Welcome to the Veteran’s Newsletter!

In today's edition:

• The VA faces new leadership, policy shifts, and funding debates impacting veterans’ care and services.

• Essential advice for veterans to master job searches, from AI tools to networking and interviews.

• This veteran-led caucus tackles bipartisan issues like military family support and national service.

• Explore top VA career tips, including GS qualifications, scholarships, and impactful roles.

• A groundbreaking procedure offers new hope for veterans with chronic pain.

• The story of a Vietnam War hero.

• Help us enhance the Veterans Newsletter by sharing your input in a quick survey for new features!

• And more…

News of the Week

📰 Top Veteran Stories

Key Changes and Challenges for the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2025

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faces a year of significant transitions and challenges in 2025, including new leadership, policy priorities, and budgetary decisions. Former Georgia congressman Doug Collins, a veteran with experience in the Navy and Air Force Reserve, has been nominated as the next VA Secretary. Collins aims to streamline VA operations, reduce regulations, and ensure Veterans receive their earned benefits. His confirmation hearing in January will shed light on the upcoming administration's priorities.

Budget concerns remain critical, with VA officials requesting $6.6 billion in additional funding to cover rising medical facility usage costs. Lawmakers are divided over these estimates, and Collins will play a pivotal role in determining the accuracy of these projections and advocating for necessary funds to avoid potential service disruptions.

Community care access is another focal point, as debates continue over expanding Veterans' ability to use private-sector medical options. Proposed legislation, such as the "Complete the Mission" Act, seeks to broaden eligibility for outside care while restricting VA telehealth alternatives. This reflects ongoing tensions between ensuring comprehensive care for Veterans and concerns about shifting resources away from the VA health care system.

These developments highlight a transformative year ahead for the VA, with opportunities to enhance services for Veterans while navigating complex policy and funding decisions.

48 Expert Tips for Veterans Job Hunting in 2025

The Veteran Employment Project made 2024 productive by delivering master classes, newsletters, and job-related articles to help veterans and military spouses secure impactful careers. To close the year, they compiled 48 essential tips for navigating the job market 2025, covering every stage, from identifying career paths to acing interviews.

Key trends include leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools for job searches, such as using ChatGPT to explore potential roles and SkillSyncer for keyword-focused resumes. Veterans are encouraged to identify transferable military skills, pursue mentorship opportunities, and explore roles beyond defense and government, including Fortune 500 companies.

Networking remains critical, with advice on using LinkedIn effectively, participating in programs like SkillBridge, and connecting with veteran-friendly employers. Additionally, strategies for crafting tailored resumes, practicing interviews, and asking insightful follow-up questions enhance job-seeking success.

The guide emphasizes taking a proactive and resourceful approach to the job hunt, ensuring veterans and spouses can transition smoothly into rewarding civilian careers. The project invites feedback through a brief survey to continue supporting veterans, reinforcing its commitment to providing relevant, impactful resources.

For Country Caucus: Bridging Divides to Serve Veterans and National Interests

The For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of veterans in the U.S. House of Representatives, continues to prioritize collaboration and service. Comprising members from diverse military backgrounds, the caucus aims to bridge divides in Congress by focusing on shared values of mission and country. Established in 2019, the group has played a key role in passing over 100 bills on national security, veterans' benefits, and military family support.

Notable achievements include increasing financial assistance for military families during deployments, enabling remote work opportunities for military spouses, and advancing the Global War on Terrorism Memorial project. The caucus has also worked to support Afghan allies through evacuation efforts and emphasized the importance of national service, including programs like the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps.

Outgoing co-chairs Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger, and Tony Gonzales, a retired Navy chief petty officer, emphasized the group's commitment to finding common ground and fostering bipartisan cooperation. The caucus is expected to grow, with nearly 8% of the House participating in the next Congress. Incoming leadership will continue its mission, guided by a belief that collaborative service is vital for addressing the nation's challenges.

The caucus’ ethos reflects the unity forged in military service. It transcends political and ideological differences to focus on practical solutions for the country and its veterans.

📜 VBA Updates

Top VA Careers Insights from 2024: Your Guide to Landing a VA Job

In 2024, VA Careers provided invaluable guidance to job seekers exploring opportunities with the VA. Among the most popular topics was understanding the General Schedule (GS), which helped many applicants translate their education, training, and military experience into qualifications for federal positions. Another favorite was a spotlight on VA Police careers, emphasizing the crucial role these jobs play in keeping Veterans safe and appealing mainly to Veterans, transitioning military personnel, and civilians alike. 

Additionally, readers were drawn to information about VA scholarship programs, such as the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) and the Vet Center Scholarship Program, which offers unique pathways to impactful careers at the VA.

For those seeking to join the VA, the VA Careers page continues to provide a wealth of resources and advice to help individuals navigate their journey toward serving those who have served.

⚕️ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Updates

Columbia VA Performs First Spinal Cord Stimulation Implantation, Advancing Chronic Pain Treatment for Veterans

On Dec. 4, Columbia VA successfully performed its first spinal cord stimulation (SCS) implantation, marking a significant advancement in chronic pain treatment for Veterans. The procedure, offering relief for those unresponsive to other therapies, involves a trial phase to ensure at least a 50% reduction in pain before permanent implantation.

