making a ifference in bristol, ct august 2012 mark your … · 2018-06-25 · vietnam veterans in...

BRISTOL ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | AUGUST 2012 | PAGE 1

M AKI N G A D IF FER EN CE I N B R IST OL , CT

Army Strong Community Center (ASCC) is an

Army Reserve Family Program

AUGUST 2012

IN THIS ISSUE: Mark Your Calendars .................................. 1

Job Training/Housing Grants for Veterans .. 2

Womens’ Veterans Retreat in CT ................. 2

Post University Rep On-Site at the ASCC .... 2

Stand Down 2012 ...................................... 3

CT VA Seeking Nominations ....................... 3

YLEAD Summit ........................................... 4

5 Years of Cost-Free Health Care

OEF/OIF/OND Veterans ............................. 4

New App for Combat Veterans .................... 4

Groundbreaking in Danbury ....................... 5

In Memory .................................................. 5

Army Strong Community Center Contact Information: Army Strong Community Center 111 North Main Street, 1st Floor Bristol, CT 06010

Fax: 584-6263

PETER J. COPPOLA Contract Customer Support Coordinator Office: 860-584-6257 [email protected]

DONNA M. DOGNIN Contract Customer Support Coordinator Office: 860-584-6258 [email protected]

OFFICE HOURS: Monday—Friday, 8am—5pm

For support 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year, contact the Fort Family Outreach & Support Center at 866-345-8248 or visit www.arfp.org.

The information presented in this newsletter is for informational awareness only and does not represent endorsement, sponsorship, recommendation, or promotion of any commercial event(s), commercial names or brands by the editors of this Newsletter, the Department of Defense, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, National Guard, National Guard or Reserve, and the federal government. Usage of commercial or trade mark names is for identification purposes only.

Mark Your Calendars

August 1, 2012: Naugatuck Valley Community College Advanced Manufacturing Open House (Other dates: August 8th and August 15th)

August 10, 2012: HAVOC Golf Tournament / Picnic Traditions Golf Club, Windsor

August 12, 2012: American Legion Riders Post #36 Poker Run

August 17-19, 2012: 2nd Annual Fisher House Summer Festival, Rockwell Park, Bristol

September 14 – 19, 2012: OEF/OIF Women Veterans Retreat Camp Jewell, CT (August 10th Deadline to apply)

September 14 – 16, 2012: Project New Hope Family Retreat Grotonwood, MA

September 15, 2012: 5th Annual Veterans Symposium on Veterans’ Benefits and Health at Manchester Community College, Manchester

September 21, 2012: Stand Down 2012 at Rocky Hill, CT

2nd Tuesday of the month: PTSD Support Group, 6:30 – 8pm at St. Francis Hospital

CONTACT THE ASCC FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

OREGON CITY ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2011 | PAGE 3 BRISTOL ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | AUGUST 2012 | PAGE 2

Job Training/Housing Grants for Veterans

In early July, 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded two grants to The WorkPlace, a work force development company located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The grants were awarded under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) and the Incarcerated Veterans’ Transi-tion Program (IVTP).

The purpose of HVRP is to provide services to assist in the reintegration of homeless Veterans into employment, while IVTP is designed to assist ex-offender Veterans at risk of homelessness re-enter the work force. In both pro-grams Veterans receive employment and training services including job placement, training, career counseling, and resume preparation. For HVRP, the Veteran candidate does need to be referred by the Connecticut Veterans’ Affairs Healthcare. For IVTP, the Veteran candidate must apply within six months of being released. The IVTP program does extend to the New Haven and Waterbury areas.

The WorkPlace is a nationally recognized workforce development company located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The mission of The WorkPlace is “to develop a well-educated, well-trained, and self-sufficient workforce that can confidently compete in today’s changing global market”. The primary service areas are: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bridgeport, Darien, Derby, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton.

