Orlando Rocks for Veterans for 5th time

UPDATE VIDEOS ARE UP AT THE BOTTOM!

Here are some of the pictures from the Semper Fidelis America-VFW Orlando Rocks for Veterans Event last night. Check back tomorrow for more pictures and videos.

These are from Gunny of SFA

And these are from Wounded Times Kathie Costos, Proud member of SFA

BG Deborah L. Kotulich

Orlando Rocks for Veterans Part One
Orlando Rocks for Veterans and Gets Amp'd
Part three with more from Amp'd

Naked Female Marine Photos Shake Corps

A nude photo scandal has shaken the entire Marine Corps
Marine Corps Times
By: Jeff Schogol and Andrew deGrandpre
March 5, 2017

There's a "bounty on pictures of my daughter," Brennan told Marine Corps Times. "It has been suggested that my wife should be raped as a result of this, and people are openly suggesting I should be killed. ... Can you imagine being one of the victims?

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Marine Corps is investigating allegations an unspecified number of military personnel and veterans allegedly shared nude photos of female colleagues as part of a perverse social media network that promotes sexual violence.

The allegations were first reported by The War Horse and published Saturday via Reveal, part of the Center for Investigative Reporting. Potentially hundreds of Marines may be caught up in the scandal, which has shaken top Pentagon officials and prompted death threats against the Marine veteran who disclosed it. An undetermined number of nude photos were distributed online by way of a Facebook group titled Marines United, according to the report. The community has nearly 30,000 members, mostly comprising active-duty U.S. Marines, Marine Corps veterans and British Royal Marines.

The unseemly episode, which has played out almost exclusively online, is deeply embarrassing for the Marine Corps and the Defense Department, proud institutions that, like many college campuses around the country, have struggled to curtail widespread problems with sexual assault. At the same time, it exposes an unsettling rift within a segment of American society consistently regarded as reputable, honorable and trustworthy.
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WWII Veteran Thinks of Others for 100th Birthday

WWII Veteran Asks for Donations to Service Dog Group for His 100th Birthday in Lieu of Gifts
PEOPLE
BY AMY JAMIESON
POSTED ON MARCH 3, 2017

Sgt. Nick Nichols wishes he could have a guide dog, but at nearly 100 years of age, it would be quite an undertaking to introduce a new pup into his life.

So, for his milestone March 20 birthday, he would like to help provide the freedom and comfort of a service dog to another veteran in need.

Nichols is hoping that, in lieu of gifts this year, people will donate to Patriot PAWS Service Dogs via a GoFundMe page set up by his daughter Cheryl.

“Doing something to help veterans feels much better than getting any present,” Nichols tells PEOPLE in an email typed by his daughter.

The WWII Army veteran — who served in the Asia-Pacific campaign from 1941 to 1944 — has so far raised $700 of a $34,000 goal, the latter equaling the cost to train one dog for Patriot PAWS (veterans involved with the program receive the service dog at no cost).
read more here

Michigan Department of Corrections Officer of Year Helps With PTSD

Devoted union rep helping staff with PTSD is Corrections Officer of the Year
MLive
Danielle Salisbury
March 03, 2017

One of about 6,500 officers in Michigan and nearly 300 at the Cotton prison, she was nominated by a peer; awarded as her facility's officer of the year; and selected state-wide from a pool of five finalists.

Michigan Department of Corrections Officer Cary Johnson

JACKSON, MI - With the exception of the leave she took when her son was born seven years ago, Cary Johnson hasn't called in sick to work in 16 years.

As a representative of her union, she realizes it is important to be exemplary.

"I am making sure the union is credible by being the officer they want me to be," Johnson, 43, said this week.

A corrections officer at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility just outside Jackson, Johnson is a leader and mentor whose work demonstrates care and concern for the well-being of her fellow officers.

For her "integrity and dedication to public safety," Johnson has been named the state's 2017 Corrections Officer of the Year.

She began her career in 1995 and has been a union leader since 1997, currently serving as the only woman on the Michigan Corrections Organization state executive board, according to a statement released by the corrections department and the union.
read more here

Pittsburgh VA Listening to Veterans

Pittsburgh VA reaches out to local veterans
WTOV NBC 9 News
by Sean Eiler

“That's one of the things that have changed in the VA over the last year, is increased outreach to the veterans, trying to hear from them so they can give us their feedback on what we're doing well with and what we can improve on,” said Karin McGraw, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va.
A local veterans affairs office is aiming to better serve the veterans in the area and gain feedback at what they can improve on to help those that have served us.

The Veterans Affairs office of Pittsburgh held a claims clinic and town hall at the Wheeling vet center Friday afternoon not only help local veterans, but also to strengthen the trust between vets and the VA.

Officials on hand say there are often misconceptions about the VA and the work they do, so they hope to improve not only the help they offer but their relationships with local veterans.

Members of the VA had one-on-one claims sessions with veterans to help make their claims process easier and more efficient to make sure they receive the care they need.

A town hall was also held to allow veterans to address any questions or concerns they may have.
read more here