Mike Rowe gave a veteran the surprise of a lifetime in the first episode in his Facebook series "Returning The Favor."

The former "Dirty Jobs" host traveled to Indiana to meet up with an army veteran who started an organization to help his fellow veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder.

Jason Zaidement founded Operation Combat Bikesaver after he watched his father, a Vietnam War vet, struggle with PTSD.

"I love this place," Rowe says when he visits the bike shop that Zaidement built.

Zaidement said he started his shop as a way to "give back."

"I'll be that guy that will take a bullet for those guys to protect them and fight for them," he says in the episode which has 2.5 million views and counting since it debuted Tuesday.

Zaidement believed Rowe was simply profiling him for a web series but little did he know, Rowe was really there to return the favor.
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Rowe surprised Zaidement with equipment for his shop, one year's worth of rent, a new coat of paint. Additionally, The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association presented the shop with $17,500.

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WASHINGTON – There are thousands more U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan than have been previously acknowledged, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

There are currently more than 11,000 U.S. forces deployed in Afghanistan, whereas the Pentagon had previously reported only 8,400, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. told reporters at a press conference at the Pentagon. 

Delivering a more transparent number was a priority for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, said Pentagon spokesman Dana White.

The higher number now accounts for temporary duty personnel, troops assigned to combat support agencies and other forces, including forces that are supporting counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, McKenzie said. Not all of those forces had been accounted for in the Pentagon’s previous official figure, known as the force management level. 

The new figure still exempts some forces, including relief-in-place units who rotate in to replace a departing unit. 

The improved transparency ”actually lets the American people know what their sons and daughters are doing in Afghanistan,” McKenzie said. “How many are there, and I think that’s a reasonable thing.”

“At the same time, it does protect” specific force information that could be used against forces on the ground, McKenzie said.
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Going forward, the force management level will not be used, McKenzie said.

“We’re saying the number’s 11,000 today, and we’ll go up or down slightly based on the operational requirement. That’s the total forces that are in Afghanistan today. Should that number change, significantly, then we will come back in here to tell you,” McKenzie said.

On Tuesday evening, Secretary of Defense James Mattis released a statement saying that transgender service members will be permitted to remain in the armed forces until a study can be conducted on “military readiness, lethality, and unit cohesion, with due regard for budgetary constraints and consistent with applicable law.”

Prior to President Donald Trump’s July 26 “policy-by-tweet,” announcing that the U.S. government would not longer allow “transgender individuals to  serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” the Department of Defense was in the middle of reviewing how it would integrate transgender service members and recruits. In 2016, then-Secretary Ash Carter officially lifted the ban on transgender service members in the military under the Obama administration, giving service chiefs until July 2017 to develop guidelines for accessions of transgender individuals. Trump’s declaration at the end of the month caught the Pentagon by surprise, but has slowly been reeled in under the direction on Mattis and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

It is unclear whether the military will allow transgender individuals to enter the services during this review period; although, according to his statement, it seems Mattis’ freeze on the transgender ban only applies to currently serving military members.

Read his full statement below:
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The Department of Defense has received the Presidential Memorandum, dated August 25, 2017, entitled “Military Service by Transgender Individuals.”  The department will carry out the president’s policy direction, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security.  As directed, we will develop a study and implementation plan, which will contain the steps that will promote military readiness, lethality, and unit cohesion, with due regard for budgetary constraints and consistent with applicable law.  The soon arriving senior civilian leadership of DOD will play an important role in this effort.  The implementation plan will address accessions of transgender individuals and transgender individuals currently serving in the United States military. 
 
Our focus must always be on what is best for the military’s combat effectiveness leading to victory on the battlefield.  To that end, I will establish a panel of experts serving within the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the president’s direction.  Panel members will bring mature experience, most notably in combat and deployed operations, and seasoned judgment to this task.  The panel will assemble and thoroughly analyze all pertinent data, quantifiable and non-quantifiable.  Further information on the panel will be forthcoming. 
 
Once the panel reports its recommendations and following my consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, I will provide my advice to the president concerning implementation of his policy direction.  In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place.   I expect to issue interim guidance to the force concerning the president’s direction, including any necessary interim adjustments to procedures, to ensure the continued combat readiness of the force until our final policy on this subject is issued.

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​New guidance from the Pentagon offers some veterans with “bad paper” discharges more direction on their eligibility for a record review and upgrade.

The Defense Department announced late on Aug. 28 that it will direct each service’s review board to consider new “liberal” criteria to give vets “a reasonable opportunity to establish the extenuating circumstances of their discharge” — particularly if the vet received a less-than-honorable discharge while suffering from the effects of traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder from military operations, sexual assault, or sexual harassment.
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“Liberal consideration, in our view, is the right balance to ensure we are making fact-based decisions while also giving appropriate leeway to the challenges posed by these invisible wounds,” Air Force Lt. Col. Reggie Yager, the acting director of legal policy in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, said in a DoD news release.

