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May 18, 20234:00pm - 8:00pm
May 20, 20238:00am - 2:00pm
DMAVA VETERANS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
F. Edward Biertuempful Memorial Park
1300 Winslow Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov.
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May 19, 202311:30am
DMAVA MEDAL CEREMONY
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Restaurant
1000 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov. |
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May 20, 20239:00am - 2:00pm
TRANSITION / RETIREMENT MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
Joint Military & Family Assistance Center
1048 US Highway 206
Bordentown, NJ 08505
This is an informational day to walk through and visit 30+ vendors at the Bordentown Armory. Servicemembers and Retirees of all military branches are welcome. There will not be any briefings.
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May 20, 20239:00am - 4:00pm
DMAVA VETERANS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
Training Center Cape May
1 Munro Ave
Cape May, NJ 08204
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov.
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DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
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DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
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DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
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DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
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May 25, 20239:00am - 3:00pm
DMAVA VETERANS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
Columbus Farmers Market
2919 US-Route 206
Columbus, NJ 08022
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov.
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May 25, 202310:00am - 3:00pm
DMAVA MEDAL CEREMONY AND VETERANS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
Ocean County Mall
1201 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08753
Medal Ceremony at 11:00am
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov.
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June 3, 20239:00am - 1:00pm
TRANSITION / RETIREMENT SEMINAR
Joint Military & Family Assistance Center
1048 US Highway 206
Bordentown, NJ 08505
Half-day presentation on retirement programs, benefits, and entitlements.
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
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June 7, 202310:00am
STATE MEDAL CEREMONY FOR WOMEN VETERANS
Wildwoods Convention Center
Ballroom C 4501 Boardwalk
Wildwood, NJ 08260
The ceremony is open to all Honorably Discharged New Jersey Women Veterans. Medal application suspense date is May 26, 2023.
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June 12-13, 20239:00am - 4:00pm
GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
Lawrenceville Armory
151 Eggert Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
DMAVA and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grants workshop.
This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines. Attend this class and you'll learn how to find the funding sources and write winning grant proposals.
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DMAVA & Community Calendar |
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We add new events to our calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often.
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Best Warrior | New Jersey National Guard's Best Warrior Competition Winner SPC Laura Grieco talks about her experience in the competition which was held April 25-27, 2023 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Watch Video
Read Full Story |
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Dedication Ceremony | On May 7, 2023, the 177th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Derek B. Routt, hosted a dedication ceremony for the Convair F-106 Delta Dart static display.
Former pilots, aircraft maintainers and Airmen of various other disciplines attended the ceremony which was symbolic of the 106th anniversary of the 119th Fighter Squadron.
The 119th Fighter Squadron was established in 1917 and has been assigned here at the 177th Fighter Wing since 1958.
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CATALIST | New Jersey National Guard Airmen and Soldiers with CATALIST Cohort 003-2023 tour the 254th Regional Training Institute's Battle Simulations Group on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 7, 2023.
Cultivating Agile and Transformational Air Guard Leaders through Inspiring and Structured Training (CATALIST) is a New Jersey Air National Guard program that focuses on strengthening the development of future military leaders.
CATALIST students toured weapons simulators, simulated indoor urban environments, and received a sharpshooting demonstration from the staff. View Images |
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44th IBCT Prepares for JRTC |
One hundred eighty-five Soldiers with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, loaded tactical vehicles onto a rail car at the Morrisville Yard in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, May 15, 2023.
More than 800 vehicles and pieces of equipment are being sent by train to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to participate in an exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center prior to the unit’s deployment next year. View Images |
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Join Our Team |
100% Free College Tuition
Bonuses up to $20,000
Student Loan Repayment |
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National Nurses WeekDuring National Nurses Week, Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., The Adjutant General of New Jersey and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and New Jersey State Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Leonard visited the nurses and residents of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, Edison, New Jersey, May 9, 2023.
