American Legion News

April Impact: jobs, scholarships, Pop-Tarts and more

Source: May 3, 2024

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The American Legion weighed in on legislation, awarded scholarships, delivered support for VA-using veterans in Phoenix and helped those who have served find employment during the month of April 2024.

It was a big month for social media and the Tango Alpha Lima podcast, with the biggest jump in Instagram response since National Headquarters launched the platform some years ago. The podcast episode with Air Force combat veteran Israel de Toro, an adaptive sports athlete and inspiration to many, drew the highest number of downloads of any episode this calendar year.

And in Children & Youth Month, the Legion awarded hundreds of thousands in scholarships and grants, adding to the more than $60 million distributed for young people through the decades.

For the April 2024 American Legion Membership Impact Report, and others, click here.

Next article: Legion executive director talks veteran advocacy on podcast

Legion executive director talks veteran advocacy on podcast

Source: May 3, 2024

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Chanin Nuntavong appeared recently on episode 132 of the podcast, Scuttlebutt, to talk about his role as Executive Director of The American Legion's Government Affairs Office in Washington, D.C.

Nuntavong, a Marine Corps veteran, discussed how The American Legion is more than individual posts in the community. He oversees The American Legion Headquarters in D.C., which is responsible for advocacy and policy work. He discusses the challenges in fighting for veterans' benefits and having to deal with the frustrations of bureaucracy and red tape.

"My team and I fight for benefits every day," he said. "I have folks going up the Hill to talk to members and offices every day. I have folks talking to VA and DoD about how we can do things better. And that's what you get when you join The American Legion," he said.

Nuntavong lists some of the bigger priorities for The American Legion, including transition assistance, veteran homelessness, education benefits and military quality of life. He gives an example of how The American Legion helped in 2018 when the government shutdown caused the Coast Guard to not get paid.

"Back in 2018 when we had the government shutdown, members of the Coast Guard weren't paid," he said. "So, The American Legion gave out over $1 million in grants to junior enlisted families. We are still, to this day, fighting to make sure that the Coast Guard gets paid if the government gets shut down," Nuntavong stated.

He also talks about the Be the One mission and how easy it is to focus on the negative number of 22 veterans dying by suicide every day. He says that Be the One is about shifting focus to helping one veteran at a time and being that one person for someone else, changing and saving lives, one person at a time.

He explained, "'22 veterans' was a big thing for a long time," he said. "People are always fixated on the negative number. The most important number is one. If we can save one veteran's life, what a difference that would make."

You can listen to this episode of the Scuttlebutt podcast on here: Scuttlebutt Ep 132: Advocating for Veterans with Chanin Nuntavong - Marine Corps Association (mca-marines.org)

Next article: Your guide to plant-based milks

Your guide to plant-based milks

Source: May 3, 2024

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The popularity of non-dairy milk has surged due to health concerns over dairy, an increase in lactose intolerance as people age and other factors. Plant-based milks are healthier options and better for the environment.

Here's an overview of different kinds of plant-based milks, their benefits and more:

Nut milks. Popular varieties include almond, cashew, macadamia, pistachio and hazelnut. These milks are made by blending various nuts with water and straining out the pulp. Mostly known for being low-calorie with a mild, nutty flavor and creamy texture, these are a versatile option for use in coffee, cereal, smoothies and baking. The nutritional content can vary significantly depending on added sugars, fortification and processing methods. Opt for unsweetened varieties, and check the ingredient list for additives and preservatives. People with nut allergies should consider alternatives.

Seed milks. Flaxseed, hemp and other seed milks are often rich in essential nutrients such as protein and fiber, and vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and zinc. They typically have lower calorie content than dairy milk. Seed milks, particularly flaxseed, may promote digestive health due to high fiber content, which can support regular bowel movements and overall gut health; they also contain heart-healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, which may help lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Compared to dairy and nut milks, seed milks require less water and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Soy milk. Derived from soybeans, this milk has been a staple in some cultures for centuries. Known for its high protein content, soy milk is also a good source of calcium and vitamin D. With its neutral taste, it works well in sweet and savory dishes. Some research suggests, however, that soy milk could be an endocrine disruptor by mimicking estrogen in the body, possibly leading to hormone overload.

