Joining Forces Blog

  • Helping Veterans Succeed at Home

    Posted by Brad Cooper on August 1, 2012 at 4:38 PM EDT

    Desert Storm veteran Jason Tobey served in the United States Marine Corps for six years before receiving an honorable discharge and returning home. Like many veterans, he faced difficulty in this transition, searching for jobs and exploring different careers, but never finding one that was the right fit. Jason enrolled in a Goodwill microenterprise development program gaining new skills that helped him launch his own security business. Not only is his firm succeeding, but Jason is also able to pay it forward—employing other military veterans and their families as they seek to make the same transition. 

    Every day, hundreds of military veterans like Jason change out of their uniforms. Goodwill is proud to be one of the organizations that have answered First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s call to help these veterans and their families. Through the Goodwill for America’s Heroes and their Families program, they have served more than 51,000 veterans and family members, and helped more than 1,350 find meaningful employment.  

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  • U.S. Coast Guard – Focused on America’s Military Families

    Posted by Rosye Cloud on August 1, 2012 at 11:29 AM EDT

    Military spouses gathered in New Orleans last week to talk about issues and concerns involving military families. This gathering was held in conjunction with the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA), an organization composed of military officers from the three Sea Services. This is yet another example of how the President, through his policies and government agency actions reinforces the importance of “Joining Forces”. Joining Forces is a comprehensive national initiative sponsored by the First Lady and Dr. Biden. Joining Forces was developed to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.

    Coast Gaurd Spouses

    During the meeting of NNOA spouses, Mrs. Linda Papp, spouse of the 24th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., talked about President Obama’s commitment to strengthen our military families. Mrs. Papp noted that support for military families is more than just a command responsibility, and encouraged attendees to help get the word out about available resources to military families. “We are the best support system for our military members,” said Papp.

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  • Social Workers to Offer New Training to Serve Troops, Veterans and Military Families

    Posted by Dr. Jill Biden on July 25, 2012 at 6:16 PM EDT

    Dr. Biden at the National Association of Social Workers’ conference

    Dr. Biden greets social workers at the National Association of Social Workers’ national practice conference. July 25, 2012. (by Kea Taylor/Imagine Photography)

    Earlier today, I was pleased to join the National Association of Social Workers at their national practice conference to announce a new Joining Forces commitment that will help train more than 650,000 social workers to have a better understanding of issues affecting our troops, veterans and military families.

    We have asked a lot of our military since Sept. 11, 2001.  They – and their families – have responded to the need for more frequent and longer deployments.  As they have done in the past, our troops and their families have answered the call with no complaint.

    But they shoulder a tremendous burden.  As one Marine wife and mother recently told me, “people have no idea what 10 years of war will do to a family.  All my kids have ever known is war.”

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  • North Carolina, Hawaii and South Carolina Pass Laws Supporting Military Spouses

    Posted by Brad Cooper on July 25, 2012 at 10:20 AM EDT

    Life just got a little easier for the tens of thousands of military spouses who work in a profession that requires a state license, including nurses, physical therapists, real estate agents, dental hygienists and so many more. Military spouses move from state to state often as they accompany their service member on assignment to military bases around the country and therefore need to transfer their license from state to state. 

    Yesterday in North Carolina, the Governor signed legislation marking North Carolina as the 26th state with measures in place to support military spouses transfer their licenses portability. This new legislation in North Carolina follows similar measures passed in Hawaii and South Carolina that support military spouse license portability in just the last few weeks. 

    The issue of military spouse license portability is not new – as an Army brat, I can remember friends of my parents going through the pain of transferring their licenses back in the 70’s and 80’s. And then in the 90’s and onward, I watched as my own friends went through the same challenge of license transfer when they moved to a new state. The process can often take months and can be a huge disincentive to work. 

    But no one in America has been able to move this issue for decades until the First Lady and Dr. Biden made military spouse license portability a signature issue of their Joining Forces initiative. 

    Back in February, the First Lady and Dr. Biden asked governors to pass legislation to reduce the financial and administrative strains that military spouses incur from trying to get their state licenses or certification credentials to transfer from state to state. At the time, only 11 states had legislation on the books.

    We’ve still got work to do, but with 26 states now having laws supporting America’s military spouses, we’re well on our way to meeting the 2014 goal!

    Learn more about Joining Forces work to make it easier for military spouses to transfer licenses:

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  • SBA Stands Ready to Help More Veterans Start (and Grow) a Business

    Posted by Karen Mills on July 24, 2012 at 5:17 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: This article was first published on SBA.gov

    Today, more than 250,000 service members are transitioning each year from the military to civilian life. These men and women are proven leaders and they have the skills and experience needed to be outstanding business leaders. Veterans over-index in entrepreneurship. One in seven veterans are self-employed or small business owners, and about one quarter of veterans say they are interested in starting or buying their own business. 

    That’s why all across the Administration we are focused on making sure that these brave individuals have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

    In his speech to the VFW in Reno, President Obama highlighted the valor and the sacrifice of our nation’s military. And the important role that we have as a nation in making sure that these men and women are able to seamlessly transition back into their communities.

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  • Missouri National Guard Joining Forces with Faith Community

    Posted by Dr. Jill Biden on July 16, 2012 at 4:30 PM EDT

    Dr. Biden Meets with Missouri National Guard Members

    Dr. Biden meets with Missouri National Guard members, families, and faith leaders about Partners in Care (by Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard)

    Last week in Missouri, I met with several Missouri National Guard members, their families, and faith leaders about the critical support they are providing our troops and families – both during deployments and after our service men and women return home.  

    As a military mom, I know firsthand what a difference the support of a church or community can have on a military family.  When my son Beau was deployed to Iraq, our church put a notice in the church bulletin – a simple act of kindness that meant so much to our family.

    That’s why what is happening in Missouri is so important. The Partners in Care initiative is a national partnership program linking caring faith communities to Guard members and their families who need certain resources. Through the partnership, faith-based organizations provide a wide range of free services to Guard families – from child care, to transportation, to counseling. 

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