Welcome to the Veteran’s Newsletter!

In today's edition:

• The VA launches survivor benefit reforms aimed at improving claims access and communication.

• VA Secretary defends workforce reduction plan as effort to refocus on direct care amid staffing concerns.

• Proposed bill seeks protections and oversight for Veterans Crisis Line staff following mistaken terminations.

• The new VA guide empowers supporters to help veterans in crisis using the S.A.V.E. method and the benefits of the COMPACT Act.

• Custom 3D-printed oxygen band improves quality of life for Veterans with facial injuries at Northeast Ohio VA.

• And more…

News of the Week

📰 Top Veteran Stories

VA Announces New Reforms to Improve Survivor Benefits Access and Support

The VA has announced a three-part initiative to improve how survivors and dependents of deceased veterans access benefits. The reforms include moving the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) back under the VA Secretary to improve oversight, launching a “White-Glove” Survivor Outreach Team to guide families through the claims process, and expanding automation to speed up Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims.

The VA stated that these changes are meant to reduce bureaucracy, improve communication, and ensure eligible survivors receive support more efficiently. The new measures begin this month, and full implementation is expected throughout 2025.

VA Secretary Doug Collins Defends Upcoming VA Workforce Cuts

The VA is evaluating a potential workforce reduction of up to 83,000 positions, aiming to return to 2019 staffing levels. According to VA Secretary Doug Collins, the goal is to shift resources toward mission-critical roles such as doctors, nurses, and claims processors while scaling back administrative or nonclinical positions.

Collins stated that increased hiring iasn’t necessarily improved outcomes, in recent years pointing to persistent backlogs and delays despite record staffing. He emphasized that the 15% workforce reduction is a target, not a finalized figure, and said many reductions may come through early retirements and attrition rather than layoffs.

Lawmakers voiced mixed reactions. Some expressed concerns about cutting support roles essential to day-to-day operations, while others supported the effort to reduce bureaucracy. There was bipartisan agreement that any changes must preserve or improve care quality, especially in light of recent expansions under the PACT Act.

The VA also plans to expand access to community care through non-VA providers, reaffirming its commitment to flexible care delivery. At the same time, Collins called on Congress to raise pay caps for VA clinicians to help the department remain competitive in hiring medical professionals.

Collins underscored that the department’s mission is to serve veterans, not to sustain unnecessary overhead, and pledged that all reforms will keep that priority at the center.

Proposed Bill Seeks Protections for Veterans Crisis Line Staff and Greater Oversight

Sen. Tammy Duckworth is introducing legislation that would require the VA to notify Congress at least 48 hours before terminating any Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) employees. This follows concerns over mistakenly issued termination notices to 24 support staff earlier this year. Though those terminations were reversed, the bill aims to ensure greater transparency and oversight moving forward.

In addition to advance notification, the bill would mandate monthly performance reports on the VCL and a detailed accounting of staffing changes since 2021. Duckworth’s proposal comes amid broader efforts to reinforce workplace protections for VA employees and maintain consistent support for veterans accessing mental health services.

The VA has reiterated that ensuring 24/7 access to the VCL remains a top priority and stated that all previously affected staff have been reinstated. While the bill faces an uphill path in the current Congress, it reflects growing legislative attention to the staffing and operation of key veteran support services.

📜 VBA Updates

How to Support a Veteran in Crisis and Be a Source of Hope

When a Veteran is struggling, reaching out—whether you’re the one in crisis or a concerned supporter—can be life-changing. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by dialing 988, pressing 1, texting 838255, or visiting VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA care to use it.

In emergencies, the COMPACT Act ensures that eligible individuals receive urgent, cost-free suicide care, including transportation, up to 30 days of inpatient services, and up to 90 days of outpatient support, even at non-VA facilities.

If you're supporting a Veteran, the VA S.A.V.E. Training is a free, online resource that equips you with four key steps:

• S: Spot the signs of suicide risk
  

• A: Ask directly if they’re thinking about suicide
  

• V: Validate their feelings
  

• E: Encourage treatment and act quickly to help

You don’t need clinical experience—just compassion and willingness to listen. The Crisis Conversation Handout from VA provides simple, nonjudgmental conversation tips to open dialogue and offer hope.

As one quote puts it, “You are the hope that leads me out of the dark.”
Even small actions—like asking, listening, and encouraging care—can be the light someone needs. Suicide is preventable, and you have the power to make a difference.

⚕️ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Updates

VA Innovation Team Develops Custom Oxygen Band to Improve Comfort and Care for Veterans

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System’s Design-on-Demand Innovation team has created a custom silicone band to help Veterans who cannot wear traditional oxygen cannulas due to missing ear cartilage. This issue often affects patients who find full facemasks uncomfortable and disruptive.

The new solution was developed in response to the needs of Veteran Alan Yak, a Vietnam-era Air Force Veteran. Collaborating with Yak’s care team, VA engineers designed a comfortable, washable, and 3D-printable silicone band that secures oxygen tubing without relying on the ears. The device can be made on-site within 24 hours and worn continuously—even in the shower.

