Deadline approaching soon! From August 1, through September 30, applications are being accepted for the spring 2025 semester for the Hope For The Warriors Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship Program.Since 2006, Hope For The Warriors has awarded Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships twice a year. The nationwide program recognizes and rewards post-9/11 spouses and caregivers for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite adversity as they assume critical roles in the financial well-being of their families.Scholarships vary from $1,800 to $2,500 and are applied toward higher education at an accredited U.S. university, college, or trade school. Unique to the program is…
Author: USVM
You may have heard that veterans can be valuable assets to the workplace, but what does that mean, and what are recruiters actually looking for when hiring veterans? U.S. Veterans Magazine had a conversation with a veteran-specific recruiter, Brian Wieters, with Neighborly to discuss the value of veteran employees, what they bring to the table and how other companies can be veteran-friendly.You work extensively in hiring veterans. Why is this important to you?Hiring veterans is important to me because I deeply respect the skills, dedication and resilience they bring from their military service. Veterans have made significant sacrifices for our…
Starting a business can be expensive, but you don’t have to fund your company alone if you’re a veteran business owner. From government-funded business grants to scholarships from nonprofit organizations, here are some top funding opportunities you should take advantage of:Second Service Foundation Military Entrepreneur ChallengeHosted by the Second Service Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping veteran entrepreneurs, the Military Entrepreneur Challenge is an annual coaching and competition event that awards grants to veteran, military spouse and Gold Star family entrepreneurs. Participants are given the opportunity to prepare and present a pitch to a panel of judges that award monetary…
Each year, two athletes are chosen as the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF’s) Athletes of the Year to support veterans in work outside their service, foster camaraderie and promote health and wellness. One male and one female athlete are chosen and honored for the previous year. This year, the 2023 Athlete of the Year award was bestowed upon Space Systems Command handball player Capt. Andrew Donlin and Air Mobility Command triathlete 1st Lt. Rose Smith.“It was extremely difficult choosing our DAF-level winners,” Maj. Tiffany Lewis, DAF Fitness and Sports Division chief at the Air Force Services Center, said in a…
After learning Russian and robotics, plus training in jets and spacesuits over the past two years, NASA’s newest astronauts are ready to take a giant leap forward in space exploration.Chosen from a pool of more than 12,000 applicants, the DoD’s Katie Lange reports that eight of the 10 Americans from NASA’s Class of 2024 happen to be current or former service members. Among those who successfully made it through the program are Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Wittner, retired Marine Corps Maj. Luke Delaney and Coast Guard Cmdr. Andre Douglas.Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jessica WittnerWittner is no stranger to reaching heights that…
By Mike Richman Roy Wilkins was a football and basketball star at his North Carolina high school. He competed in the same two sports at Clemson University, a big-time Division I program in South Carolina. Playing defensive back, he contributed to Clemson’s 1981 football team that finished 12-0 and won the national championship.Then, in an instant, Wilkins lost his athletic superiority—or so he thought. Serving as a command sergeant major in the Army’s special forces, Wilkins was riding in an armored vehicle that went over a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in November 2004.Two months later, he emerged from a coma…
By Capt. Eric Streeter and Philip Regina Each year, U.S. Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines team up with military allies in other countries for the African Lion (AL24) exercise, a two-week-long event that brings training and humanitarian efforts to Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia.Consisting of 8,100 participants from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO, the 20th annual event held a multitude of activities during the two-week exercise, including combined infantry tactics led by the Maryland Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, a comprehensive staff exercise orchestrated by the U.S. Army’s 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, and…
Candace Terry, a dedicated advocate for veterans and a driving force behind the University of South Carolina’s (USC) veteran services shared her inspiring journey and the impactful initiatives that have earned USC recognition as a Top Veteran-Friendly School.A Journey from Navy to AdvocacyTerry’s story is one of resilience and dedication. She served eight years in the Navy as a Russian and Persian Farsi crypto analyst and developed a unique skill set that later facilitated her transition into civilian life. After her military service, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Russian studies at the University of Kentucky, where she joined the…
By John Register After six years as a Soldier and 10 years as a sports specialist and associate director in the Army, transitioning to a nonprofit was like stepping into a new environment.I couldn’t understand why my performance appraisals were always three out of five, regardless of my efforts. One year, I landed a $15 million grant, and the next year, with average performance, I received the same evaluation.I was attending a mastermind program for my professional speaking business. I told one of my colleagues about an encounter I had with Secretary Hillary Clinton. I was on an advisory committee…
By Kellie Speed According to a recent study conducted by Duke University and the Department of Defense, over 44 veterans lose their lives to suicide each day. The impact of a veteran’s sudden suicide lingers, and U.S. Army veteran Cary Reichbach knows firsthand just how difficult it can be to attend another fellow Soldier’s funeral year after year.As a result, Reichbach has dedicated his life to helping other veterans ease the burden of PTSD by founding the nonprofit, Grey Team.Reichbach comes from a long line of service members who served in World War I, World War II and the Korean…