Coming Soon! Post University Representative On-Site at the ASCC

ASCC Bristol is pleased to announce an upcoming partnership with Post University. A Post University Military Programs representative will be available to meet with Military Members, Family Members, Retirees and Veterans regarding educa-tional benefits. The representative will also be able to review transcripts (prior education, AARTS and SMARTS) and assess what kind of credit may be transferred, and determine the degree programs that might work best. The representative should be available by late August/early September to meet with potential students at the ASCC Bristol location; exact schedule to be determined. For more information you may call ASCC Customer Support Coordinator Donna Dognin at (860) 584-6258.

Women Veterans Retreat to be Held in Connecticut

The Women’s Wilderness Institute (TWWI) is hon-ored and excited to be working with female veterans, and women spouses/domestic partners of veterans, to offer retreats in 2011 and 2012. TWWI is proud to be offering these courses in a way that is aligned with its mission, and that addresses the specific needs and issues of women veterans and women spouses/domestic partners of veterans.

SIX-DAY RETREAT CENTER BASED PROGRAMS

TWWI is offering several 6-day retreats for women who need support in re-integrating to civilian life after their military service. These retreats are funded by the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009, and are provided entirely free of charge to partici-pants, including airfare. The Women Veterans Retreats offer an intensive immersion experience of supportive and challenging activities, in a peaceful natural environment. The retreats allow women to connect with other women veterans and learn tools for dealing with post-traumatic stress and other issues that commonly affect women veterans. In addition to outdoor activities and a high and low ropes course, the retreat provides a format for sharing experiences, and education about stress, resilience, and life skills.

REMAINING DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR 2012:

August 18-23: Buena Vista, Colorado September 14-19: Connecticut

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

To be eligible, women must have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in OEF or OIF and must be currently in counseling at a Vet Center, or have been in counseling at a Vet Center for at least six sessions at the time of application.

For more information please contact:

Laura Tyson, M.A. Director of Veterans’ Programs 303-938-9191

[email protected]

www.womenswilderness.org


Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs

Seeking Nominations

The search is on for the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame inductees for 2012. The first class of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame was inducted in November 2005, and each year the CT DVA selects at least 10 new inductees from applications received from across the state and nation. This is not a mili-tary hall of fame. Those selected for the honor of induction are veterans who have honorably served their country through military service and who con-tinue to serve and inspire others with their deeds and accomplishments throughout their lifetime. To be eligible for the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame the nominee must have served their country honora-bly in a branch of military service and continued to serve their communities, state and nation after dis-charge. To date, seventy-two veterans of Connecticut have been selected and honored in the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.

Applications for induction are solicited from all Connecticut citizens. The guidelines include but are not limited to:

The nominee must have been born in Connecticut or have resided in Connecticut for a minimum of five years.

Posthumous nominations are accepted.

The nominator must provide discharge papers, which verify the honorable military service of the nominee.

The nomination packet must contain the nomina-tion form, the discharge papers, and written documentation citing the nominee’s service to the community, state, and/or nation as well as a narrative summarizing the nominee’s contributions to his or her fellow citizens. The written documen-tation should not exceed five pages in length, not including the required documents.

All nomination packets must be received in the Office of the Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs, 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 by 4pm September 3rd to be considered for that year’s class. Nominations received after September 3rd will be automatically considered for the next year.

If you have any questions or concerns please call (860) 616-3603. For more information about the CT Veterans Hall of Fame, please view the following websites at: www.ct.gov/ctva.

TOILETRIES:

Disposable razors

Shaving cream

Deodorant

Lotion

Soap

Powder

Toothpaste/toothbrushes

Combs/Brushes

FLEECE THROWS

CLOTHING:

Men’s and Women’s Socks and

underwear

Men’s and Women’s Slippers

Hats, Scarves and Gloves

Hood Sweatshirts

(L, XL, 1X, 2X)

Hooded Windbreakers

(L, XL, 1X, 2X)

Sweatpants (L, XL, 1X, 2X)

Stand Down 2012

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST

7AM – 3PM AT CT VETERANS HOME

287 WEST STREET, ROCKY HILL, CT

Stand Downs are typically one to three day events provid-ing services to homeless Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security bene-fits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agen-cies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.

The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam Veterans in San Diego. Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless Veterans, reaching more than 200,000 Veterans and their family members between 1994 and 2000.