New Jersey’s three Veterans’ homes celebrated National Nurses Week, which recognizes and honors the nurses who provide care and comfort for the residents.
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NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy Docuseries Are you ready for the ChalleNGe?
In this nine-part docuseries, experience the 22-week residential program of NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy's Class 55, from the first day at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ to graduation in the summer of 2023. |
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Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | DEIB Newsletter |
| May 2023 |
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Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day |
"The State of New Jersey and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will partner with all citizens of this great State and Nation to remember and honor our Vietnam Veterans, as well as their families, for their patriotism, courage, and sacrifice; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Philip D. Murphy, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim: May 7, 2023 as VIETNAM VETERANS REMEMBRANCE DAY in New Jersey."
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, May 7, 2023. |
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Assembly Testimony | On May 11, 2023, Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Vincent Solomeno testified before the New Jersey Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee regarding the mental health support state government provides to Service Members, Veterans, and their families. |
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Veterans and survivors have filed more than 500,000 toxic exposure-related benefits claims under the PACT Act
WASHINGTON — On April 26, 2023, VA announced that Veterans and their survivors have filed more than 500,000 claims for toxic exposure-related benefits under the PACT Act since President Biden signed it into law Aug. 10, 2022. To date, VA has awarded more than $1 billion in earned benefits to Veterans and survivors who filed PACT Act-related claims.
VA also announced that more than 3 million Veterans have received VA’s new toxic exposure screenings since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, with approximately 42% reporting a concern of exposure. More than 215,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care during that timeframe, a 15% increase from the same timeframe the year before.
Read Full News Release |
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Veterans have access to acute suicide care, but who is eligible?
Some Veterans discharged under other than honorable conditions are eligible.
Eligible veterans and some former service members can now go to any VA or non-VA hospital for emergency health care during an acute suicidal crisis, and it will be paid for by VA.
This includes ambulance transportation, related prescriptions, up to 30 days of inpatient or crisis residential treatment, and up to 90 days of outpatient care at no cost to them.
The new benefit is saving lives and supports one of VA’s top clinical priorities—preventing veteran suicide. Learn More at VA News |
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Military Records
In this episode of theSITREP, the hosts cover how to get military records from the National Personnel Records Center and what NPRC is with Scott Levins, Director of NPRC in St. Louis. Watch Video |
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Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season
Congress provided for a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Open Season in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The SBP Open Season began on December 23, 2022 and ends on January 1, 2024.
The SBP Open Season allows for retirees receiving retired pay, eligible members, or former members awaiting retired pay who are currently NOT enrolled in SBP or RCSBP (Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan) to enroll.
The SBP Open Season also allows eligible members and former members who are currently enrolled in either SBP or RCSBP to permanently discontinue their SBP coverage.
Learn More |
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New National Parks Pass
A new lifetime pass for National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands, called America the Beautiful.
This new lifetime pass for Gold Star Families & Veterans is being offered to demonstrate the country's immense gratitude and respect for those who have served and defended our country.
Learn More at VA News |
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VA Life Insurance
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) provides guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to Veterans with service-connected disabilities. Lesser amounts are available in increments of $10,000. Under this plan, the elected coverage takes effect two years after enrollment as long as premiums are paid during the two-year period.
All Veterans age 80 or under with a VA disability rating of 0 to 100% are eligible for the VALife program and have no time limit to apply.
Learn More |
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#VetResources
| Subscribe to #VetResources to receive a weekly newsletter from the VA for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. |
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C.A.R.E. DayOn May 4, 2023, the 177th Fighter Wing hosted the 2023 Community Assistance & Resiliency Engagement Day, or "C.A.R.E." Day.
Many of our community partners came to the 177th FW to participate, including the The Humane Society of Atlantic County, Cardiff VFW Post 8098 and Auxiliary, The Veteran Coffee Company, RDT Physical Therapy, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Project Refit, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in addition to other organizations from across New Jersey.
