Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024

Source: May 13, 2024

1.   Two Air Force fighter jets recently squared off in a dogfight in California. One was flown by a pilot. The other wasn't. That second jet was piloted by artificial intelligence, with the Air Force's highest-ranking civilian riding along in the front seat. It was the ultimate display of how far the Air Force has come in developing a technology with its roots in the 1950s. But it's only a hint of the technology yet to come. The United States is competing to stay ahead of China on AI and its use in weapon systems. The focus on AI has generated public concern that future wars will be fought by machines that select and strike targets without direct human intervention. 

2.   The Israeli military intensified its attacks on northern Gaza on Monday, battling a regrouped Hamas in areas it said it had cleared and renewing questions over Israeli strategy in the war as the United States issued some of its harshest public criticism yet. Israel has insisted that it must invade Rafah, the city in southern Gaza where more than one million people had sought refuge, in order to accomplish its core objective of "eliminating" Hamas' presence in the enclave after months of fighting further north. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Sunday that even a full-scale ground assault on Rafah would fail to achieve that goal.

3.   The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza's last refuge accelerated Sunday as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory's devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped in areas the military said it had cleared months ago. Rafah is considered Hamas' last stronghold. Some 300,000 of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there have fled the city following evacuation orders from Israel, which says it must invade to dismantle Hamas and return scores of hostages taken from Israel in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.

4.   Ukrainian troops are locked in intense battles with the advancing Russian army in two border areas, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while the death toll from a Russian apartment building collapse blamed on Ukrainian shelling rose to 15. Zelenskyy said "fierce battles" are taking place near the border in eastern and northeastern Ukraine as outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers try to hold back a significant Russian ground offensive.

5.   House Armed Services Committee leaders will skip subcommittee markups for sections of their annual defense authorization legislation in a break with tradition that could lead to less public transparency on the massive military bill. Committee officials last week said work on their draft of the bill, which typically stretches over several days and involves every subcommittee hosting a hearing on their priorities, will be condensed this year to the panel's daylong markup of the legislation, expected to be held the week of May 20.

 

Next article: Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course

Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th

Source: May 10, 2024

Returning to the road course that launched him toward a second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, Chip Ganassi Racing's (CGR) Alex Palou again showed penchant for strong showings in the month of May in Indianapolis.

Driving the No. 10 DHL Honda that features American Legion branding, Palou won the pole in the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. On the same course a year ago, Palou won the then-GMR Grand Prix, which he followed with the pole in the Indy 500 and then three straight wins to seize control of the points race.

"We say it's the biggest month. It's our most important month," Palou said. "We have two races, including the biggest race. We spend here a lot of time. Like I slept last night here at the track, and I'll be spending the full week next week here. It feels like home, and it feels special."

Palou's fast lap of 1:09.0004 in the Fast Six qualifying session edged out Christian Lundgaard (1:09.0921).

"It feels special," said Palou, who currently sits in third place in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points race. "We started a bit slow, struggling a little bit with the car balance in both practices. Yeah, kind of surprised that we are here, but at the same time, we are enjoying the moment and looking forward to tomorrow starting on pole.

"Every time you start from the front it makes it feel (special), but especially if it's here."

CGR rookie Linus Lundqvist, driving the No. 8 American Legion Honda with Be the One branding, ran 23^rd in the day's opening practice and 22^nd in the second session before qualifying 19^th. He started in the same spot in the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix but was able to move up 16 spots and earn his first podium finish.

"Obviously we wanted to start up higher. It always makes your life a little bit easier," Lundqvist said. "But we just didn't have the pace today. I've been struggling all day to kind of wrap my head around it. But we showed last time out it's definitely possible to make up some ground."

Lundqvist currently sits in eighth place in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points race and has a 17-point lead over teammate Kyffin Simpson in the Rookie of the Year standings. He's enjoying being a part of Chip Ganassi Racing on site at what is called the "The Racing Capital of the World."

"I'm extremely proud to be a part of this team and everything that it stands for and everything that it's worked for," Lundqvist said. "Obviously you're going up against some of the best drivers in the world, so it's going to be a tough day at the job every time you get into the car. But what other place would you look at being a rookie and being able to learn from Scott Dixon and Alex Palou. It's an amazing opportunity, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can and hopefully one day give these guys a run for their money."

The Sonsio Grand Prix begins at 3 p.m. ET Saturday and can be seen on both NBC and Peacock.

