Monthly Archives: February 2010

Afghans make progress growing army, police

The challenges are plentiful, officials in Afghanistan say, but they believe they will be able to grow the Afghan army and police by more than 50 percent — from 202,561 people to 305,600 — in the next 20 months. “We … Continue reading

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Keesler making comeback after Katrina

Things are starting to look up at Keesler Air Force Base. The Mississippi air base was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but new and restored buildings across the base are beginning to erase the devastation. A new radiation … Continue reading

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Benefits reconsidered for ill Gulf War vets

WASHINGTON — The Veterans Affairs Department says it will look again at the rejected claims of veterans who say their Gulf War service caused a mysterious illness, the first step toward potentially compensating them nearly two decades after the war … Continue reading

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Va. Beach lawmaker to hold MyCAA discussion

Rep. Glenn Nye, D-Va., will hold a roundtable meeting at 4 p.m. Sunday at his Virginia Beach office to hear from local military spouses affected by the Defense Department’s sudden halt of a tuition assistance program that paid up to … Continue reading

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New hires won’t speed VA claims soon

Key senators said Friday they are pleased that the Veterans Affairs Department is hiring more than 4,000 more claims processors, but they are worried this won’t result in most veterans getting their disability benefits any faster.VA Secretary Eric Shinseki acknowledged … Continue reading

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Bill would expand leave for family members

A House subcommittee is considering legislation that would give two weeks of unpaid leave to the spouses, children and parents of any service member who is deployed or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation.Sponsored by Rep. … Continue reading

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VA to reopen Gulf War vets’ files

WASHINGTON — The Veterans Affairs Department says it will take a second look at the disability claims of what could be thousands of Gulf War veterans suffering from illnesses they blame on their war service, the first step toward potentially … Continue reading

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Benefits reconsidered for ill Gulf War vets

WASHINGTON — The Veterans Affairs Department says it will look again at the rejected claims of veterans who say their Gulf War service caused a mysterious illness, the first step toward potentially compensating them nearly two decades after the war … Continue reading

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Va. Beach lawmaker to hold MyCAA discussion

Rep. Glenn Nye, D-Va., will hold a roundtable meeting at 4 p.m. Sunday at his Virginia Beach office to hear from local military spouses affected by the Defense Department’s sudden halt of a tuition assistance program that paid up to … Continue reading

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Army, Guard athletes aim for bobsled glory

WHISTLER, British Columbia — At the very least, there was strength in numbers for the U.S. military in the four-man bobsled at the Vancouver Olympics on Friday. At the most? A gold medal on the horizon for Team USA. Four … Continue reading

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