VFW Hears From Marine Commandant

The VFW Washington Office attended a luncheon yesterday afternoon at the National Press Club to hear Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos speak on a number of issues important to the Corps. Leading the list was the continuing success of combat operations in Afghanistan and the transfer of responsibilities over to Afghan national security forces, as well as the ongoing concern over recent "green on blue" attacks.

To view C-SPAN’s coverage of the luncheon in its entirety, click here.

Twelve American service members have been killed by members of the Afghan National Army in the last month alone. Amos said that on a recent trip to Afghanistan, he spoke about the incidents with his field commanders and his Afghan military counterparts.

Both American and Afghan commanders acknowledged to Amos that as the ranks of the Afghan National Army grew, so did incidents of “green on blue” attacks. However, the Marine commanders responsible for those serving alongside Afghan troops reassured Amos that despite the incidents, they continued to have confidence in the capabilities of their fledgling Afghan allies.

Following his remarks, Amos fielded questions from the audience on a variety of military quality-of-life and force readiness issues ranging from fiscal responsibility and budget constraints on the Marines Corps, to women serving in combat, suicide, and sexual assault.

When asked about potential across-the-board cuts to the Defense budget, Amos said he believed the Marine Corps would be hit disproportionately hard, considering the size of the force and the value it delivers to the U.S. military. Amos also said that the greatest challenge for the Corps moving forward would be ensuring the force remains balanced through a period of fiscal austerity.

When discussing women serving in combat roles, Amos clarified that the Marine Corps’ plans to integrate certain military occupations, but unit leaders must set the conditions allowing women to meet the Marine Corps standards, and that any planned integration demanded facts; rather than “hyperbole, intuition and instinct.”

Amos also took the time to address the issue of military suicide, pointing out that Marine Corps initiatives implemented by non-commissioned officers at the ground level had a positive impact, but more work needed to be done.

Amos is the 35th Commandant of Marines and the first aviator to hold the post. He commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-2004, and served as Assistant Commandant prior to becoming Commandant in October 2010.

(Image: Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos speaks at the National Press Club during yesterday's luncheon. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

President Signs Veterans' Benefits and Camp Lejeune Health Care Bill

The White House announced yesterday that the president had signed into law H.R. 1627, the "Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act."

The comprehensive veterans' benefit bill includes more than 54 provisions designed to improve and streamline veterans' benefit programs, and also extends VA healthcare benefits to veterans and military families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune between Jan. 1, 1957, and Dec. 31, 1987. The Camp Lejeune healthcare provision finally resolves a years-long dispute over how to best care for victims of toxic exposure at the North Carolina installation.

VFW advocates, who worked diligently to advance the bill, called the veterans' omnibus benefits package a major victory for the veterans' community.

To read more about H.R. 1627, the VFW's work to advance the bill through Congress, and ways to become involved in the legislative process, click here.

Leaders in the House and Senate agreed on language for the omnibus bill in late June, including language from dozens of stand-alone veterans' bills introduced in the first session of the 112th Congress. The Senate passed its version of the bill on July 18, and the House sent the final version of the bill to the president for his signature last week.

Among the bill's key VFW-supported provisions are enhancements to VA's ability to deliver telehealth consultations to remote-located veterans, expanding services for victims of traumatic brain injury, protecting veterans against sexual assault at VA facilities, and reauthorizing and expanding certain homeless veterans' programs.

H.R. 1627 is the latest veterans' bill signed into law on the heels of VFW action, but more work remains for VFW advocates once Congress reconvenes in Washington after Labor Day. Check back for updates.

(Image: President Barack Obama signs the “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012,” in the Oval Office on Aug. 6, 2012. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.)