Joining Forces Blog

  • America Remembers

    Posted by Dr. Jill Biden on May 25, 2012 at 5:26 PM EDT

    Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden address the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (May 25, 2012)

    Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden address the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) National Military Survivor Seminar in Arlington, Virginia, May 25, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

    My husband Joe and I spent the morning with some of our nation’s bravest heroes -- kids, spouses and parents who have lost loved ones who have served in the military.
     
    We were honored to kick off the 18th annual Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors. TAPS is a national nonprofit organization providing care to families of the fallen, including peer emotional support, grief and trauma resources and information, casualty casework assistance and crisis intervention, for all those affected by the death of a loved one who served in the military.

    This weekend, TAPS will help children and families of fallen service members build relationships that will last a lifetime. They will bond over their shared experiences, support one another, learn ways to cope with their grief, and also have a little fun touring our Nation’s capital.  The camp is really making a difference in the lives of the children who attend – many of whom come back year after year, and some go on to become counselors themselves.  I met a teenager who lost his father when he was nine, and this weekend he is attending the camp for the fifth time. He is heading off to college in the fall, and I am certain he will continue to inspire and support people he meets throughout his life.  

    These families have endured so much – and yet they are pillars of strength that inspire us all.  The months and years ahead will not be easy for them, and some days will be better than others.  But they have one very important thing to help get them through – the military family.  And as an Army mom, I know that means they will never be alone.  It is my hope that on Memorial Day – and every day – these families will know that our entire Nation mourns alongside them, and that we will never forget their loved ones.

    Dr. Jill Biden greets children at the TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar (May 25, 2012)

    Dr. Jill Biden greets children at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) National Military Survivor Seminar & Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors in Arlington, Virginia, May 25, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

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  • Student Voices of Military-Connected Children Inspire Guidance from Secretary Duncan

    Posted by Samuel Ryan on May 25, 2012 at 5:05 PM EDT

    Ed. note: This is cross-posted from Homeroom

    The men and women serving in our Armed Forces make incredible sacrifices in service to our country. And so do their family members. Through multiple deployments and frequent moves, the spouses and children of service members live in constant transition.

    In April - the Month of the Military Child - Secretary Duncan released a letter to school superintendents providing guidance on meeting the unique challenges faced by military-connected students.

    During their K-12 education, these children move from six to nine times, and Duncan’s letter calls for school districts across the country to plan smooth transitions for them.

    The letter provides additional guidance for school districts and schools (read the letter here), but what the letter fails to mention is what inspired the letter in the first place.

    Earlier in April, Secretary Duncan, along with Mrs. Patty Shinseki, and Department of Defense Education Activity Director Marilee Fitzgerald, conducted a Student Voices roundtable with 21 children of service members who attend high schools in the DC area.

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  • White House Office Hours: Joining Forces

    Posted by Ari Isaacman Astles on May 25, 2012 at 4:05 PM EDT

    Note: This live session of Office Hours has concluded. View the full question and answer session below or at Storify.com

    Monday, May 28th is Memorial Day, when we honor and reflect upon the sacrifices of the men and women who have defended our nation. Memorial Day also marks an opportunity to find ways for all of us to support veterans and military families.

    To discuss Joining Forces and opportunities to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the support they have earned, we’ll be hosting a session of Office Hours on Tuesday, May 29th at 2:00 pm ET with Brad Cooper, a Navy captain and the executive director of Joining Forces. Have questions?

    Here’s how White House Office Hours work:

    So, stop by for Office Hours at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 29th with Brad Cooper and be sure to follow @JoiningForces on Twitter for the latest news and more opportunities to engage.

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  • A Big Week for Joining Forces

    Posted by Brad Cooper on May 25, 2012 at 12:48 PM EDT

    Through Joining Forces, Americans continue to step up and respond to the First Lady and Dr. Biden's call to serve our troops and their families as well as they have served us.

    Last week, the Department of the Interior joined forces with the First Lady and Dr. Biden to provide free access to more than 2,000 of America's parks to our troops and their families. Then on Monday of this week, Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts launched "Blue Star Museums" --  laying out the welcome mat for free access at more than 1,600 museums around the country for service members and military families.

    Connecting veterans and military spouses with employment opportunities in the private sector has been a priority for the First Lady and Dr. Biden,  and the effort is paying off. In the last year, more than 1,600 companies have hired more than 70,000 veterans and military spouses through Joining Forces.

    Just last week, 34 more companies and organizations joined forces with the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), a partnership of more than 130 companies committed to hire and retain military spouses. Since June of last year, MSEP companies have hired more than 22,000 military spouses.

    And the momentum keeps building. Check out Joining Forces employment efforts in just the last three days:

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  • Veteran Small Business Ownership Spikes

    Posted by Brad Cooper on May 23, 2012 at 6:44 PM EDT

    Great news coming out of the International Franchise Association’s Operation Enduring Opportunity campaign – an industry-wide effort to hire as team members and recruit as franchise business owners 75,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014: A new report by GI Jobs says that the total number of veteran-owned franchise businesses jumped at least 4,000 or 35 percent to a record 11,469 since the launch of Operation Enduring Opportunity last year with Joining Forces.

    This is a huge leap - over 6,000 veterans have started careers in franchising as team members or franchise business owners since last year. And the numbers are growing.

    To be successful as a franchise business owner, you need to follow a system with precision, respect procedures and structure, be a good leader, and understand operational excellence. These are the same traits developed in military training and experience - and America's veterans have them in spades.

    That’s why the franchise industry started the VetFran program in 1991, launching a renewed effort last year with Joining Forces.

    In franchising, it is said that you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself. The structure and support systems work well for veterans entering civilian careers. Also, veterans tend to hire veterans. The average franchise business employs 10 people.

    And these companies are now renewing their efforts. The UPS Store, which has enabled 10 veterans to become franchise business owners by waiving all its franchise fees, just announced it will extend this opportunity to 10 more qualified veterans. WIN Home Inspection has allocated $1.2 million to offset start-up costs for qualified veterans joining its company as franchise business owners.

    This is great news for our veterans, and great news for America’s franchise brands. “From honor…to owner,” goes the franchise slogan. VetFran’s Operation Enduring Opportunity is enabling veterans to become leaders in the U.S. economy and create the jobs we need.

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  • 1,600 Museums Around America to Give Free Admission to Military Families for the Summer

    Posted by Brad Cooper on May 22, 2012 at 3:52 PM EDT

    First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces last year as a way to recognize, honor and support our troops and their families - and earlier today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, I had the wonderful privilege of participating in an announcement that does just that.

    Today Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts joined forces to announce the launch of Blue Star Museums - a collaboration with 1,600 museums across America that offers free admission to all active duty military personnel, including Reserve and National Guard, and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2012.

    These 1,600 (and growing) museums are in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

    Captain Brown and His Daughter at Blue Star Museums Launch Event

    Creel Brown, Captain, U.S. Army and daughter Riley at the Blue Star Museums launch event, 5/22/12 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

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