To learn more about the Legion's Be the One program – including how to participate in training sessions – click here.

Next article: Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima

Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima

Source: May 10, 2024

Now in its fifth year, The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast has published more than 240 episodes, won three major awards and increased downloads by 72% year over year.

However, that is only the beginning.

"We're proud of the growth of the podcast," Media & Communications Commission Chairman Dave Wallace said. "It's been a great way to connect with more potential members, especially younger veterans. The podcast has also helped our ability to have meaningful conversations about important topics like veteran suicide, military sexual trauma and others."

Still, more can be done to increase the reach and audience, Wallace said. He recommended to follow, rate and review Tango Alpha Lima, which helps connect the podcast to those interested in military and veteran topics.

Here's how:

• Make sure you have the Podcasts app on your iPhone. If you don't already have the Podcast app on your phone, first go to the App Store on your iPhone, browse to the Podcasts app (link in Resources) and tap the "Free" button to install it.

• Search for and follow Tango Alpha Lima. Tap the logo and then hit the "Follow" button. The podcast will then appear in your library. You can choose to automatically download each episode, or manually download them. When the download is complete, the most recent episode appears in your folder named Downloaded. Tap the title to listen to it. You can also click on "See All Episodes" to download and listen to earlier episodes.

• Rate and review the podcast. Scroll down to the "Ratings & Reviews" section. Click 5 stars under "Tap to Rate." You can also scroll down a bit more and click on "Write a Review," which does not have to be long. A sentence or two about the podcast is sufficient.

Each Tuesday, a new Tango Alpha Lima episode will be published. And on the first of every month, a new Be the One podcast will be available. To learn more, visit legion.org/tangoalphalima

 

 

Next article: $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds

$10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds

Source: May 10, 2024

Incentive bonuses totaling $10.8 million were improperly paid to 182 senior managers at the central office of the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a new report from the VA Office of Inspector General that stated the agency is still trying to recoup the money.

The inspector general referred the findings from a seven-month investigation to the U.S. Attorney's Office to determine whether nine managers who approved granting bonuses that they later received violated federal law, according to the report made public Thursday.

However, the U.S. Attorney's Office has declined to open a criminal investigation, the report states. Federal employees are prohibited from participating in government matters where they have a financial interest.

Several managers collected more than $100,000 in payments. In September 2023, VA Secretary Denis McDonough canceled the payments when he learned about them and ordered the managers to pay them back. He announced the agency had incorrectly awarded millions of dollars in "critical skill incentive payments" to senior managers that were intended for workers needed to process a growing demand for veterans benefits.

The bonuses were authorized by Congress to help the VA recruit and retain employees in anticipation of a greater workload from veterans filing for benefits under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, also known as the PACT Act.

The critical skills incentive pay was to supplement the salaries of employees in high-demand jobs where there is a shortage of trained workers. Specifically excluded from the payments were senior VA managers.

"The incentives were meant for high-demand health care and benefits support staff who are vital to VA's operations following implementation of the PACT Act," said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "The over $10 million dollars in overpayments to VA central office employees were not some type of administrative mistake. That's a serious problem for the second largest agency in the federal government, and we're going to get to the bottom of it come hell or high water," Bost said.

The inspector general report states awarding $10.8 million in critical skills incentive payments to senior managers conflicted with VA policy and language in the PACT Act. The report cited the VA for a lack of internal controls to prevent the improper awards from being made to senior executives.

The report stated there was a reluctance by managers in human resources to vet the plans for making the payments and the office of general counsel missed opportunities to identify legal issues about how the payments were made.

The VA issued collection notices in October to "all senior executives" who received payments, according to the report. Managers were given the option to return the bonuses by Dec. 31, 2023, or enter a repayment plan. They also could ask for a waiver or challenge the debt through an appeals process.

"While the [inspector general] has not examined this process, the investigative team received information during this investigation suggesting that VA's handling of the [bonuses] had significantly damaged the morale of senior executives at the central office, and that several had experienced financial hardship as a result of having to repay the incentives," according to the report.

Next article: How many Charlotte jobs were supported by the 2023 national convention?

How many Charlotte jobs were supported by the 2023 national convention?

Source: May 10, 2024

In the first two weeks since its release, the new-look American Legion Annual Report has gotten off to a strong start.

