Joining Forces Blog

  • American Logistics Association Hires More than 25,000 Veterans and Military Spouses

    Posted by Colonel Steve Parker on June 30, 2014 at 3:00 PM EDT

    Recently, I had the pleasure of joining the American Logistics Association (ALA) to thank and congratulate them as they announced that their member companies have hired more than 25,000 veterans and military spouses in the past three years. In October 2011, ALA was one of the first private-sector associations to answer the President’s call to hire more than 100,000 veterans.

    ALA is one of many groups that have made significant commitments and contributions to hiring veterans and military spouses. Their member companies have seen that hiring these veterans and spouses is not only the right thing to do, but it is also good for their bottom line. At Joining Forces, we encourage more associations; large and small businesses; and state and local communities to step forward and hire veterans and military spouses — and we’re highlighting ways to make it even easier.

    Connecting veterans with employers is an important step in supporting our economy and supporting our veterans and military families. In April of this year, the First Lady and Dr. Biden, announced the Department of Veterans Affairs’ E-Benefits Employment Center, the newest tool to support companies hiring veterans, and veteran job seekers.

    To visit the E-Benefits Employment Center, click here.

    Colonel Steve Parker, U.S. Army, is the Executive Director of Joining Forces.

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  • Celebration of the 70th anniversary of the GI Bill

    Posted by Colonel Steve Parker on June 22, 2014 at 1:10 PM EDT

    Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. The landmark legislation was also commonly called the GI Bill of Rights and today, after the passage of successive GI Bills following the Korean War, Vietnam and most recently, the post 9/11 version; is now known simply as the GI Bill. Administered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, these GI Bills represent critically important legislative successes for America's service members, veterans, survivors and their families.

    President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 into law on June 22, 1944. The law required the Veterans Administration (VA) to carry out key provisions for education and training, loan guaranty for homes, farms and businesses, and unemployment pay.

    In the last 70 years, successive iterations of the GI Bill have helped millions of service members, veterans, survivors, and their families buy new homes, pursue higher education and obtain professional certifications. Countless success stories of veterans who have used the GI Bill serve to highlight the power of this earned benefit. We don't readily attribute the success of Nobel Prize Laureates, famed actors, accomplished artists, movie producers and former US Presidents to the GI Bill; but perhaps we should -- individuals from all these areas are counted among its recipients.

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  • President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor to Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter

    Posted by David Hudson on June 19, 2014 at 7:00 PM EDT

    President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter

    President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. June 19, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

    Ed. note: This is cross-posted on the White House Blog. See the original post here.

    At the White House this afternoon, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter, a retired United States Marine. Corporal Carpenter received the medal for his courageous actions during combat operations against an armed enemy in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

    By all accounts, Kyle shouldn't be alive today. On November 21, 2010, Kyle's platoon woke up to the sound of AK-47 fire. As their compound began taking fire, Kyle and Lance Corporal Nicholas Eufrazio took cover up on a roof, low on their backs behind a circle of sandbags. And then a grenade landed nearby, its pin already pulled.

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  • The U.S. Army Celebrates Its 239th Birthday

    Posted by Colonel Steve Parker on June 18, 2014 at 12:39 PM EDT

    On June 14, the United States Army celebrated its 239th birthday. Since 1775, in war and in peace, American soldiers and their families have answered the nation’s call to serve — to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Today we honor that service and pay tribute to the 187 campaign streamers that adorn the Army flag.

    The total Army is comprised of more than 1.1 million men and women in uniform, supported by civilians and the families of the Active Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard. America’s all-volunteer Army is the best trained, best equipped, most capable land force in the world. Today’s Army is engaged in the longest period of combat operations in our nation’s history. On behalf of a grateful nation, we applaud the many contributions of our soldiers, veterans, survivors, and their families. 

    As the 38th Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, often reminds us: "The strength of our Nation is our Army, the strength of our Army is our Soldiers, the strength of our Soldiers is our Families. This is what makes us Army Strong."