Coconut milk. This milk is prized for its rich, tropical flavor and luxurious texture. It contains medium-chain triglycerides, which help improve heart health and weight management. Coconut milk is commonly used in curries, desserts, and tropical and coffee beverages.

Grain milks. Examples include oat and rice milks, which are cholesterol-free. These milks are made by blending oats or milled rice with water and straining out the solids. Oat milk boasts a naturally sweet flavor and a smooth consistency. Known for its ability to froth well, oat milk is a favorite in barista-style coffee drinks. Rice milk, which is not as nutrient-dense as others, offers a subtle flavor for those seeking a milder alternative to dairy.

Army veteran Jennifer Campbell is a certified personal trainer with a master's degree in nutrition education. She is past commander of the California Legion's 24th District and Hollywood Post 43.

Next article: New American Legion Annual Report available

New American Legion Annual Report available

Source: May 2, 2024

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The 2023-2024 American Legion Annual Report is now available at legion.org/annualreport and legion.org/publications. As it has done since 2011, the report covers the organization's programs and priorities in a format designed for public view.

The newest edition has been redesigned to better align with the state of media consumption and social sharing today. The photos are larger; there is more emphasis on metrics and less on text; and QR codes are embedded on some pages, so visitors can use their mobile phones to access more information on legion.org. The full financial report of The American Legion is now also accessible via a QR code published in the document.

The American Legion Family is encouraged to share the report as widely as possible. View the new Annual Report in flip-book format here.

Next article: Post 731 brings youth air rifle program back to Southern California

Post 731 brings youth air rifle program back to Southern California

Source: May 2, 2024

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Five years ago, members of American Legion Post 731 in San Diego, Calif., saw a need to reignite the youth air rifle program within their post and District 22 as participation and interest was decreasing departmentwide. Financially sound, Post 731 sponsors the program for all 29 posts in the San Diego County to encourage participation.

"We took it on for San Diego County for all of our American Legion posts here to give them an opportunity to send shooters and participate because we've just been very blessed financially," said Chuck Camarato, Post 731 finance officer. About five posts within the county participate, but the active air rifle program has gained momentum beyond District 22 as other California posts are now sponsoring American Legion air rifle teams.

"It seems people have noticed that we were doing this and they're trying to revitalize their programs as well," said Francis Hall, Post 731 program director. "It's nice to see that maybe we started something that other people could put momentum behind, because I've had a couple calls with people from California posts trying to start the program. It's nice to see that maybe there's some interest in what we've built."

Around 35 youth have participated in the program since its inception, with numbers ranging from six to 12 on the team a year. The youth practice every Saturday morning at a local gun range that Post 731 has a good relationship with. The range provides Post 731 the facility in a lockdown atmosphere for the first two hours before they open to the public at 10 a.m. Camarato said having the team practice at a local range has been good for liability coverage.

"One of the difficulties that a lot of American Legion posts are finding is that liability insurance is what's really restricting posts from having vital programs like this," he said. "We were looking at a restriction with our facility so we went to the gun range, and we asked them if we could participate there under their umbrella and they welcomed us with open arms. We pay a minor fee per student that shoots. It's extremely affordable for the post, and it's certainly not their standard fee that they would charge regular customers."

To help draw in participation, Post 731 recruits from its other youth programs like Boys State, Girls State, Scouting, Girls Scouts and Legion Baseball. They too distribute marketing materials to JROTC units, Boy Scout councils and American Legion district meetings.

"We certainly got some very high caliber young men and women because we have been able to interact with our other programs with some of these youth, which has been outstanding for us because these are very energetic youth that we have who want to make the best of everything," Camarato said.

"There is good participation and awareness around San Diego County about this program," Hall added.

NRA-certified Legionnaires from Post 731 and surrounding posts are program instructors. If additional training is needed for instructors, Post 731 pays for it "which really incentivizes post members to participate," Hall said.

"We have easily spent $50,000 building this program, not just in the participation levels but also in the cost of the program and buying the materials that it takes to actually run a program like this," Camarato said. "Now, when somebody wants to start the program, we're able to guide other American Legion post into establishing the program."

Camarato said as with any program, there's trial and error. "And we certainly have had our trial and errors in in building this program. You have to know which rifles to buy. You have to know what gear is good, and you have to know how to train the kids in safety courses and how to improve their skill basis. That took us a couple of years to kind of gain our footing on becoming experts."