The report has garnered 553 impressions, 490 reads and 36 downloads – 54% of these on phone. The American Legion Family is encouraged to share the report as widely as possible; view it in flip-book format here. It also contains many other metrics that can also be shared, including:

$18.9 million Economic impact of the 2023 convention in Charlotte

$410 billion+ Amount in education benefits VA has provided since 1944, to more than 25 million veterans and their families

80,025 Email messages sent via the Grassroots Action Center in the past year, more than double the previous year

62,914 Copies of the updated "Our Country's Flag" American Legion youth comic book sold through Emblem Sales in 2023, an increase of 77% from 2022

 

Next article: 2024 Media & Communications Contest winners named

2024 Media & Communications Contest winners named

Source: May 10, 2024

The American Legion is proud to announced the winners of the 2024 Media & Communications Contest. The contest recognizes the work Legion Family members – Legionnaires, Sons of The American Legion, Auxiliary and Legion Riders –  do to promote the good of the organization across media channels. 

There were a record 109 contest entries submitted for the seven categories. The winners were selected by a panel of judges and approved by the National Media & Communications Commission on May 6 during Spring Meetings. 

Chairman's Award: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota 

Innovation Award: American Legion Friends Facebook page, Dayna Beyer, Auxiliary, Department of Ohio and Mary J. Whitler Fisher, Department of California

WEBSITES

Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota

·         Honorable mention: Julie Muhle and Angela Chappell, Department of Wisconsin

Posts up to 249: Keith Kay, Post 1187 in Castle Rock, Colo.

Posts 250-749: Laurel Ross, Post 243 in Oviedo, Fla. 

Posts over 750: Roger Henning, Post 76 in Las Vegas

 

EDITORIAL/NEWS

Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, "Capitol One: Meet Bill Strusinski, lobbyist and Army medic veteran"

Posts up to 249: No award (entries did not meet criteria)

Posts 250-749: John Gessner, Post 100 in Sparta, Wis., WWII soldier gives dress to teenage girl from concentration camp

Posts over 750:  Jay Bowen, Post 209 in Colorado Springs, Colo. (The 411)

 

EDITORIAL/INFO

Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, "Shakeup in Hastings"

Posts up to 249: Russell Myers, Belleville, N.J., Squadron 105 donation to the Fisher House

Posts 250-749: no award (entries did not meet criteria)

Post over 750: no award (entries did not meet criteria)

 

PUBLICATIONS

Dept/District: Julie Muhle and Sheri Hicks, Department of Wisconsin

·         Honorable mention to Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota

Posts up to 249: Jesse Cole Rivera, Post 12 in Bandera, Mexico  

Posts 250-749: Patricia Douglas, Post 911 in Hoover, Ala.

·         Honorable mention to Larry Wilhelm, Terry Meyering and David Grandfield, Post 178 in McKinney, Texas

Posts over 750: Richard Cole, Post 284 in Colonial Heights, Va.

 

VISUAL MEDIA

Dept/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, Legion Baseball photo

Posts up to 249: Russell Myers, Belleville, N.J., Squadron 105

·         Honorable mention to Keith Kay and Aron Sager, Post 1187 in Castle Rock, Colo, Wreaths Across America photos

Posts 250-749: Patricia Douglas, Post 911 in Hoover, Ala., Legionnaire saluting child in military uniform and posts namesake gravesite photo

Posts over 750: No entries

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Department/District: Timothy Engstrom, Department of Minnesota, with Kristy Janigo of Osseo-Maple Grove Post 172 and Christopher Anderson of Hastings Post 47 (Legionnaires speak out against House legislation on e-pull tabs)

Posts up to 249: John Capriotti Jr., Post 310 in Racine, Wis. (Spirit of '76 and Boys of '76 float restored)

Posts 250-749: Haley Ford, Post 120 in Palmyra, N.Y. (A community tree lighting event to honor community veterans and military members) 

Posts over 750: no award (entries did not meet criteria) 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Department/District: Sarah Tobin, District 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Posts up to 249: Vince Winter, Post 13 in Sitka, Alaska

Posts 250-749: Richard Sambuchino and Frank Hall, Post 571 in Erie, Pa.

·         Honorable mention to Chelsea Hunter, Post 208 in Arlington, Heights, Ill.