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  • Father’s Day Reflection

    Posted by Colonel Steve Parker on June 15, 2014 at 7:54 PM EDT

    Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 is a day that most Americans know as the day that our 44th President was sworn into office.  Of course, I recall the historical and social significance too, but I missed the inaugural speech because this was also the day that my oldest son was born.  I “witnessed” the birth via telephone from Iraq.  I was 8 months into the deployment, so not only did I miss being in the delivery room, I also missed the morning sickness, the 1st ultrasound and all the other memories that went along with the pregnancy.  Hearing my son’s first cries over the telephone and knowing I wouldn’t meet him or hold him for six more weeks was an incredible feeling that I would have to put aside until later.  Military fathers know this drill all too well. Missing important, personal moments; delaying or setting aside the emotions of the day until some other, more convenient time -- that’s the selfless part of serving.

    Father’s Day is a recognition for fathers across the world but a special one for military fathers. My story of missing the birth of my first son is not unique; rather it is a sacrifice shared by nearly every father in the military. Whether on a submarine or a ship at sea, flying the skies or patrolling the lands of a distant outpost in the Middle East, Africa or Asia, American military fathers have missed more than their fair share of important personal moments. Families have sacrificed, too. Countless fathers have missed first steps, first days of school, first dates and graduations. We have missed those times when dads are needed to offer advice or understanding. Wounded Warriors have long had a saying that “it’s not about what you have lost; it’s about what you have left."

    This Father’s Day, I simply encourage every family, but especially military, veteran and survivor families, to spend quality time together.  Acknowledge the difficulty of all the moments missed; then immediately begin to focus on all the possibilities that are left. Knowing the challenges of being away for extended periods of time makes us all infinitely more grateful for the days we have together. Seize this Father’s Day and every day to unpack those special moments you previously set aside – now’s the time!

  • Joining Forces Welcomes Colonel Steve Parker

    Posted by awall on June 14, 2014 at 5:44 PM EDT

    Joining Forces is pleased to welcome its new Executive Director, United States Army Colonel Steve Parker. Colonel Parker is honored and privileged to work with the First Lady on behalf of his fellow service members, veterans and their families. His main focus will be to mobilize communities to take action, through collaborative networks of public and private partners on behalf of America’s veterans, survivors and military families.

    Colonel Parker has served in a variety of assignments over his 25 year career; and as Soldier, father, and husband, he has seen and experienced the unique challenges faced by our Nation’s heroes and their families. Experiences that will serve him well in leading Joining Forces. Following graduation and commissioning from the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served as an Air Defense Artillery platoon leader, commander and staff officer in Germany, Desert Storm and Korea. 

    As a Foreign Area Officer he served as a United Nations Military Observer in Western Sahara and Morocco and studied counter-insurgency operations at the Zimbabwe Defense Forces College. He has been assigned to US Embassies in Zimbabwe and the Republic of Djibouti. While in Djibouti, Colonel Parker played a leading role in establishing the conditions for Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa. He later served as Deputy Executive Officer and Aide de Camp to the Commander, US Africa Command.

    His commands and operational assignments include the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum, NY, where he was a Battery Commander, Battalion Executive Officer and Battalion Commander. He served as Commander of the 10th Special Troops Battalion – leading an organization of nearly 1,000 soldiers and civilians, during year-long combat operations in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION NEW DAWN.

    Previously, Colonel Parker was selected as a White House Fellow in 2005, where he served on the Domestic Policy Council and in the Office of the First Lady. Following the fellowship, Colonel Parker served as a speechwriter for the Chief of Staff of the Army. He most recently served as the Director of Operations, Plans, Training and Simulations for Fort Sill and the US Army’s Fires Center of Excellence.

    A graduate of the Defense Language Institute where he studied French, COL Parker also earned an MA in African Studies from Yale University and a BS from the United States Military Academy. Colonel Parker has been awarded the U.S. State Department’s third highest Medal for Service and the Republic of Djibouti’s second highest award for contributions to that nation—the 27 June Medal. Other awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, the United Nations Medal, the Presidential Service Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

    Steve and his wife Riva have four children: daughter, Zoe; and sons, Noah, Caleb and Eli. Riva is an accomplished corporate attorney now serving as a Department of the Army Civilian and labor counselor in the office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.