Joining Forces Blog

  • Recognizing the Contributions of Military Spouses

    Posted by Brad Cooper on May 11, 2012 at 3:27 PM EDT

    Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In reflecting on this holiday, I can’t help but think of my own wife, an incredible example of a military spouse. We met in high school, and married after I graduated from college. She finished college after we got married and earned her Master's Degree from George Washington University in between duty stations. 17 moves, 10 deployments and 2 teenagers later, she's even more wonderful than the day we met.

    I'm grateful for my very special military spouse - and best friend - and encourage you to extend your appreciation to the military husbands and wives in your life, whether it’s a neighbor, a co-worker or a mom at your children’s school. Our nation's more than 1,000,000 military spouses are among the most inspirational men and women in this nation. Through more than 10 years of war, they serve bravely on the homefront as their service members deploys abroad. Our military spouses juggle all the challenges that every American family faces - but often with the added pressure of a lovedone deployed in a war zone for extended periods of time. To all of the military wives and husbands, thank you for your service.

    Military spouses have given this nation so much. Now it's our turn to give back. We want this country to recognize, honor and support our military families - and not just through words, but through meaningful action. Today, we honor and show our military spouses our appreciation. But our military spouses have earned the support of our nation for all days, not just today.

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  • Joining Forces Honors Military Moms

    Posted by Ari Isaacman Astles on May 10, 2012 at 1:07 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: This live event has concluded. Watch the video below or on YouTube.

    In honor of the upcoming Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 11 and in support of military families celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 13, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden host a Joining Forces Mother’s Day event at the White House for three generations of military families – military mothers, as well as their mothers and their children. Tune in live as Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden deliver remarks from the East Room of the White House to honor military moms at 1:45pm today.

    Learn how you can show your support for military moms by visiting our Joining Forces site dedicated to thanking military moms and contribute to the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #ThankAMilitaryMom.

    Watch First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden honor military moms, here. 

     

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  • New York City and Robin Hood Join Forces for America’s Veterans

    Posted by Brad Cooper on May 9, 2012 at 2:47 PM EDT

    On May 7th, in New York City, I had the great privilege of attending an all-day summit onboard the U.S.S. Intrepid that brought together over 400 leaders from the military, veterans groups, non-profit organizations, local, state and federal government, medicine, and the media. It was an extraordinary day – and the focus was on sharing successful ideas from programs that have demonstrated real results or are seen to have real potential to help our returning military and their families. These ideas came from a diverse group of Americans, leaders from Tom Brokaw to Admiral Mike Mullen and Jon Stewart to the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan.

    Watch Joining Forces Executive Director Navy Captain Brad Cooper announce a new collaboration at the Robin Hood Veterans Summit, here. 

     

     

     

     

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  • Veterans Summit Aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid

    Posted by Ari Isaacman Astles on May 7, 2012 at 11:53 AM EDT

    Today, Joining Forces Executive Director Navy Captain Brad Cooper will announce a new collaborative effort at the Robin Hood Veterans Summit. The partnership between Robin Hood, New York City’s largest private funder of anti-poverty programs, the Bloomberg Administration, and the White House will better enable veterans in New York City to access the resources needed to transition from military service to civilian life. Capt. Cooper noted, "Robin Hood is doing exactly what Joining Forces is all about. They are, as the First Lady often says ‘stepping up and doing what they do best,’ positively impacting our veterans and families in the most meaningful of ways – through their employment, education and well-being."

    The Summit will host over 400 attendees aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid, a fitting location for a discussion about the critical issues facing those who have served our country. See the list of public figures joining Capt. Cooper at today’s summit here– from Jon Stewart to Gayle King – and join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #RHVets. To learn more about the White House’s Joining Forces initiative visit JoiningForces.gov, follow us on Twitter @JoiningForces and on Facebook .

    USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier at Enterprise Title Transfer

    USS Intrepid aircraft carrier which is home to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is seen in the late afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 in New York City. Earlier in the afternoon NASA transferred title and ownership of the space shuttle Enterprise to the museum. The transfer is the first step toward Intrepid receiving Enterprise in the spring of 2012. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

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  • MOAA Helps Military Families Find Gainful Employment

    Posted by Brad Cooper on May 1, 2012 at 1:43 PM EDT

    Last week, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) held a military career fair in Washington DC, giving our service members, veterans and their spouses a chance to connect with meaningful employment opportunities from nearly 100 employers. 

    This career fair was especially impactful because of its focus on military spouses, who have sometimes been out of the workforce for extended periods of time. The day included two motivational workshops for military spouses, which left them feeling confident and lifted.

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  • Panther Racing Gives Crash-Course for Hiring American Heroes

    Posted by Panther Racing on April 30, 2012 at 3:42 PM EDT

    At the start of every IndyCar Series race, the infield hospitality area is abuzz. Fans chatter about their favorite teams. IndyCar drivers gear up before they strap into the cockpit and rip through the streets. Sponsors, VIPs and team guests vie for the chance to meet an IndyCar driver. 

    But for us at Panther Racing, each race is about more than just fun and excitement. Our team is on a mission to support American heroes – service members, veterans, and military families. Since partnering with the National Guard before the 2008 season, our at-track guests aren’t multi-million dollar CEOs or high-profile marketing and sales executives. Instead, we invite National Guard Soldiers and their families, military leaders, and row after row of potential employers for Veterans in the local area. 

     

    Panther Racing Joins Forces in Support of Military Heroes

    Panther kicked off its at-track program at the St. Petersburg race in 2012. Pictured here, from left: White House Fellow Rodney Lewis, US Chamber of Commerce Senior Manager of Media Relations Bryan Goettel, J.R. Hildebrand, USAF four-star General (Ret.) Gene Renuart and Medal of Honor recipient Gary Littrell.

     

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