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41st Annual Legislative Breakfast
Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., the Adjutant General and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, along with several additional DMAVA personnel and members of other Veterans Service Organizations, joined the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. and Ladies Auxiliary, Department of New Jersey, for its 41st Annual Legislative Breakfast, May 7, 2023.
The JWV-NJ honored Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, 11th Congressional District, New Jersey, as their Legislator of the Year and the New Jersey Veterans Network as its Organization of the Year in recognition of their support to Veterans and their families.
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Our Community SalutesOn May 9, 2023, the 15th Annual Our Community Salutes of South Jersey High School Enlistee Ceremony was held in Voorhees, NJ. The event honors graduating high school seniors in Southern New Jersey who plan to join the military after high school graduation.
Over 400 people were in attendance, including local, state, and national leaders. Among the guest speakers was Rutgers graduate and Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Jack Jacobs (USA, Ret.). View images at Camden County Flickr.
Our Community Salutes ceremonies were also held at Fairleigh Dickinson University and at Middlesex College.
Learn more at OurCommunitySalutes.org. |
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Groundbreaking Ceremony
What a phenomenal turnout on May 15, 2023 for the upcoming veterans housing project in Mountain Lakes, NJ. It was wonderful to see our local, state, county, and federal officials come out to support this in a wonderful town and community. It was also great to see American Legion Post 59 out of Morristown. The community and our partners of are ready to welcome these veterans with open arms! We can’t wait to see you for the ribbon cutting!
Image and caption courtesy NJ SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. |
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Day at the BeachOn May 12, 2023, after waiting 3 long years, we had the pleasure of hosting our Vineland Veterans for lunch. The special treat was taking them to the beach with a police escort afterwards! What a great day! We love that they are able to be out and about again. There was also a visit by Mayor Desiderio.
Special thanks to everyone who made this possible through donations and volunteering.
Image and caption courtesy VFW Auxiliary 1963 Sea Isle City. |
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ICYMIThe Fourth Annual Virtual Women Veterans Symposium was held on March 11, 2023.
A collaboration between Operation Sisterhood and the Department of Veterans Affairs Newark Regional Office, the program kicked off with greetings from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and an intimate, inspiring chat with Executive Director, Center for Women Veterans, Office of the Secretary, Lourdes Tiglao.
Watch Video |
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In Honor of all those from New Jersey who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In humble gratitude, we remember their sacrifice. |
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May 18, 2010
Operation Enduring Freedom
Col. John M. McHughU.S. Army West Caldwell, New Jersey |
May 19, 2006
Operation Enduring Freedom SSG Christian LongsworthU.S. Army
Newark, New Jersey | May 20, 2010
Operation Iraqi Freedom SPC Stanley J. Sokolowski III
U.S. Army Ocean, New Jersey | May 27, 2012
Operation Enduring Freedom
PFC Leroy Deronde IIIU.S. Army Jersey City, New Jersey |
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May 29, 2007
Operation Iraqi Freedom
SSG Joseph M. WeigleinU.S. Army Audubon, New Jersey |
May 29, 2009
Operation Iraqi Freedom PV2 Bradley IorioU.S. Army
Galloway Township, New Jersey | May 30, 2003
Operation Iraqi Freedom SPC Kyle A. Griffin
U.S. Army Emerson, New Jersey | May 31, 2011
Operation Enduring Freedom
SPC Richard EmmonsU.S. Army Woodstown, New Jersey |
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"But on the battlefield their feet stood fast, and in an instant at the height of their fortune, they passed away from the scene, not of their fear, but of their glory."