He credits the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) in being instrumental in getting the air rifle program running, as CMP instructors came to the post to provide lectures on how to conduct a youth shooting program. Other valuable resource materials came from The American Legion National Headquarters Junior Shooting Sports web page, along with posters ordered from Amazon that show correct firing positions and rifle safety guidelines.

"There's a lots of ways to enhance your program to keep safety in mind and to keep focus on the art of marksmanship. That was all things we had to learn in the beginning on how to get those resources and use those resources," Camarato said.

Hall added that trust is also vital to starting an American Legion air rifle program.

"When building an air rifle program, you have to build trust with the instructors and the parents because if they see that this is safe, because it's new and there's no legacy to build on, the parents have to understand that we are qualified and that this a nationally recognized program," he said. "We have NRA-qualified instructors. Everyone takes youth training on sexual abuse. This is a safe environment for their kids.

"At the beginning, we would have the parents come to the range to see how we conducted business, so they felt a sense of security. Then these same parents, by word of mouth, recruit all the kids. We have a lot of siblings coming onto the team and friends of people who participated. So getting the trust of the parents and kids, getting the professionalism of the instructors, and then building on that legacy helped us build the program too. The trust factor of the parents is a critical piece."

Hall's children participated in Post 731's air rifle program, and even though they have graduated from high school, he remains committed to the program for a few reasons.

"One of the pillars of The American Legion is Americanism. That's not always found in schools and the community, but this is a chance for us to teach people about Americanism and what our country stands for and the sacrifices soldiers and sailors have made throughout the years," he said. "And because it's an opportunity for kids who are not the captain of the football team or the star basketball player to go in there and do something that they can excel in because you don't really have to be the greatest athlete to do this, but you have to concentrate, you have to show up for practice, you have to commit to the team. It's an opportunity for young men and young women to feel like they're part of a team and distinguish themselves in some way. I think teaching them about the core values of our country and giving them opportunity to be a team and learn an opportunity to distinguish themselves is pretty cool."

Camarato's commitment is grounded on educating about firearm safety.

"To me, it's the education in a day of age when it just seems like firearms have such negativity publicity out there," he said. "The United States of America is very highly behind its Second Amendment rights, and when you take away the education from the youth to learn safety and marksmanship, you handicap our youth for the future. I'm all in favor of teaching our youth the proper procedures for our safe firearm handling versus no education whatsoever."

At the end of the program year in late April, Post 731 holds a capstone event for the youth, their parents and instructors at an outdoor gun range. They do firearms training, a live shoot with various firearms and enjoy food and an awards ceremony. "It's amazing," Camarato said. "They are always crazy about this capstone event. It's a huge way to end the program for the year."

And this fall, Post 731's shooting sports program will have three participants as cadets at West Point.

"We've had kids from the shooting team joined the military, and I think it opens up people's minds to who The American Legion is and what we do," Hall said. "I think we're trying to build the next generation of American Legion members and awareness because the shooting sports teams is another opportunity to show what The American Legion can leverage to make our country better."

Next article: Department of Indiana combining membership event with veterans assistance, family day

Department of Indiana combining membership event with veterans assistance, family day

Source: May 2, 2024

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The American Legion Department of Indiana had a tradition of a Close of Books event that took place over the summer and served as the final card turn-in for the membership year. The event took place in West Lafayette at the Indiana Veterans' Home.

But when he was preparing for his year as department commander for 2023-2024, Legionnaire Robert Oeth started thinking about doing something different. And over a plate of chicken wings in Indianapolis, he and current Department Membership Chairman David Miller started coming up with a plan.

The result: a three-day Close of Books 2024 event that not only has a membership component, but also adds an at-risk veterans day and a family day. The event will take place June 7-9 at department headquarters in Indianapolis.

"We were looking at things we'd done in the past: why this worked, why this didn't work," said Oeth, a 53-year Legionnaire and member of American Legion Post 351 in Elberfeld, Ind. "It was, ‘Let's think of something a little bit different.'"

Later on, Oeth learned that the U.S. Department of Labor offered grants for veteran stand downs to veteran service organizations. "That really kind of sparked the interest," Oeth said. "And the wheels just started turning."