During the final procedure, leads were placed along the spinal cord, and a small battery pack was implanted under the skin to power the device, which disrupts pain signals to the brain. This self-contained technology, lasting 7–10 years with minimal maintenance, is effective for conditions like diabetic neuropathy and failed back surgeries.

“This is a groundbreaking step in expanding treatment options for Veterans,” said Dr. Chikezie Okeagu. The achievement resulted from seamless teamwork among surgeons, nurses, and operating room staff. Columbia VA plans to extend SCS to more eligible Veterans and introduce future spine surgeries to address various back-related conditions, reaffirming its commitment to innovative and effective Veteran care.

Veteran App of the Week

VA Health Chat

The VA Health Chat app, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is a free mobile tool that gives veterans real-time access to VA healthcare professionals. This app allows users to securely communicate with VA staff via instant messaging, ask health-related questions, and manage routine healthcare needs such as scheduling appointments or requesting prescription refills. By offering these services remotely, the app eliminates the need for in-person visits, making healthcare more accessible and convenient for veterans.

Key features of the app include support for managing appointments, prescription refills, and accessing answers to common health questions. Veterans can connect with VA nurses and healthcare team members to address concerns quickly and efficiently. Designed with user convenience, the VA Health Chat app benefits those with mobility challenges, tight schedules, or limited access to VA facilities, empowering them to take control of their health from the comfort of their homes.

Military Deals of the Week

*We do not explicitly endorse any of these companies as we have not personally purchased from many of them. We are simply sharing online deals that we have found for your convenience.

• 20% Off: Contacts Direct

• 15% Off: Clever Audio

• 20% Off: Puma

Meme of the Week

Hero of the Week: Michael J. Blassie

Michael Joseph Blassie, born on April 4, 1948, in St. Louis, MO, was raised in a supportive family emphasizing hard work, dedication, and service to others. From a young age, Blassie exhibited qualities of determination and leadership that set him apart. His interest in aviation developed early, inspired by tales of military heroes and the captivating sight of aircraft in flight. This passion guided him through school and into the United States Air Force Academy, where he trained to become a fighter pilot.

In 1972, as a First Lieutenant in the 8th Special Operations Squadron, Blassie was deployed to Vietnam during a critical phase of the war. On May 11, 1972, he flew his final and most heroic mission near An Lộc, South Vietnam, where North Vietnamese forces had launched a major offensive. The city was under siege, and the battle's outcome was pivotal to the broader war effort.

Blassie’s mission required him to pilot an A-37 Dragonfly, a light attack aircraft known for its agility and vulnerability in heavily contested airspace. He provided close air support to embattled ground forces desperately trying to repel advancing enemy troops. These missions were notoriously perilous, demanding precision flying at low altitudes while exposed to intense anti-aircraft fire.

As the battle raged, Blassie demonstrated extraordinary bravery. Despite the overwhelming presence of enemy forces, he pressed on with his attack runs, targeting fortified positions and suppressing enemy advances. His strafing runs and precise bombing provided critical relief to the defenders of An Lộc, who were struggling to hold their ground against relentless artillery and infantry assaults.

Blassie’s actions that day were instrumental in delaying the enemy's advance, buying time for reinforcements and resupplies to reach the beleaguered city. Each pass he made over enemy lines was a calculated risk, as anti-aircraft defenses filled the skies with lethal fire. Blassie’s aircraft was hit on one such pass, causing it to crash in hostile territory. Even in his final moments, Blassie’s commitment to his mission and the troops he protected never wavered.

Blassie’s courage and selflessness epitomized the warrior ethos. He prioritized the lives of others above his own. His actions directly contributed to the eventual defense of An Lộc, a critical victory that prevented North Vietnamese forces from achieving a significant strategic breakthrough.

Michael J. Blassie’s heroic efforts during his final mission remain a testament to his dedication and valor. His sacrifice is a powerful reminder of the risks faced by those who take to the skies to defend their comrades on the ground. His story endures as a symbol of the bravery and commitment that define America’s military heroes.

Businesses That Support Veterans

Give an Hour

Give an Hour is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the mental health and well-being of veterans, military families, and underserved communities. By connecting individuals with licensed mental health professionals, the organization offers free, confidential counseling to those in need, helping them navigate challenges like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief.

Founded in 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical psychologist passionate about accessible mental health care, Give an Hour harnesses a network of volunteer professionals who donate their time and expertise. The organization also works to reduce mental health stigma and foster a culture of seeking help without judgment.

Give an Hour empowers veterans and their families to achieve emotional healing and stability through its programs. By addressing critical mental health needs, the organization improves individual lives and strengthens families and communities, ensuring those who served have access to the support they deserve.

Thank You For Your Service and Happy New Year!

To all veterans, as the New Year begins, this is a moment to honor the dedication, sacrifices, and resilience shown in service to the nation. The freedoms and opportunities enjoyed today directly result from those who have served—on the front lines, in the air, at sea, and in the essential roles behind the scenes that ensured success.

The New Year offers a chance to reflect on past achievements and look forward to new possibilities. Every veteran’s contributions have left an indelible mark and deserve recognition. As 2025 unfolds, may it bring peace, opportunity, and the chance to achieve new goals. The sacrifices and commitment of those who served will always be appreciated and never forgotten.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. May this year bring you prosperity and happiness!

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Until Next Time!

Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where we’ll cover more stories and policy updates and find tools & deals for the veteran community.

Thanks,

The Veterans Newsletter