~ Pericles |
| NJ Fallen Heroes Memorial |
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The 12th New Jersey monument at Gettysburg. |
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May 21, 1777
| The force under George Washington’s direct command encamped at Morristown reported 7,363 officers and men “fit for duty and on duty.” Arms and ammunition were arriving in large quantities from France, including 19,000 muskets and 1,000 barrels of gunpowder during the month of March alone. | May 22, 1958 |
A disastrous accident at the Middletown Nike antiaircraft missile base ended the lives of six regular army soldiers and four civilian technicians. Eight missiles exploded while being worked on in what was called at the time “the world’s worst missile disaster.” | May 23, 1943 |
The battleship USS New Jersey was commissioned. The New Jersey subsequently served in the Pacific during World War II and then in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. It is currently a floating museum located in Camden. | May 26, 1668 |
The first New Jersey Assembly met in Elizabethtown, with fourteen members from East New Jersey and two from West New Jersey. During a five day session, the body passed militia legislation requiring men between the ages of sixteen and sixty to train for “at least four days in the year.” |
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May 26, 1886 |
The Gettysburg battlefield monument to the Twelfth New Jersey Infantry was dedicated on Cemetery Ridge. Marked “buck and ball” to commemorate the combination of buckshot and round balls fired in the regiment’s obsolete yet deadly at short range smoothbore muskets, it was the first New Jersey monument erected at Gettysburg and was privately funded by veterans of the regiment. |
May 30, 1924 |
A sixty-five-foot obelisk was dedicated to commemorate Bergen County’s Camp Merritt, the troops who passed through there during World War I and, most importantly, the fifteen officers, four nurses, 558 enlisted men and one civilian who died, mostly from influenza, while serving their county there. New Jersey Governor George S. Silzer presided over the ceremony and General John J. Pershing was the guest of honor. The widow of Civil War Major General Wesley Merritt, for whom the camp was named, joined 20,000 spectators attending the dedication. |
May 31, 1926 | Famed sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s massive bronze Wars of America statue, representing every conflict the United States participated in from the Revolution to World War I and composed of figures of forty-two humans and two horses, was unveiled in Newark’s Military Park. |
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Visit Our Friends at JTJ |
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Chief Warrant Officer 5 Frank Albanese |
CW5 Frank Albanese, the outgoing State Command Warrant Officer of the New Jersey Army National Guard, celebrated his retirement with family, friends and fellow Soldiers at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt on May 13, 2023.
CW5 Albanese’s military service began in 1983, as a Calibration Specialist. He became a Warrant Officer in 2001 and later deployed to Afghanistan and served in a variety of leadership positions before being appointed as the 8th State Command Chief Warrant Officer for the New Jersey Army National Guard in December 2018.
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Chief Warrant Officer 2 Janelle Atwell | Please join us in congratulating our very own CW2 Janelle Atwell for completing her Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from Rutgers University.
Not only must Warrant Officers excel in their military education, they must also continue their pursuit of higher learning. Ms. Atwell is a prime example of a dynamic and well-rounded Warrant Officer capable of balancing life and career.
Outstanding job, Chief!
Image and caption courtesy New Jersey Warrant Officer Facebook. |
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Angel Vargas | DMAVA Nurses have a special bond with their patients. Meet Angel Vargas, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, N.J.
LPNs work under the supervision of registered nurses, doctors and other providers. As a direct link between a patient and their family, they provide basic medical care. Hear how Mr. Vargas provides comfort to a resident.
We celebrate and honor all of the nurses throughout all three veterans homes in New Jersey. Thank you for "serving those who have served"!
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We Are Hiring!
At the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs we take our work in support of Veterans, Servicemembers and their families very seriously. Whether supporting our Veterans with nursing care, transitional housing, or assisting them in navigating access to their Veteran benefits, the Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
We also have opportunities in facilities management and program management. In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Stay updated on job openings by subscribing to our Jobs Bulletin.
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We hope you enjoy receiving our newsletter and find it both educational and engaging. If you have questions about our department, our programs or your benefits, please visit our website at nj.gov/military to get contact information.
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| Contact DMAVA |
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We welcome feedback and comments from the public regarding the newsletter. If you would like to contribute with an item of interest to our subscribers, please email us your proposal. Contact the newsletter team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
To view previous editions of our newsletter, please visit the DMAVA archives.
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