Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced Aug. 14 that 28 additional vet centers will be established next year across 19 states and American Samoa to address the growing need for readjustment counseling and other assistance for combat veterans. “VA is committed to providing high-quality outreach and readjustment counseling to all combat veterans,” said Shinseki. Already, the VA operates 232 community-based centers across the 50 states. They provide veterans with mental health screening and post-traumatic stress disorder counseling as well as counseling for veterans and family of fallen veterans on employment, family issues, and education, all at no cost. (VA release, including list of locations of the new vet centers)
The total number of reported sexual assaults in the Department of the Air Force ticked up about two percent in 2024 while still trailing the total from 2022, as Pentagon officials say a hiring freeze on federal government civilian employees limits their ability to fill critical sexual assault prevention and…