1. Veterans Appeals
Veterans appealing disability claims filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs have often complained about long delays, largely caused by the Board of Veterans Appeals that in 2017 issued about 53,000 decisions, leaving a seven-year backlog.
Halfway through fiscal 2020, the VA has issued 52,000 decisions, 15 percent more than last year. “The board’s increased production ensures more veterans are receiving benefits and services during this difficult time as the nation copes with COVID-19,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie
2. Mobilizing Benefits
More than 30,000 National Guard troops have been called up to support the COVID-19 response in their home states. They’re delivering food in hard-hit communities, staffing call centers, helping disinfect public spaces, and providing transportation, medical support, logistics and more.
Thousands more are expected to be mobilized in the coming weeks, and those called up under Title 32 orders will now qualify for benefits such as Tricare and the GI Bill after an initial mix-up was resolved, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said. “Those benefits should be provided to all of these Guardsman who are out on the front edge,” he said.
3. AUSA Scholarships
AUSA will award more than $325,000 in national scholarships this year, ranging from $48,000 to $500. To be selected for most of the AUSA national scholarships, applicants must be members of the association. Membership is not a prerequisite for the Army scholarships administered by AUSA.
The scholarship application deadline has been extended until June 30. Information is available here: https://info.ausa.org/e/784783/resources-scholarships/24xrg/157577589?h=pG-iRYoTHks3zUt7Dn7qdJopgbAeEAj4SMMJWFzGNmw.
4. Budget Delays
After earlier pledges from Congress for quick work on the 2021 defense budget, the coronavirus pandemic has led to an extended recess, delaying hearings and the writing of the annual defense policy and funding bills. The Army has asked for $178 billion for the fiscal year that
begins October.
5. Cyber Branch
Cyber branch assignments are among the top assignments requested by new Army lieutenants, U.S. Cyber Command commander Gen. Paul Nakasone told a House subcommittee. “This is a popular branch that very, very talented people want to get into,” he said. About 120 are accepted each year.
The cyber basic officer leadership course is at Fort Gordon, Georgia, with graduates moving on to first assignments at Fort Gordon, Fort Meade, Maryland, or Hawaii leading offensive or defense teams, Nakasone said. The U.S. Army Cyber Command is scheduled to move in June from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Fort Gordon, in what commanding general Maj. Gen. Neil Hersey says will have a big impact on the local economy. It will have about $1.6 billion in construction over the next eight or nine years as it experiences “amazing growth,” Hersey, commanding said. This includes a new cyber school and new signal school.