Top 5 stories in VA - Oct. 22, 2021

Credit: Reynaldo Leal | Date Taken: 10/22/2021
IT’S OCTOBER TWENTY-SECOND, TWENTY TWENTY-ONE AND HERE’S THE TOP FIVE STORIES IN VEE-A THIS WEEK.   AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK, VA SECRETARY DENIS MCDONOUGH ADDRESSED SEVERAL TOPICS, INCLUDING VETERAN DISABILITY CLAIMS. MCDONOUGH SPOKE ABOUT THE CURRENT BACKLOG AND THE RECENT APPROVAL FOR GULF WAR VETERAN CLAIMS. THE SECRETARY HOLDS A MONTHLY PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE UPDATES TO VETERANS. YOU CAN READ MORE OR WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY GOING TO VA’S BLOG.   IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR EASY, CONVENIENT WAYS TO HELP BOOST YOUR HEALTH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT THE MANY FREE MOBILE APPS AVAILABLE TO VETERANS. THE APPS ARE EITHER FROM VA DIRECTLY OR FROM THIRD-PARTY DEVELOPERS WHOSE VETERAN-FACING APPS GO THROUGH VA QUALITY CHECKS. THEY’RE FREE, OPTIONAL AND SECURE. MOBILE APPS DEVELOPED BY VA DIRECTLY INCLUDE APPS FOR: COVID AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PTSD SUPPORT HELP TO STOP SMOKING AND DRINKING INSOMNIA RELIEF WHOLE HEALTH SKILLS AND TIPS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH REQUESTING PRESCRIPTION REFILLS SCHEDULING VA APPOINTMENTS ONLINE AND VA VIDEO CONNECT FOR CONNECTING TO TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS  POST-9/11 VETERANS LOOKING FOR A CAREER AS A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER CAN APPLY TO THE SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION CORPS VETERANS FIRE CORPS PROGRAM. SQUADS WORK ON FIRE MITIGATION AND FUELS REDUCTION PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS, GIVING BACK TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. VETERANS MUST BE FLEXIBLE, ADAPTABLE AND ABLE TO WORK IN A FLUID, CHANGING WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO VETERANS AGED 18-35 WHO CAN MEET A HOST OF QUALIFICATIONS. SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION CORPS IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS, WHICH ARE OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER OR UNTIL POSITIONS ARE FILLED. MORE THAN 120 ARMY TRAINEES SPENT A DAY RECENTLY VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME BY CLEANING THE GROUNDS AT FORT SILL NATIONAL CEMETERY IN ELGIN, OKLAHOMA. THE TRAINEES CLEANED HEADSTONES, PULLED WEEDS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR THOUSANDS OF VETERANS. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED “HONOR THE FALLEN” AND ARMY TRAINEES FROM FORT SILL VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO ASSIST THE CEMETERY STAFF WITH BEAUTIFICATION OF THE GROUNDS. THIS EVENT WAS THE FIRST ONE IN ALMOST TWO YEARS DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS.   DO YOU FEEL DISCOMFORT, PAIN OR STIFFNESS FROM SITTING OR BEING IN ONE POSITION FOR TOO LONG? WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME USING COMPUTERS OR HANDHELD DEVICES, DRIVING OR COOKING WITH OUR HANDS AND ARMS IN FRONT OF US, AND OUR HEADS BENT FORWARD IN A SLOUCHED POSITION. BEING AWARE OF OUR POSTURE – AND STRETCHING TO EASE TIGHT MUSCLES – WITH YOGA STRETCH CAN HELP RESTORE BALANCE. YOGA PRACTICES MAY INCLUDE STRETCHING POSTURES WHICH HELP OUR BODIES REBALANCE. MANY YOGA POSTURES ARE SIMPLE AND EASY TO DO FOR BEGINNERS.   YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES AND READ MORE AT BLOGS DOT VEE-A DOT GOV.