​For years, many vets with less-than-honorable discharges have complained that they were drummed out of the service with no consideration for their “invisible wounds,” depriving them of the help they need — particularly treatment in the VA system — as a result. A General Accountability Office report released in May found that of nearly 92,000 service members discharged for misconduct between 2011 and 2015, more than 57,000 — nearly two-thirds — “were diagnosed with PTSD, TBI or other conditions such as adjustment, anxiety, bipolar or substance abuse disorders within two years before leaving the service,” 

Military.com reported. The GAO study also said military services were inconsistent in considering whether service-connected medical issues may have contributed to a service member’s misconduct.

The problems are not new; Vietnam-era veterans in particular were discharged in large numbers for misconduct while many of their mental-health issues went undiagnosed. But as more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans return to civilian life, the problems have grown more acute — and so has a movement to restore benefits to the worst-off bad-paper dischargees, led by Kristofer Goldsmith, founder of High Ground Veterans Advocacy. A former soldier who was given a general discharge after an Iraq deployment and a suicide attempt, Goldsmith says the DoD’s new guidance is “what we’ve been asking for from the Pentagon for years.”

Finally, he added, “veterans suffering the compounded effects of bad-paper and PTSD, TBI, or MST will have a better idea about what to expect when they file a discharge appeal.”

That’s a hope that first took flight in 2014, when a lawsuit brought by Vietnam Veterans of America and Yale Law School pressured then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to issue Pentagon guidelines requiring that military review boards take “liberal considerations” into account when deciding whether a veteran’s discharge level was fairly determined. But those considerations were vague and applied haphazardly by the various services’ review boards.

“Words matter, and for a long time, veterans and the military review board agencies have been unsure of what ‘liberal consideration’ actually means,” said John Rowan, president of Vietnam Veterans of America.

The bad-paper issue again came to the fore last March, when Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin announced that bad-paper dischargees who showed up at a VA emergency room with suicidal tendencies would be treated by the facility and given up to 90 days’ mental-health treatment.
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But this week’s updated guidance for military discharge reviews is the first time the Pentagon has clarified exactly how review boards should approach bad-paper discharges.

American Legion National Commander Denise H. Rohan issued the following statement regarding Hurricane Harvey’s devastation along the Texas coast:

“During times of crisis, families come together. Right now, priority one is saving lives. To all the people of Texas, The American Legion offers its support and prayers to the victims and the first responders in harm’s way. The American Legion Family has a number of support programs to include Temporary Financial Assistance, our National Emergency Fund and a network of ham radio operators. We have American Legion posts across the country that will offer their own forms of assistance as well. I have directed our national staff to maintain regular communications with the Department of Texas headquarters to ensure that we do everything we can to help those in need. For now, people with inquiries can call our Texas American Legion headquarters at (512) 472-4138. More details will be released at www.legion.org during the coming days.”

With a current membership of two million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through approximately 13,000 posts across the nation.

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​Heavy rain and severe flooding is ravaging Houston in the wake of Harvey, a category 4 hurricane that is affecting more than six million people, including American Legion Family members. And the Legion is ready to assist those in need.

The American Legion’s National Emergency Fund (NEF) provides immediate financial assistance to Legion Family members and posts affected by natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. The fund provides up to $3,000 for qualified Legion Family members and up to $10,000 for posts.

The NEF covers expenses such as temporary housing, food, water, clothing and other daily household items.

In order to qualify for an NEF grant, an applicant must:
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• Have been displaced from his or her primary residence due to a declared natural disaster.
• Provide copies of receipts of items required to meet immediate needs, such as temporary housing, food, water, clothing, diapers, etc.
• Be an active member of the Legion at the time of the disaster.

To apply for assistance click here or call the Texas American Legion headquarters at (512) 472-4138. American Legion departments wishing to offer assistance, please email Texas Commander John Hince at john.hince@hotmail.com

And to donate to the NEF, click here.

Nearly $9 million has been provided to Legion Family members and posts through the NEF since its inception. All contributions made to the NEF are used to meet urgent needs of Legion Family members.

Also, NEF media brochures are available for download under Internal Affairs on the Legion’s publication web page, www.legion.org/publications, to help department and post leaders on best practices to follow before, during and after an emergency. The brochures describe how to set up an NEF response team, locate affected Legion Family members, assist victims in filling out NEF applications and generate good public relations. NEF applications are also included.