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 7, the Department of Indiana will be bringing in a mobile barbershop to provide free haircuts and a mobile dental clinic to provide check-ups and care. Four department service officers will be on site to file new or check on existing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs claims; representatives from a homeless veterans facility, the Red Cross and other veteran-related organizations will be in attendance.

Free lunch will be provided, and any veterans who attend will be given backpack care packages that include hygiene products, clothing, shoes and other items.

Veterans in the Indianapolis area who cannot drive themselves to the event will be provided transportation services, including veterans staying in homeless facilities, as well any residents of the Indiana Veterans' Home who also want to attend.

"Hopefully we can get several out there that day and help them out," said Oeth.

The next day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., the department has scheduled veteran-owned food trucks to be in attendance. For children, there will be a bounce house and various games, while patriotic vendors and military vehicles also will be on display. Service officers will again be in attendance.

And on Sunday, June 9, the normal Close of Books will take place. "Membership is a big thing," Oeth said. "But we think Friday and Saturday are also a big plus if we can help these veterans in the area. We need to change sometimes and have people look in a different direction. Hopefully, by combining all this, it gives people a better sense of what we're supposed to be doing."

Next article: Islamic State group said to be recruiting greater numbers in Afghanistan

Islamic State group said to be recruiting greater numbers in Afghanistan

Source: May 2, 2024

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The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan is regenerating strength through aggressive recruitment and by taking advantage of instability in the country, a Pentagon watchdog agency report said Thursday.

ISIS-Khorasan province has claimed a wave of attacks this year in Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. ISIS-K also claimed an attack this week in western Afghanistan that left six dead.

The group's resurgence is heightening ongoing U.S., UN and regional concerns that the country is once again becoming a terrorist haven, the Special Inspector General for the Reconstruction of Afghanistan report said.

The report follows testimony to Congress in March by Gen. Erik Kurilla, the top U.S. general in the Middle East, that ISIS-K is building an "expanding cadre of fighters."

The group is in the midst of a recruiting surge that extends its ability to strike outside Afghanistan, the SIGAR report and regional analysts said.

ISIS-K is taking advantage of poor economic conditions and instability in Afghanistan that came after the Taliban seized the country from the U.S.-backed government in 2021, said Kamran Bokhari, senior director of the Eurasian Security and Prosperity program at the Washington-based New Lines Institute.

"ISIS-K is having a resurgence," Bokhari said during a phone interview Wednesday. "The Taliban is trying to consolidate power; they have huge financial problems and social unrest. These are all the conditions you would expect ISIS to try to exploit, and they are."

ISIS-K is recruiting people disillusioned by Taliban rule, and recent attacks outside of Afghanistan show the additional manpower is increasing the group's reach, he said.

Attacks claimed by the group and cited in Thursday's SIGAR report include a March 22 storming of a Russian concert venue that killed more than 130 people, a Feb. 7 attack in Pakistan that killed at least 30, and a Jan. 3 suicide bombing in Iran that left approximately 100 dead. ISIS-K also claimed a January church shooting in Turkey that killed one person and injured another.

The uptick in ISIS-K attacks beyond Afghanistan's borders comes as the group has launched fewer operations within the country, said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington.

The Taliban are enemies of ISIS-K and fought them before and after the fall of the U.S.-backed government in 2021.

Fewer ISIS-K attacks within Afghanistan indicate that Taliban ground offensives against the group are having an effect internally, Kugelman said.

"The Taliban's (counterterrorism) efforts have produced tactical triumphs, but the jury's still out on whether they've succeeded strategically," Kugelman said in an email Thursday. "The bigger issue is ISIS-K's growing capacity to project a threat far beyond Afghanistan, and the Taliban's inability to address that," he added.

Other militant groups such as al-Qaida remain in Afghanistan in a weakened state, Thursday's SIGAR report said.

The group that launched the 9/11 attacks that drew in U.S. troops to Afghanistan in 2001 can no longer launch sophisticated attacks, the report said, citing a UN sanctions monitoring team. But the group continues to try to expand its recruitment, with eight new training camps, the monitoring team said.

Next article: Lawmakers want DOD to provide data on troops' tuition assistance complaints

Lawmakers want DOD to provide data on troops' tuition assistance complaints

Source: May 2, 2024

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Four members of Congress have asked the Pentagon to bring them up to date on the Postsecondary Education Complaint System — reports the Defense Department stopped providing nearly a decade ago.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tom Caper, D-Del., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., with Rep. Donald Davis, D-N.C., wrote Wednesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking the Pentagon to start publishing updates from the complaint system again.