The innovation solved a specific clinical challenge and inspired potential future adaptations for Veterans with skin breakdown or facial deformities that complicate standard oxygen delivery.

This project reflects the VA’s ongoing commitment to personalized, Veteran-centered solutions that improve quality of life through practical, creative innovation.

Veteran App of the Week

Safety Plan

Safety Plan is a free mobile app developed by the VA to help Veterans proactively manage suicidal thoughts by creating a personalized, step-by-step crisis safety plan. Designed for use alongside a mental health provider or independently, the app guides users through six key areas, including identifying warning signs, coping strategies, supportive contacts, and ways to stay safe during a crisis.

Available on iOS and Android, Safety Plan includes a "Reasons to Live" section for storing photos, notes, or videos that bring hope, and a sun icon that reveals encouraging messages from fellow Veterans. The app also features quick access to emergency resources like 911 and the Veterans Crisis Line.

While not a replacement for professional care, Safety Plan offers a secure, private, and practical tool to help Veterans prepare for and navigate mental health emergencies with clarity and support.

Note: Safety Plan is a VA product developed with Veterans and mental health professionals. Veterans are encouraged to consult their care team for additional support.

Veteran Community Highlight

American Legion Post 17 – Burley, ID

American Legion Post 17, located in Burley, Idaho, is a hub for veterans in the Mini-Cassia region. Named in honor of Lyle R. Morton, the post supports veterans and fosters community engagement.

The post's facilities include a welcoming space for members and their families to gather. Regular meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the post home, 1501 Oakley Ave., Burley, ID. The post actively participates in community events and veteran support activities, including flag pole dedications and Veterans Day commemorations.

American Legion Post 17 continues to be a vital part of the Burley community, offering support and camaraderie to those who have served.

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.

• 40% Off: Stanley

• 20% Off: Target Optical

• 20% Off: HEYDUDE Shoes

Meme of the Week

Hero of the Week: Colonel Robert G. Hale

Colonel Robert G. Hale was born in the United States and built his career quietly but profoundly from within the U.S. Army’s medical research community. A trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Hale dedicated his life to improving the health and resilience of service members through innovation in craniofacial trauma care and battlefield dental readiness.

Throughout his military service, Hale rose to become Commander of the U.S. Army Dental and Trauma Research Detachment. Unlike those on the battlefield, Hale fought to protect warfighters differently—by ensuring that devastating facial injuries sustained in combat could be treated with cutting-edge techniques, and by reducing the number of medical evacuations caused by preventable dental problems.

Among his many contributions was the development of Combat Gum, an anti-cavity chewing gum designed for troops in the field. In remote or high-risk deployments with minimal access to dental care, this simple invention helped preserve oral health and prevent infections that could remove soldiers from duty. It was a small innovation with significant implications for troop readiness.

In addition to Combat Gum, Hale’s work in regenerative medicine advanced the military’s ability to treat disfiguring facial wounds, restoring both form and function for wounded warriors. His leadership in this area laid the groundwork for treatments that gave hope to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with complex trauma.

Though his actions never made headlines in war zones, Hale’s behind-the-scenes leadership transformed military medicine. He empowered his fellow service members to stay in the fight longer, recover faster, and live fuller lives after injury.

Colonel Hale retired from active duty with the quiet respect of peers and patients alike. His work continues to influence military medical protocols and regenerative research today. He represents a unique form of heroism—one driven not by firepower, but by foresight, innovation, and compassion for those who serve.

Colonel Hale’s legacy is written in medical journals and military manuals and lives in every service member whose health and dignity were preserved thanks to his vision. A soldier of science, he exemplifies the vital impact of service behind the scenes.

Businesses That Support Veterans

Veterans Offgrid

Veterans OffGrid is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans rebuild their lives through sustainable living, community reintegration, and self-reliance. Based in Taos, New Mexico, the organization empowers veterans by providing transitional off-grid housing and teaching practical life and job skills.

The mission of Veterans OffGrid centers around creating a self-sustaining community where veterans can regain stability, purpose, and connection. The organization offers hands-on construction, permaculture, and renewable energy opportunities while also addressing mental health, trauma recovery, and personal development.

By combining environmental sustainability with veteran support, Veterans OffGrid offers a holistic approach to ending veteran homelessness and suicide. The program emphasizes dignity, healing, and long-term independence, providing a safe, purpose-driven space for veterans to thrive beyond their service.

Thank You For Your Service!

Not every service member may receive the Medal of Honor or garner widespread recognition, but that doesn't diminish the invaluable contributions each one has made to the sanctity and security of our great nation. 

The saying "freedom isn't free" holds profound truth–it resonates because every individual in the United States relies on the dedication of its military to safeguard the freedoms they enjoy. Each veteran has consciously defended these liberties, symbolizing a collective commitment to the nation's well-being. 

Whether you fought on the front lines or provided crucial support behind the scenes, thank you!

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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