“During times of crisis, families come together. Right now, priority one is saving lives,” said American Legion National Commander Denise Rohan. “To all the people of Texas, The American Legion offers its support and prayers to the victims and the first responders in harm’s way."

TFA program

While the NEF provides immediate assistance to Legion Family members, qualified children of Legion-eligible veterans may receive assistance through the Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program – the fundraising project of Rohan's during her tenure as national commander.

TFA grants can provide a lifeline to veteran families in need during times like these as they help meet the costs of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses. During disasters where a family has lost a home or it’s been severely damaged, TFA could be used to help cover mortgage costs while that family pays for temporary housing.

TFA is limited to minor children (17 years or younger) whose biological parent, or legal guardian, is a veteran and is, or would have been, eligible for American Legion membership. However, Legion membership is not required to receive a TFA grant.

Those wishing to apply for a TFA grant must contact their local Legion post. To find a post in your area, click here.

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The gavel has sounded and the American Legion 99th National Convention in Reno, Nevada has come to a close.

As we enter the countdown to the American Legion Centennial, this year’s convention had no shortage of excitement and even a couple of history making moments.

The Hoosier Legion Family had an impressive showing in Reno.  Together with the Sons of the American Legion and the Women’s Auxiliary, Indiana had over 200 representatives in Reno and they took little time to make their presence known.

The Sons of the American Legion Detachment of Indiana brought home multiple awards for their contributions to the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.  The SAL Detachment donated 110 thousand dollars to the foundation, which was the largest donation for the 2016-2017 year.

The Women’s Auxiliary was honored with multiple awards that will be officially announced at the Fall Conference.

The American Legion Department of Indiana was also honored for high donations. 
James May, the 2016-2017 Department Commander, was presented a Certificate of Recognition by National Commander Charles Schmidt for one of the highest contributions to the National Emergency Fund.

As for the convention itself, this was definitely a year to remember.

For the first time in the American Legion’s 98-year history, a woman will serve as its leader.  Legionnaire delegates elected Denise Rohan as national commander.

CENTER POINT -A U.S. Army veteran and Hoosier Legionnaire who later served three Indiana governors in positions including director of the state department of commerce is being remembered.

Funeral services for Don Moreau, whose military career started during World War II and continued through the Vietnam War, will be held Monday in Clay County. Moreau's civilian career also includes executive roles with Indiana's State Student Assistance Commission, Indiana Toll Road Commission, Emergency Medical Services Commission, Department of Labor, Indiana State Fair and the Korean and Vietnam Wars Memorial Commission. He was 89.
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He founded the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation in 1993 and became its first CEO in 1998. Moreau is thought to have received more Sagamore of the Wabash awards than anyone else. Governors Otis Bowen, Robert Orr, Evan Bayh, Frank O'Bannon, Joe Kernan, Mitch Daniels, Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb all bestowed the honor on Moreau. In 2014, he was among the inaugural class inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

The funeral for Moreau will be Monday, August 28 at 11 a.m. at Center Point United Methodist Church in Clay County. You can connect to more about his life and career by clicking here. On Wednesday, September 27 at 4 p.m., a memorial honoring Moreau's military service and career will be held at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis. Burial with full military honors will take place at a date yet-to-be determined at Arlington National Cemetery.

President Trump signed what he called a “historic bill” for veterans on stage during the American Legion’s national convention in Nevada on Wednesday.

“No longer will veterans be kept waiting for years to get an answer to their appeals,” Trump said in Reno. “They will receive timely updates and they will get decisions much more quickly in a fraction of the time.”

The legislation signed by Trump – the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act -- streamlines the process of veterans appealing claims over disability benefits.

More than 470,000 veterans are in limbo as they wait for a decision on their benefits, a White House official told Fox News Wednesday morning.

Trump noted during his speech that the American Legion “pressed so hard for that legislation” and said, “they have a lot of power, a lot of power, and they use it well.”

During his speech, the president also referenced his decision, announced earlier this week, to send more troops to Afghanistan – a reversal of his campaign promise to withdraw troops that follows months of deliberations with advisers.

“We will pursue an honorable and enduring outcome in Afghanistan worthy of the tremendous sacrifice our troops have already made,” the president said. “We will give our men and women in uniform the tools they need, and the trust they have earned, to fight and to win.”

Trump argued “tremendous progress” has been made “in the fight against terrorism.” But he expressed concern, and vowed to take action, over how terrorist groups, like ISIS use the internet for recruitment.

“We are going to start working very hard on the internet,” Trump said. “Because they’re using the internet at a level that they should not be allowed to use the internet. They’re recruiting from the internet and we are going to work under my administration very hard so that doesn’t happen.”
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Ahead of the speech, the White House said about 10,000 veterans and members of the American Legion would be in attendance. Leaders from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and AMVETS were also there.

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