"This will afford Congress and the public the ability to conduct oversight and ensure accountability over these programs, which receive hundreds of millions of dollars in DoD funding annually," said the letter, which was also addressed to the acting undersecretary for personnel and readiness, Ashish Vazirani.

The system was launched in January 2014 when the DOD collaborated with the Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs to provide "military students the opportunity to file education complaints against their schools," the letter states.

It was spurred on by Government Accountability Office probe in March 2011 that revealed the Pentagon was aware of concerns regarding "improper recruiting practices," according to the letter.

But "without a centralized process to track complaints against schools and their resolution," the DOD lacked the ability to discern trends requiring oversight and whether those concerns were adequately addressed.

In fiscal 2014, the DOD received hundreds of complaints from students receiving assistance from My Career Advancement Account Scholarships and the Tuition Assistance Program, according to the letter. Most complaints focused on tuition and fees, refund or collections issues, quality of education and release of transcripts.

Data from the following year "was similarly helpful in identifying and addressing institutions and behavior that put taxpayer dollars at risk," according to the lawmakers.

After fiscal 2015, when the DOD stopped releasing summary reports, information on complaint numbers and "critical information" about problems facing military-connected students was unavailable to Congress, according to the lawmakers.

"We write today to better understand the status of the Postsecondary Education Complaint System, and to urge the Department of Defense to prioritize this program in order to safeguard the hard-earned military education benefits of our service members and their families," the letter states. The letter also requests the DOD to release basic data from the complaint system on its website along with providing annual summary data again.

The four lawmakers asked for a response by May 15. Up to 300,000 military members participate in tuition assistance programs annually, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service published Dec. 14. The DOD alone provided $644 million in tuition assistance in fiscal year 2022, according to the lawmakers' letter.

Military spouses benefit from career scholarships and veterans benefit from the Montgomery and Post 9/11 GI Bills and loan programs from the federal government and commercial lenders.

All are encouraged to send their complaints to the Postsecondary Education Complaint System, according to the program's website.

Next article: ‘An extraordinary ceremony'

‘An extraordinary ceremony'

Source: May 2, 2024

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On April 24, a yearly commemoration was held in the community of Bérismenil, Belgium, of the crash of a B-17 into a nearby hillside during World War II, held at a monument to the pilot and all others killed during the war. The ceremony was just one of many set around Europe for 2024, this year of 80th anniversaries of World War II battles.

Among those taking part was Margraten American Legion Post NL01 of Brunssum, Netherlands, which has done so since 2018. As Andy Clevenger, retired from the Air Force and NATO, explained, "The local Belgian people and their students commemorate and memorialize the World War I and World War II monuments to all casualties (military and civilian), coinciding with the anniversary of the crash." He called it "an extraordinary ceremony."

Isabelle Engels, a bilingual Belgian author and former NATO employee, has organized the ceremony for more than 30 years, including working with Post NL01. During that time, she has tracked down the fates of the nine surviving pilots and connected with the family of the one KIA, James H. Young. In a history of the event, she wrote: "On April 13, 1944, the 8th Air Force bombed the ball-bearing manufactories at Schweinfurt a few minutes after the attack by the Luftwaffe on the formation without escort.

On board the Joker, Technical Sgt. James H. Young (top turret) was killed by a 30 mm ammunition. The aircraft was so damaged that the crew bailed out between Vielsalm and Bérismenil. Hearing a low-flying B-17, the villagers of Bérismenil went out to see what was happening. Three parachutes were drifting in the sky. The aircraft slammed into the hill nicknamed ‘the Crestelles' around 1500 hrs., and the fire set up the entire hill. The mayor, Joseph Mottet, and the villagers searched for survivors but only found the burned body of Young. Other villagers helped put out the fire."

A memorial to the Joker crew was erected near the crash site in 1984. In 1992 the American unit of the NATO AWACS group inherited responsibility for it. This year's ceremony included stops and remarks at the World War II monument, World War I monument, B-17 monument and the crash site itself, where the Joker's last minutes were recounted.

Next article: Emblem Sales achieves record flag orders in April