Your February 2018 E-Vets!

Since 1927, the mission of the Texas Veterans Commission has been to advocate for and provide superior service to veterans that will significantly improve the quality of life for all Texas veterans, their families, and survivors.

Celebrating service during Black History Month

The legacy of African-American military service in Texas is one of honor and dignity, from Private James Madison Webb of Overton, Texas who fought as a member of the legendary 369^th Infantry Regiment – the "Harlem Hellfighters" – in World War I, to Command Sgt. Maj. John Sampa, of Katy, who this week will become the first African-American Command Sergeant Major for the entire Army National Guard.

For their courageous actions sailors Dorris Miller, of Waco, and Leonard Roy Harmon, of Cuero, would each receive the Navy Cross in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Meanwhile in Europe, Sgt. Warren G.H. Crecy, of Corpus Christi, and his fellow black soldiers of the 761^st Tank Battalion fought through some of the fiercest German resistance of the war, earning the nickname "Patton's Panthers". In all, 80,000 black Texans would serve in the war.

For many, their service did not end once they took the uniform off. After being drafted to serve as a medic in the Vietnam War, Clarence Sasser would receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous efforts to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. After returning home to Texas, he continued to serve his comrades in arms, working for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Born in Nacogdoches and raised in Houston, Mary Saunders would go on become the highest-ranking African-American woman in the Air Force, retiring at the rank of major general. She too continues to give back, developing the next generation of leaders as the executive director of the Leadership Institute at Texas Woman's University.

Black History Month is a time when the contributions and achievements of African Americans are celebrated and studied in schools and libraries across the nation – including the service and sacrifice of our African American veterans.

Al Cantu, Commission Chairman

The Reverend Richard McLeon, Commission Vice Chair

Jake Ellzey, Commission Secretary

Daniel Moran, Commissioner

Kevin Barber, Commissioner

Thomas Palladino, Executive Director

Between 2011 and 2015 the Department of Defense released thousands of service members with potentially improper discharges due to incidents relating to post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault, or sexual orientation. Essentially, these veterans received a less than honorable discharge for what could be considered a service-connected condition.

Through a joint initiative with the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA has launched a new web-based tool that will provide customized guidance to veterans who desire to upgrade or change the conditions of their military discharge.

By answering a few short questions, veterans will receive information on the specific armed services board to contact, what forms they may need to fill out, special guidance applicable to their case, where to send their application, and helpful tips for appealing their discharge. Veterans who have any questions can contact their local Texas Veterans Commission claims office or call 1(800)252-8387 to find their nearest TVC office.

The discharge upgrade tool is available online here.

The Fund for Veterans' Assistance Advisory Committee just completed their annual applicant presentation meeting where they heard from over 100 organizations competing for 2018-2019 FVA grants.

Over the two-day meeting the committee members were able listen, ask questions and learn about proposed projects that will provide direct services to veterans across the state. This information is helpful as the committee members prepare for the next meeting of the FVA Advisory Committee on March 28, 2018 when they will gather to compile their grant funding recommendation for the Texas Veterans Commission.

You can watch the entirety of the Jan. 29-30 committee meeting on our YouTube channel here.

Additionally you can hear about the grant application process and stories from previous grantees on TVC's radio show, "The Voice of Texas Veterans" available to stream on SoundCloud.

Thanks for taking the Women Veterans Day Survey! Of the respondents, 53 percent said they would attend an event and 34 percent said maybe, with work and location being possible reasons for not attending. Sixty percent of the respondents would attend an event in their community and 84 percent said they would travel more than 10 miles to attend an event. What activities did respondents say they wanted as part of an event? Access to veteran resources and hearing a woman veteran speak were of the most interest.

Women Veterans Day, June 12, is right around the corner and communities are already gearing up for a host of events to recognize and honor the sacrifice of the women veterans in Texas. Keep up-to-date on events happening in your community on our website.

The Texas Veterans Commission's Veterans Mental Health Program has developed a Military Informed Care curriculum aimed at helping mental health providers establish a "therapeutic alliance" with their military and veteran-connected clients.

A therapeutic alliance refers to any healthcare professional having a connection of trust and empathy that effectively serves the needs of a client. Being able to create these relationships is increasingly important to health care professionals with no prior experience working with these communities.

It includes an overview of military culture, impacts on the family dynamic, military-related traumas, as well as specific information about the population in Texas, and best practices. Special attention is given to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, and Moral Injury.

This training is free, open to the public, and can offer Continuing Education Units to mental health providers. If you are interested in attending a training, look for an upcoming event at www.milvetpeer.net.

Currently we have training in February and March planned in El Paso, San Antonio, and Dallas, but we are always willing to come to whatever part of the state you are in. For more information, contact Aubrie Wade, LMFT at 512-468-8092 or aubrie.wade@tvc.texas.gov.

The Texas Veterans Commission will be attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Feb. 28, 2018 for Armed Forces Appreciation Day! We'll have a booth in the Veterans Village at NRG Park, with a team ready to answer your veteran benefit questions.

Additionally TVC, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Texas Veterans Land Board, will be hosting veterans benefit fairs across the state throughout 2018. Below are the dates and locations for our next two events:

March 10, 2018, Killeen

Killeen Convention Center

3601 South WS Young Drive

Killeen, TX 76542

April 7, 2018, McAllen

VA Outpatient Clinic

901 Hackberry Ave

McAllen, TX 78503

Looking to see what other veterans' events are going on in your area?

Then check out our Texas Veterans Commission events calendar to see the latest events near you!

The Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration Association (TXWWICCA) and the Texas Veterans Commission will host the 2018 Planning & Coordination Conference on March 2, 2018 in Austin, Texas. The conference will provide information and resources for Texans interested in coordinating WWI commemoration activities for their communities and organizations. The conference is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required at the following link

The Women Veterans Empowerment Expo will take place on March 3, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the University of Houston-Downtown campus at 201 Girard Street, Houston, TX 77002. The Expo brings women veterans, service members, supporters and their families together to provide an avenue of mutual support, benefit assistance and inspiring speakers.

Veteran service providers and advocates for women veterans in the Houston Area plan the annual event and anyone interested in attending can register at www.wvee.org