------------------------------ Many national businesses are offering discounts for veterans on Veterans’ Day, November 11th. Click here for a listing of merchants and the discount being offered. (Please note that not every merchant on this list has locations in New Mexico. Also, a VA Health ID Card, DD-214 or other proof of veteran status will also be required to be presented to the merchant.) (Top of Page) (SANTA FE, NM)—Military veterans who were medically discharged from service between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 have at their disposal a process to review their disability ratings and check for fairness, consistency and accuracy. Unfortunately, not very many eligible veterans are taking advantage of this opportunity—or are even aware of it—and thus may be missing out on additional or more comprehensive services and benefits. Only about 2,500 out of more than 77,000 eligible veterans nationwide have sent requests to the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) since its creation by Congress as part of the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act and signed into law on Jan 28, 2009. To be eligible, a veteran must have been medically separated within this time frame with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less and not have been found eligible for retirement. Former Reserve members with greater than 20 years of total active federal military service but fewer than 20 years of active duty are also eligible to apply. “If you are a veteran who was medically discharged within this specified timeframe, I strongly urge you to have your disability rating reviewed,” said NMDVS Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale. Since the PDBR began reviewing cases in June of 2009, more than 50% of the veterans who submitted cases had their original disability determination upgraded, resulting in a wider range of available benefits or newfound eligibility for disability retirement payments. For more information and to access application forms, go to www.health.mil/PDBR. Click on the “How to Apply” tab to access the claim form. (Click here for informational brochure). (Top of Page) (SANTA FE)--July 1st marks the activation of nine veteran-related pieces of legislation which were signed into state law by Governor Susana Martinez at the conclusion of this year’s State Legislature which ended in March. All nine pieces of legislation were strongly supported by the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services, which worked closely with sponsoring legislators to educate and inform voters about the merits of each bill. “The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services is grateful for our legislators introducing and passing these bills, and we’re grateful for Governor Martinez signing them into state law,” said NMDVS Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale. “The state is again demonstrating its commitment to serving the men and women who have served our country.” Disabled Veteran License Plate Mandatory Police Training for Interacting with Mentally-Impaired Persons NMDVS Enterprise Fund Veterans’ Service Organization Property Tax Exemption Veteran Business Incubator Program Feasibility Study Hunting Fee Discount for Non-Resident Disabled Veterans Undergoing Rehabilitation Deceased Military Person’s Disposition Arrangements Military Children School Enrollment Priority Temporary Hunting and Fishing License for Active-Duty Military Personnel
NMDVS Secretary Hale Addresses Tohatchi Veterans’ Association Luncheon (Church Rock, NM)—New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale delivered the keynote address at the annual Tohatchi Veterans’ Organization Luncheon and Recognition Ceremony on March 12th at the Fire Rock Casino in Church Rock, New Mexico. It was the first visit to the Navajo Nation for the Secretary, who was confirmed just three days earlier by unanimous vote in the New Mexico Senate during the 2011 Legislative Session. During his remarks at the luncheon, he pledged to expand the outreach efforts by the NMDVS into the Navajo Nation and the state’s 19 Indian Pueblos. More than 100 veterans and widows of veterans attended the annual luncheon to hear from a slate of speakers talking about veteran issues in the Navajo Nation—which is spread out through western New Mexico and extends into Arizona and Utah. NMDVS Secretary Hale also provided an update on the Native American Veterans’ Income Tax Settlement (NAVITS) Fund, created by the state in 2009 to refund any state income tax which may have been withheld from the paychecks of active-duty Native American soldiers who were legally domiciled on tribal land in New Mexico. The initial $1 million approved in the 2009 Legislature is almost exhausted. Secretary Hale informed the conference attendees that there is legislation right now in the Legislature which seeks to replenish the fund. “We have been working with legislators to get more funding for the NAVITS Fund,” said Secretary Hale in his remarks. “We believe there are more Native American veterans who were affected but who haven’t yet filed a claim.” NMDVS Secretary-Designate Hale Address Joint State VFW Mid-Winter Conference (ALBUQUERQUE, NM)—Promising to be a more proactive rather than a reactive agency, New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) Cabinet Secretary Designate Timothy Hale delivered the keynote address at the 2011 State Veterans’ of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Ladies Auxiliary Mid-Winter Joint Conference on February 12th at the Albuquerque Sunport Sheraton Hotel. Secretary-Designate Hale vowed to strengthen the partnership between the NMDVS and veterans’ service organizations such as the VFW to provide services for the state’s 176,000 veterans—in particular, the men and women who’ve recently returned from the Global War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We need to begin looking at innovative ways to prevent having to provide what I call ‘triage care’ to this new generation of veterans,” said Secretary-Designate Hale during his address. “We need to better anticipate the needs of these returning veterans so that we can reduce the number of men and women who are finding themselves with health or financial difficulties as they try to resettle in their hometowns. “ In his remarks, Secretary-Designate Hale cited what he calls “troubling” new data released from the Department of Defense predicting that up to 30% of all National Guard and Reserve members will be unemployed. He urged all business owners in attendance to consider hiring these veterans