Posts over 750: Roger Henning, Post 76 in Las Vegas

 

 

Next article: Marine Corps veteran named American Legion national adjutant

Marine Corps veteran named American Legion national adjutant

Source: May 9, 2024

U.S. Marine Corps veteran and longtime American Legion National Headquarters staff member Rodney K. Rolland was appointed American Legion national adjutant on May 9 during the final day of the 2024 Spring Meetings. Rolland's appointment was approved unanimously by the Legion's National Executive Committee (NEC) and came one day after Daniel S. Wheeler announced his retirement following 16 years in the same position.

Rolland both worked in and led National Headquarters' Human Resources Division for more than 17 years before being named assistant national adjutant on May 1, 2022. As national adjutant, he serves as the chief administrative officer of the nation's largest veterans service organization.

"I am honored, humbled and inspired to assume this important responsibility for the nation's largest and most influential organization of U.S. military veterans," Rolland said. "As a new generation joins and becomes more involved in The American Legion's programs, services and advocacy, I look forward to expanding our reach and evolving in the years ahead, guided by time-honored values."

A member of American Legion Post 333 in Columbus, Ga., Rolland's previous responsibilities as assistant national adjutant included leadership in the areas of staffing, policy, strategic planning, national resolution fulfillment, technology, budget, communications, event management and others. He has also worked closely with American Legion national commanders and other constitutional officers of the organization, as well as commission leadership, staff executive directors and division directors. He continued to simultaneously serve as Human Resources director at National Headquarters, a position he held from 2013 to 2024.

"I thank National Commander Daniel Seehafer and the National Executive Committee for trusting in my leadership. And I thank Daniel S. Wheeler for mentoring me over the years," Rolland said. "Foremost, The American Legion is much more than National Headquarters. We operate with a shared sense of purpose through ‘individual obligation to community, state and nation,' as the Preamble to our Constitution states.

"This is one big team, from every Legionnaire in every local post to the top officers and staff fighting every day for veterans and their interests in Washington. It is an honor and a privilege to help lead our talented, dedicated staff in the important work we do every day."

Rolland earned a master's of business administration degree in 2007 from Indiana Wesleyan University, where in 2005 he also received a bachelor's degree in business. His wife, Sandy, served more than 20 years before retiring from the U.S. Army.

"As you leave here today, what I want you to take with you is that I am committed to making you feel proud about your decision today," Rolland told the NEC. "I am committed to putting my best foot forward each and every day."

Prior to Rolland's appointment, Seehafer delivered closing remarks to the NEC, urging its members to continue advocacy through the Legion's Grassroots Action Center and promoting its Be the One suicide prevention program.

"Let America know that we mean business when it comes to changing lives and saving lives, especially with our veterans and their families," Seehafer said. "This is our mission: Being the one as we continue to change lives and save lives."

Next article: $392M price tag stalls bill to expand veterans benefits connected to military sexual trauma

$392M price tag stalls bill to expand veterans benefits connected to military sexual trauma

Source: May 9, 2024

Legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept crisis center reports, personal statements and other evidence to support disability claims for military sexual trauma when an official report is missing from records has stalled in Congress over a projected $392 million cost to deliver the benefits through 2032, according to lawmakers.

At issue is the Servicemember and Veterans' Empowerment and Support Act for expanding access to VA benefits and services related to military sexual trauma in cases where the service member did not go through the military chain of command to report a sexual assault or when the incident report is missing from military records.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has introduced the bill in four sessions of Congress — 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Tester said he plans to submit a portion of the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual bill specifying expenditures for the Pentagon.

The amendment will call for expanding disability and health care compensation for military sexual trauma to all former National Guard members and reservists. Bills can only be introduced once per congressional session, which is why the legislation has been submitted every two years. The earliest that it can be re-introduced is 2025.

"I won't stop pushing until we ease this process for survivors. These veterans have simply endured the unimaginable, and we've got to deliver them the tools they need to address their trauma," Tester said.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposed law change would drive up the VA's costs by $392 million through 2032 to deliver disability compensation and health care for veterans filing or resubmitting claims related to military sexual trauma in cases where there is no incident report in military records.

"My medical examiner at the VA said I had a ‘perceived' sexual attack. Do you know what a statement like that means to a woman? It happened. There were people there," said Diane Altiery, who said she was sexually assaulted during her military service in the Navy from 1990-1992.

Altiery, a former petty officer third class, said she reported the sexual assault in 1991 after the incident took place in her barracks at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, N.C. But she said there was no follow-up by the military chain of command to her complaint about the incident.

