Robert Scott and Terese Sarno DAG VMF Caucus Co-Chairs
May 2024 News
“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” –Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Time to Get Out The Vote! Safeguard Democracy!
Have you completed the Voter Assistance trainings? If not, please visit these links - VOTER ASSISTANCE TRAININGS and FVAP TRAINING. Your help is critical! Want to be part of our VMF Voter Registration Team? We're on a mission to boost military voter registration and turnout. With your support, we can make a real difference! Interested? Contact us at [email protected] .
Near a U.S. military base? Contact the Voter Assistance Officer (VAO) and offer a hand with voter registration during June 28-July 4 is Armed Forces/Overseas Citizens Voters Week. We also have to push for all our chapter members to get their absentee ballots to ensure their voices count in the upcoming elections. Getting 100% VFA registration in our chapters would be huge. If every member mails in their absentee ballot, it could really shake up election results. Get everyone involved in the democratic process!
The VMF caucus mission is to reach out to veterans, active duty and reserve military members, and DoD civilians, as well as their families living abroad, to encourage them to register to vote by facilitating get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts while also developing sensible and sensitive strategies for encouraging active service members at U.S. overseas military bases to vote and to engage them in advocacy for our policy positions and to provide a forum for DA members to understand better the issues and concerns affecting our military forces, veterans, and their families outside of the United States.
Ready to join our caucus? Be part of the conversation and make your voice heard. Together, we can shape the future. Let's do this!
Remember, voter registration is non-partisan. We help all U.S. citizens register and request their absentee ballots. Keep track of registrations (just numbers, not names) and share the data with us at [email protected] after each session.
Offer paper forms (Federal Postcard Applications) for accessibility. You can request a free supply from FVAP at [email protected].
GOTV Opportunities:
June 28-July 4 Armed Forces/Overseas Citizens Voters Week.
August 1-8 Military Spouse Voters Week- Encourage all absentee spouse voters to send in the FVAP.
October 1-8 –Absentee Voters Week–Encourage people to request their absentee ballots!
PHONEBANKING TRAINING ONE-TO ONE VOTER HELP
Highlights from the 2022 Post-Election Report to Congress
Did You Know?
Cost for new US military hospital near Ramstein surges to $1.6 billion
Announced opening date: November 2027
Vietnam Veterans Unique Health Concerns
Did you attend one of the Vietnam Veterans ceremonies held at the various bases this year? Did you receive a certificate? Please let us know whose signature is on your certificate. [email protected]
Supreme Court rules many veterans can use both GI bills for school
“The bottom line is this: Veterans who separately accrue benefits under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills are entitled to both benefits...If the statute were ambiguous, the pro-veteran canon would favor Rudisill, but the statute is clear, so we resolve this case based on statutory text alone.”--Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Homeless Voters in Georgia Could Face New Hurdles Under New Law
Staying safe when considering employment with a foreign organization
Military Exposures & Your Health - 2024 - Issue 12 As a part of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, VA is developing an online information center where you can find toxic exposure research publications that were funded or produced by the Federal Government.
VA PACT ACT PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD
ERA – Please keep contacting our representatives in Congress. Let your two Senators and your Representative know that we need their support now for the ERA. Affirm ERA as the 28th Amendment with the Action Button.
Please support our efforts on behalf of Veterans and Military Families.
Check the Global VMF Caucus webpage
Visit and Follow the VMF Facebook page.
Send us your suggestions: [email protected]
Read the May 2024 Global Veterans and Military Families Caucus Newsletter.
MAY CALENDAR & EVENTS
National Military Appreciation Month, Month of the Military Caregiver
“Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard.” –President John F. Kennedy
Six national observances highlighting the contributions of those who have served. Discover the National Military Appreciation Month military discounts.
May 1 – Silver Star Service Banner Day
May 1 – Loyalty Day “Today, we salute the Americans whose hard work and sacrifice have strengthened our Nation in common cause…” President Joseph R. Biden
May 2– National Day of Prayer
May 2-4 – World Press Freedom Day Conference:
A press for the planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis
May 3 – World Press Freedom Day
May 3 - Mindfulness Meditation 11:00 am to 12 noon ET
May 4 – VFW National Day of Service
May 5-11 – National Correctional Officers Week
May 5-11 – Public Service Recognition Week
May 08 – VE Day
May 10 – Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 13 – Children of Fallen Patriots Day
May 15 – Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 18 – International Museum Day - “Museums for Education and Research”
May 18 – Armed Forces Day-Armed Forces Week 2024 coincides with this celebration.
May 22 – Maritime Day
May 25 – Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony at 2:00 pm (CET)
May 27 – Memorial Day
May 29-June 2 – 80th Anniversary of OG PAT OSS Tarn Mission
Upcoming DA Activities
Plan ahead:
June 6 – D-Day 80th Anniversary Ceremony in Normandy
June 25 – Live FERS Retirement Training Session Offered in Kaiserslautern Germany by Contractor FedImpact/ProFeds - Attendance is Free!
FedImpact, a Federal Contractor, is offering a Retirement Seminar for Federal Employees at the Burgschanke Hotel/Restaurant, Schlossstrasse 1, 67661 Kaiserslautern - Hohenecken, Germany. (Note:June 27 Seminar in Wiesbaden is full). Note: As stated above, the training event will not be held on a military installation, nor is it being brought to the public by an Army Agency.
June 28-July 4 – Armed Forces Voters Week and Overseas Citizens Voters Week.