The ASCC Bristol is proud to take part in this year’s Stand Down in Connecticut, and has coordinated a donation drop-off location within Bristol’s City Hall. Suggested items include:

Cases of bottled water accepted. No other food items are needed.

*DUE TO HEALTH REGULATIONS ALL DONATED CLOTHING MUST BE NEW


5 Years of Cost-Free Health Care

OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

ACCESS YOUR FREE VA HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

OEF/OIF/OND combat Veterans can receive five years of cost free medical care for injuries or illness

related to their active duty or military service.

Comprehensive VA health benefits, including preventative care, mental health care, prescriptions,

emergency and surgical care are available to all Veterans with a copay.

Who is Eligible?

Veterans, including activated Reservists and members of the National Guard

How do I Enroll?

Online (www.oefoif.va.gov) or by phone (877-222-VETS),

mail or in person at a VA Medical Center.

Learn more about PTSD:

www.ptsd.va.gov

Youth, Leadership Education & Development (YLEAD) Summit in Charlotte, NC

The Youth Leadership, Education & Development (YLEAD) Summit is a four-day, residential training experi-ence for teens ages 14 – 17 with a Family Member serving in the Army Reserve. The objective of the YLEAD summit is to build resiliency, develop leadership and personal life skills in Army Reserve youth. YLEADs are conducted regionally to bring youth together to reduce feelings of isolation, educate the “suddenly military” youth about the Army Reserve, the deployment cycle and skills to cope with separations, and promote involvement in command, local community and national civic initiatives.

When: 13-16 September 2012 Where: Charlotte, NC Who Can Apply: Youth living in the following states and territories are invited to register for this event: CT, DC, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NC, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV and Europe

Registration Deadline: Approximately three weeks before event date. There are 50 available slots; if all slots fill, there is also a waiting list.

What Parents want to know:

The event is fully chaperoned!

Your children will be engaged in positive youth development activities.

Youth are placed on travel orders to cover transporta-tion, lodging expenses and meals.

Youth will learn more about the Army Reserve and Military Life, including how to manage deployments.

For a full list of YLEAD locations, dates and

registration, visit: https://cyssevents.com

For additional information, contact

Carlisha Martin at 866-215-3647 ext 5002 or

[email protected]

New App for Combat Veterans

The Defense Department has announced the release of a mobile application to help Servicemembers adjust to life at home after returning from combat deployments. Positive Activity Jackpot, developed by National Center for Telehealth and Technology, uses augmented reality with a smartphone’s GPS to help find nearby activities and diversions for someone used to the high tempo of combat life. A behavioral therapy called pleasant event scheduling is the basis for design of the application. The therapy encourages a daily schedule of enjoyable activities to improve moods and overcome depression.

Information about Positive Activity Jackpot and

a clinician’s guide is on the National Center for

Telehealth and Technology website at

www.t2health.org/apps/positiveactivityjackpot.

http://www.ptsd.va.gov


Groundbreaking in Danbury On Sunday, July 7, 2012, Senators Blumenthal and Lieberman joined Major Gen William Waff (99th RSC) at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Armed Forces Reserve Center. The new Reserve Center is expected to be opera-tional by early 2014, and will include a 96,000 square foot training center, an 18,000 square feet maintenance shop and a 3,000 square feet storage area. It will house approximately 1,000 Army Reservists from three units, as well as Army National Guard units from Norwalk and Naugatuck.

“What can we do to help YOU?” Donna Dognin and Peter Coppola,

ASCC Customer Support Coordinators,

want to know!

Please give them your suggestions or concerns

via email, in person, or give them a call.

IN MEMORY Henry “Sarge” Raymond, Jr. AUGUST 2, 1926 TO JULY 13, 2012

It is the Veteran, not the preacher,

Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Veteran, not the report, Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Veteran, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, Who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the Veteran, not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Veteran, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Veteran, who salutes the Flag, Who serves under the Flag,

Eternal Rest Grant them O Lord

And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them.

making a ifference in bristol, ct august 2012 mark your … · 2018-06-25 · vietnam veterans in...

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