(3 pm. – promoted by ek hornbeck)
A Decade Later, a Year in the making. What should have been demanded by the Country right at the beginning of that destructive decade of lies, failed policy and increasing the threat to National Security as well as destroying our place of leadership on many issues on the World Stage. The Soldiers sent, over and over, and their Families are getting Support from across this Administration, this added to what the DoD and Veterans Administration have been doing, finally, these past couple of years.
Now what’s needed, and long overdue for this entire Nation, that cheers on occupations of choice of others, is the Demand that they Sacrifice as well with a Support the Troops and Veterans War Tax.
The occupations weren’t even mentioned, outside of the Administration and relevant Agencies of, except for those candidate words of flag waving, lapel pin wearing patriotism, during the last election campaign cycle and rarely mentioned since, till Yesterday.
Jan. 24: Rachel Maddow explains how the number and quality of initiatives by President Obama in support of military families will disempower perennial Republican “support the troops” bluster.
Jan. 24, 2011 – First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, today lauded the government’s new military family support effort, calling it an “important next step” in the nation’s support of troops and their families.Speaking from the White House earlier today, President Barack Obama unveiled a new, whole-of-government approach to military family support, with agencies uniting to create new resources and support programs for military families worldwide.
“I want to emphasize that this is not a one-time press conference,” the first lady said at the event attended by the Defense Department’s top brass and other senior government officials. “These are lasting commitments by the government to address your needs and concerns for years to come. And my hope is that these recommendations will live on no matter the president, no matter the party.” {continued}
Posted by Dr. Jill Biden on January 24, 2011 {continued}
President Barack Obama looks over at First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden as he delivers remarks in the East Room of the White House unveiling efforts to better coordinate and strengthen the Federal government’s support for military families, Monday, January 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Jan 24, 2011 – In a wide-ranging report announced Monday, the White House outlined about 50 commitments from federal agencies to help military families, including a review of compensation for some service members, caregivers and survivors.The report is the results of a presidential study directive last May that called on all cabinet secretaries and other agency heads to find better ways to support military families in areas such as spouse employment and education, youth employment, suicide prevention, families’ psychological well-being, and protection from predatory lending practices.
At President Obama’s direction, Defense officials are also evaluating compensation levels for service in a combat zone, compensation and benefits for reserve and National Guard members, benefits for caregivers and surviving families, and incentive pay for critical career fields such as mental and behavioral health professionals. This is part of the 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, which will be completed in May and will compare military pay levels with civilian counterparts.
Some of the commitments in the report reinforce ongoing efforts, such as the My Career Advancement Accounts program that provides financial assistance for two-year degrees, licenses, and certifications for portable careers, for spouses of members in the ranks of E-1 to E-5, W-1 and W-2, and O-1 and O-2.
Others address long-standing needs. For example: {continued}