"There was not an intervention or anything like that," Altiery said. Her VA records show she was awarded disability compensation in 2023, 27 years after first filing a claim that was determined to be incomplete for lack of evidence. Her medical records include doctor's notes and consultations about the sexual assault.

But Altiery said her claim only received a second review after she hired an attorney who requested her medical military and VA records. "It has been 20-some years of a lot of frustration. It should not be this difficult to receive services from the VA," Altiery said, adding she continues to experience mental health problems related to the assault.

"Shouldn't we be doing more to prevent this conduct in the first place? A lot of work needs to be done on changing the rules and regulation. But what we're also talking about is a cultural change," Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said during a Senate VA committee hearing in April on military sexual trauma.

Veterans are now eligible for disability compensation for conditions related to military sexual trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that resulted from or became worse after sexual assault or sexual harassment in the military.

Veterans already can submit alternative evidence — including personal statements from family members and reports from rape crisis centers — to support claims for PTSD, but the evidence is not always supported by processors, according to veterans service organizations.

"Military sexual trauma is pervasive," Julie Howell, associate legislative director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, said last month at the Senate hearing on military sexual trauma. She said a 2021 survey of membership found nearly 40% of respondents had experienced sexual assault or abuse while serving in the military, though most did not report it at the time.

Though the victims might experience PTSD and other mental health conditions, Howell said they often do not disclose the abuse, seek counseling or file claims for compensation until several years after leaving the military.

"When so many sexual assaults go unreported in the military, it is my belief that we need to require the VA to consider non-[Defense Department] evidence when reviewing claims for all MST-related mental health conditions," Tester said at the hearing.

An estimated 128,000 veterans in fiscal 2023 received VA disability compensation benefits related to military sexual trauma, which roughly doubled since 2019, according to the VA. More than 60% of military sexual trauma-related claims filed last year were approved by the VA, compared to 40% a decade ago, the VA said.

In 2023, the NDAA approved $94 million to expand legal counsel for sexual assault victims in the military and $60 million to fund the sexual assault prevention and response office, which operates outside the military chain of command.

Prosecution of sexual assault and other serious crimes also moved from an accused service members chain of command to the newly established Offices of Special Trial Counsel, which reports directly to the secretaries of the military service branches.

Next article: 2021 convention emcee Craig Morgan to co-headline American Legion World Series Festival

2021 convention emcee Craig Morgan to co-headline American Legion World Series Festival

Source: May 9, 2024

Country artists Craig Morgan and Cooper Alan will headline the evening at The American Legion World Series Festival in Shelby, N.C., on Aug. 10. The festival, held the weekend before the ALWS to thank the community for its support, is free.

It's a return to Shelby for Morgan, who performed for a limited audience event at the 2022 ALWS. He also sang the national anthem and served as master of ceremonies at The American Legion National Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2021.

"When Craig performed here for us in 2022, our audience responded wholeheartedly to the music and the man," said Eddie Holbrook, chairman of the local ALWS committee. "We are excited for his performance on a larger stage with a much larger audience."

The Vinyl Junkies Band from Greenville, S.C., will open for co-headliners Morgan and Alan.

A native and current resident of Tennessee, singer-songwriter Morgan served 17 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve; in August 2023 on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, he surprised the sold-out audience by reenlisting in the Reserve.  

Respected for both his distinctive voice and his range of talent, Morgan is known for his "God, Family, Country" priorities and began his "God, Family, Country Tour 2023" last fall. The tour is in partnership with Operation Finally Home, which provides or improves homes for veterans, first responders, and their families.  

In 2022 co-headliner Cooper Alan sold over 40,000 tickets during his Cooped Up Tour and had 38 sold-out shows. His 2023 spring tour consisted of 21 dates across the United States and Canada.

Morgan's songs have charted 17 times on the Billboard country charts. "That's What I Love About Sunday" spent four weeks at the top of the country charts in 2004-2005. His other Top 10 singles are "Almost Home," "Redneck Yacht Club," "Little Bit of Life," "International Harvester," "Love Remembers," and "Bonfire." 

Morgan has made more than 16 overseas trips to perform for America's troops; in December 2022 he performed three concerts for troops and their families stationed at USAG Bavaria in Germany. He received the USO Merit Award in 2006. 

For more information, visit alwsfestival.us.

The 97th American Legion World Series will take place Aug. 15-20 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, the permanent home of the ALWS.

 

Next article: Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024