for job openings, and to support NMDVS’ efforts to finding employment thru agency-sponsored Job Fairs, programs, and it’s Veteran’s Business Resource Center. Secretary-Designate Hale also talked about the growing problem of homelessness among veterans, and how he is fully on board with VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s national goal of eliminating veteran homelessness within five years. Secretary-Designate Hale asked all veterans to support the New Mexico Veterans’’ Integration Center—the state-operated veterans’ homeless shelter in Albuquerque partially funded by the NMDVS to provide housing, counseling, employment assistance, and health-care screening. He also pledged to work on helping better identify and improve care for veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, a condition which the VA estimates may be found in up to 25% of all returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. “These veterans have served our country, and now it’s time for us to serve them,” said Secretary-Designate H ale. “We could have a tidal wave about to break, and we need to begin preparing for it.” Secretary-Designate Hale is newly-elected Governor Susana Martinez’s choice to run the NMDVS. His formal appointment is subject to Senate confirmation during the New Mexico Legislative session, which began on January 18th and concludes at noon on March 19th. (Top of Page) Bernalillo County Renews Offer of Free Use of County-Run Fitness and Aquatic Centers for Veterans (ALBUQUERQUE, NM)--The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners passed an administrative resolution to renew the free admission policy for Armed Forces veterans and senior citizens at the four county-run fitness centers and four county-run aquatic centers. The eight facilities offering the free admission are: The Fitness Centers at Rio Grande, Westside, Los Padillas, and Raymond G Sanchez Community Centers…and the following four county-run aquatic centers: Paradise Hills, Los Padillas, Rio Grande, and the South Valley Pools. Click here for a flyer distributed by Bernalillo County containing more information. (Top of Page) Governor Martinez Nominates Timothy Hale as NMDVS Cabinet Secretary Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Timothy Hale has been nominated by newly-elected Governor Susana Martinez as her choice for Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS). Secretary-Designee Hale retired in 2008 after serving 28-years, mostly as a USAF Special Operations C-130 pilot. His service included stints as the Commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Iraq—which put him in charge of all USAF air and ground forces in southern Iraq—and Commander of the 486th Air Expeditionary Group, where he led the initial assault kicking off Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom shortly after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks. Secretary-Designee Hale is a Bronze Star Recipient with Oak-Leaf clusters and has flown 125 sorties over Iraq. The native of Mascoutah, Illinois received a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautics from Saint Louis University and master's degrees from Webster University (International Relations) in St. Louis and from the National Defense University (Resourcing and National Strategy) in Washington, D.C. The Secretary-Designee comes from a family with a strong history of military service. His father John is a WWII Navy veteran. He has a brother who served in the U.S. Navy and another who served with the Air Force. His father-in-law was a career USAF Pilot, and a son-in-law is preparing to enlist with the USAF. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation during the New Mexico Legislative session, which begins on January 18th. (Top of Page) Wellness Conference (ALBUQUERQUE, NM)--Veterans, their families, and behavioral health clinicians filled the conference rooms of the Hotel Albuquerque on October 29th and 30th for the 2010 Veterans’ Wellness Conference in Albuquerque. Sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services, the conference focused on how to treat veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by integrating existing Cognitive Process and/or Prolonged Exposure therapies with alternative methods such as Yoga, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, and Nature-oriented therapies. Presbyterian Medical Services, the Behavioral Health Services Division of the New Mexico Human Services Department, and the New Mexico VA Health Care System also assisted with presenting the conference. Friday the 29th was for clinicians; Saturday was set aside for veterans and their families. Overflow crowds of more than 300 attended both days. The event was free for veterans, spouses and family members. The conference was also free for Behavioral Health Clinicians, counselors and social workers –who earned Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) through the state’s Counseling and Therapy Practice Board for attending on Saturday “I’m extremely pleased with the interest and turnout at this conference,” said U.S. Army Col. Patricia Lillis-Hearne, of the Health Policy & Services Division at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She was the keynote luncheon speaker on both days. “I’m a strong believer in the integration of existing treatments with these newer methods, and I fully support this effort to educate veterans and clinicians about these non-clinical treatments which are now available for veterans to consider when looking for treatment for PTSD.” Dr. Vicki Thomas, PhD, the Clinical Director at the Ft. Bliss Restoration & Resilience Center near El Paso, Texas, also discussed how the facility is currently using Expressive Therapy, Relaxation Meditation, Neurobiofeedback, Acupuncture, Massage—and Reiki, a Japanese Buddhist spiritual massage method more commonly referred to as Palm Healing. “We are excited about the extremely positive feedback we’ve been getting from those who attended the conference,” said NMDVS Cabinet Secretary John M. Garcia. “I think we discovered that developing a unified integrative approach for treating PTSD is something veterans and clinicians are eager to use and learn more about.” Nationwide, the VA estimates that 25% of veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be suffering from PTSD. 30,000 of New Mexico’s veterans have served since the Global War on Terror commenced in these two countries shortly after the 2001 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. (Top of Page) |
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