Newsbytes December 6, 2024

In this issue: 
Easier Access to Military Bases
Military Suicides increasing
Veterans Homelessness Drops
Pearl Harbor Attack Remembered
 

Certain Veterans and Caregivers get easier Access to Military Bases
The departments of Defense and Veteran Affairs have agreed to allow easier access to military bases and the potential services they offer veterans and caregivers. Veterans and caregivers are now being offered a simplified enrollment process to get on base. Instead of needing a VA-issued Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) or presenting various forms of documentation, eligible individuals enroll for base access using their REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or non-driver’s identification card. Veterans without a VHIC and eligible caregivers no longer must show documents like a VA-issued caregiver patronage letter or VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A.

“Our veterans and their caregivers deserve a smooth experience in accessing installations,” said Ashish S. Vazirani, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. “We are glad to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs on this initiative and look forward to continuing to welcome eligible veterans and VA caregivers to military exchanges and commissaries, and at eligible facilities like golf courses, movie theaters and clubs.”

To learn more about veteran commissary and exchange privileges go to: https://www.va.gov/resources/commissary-and-exchange-privileges-for-veterans/. Veterans with additional questions are also encouraged to contact their local installation.

DoD Report: Military Suicides Increasing 
The Defense Department (DoD) recently released its annual report on suicides in the military that shows that suicides among active-duty military rose from 331 in 2022 to 363 in 2023. "Admittedly yes, that long-term trend is gradually increasing," Dr. Timothy Hoyt, Deputy Director of the Office of Force Resiliency at the Defense Department told reporters. The suicide rate has grown from 17 per 100,000 active duty service members in 2011 to 26 in 2023, according to data released in the annual report for 2023, although the rate decreased for one year from 2020-2021. 

Active-duty service members who died by suicide in 2023 were largely enlisted males under the age of 30, accounting for 61% of suicides. The most common method of suicide was firearms, at 65%, followed by hanging or asphyxiation, at 28%. Defense officials said the suicide rates were similar to rates across the U.S. population between 2011 and 2022.  

"We are not immune to the factors that drive suicide throughout the U.S., and our service members face, in addition to those, a number of unique military challenges," Hoyt said. He added recommendations from the Suicide Prevention Response and Independent Review Committee have given a "mechanism by which we can address as many of those potential risks as possible and make investments in those spaces."  

The Pentagon set up the review committee to provide recommendations to reduce suicide deaths in the military. Last year the committee made a series of recommendations, including broadly improving the delivery of mental health care, addressing stigma and other barriers to care and revising suicide prevention training. A copy of the report is available at: Department of Defense Releases Its Annual Report on Suicide in the Military for Calendar Year 2023 > U.S. Department of Defense > Release 

Veteran Homelessness Drops to 15 Year Low  
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) have released their annual homelessness report indicating a historic decrease in veteran homelessness. The statistics show a 7.5% decline since 2023 and a significant 55.6% reduction since 2010 in veterans homelessness. 

VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the importance of these findings, by stating at FRA’s National Convention in November, “No veteran should experience homelessness in this country they swore to defend…. We still have a long way to go, but we will not stop until every veteran has a safe, stable place to call home.” A copy of the report is available at: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/AnnualReport-2023-508v2.pdf 

Pearl Harbor Attack Remembered 
FRA shipmates around the country will participate in events tomorrow, December 7, to remember the Japanese sneak attack on the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2300 Americans. The attack on Hawaii and other U.S. territories led the United States to formally enter World War II. This Saturday marks the 83rd anniversary of the attack.