Featured Events & Resources
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For a complete calendar of upcoming events, visit OurVeterans.NYC
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Transcendental Meditation Course
VA New York Harbor, Rm 2227N
423 E 23rd St., New York, NY 10010
Wednesday, October 24th | 3 pm - 4 pm
The David Lynch Foundation is partnering with the Manhattan VA to offer an Introductory Transcendental Meditation (TM) course for veterans on Thursday, October 24th. The class teaches simple, easily learned techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. Peer-reviewed studies have found that TM reduces PTSD symptoms.
Open to veterans only.
Register by emailing veterans@davidlynchfoundation.org
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Intrepid After Hours: Stories from the Flight Deck
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
W 46th St and 12th Ave., New York, NY 10036
Friday, November 1st | 12 pm - 6 pm
The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum is hosting its inaugural Veterans Job and Resources Fair on Friday, November 15th. The fair will connect veterans and their spouses to available resource partners and employment opportunities. The fair will also feature workshops focused on job acquisition and professional development.
Open to veterans and their families only. Register here.
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Featured News Roundup
VA
Military Times
The Department of Veterans Affairs is notifying veterans who receive their medical care at VA health facilities that the VA will soon start sharing that health information with doctors they may see outside the VA, without notifying them first.
More Veterans See Improvements in VA Health Care, VFW Survey Finds
Military.com
More veterans are giving a thumbs up to how they are treated when seeking the Department of Veterans Affairs health care, according to the annual "Our Care" survey released Friday by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. And they are feeling positive so far about the new Mission Act, with its private-care options, which went into effect in June, it found.
Court Orders VA to Cover Veterans’ Emergency Room Debts
Military Times
A federal court this week ordered Veterans Affairs officials to reimburse veterans for all expenses at non-department emergency medical centers, a move that could mean payouts of tens of thousands of dollars to patients facing financial distress because of their hospital bills.
BENEFITS
Expansion of Veteran Caregiver Program Delayed Until at Least Next Summer
Military Times
Families of veterans who served before the recent wars won’t be added to the Veterans Affairs caregivers program until summer 2020 at the earliest, according to department officials. The delay had been expected for months, as VA officials struggled to get new technology and processes in place to handle an influx of new applicants to the program.
Veterans, Military Retirees to See a 1.6 Percent Cost-of-Living Boost in Benefits
Military Times
Military retirees and veterans benefits recipients will see a 1.6 percent cost-of-living boost in their payouts starting in December, nearly half of the increase they received last year.
Why Fewer People are Using the GI Bill
Military Times
After years of growth, the number of people using the Post-9/11 GI Bill has now fallen substantially for each of the past two fiscal years, federal data indicates. About 54,000 fewer people used the GI Bill in fiscal 2018 – a 7 percent decline from fiscal 2017, which was itself down about 7 percent from fiscal 2016’s GI Bill enrollment total, according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
POST 9/11 VETERANS
Why Younger Veterans More Likely to Struggle After Leaving the Military
Military Times
Younger veterans are more likely than previous generations of servicemembers to report problems readjusting to civilian life, with about 1 in 6 calling the transition very difficult, according to a new survey.
Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans Were the ‘Ground Zero’ of the Opioid Crisis: Study
Washington Examiner
Veterans of the global war on terrorism are experiencing an opioid epidemic nearly twice as severe as the one plaguing civilians, according to a new study distributed by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Unemployment Rate for Post-9/11 Veterans Rises Again
Military.com
The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans went up to 4.5% in September, standing out as an exception in a Labor Department report that showed overall joblessness at a 50-year low of 3.5%. The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans contrasted with the 3.1% rate for all veterans, the BLS said in its monthly report.
JOBS
Do Veterans Lack Social-Emotional Skills? A Major Study Finds that Many Civilian Employers Believe They Do
Military Times
Just based on their resumes and cover letters, veterans’ military service is working against them when they apply for jobs in certain fields, a new study says. The study — conducted by Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and released Sept. 24 — found employers believe veterans are less suited for jobs that involve social-emotional skills and interacting with people than their non-veteran counterparts.
Military Times Launches Job Board for Veterans
Military Times
The Military Times has unveiled a new comprehensive job board that aims to connect veterans with thousands of job opportunities with employers seeking to hire people with military experience. The new online job board offers employers from around the country an opportunity to target veterans and service members who are planning to return to the civilian job market. Service members can create profiles, target a job search to specific locations, and set up job alerts for new postings.
CYBERSECURITY
Veterans Targeted by Hackers Through Fake Military Heroes Hiring Website
Newsweek
A hacking group has targeted U.S. veterans through a fake hiring website hosting malware. The hacking unit, known as Tortoiseshell, created the Hire Military Heroes website. The site encourages users to download an app that exposes computers to "spying tools" and other malware, cybersecurity research group Cisco Talos has reported.
Military Members’ Photos on Social Media Being Used by Cybercriminals in ‘Romance Scams’
Newsweek
Military members' social media photos are being used in efforts to scam Americans out of money, according to a report released on Tuesday from Vietnam Veterans of America. The almost 200-page report notes a range of attempts to target servicemembers online, including foreign efforts to promote the "Vets for Trump" Facebook page, Russian hackers making terroristic threats against military families and use of pictures of soldiers in so-called "romance scams," in which scammers take on false identities and then seek to swindle their victims out of money.
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT
Woman Trying to End Sexual Assault at VA Centers Says She is Attacked in One
New York Times
A senior policy adviser on female veterans’ issues for the House said she was assaulted at a V.A. Medical Center in Washington by a man who slammed his body against hers and then pressed himself against her in the center’s cafe. The woman, Andrea Goldstein, a reserve Navy intelligence officer and a lead staff member for the Women Veterans Task Force on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said she had just come from a meeting on Capitol Hill and was carrying in her purse the draft of a bill designed to curb sexual assault and harassment when she became a victim of it.
MILITARY SUICIDE
Active Duty Suicides are on the Rise, as the Pentagon Works on New Messaging and Strategy
Military Times
The rate of active duty service members who take their own lives has been rising an average of 6 percent year-over-year the past five years, the Pentagon announced. The number of suicides jumped from 285 to 325 between 2017 and 2018, according to the 2018 Annual Suicide Report, for a rate of about 22 suicides per 100,000 service members to about 25.
BURIALS
New Eligibility Rules for Arlington Cemetery Would Exclude Non-Combat Veterans
Military Times
Officials are moving to limit the number of individuals eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, restricting below-ground sites to combat heroes, battle casualties, and a small pool of notable dignitaries.
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DVS in Your Borough
Connect with DVS without leaving your borough! Hours and locations below:
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Brooklyn: Brooklyn Workforce 1 Career Center, 9 Bond Street, 5th floor: Mon & Wed 10-Noon, 1-4 pm
Bronx: Bronx County Building, 851 Grand Concourse, Room 209: Wed & Thu 10-Noon, 1-4 pm
Manhattan: 1 Centre Street, 22nd Floor, Room 2208:
Mon & Thu 10-Noon, 1-4 pm
Queens: Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd, Room 222: Mon & Thu 10-Noon, 1-4 pm
Staten Island: Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Room G-25: Tue & Wed 10-Noon, 1-4 pm
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