Next Tuesday, April 23, marks the 116th birthday of the United States Army Reserve, recognizing the dedicated service of the nation’s 200,000 Army Reserve Soldiers and Civilians. The theme this year is “Today’s Army Reserve: Building Critical Skills for the Nation.” Today, the Army Reserve offers more than 120 different career fields. Soldiers can build on their civilian profession in the Reserve or try a new career that fulfills a separate purpose. On April 23, […]

March 21 photo of BVA Executive Committee and Judge Advocate Stephen Butler in Washington office of Senator Jerry Moran. Left to right, National President Paul Mimms with guide dog Shadow, Vice President Wade Davis, Stephen Butler, National Treasurer Joe Bogart, and National Secretary Tracy Ferro. One month ago, the BVA Executive Committee traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with several members and staff of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs. They met personally […]

Join in the enjoyment of BVA’s VetTech team this Wednesday, April 17, at 2:00pm Eastern Time, for a Weekly Wednesday Webinar that offers something new and fresh outside the norm of VetTech. Participants and the team will welcome Patricia Cox, President of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. Patricia will lead a discussion and demonstrate how to conduct virtual game nights with blind and low vision participants through virtual conferencing platforms. On Thursday, […]

All past, present, and prospective dog handlers among BVA’s blind and low vision veterans are invited to attend this Tuesday’s virtual meeting of the group, scheduled for 4:00pm Eastern Time. Included among the invitees are those who have never attended a dog handler meeting in the past and those who do not currently have a guide dog but who are interested in the issues concerning them. Please encourage your fellow veterans to attend, sharing the […]

Blind and low vision veterans and their families may not be aware of the Center for Minority Veterans (CMV), established by Public Law 103-446, in 1994. Title 38, United States Code (USC), Section 317 reflects the current responsibilities of the CMV, which seeks to champion minority veterans by ensuring awareness of, and equitable access to, the benefits and service they have earned through their service. The ultimate goal of the Center is to enhance the […]

The Travis Manion Foundation is once again partnering with VA’s National Cemetery Administration in mobilizing volunteers of all ages from across the country to pay respect to fallen heroes on and around Memorial Day. Known as The Honor Project, the associated events are being expanded this year to 20 national cemeteries in which volunteers will place hand-crafted commemorative tokens at the gravesites of those who have served while also reflecting on their service and sacrifice. […]

Arsenio is sitting in a tree, near the base, while “G” looks on from Arsenio’s feet. Last week I was able to bark about my dad, BVA member Arsenio, and our unbreakable bond. This week I wish to share a little about what that bond en“tails”. Humans often say that dogs are man’s best friend, but I am more like a son to my human. We have gone everywhere together since the day we met […]

This Sunday, April 14, marks another historic milestone for the Air Force Reserve and all who have contributed to its success along the way. Reservists in every branch of the military are an important part of the Department of Defense’s strategy for manpower, global reach, and flexibility. With approximately 450 aircraft, a typical response time for the Air Force Reserve to mobilize for mission readiness and become deployable is an amazingly short 72 hours. This […]

As evening approaches, panoramic view of Downtown Jacksonville from across the St. John’s River. Photo courtesy of Visit Jacksonville. BVA members and their families are encouraged to register as soon as possible for the 79th National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. The registration includes all BVA-specific activities and meetings that will occur July 7-10, 2024, including a Florida Regional Group 50th anniversary celebration hosted by the group to which all BVA members and their families are […]