News Archive
JPMorgan Chase Announces New Programs for Military and Veterans
February 15, 2011 – JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) announced today it will significantly enhance its programs to help military and veteran customers. Commits to lower SCRA rates, increasing modifications, jobs, training, and home ownership assistance.
- Reduced Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Pricing
- Military Modification Program
- Home Ownership Assistance
- Jobs
- Education and Training
- Veterans Advisory Council
For more information on the firm's current programs available to military and veterans, visit www.chasemilitary.com.
Bank of America Introduces Program to Extend Mortgage Protections for Servicemembers Beyond Active Duty
Bank of America is announcing a new mortgage program -- including interest rate reductions, targeted principal forgiveness, and a dedicated mortgage servicing team – exclusively to assist their military customers. Read the news release detailing the specifics of this program.
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP)
The program is legislatively mandated and operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Rehabilitative Services. It was established in 2008 in response to the growing need to improve and expand services to our nation’s veterans and their family members whose lives have been touched by stress-related injuries or traumatic brain injury.
Their newest campaign, “We are Virginia Veterans,” is targeted to reach all eras of veterans and their family members who may benefit from the program and draw strength from Virginia communities. Virginia is home to approximately 820,000 veterans; that means that one of every 10 citizens is a veteran. Their website is WeAreVirginiaVeterans.org
The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL with additional program offices located in New York City and Washington D.C. Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP was founded in Roanoke, Virginia by a group of veterans and friends who took action to help the injured service men and women of this generation. Their website is WoundedWarriorProject.org
Secretary Napolitano Unveils "If You See Something, Say Something™" Campaign Public Service Announcements
WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has unveiled new Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign, aimed at educating the public on the importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement authorities.
“Our nation’s security is a shared responsibility and every citizen plays a critical role in identifying and reporting suspicious activities and threats,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The new ‘If You See Something, Say Something™’ public service announcements encourage citizens across the county to work together to build a strong foundation for a more secure and resilient homeland.” Read more on the DHS site.
MODSIM Reception
Governor McDonnell along with the Secretaries of Technology and Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security met with leaders throughout the U.S. to discuss modeling and simulation in Virginia. View photos from the event.
National Preparedness Goal
The Department of Homeland Security announced the release of the country's first-ever National Preparedness Goal. The goal is the first deliverable required under Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8: National Preparedness, which was released in April 2011. The goal sets the vision for nationwide preparedness and identifies the core capabilities and targets necessary to achieve preparedness across five mission areas laid out under PPD 8: prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery. Read the full goal on the FEMA site.
Secretary Napolitano Announces New National Terrorism Advisory System to More Effectively Communicate Information about Terrorist Threats to the American Public
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will discontinue the color-coded alerts of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) in favor of a new system, the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), that will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.
National Advisory Committee Appointment
On Dec. 16, 2010, Assistant Terrie Suit was appointed to a national advisory committee on security clearance and information sharing by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in concurrence with the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office. The advisory committee’s purpose is to explore current policies and procedures and make recommendations to remove unnecessary obstacles in security clearance and information sharing processes between federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners. Assistant Suit was selected among all 50 states to represent states’ issues, thereby putting Virginia at the forefront of this important and long-standing issue. Read more on the advisory committee.
2010 Governor’s Campus Preparedness Conference
Review materials from the 2010 Governor’s Campus Preparedness Conference held in early August in the Resources Section.
McAllister Selected to Serve on SLTTGCC
Mike McAllister has been selected to serve on the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council (SLTTGCC). The Department of Homeland Securitiy formed the SLTTGCC to bring together critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) protection experts from the private sector and all levels of government. The SLTTGCC functions as a forum for state, local, tribal, and territorial government representatives to engage with the federal government and the CIKR owners and operators within the Sector Partnership Framework, to achieve the homeland security mission of protecting the nation's critical infrastructure.
Membership to the SLTTGCC is limited to 24 members nationally.
Free calls home from Gmail for all U.S. service members
Aug 30, 2011 -- To make it easier and more affordable for our troops serving overseas to call friends and family at home, Google has allowed free calling through Gmail for all uniformed military personnel with valid United States Military (.mil) email addresses to the United States.
To enable free calling from Gmail:
- Add your valid .mil email address to your Google Account
- Click on the Call phone link at the top of the Gmail chat roster and install the voice and video Gmail plugin if you haven’t already.
If needed read the detailed instructions. Free calling to the U.S. for service members will be available for at least the rest of 2011.
Governor Visits with Troops
May 16, 2011: Governor Bob McDonnell met with U.S. armed forces members at Yong San military garrison in Seoul, South Korea. The event was attended by more than 70 service men and women, including 18 from Virginia. The Governor later held a conference call to update members of the press on the job creation and economic development marketing mission to Asia. (Click on the image below to see larger photos.)
Governor McDonnell visits with armed forces members at Yong San Military Garrison; later the Governor holds a press conference call
Virginia participates in nationwide pilot on early education opportunities
The U.S. Department of Defense has selected the Commonwealth of Virginia, among 12 other states, to participate in a nationwide pilot partnership to ensure that military families in active service, including those in the National Guard and Reserves, have access to high quality early education opportunities for their young children.
The announcement was made in Richmond on Oct. 20 by Terrie L. Suit to kick off a two-day statewide Summit organized by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF) for more than 200 early childhood development professionals and stakeholders.
“Because Virginia has taken a lead role in early childhood activities and due to your tremendous work to move Virginia forward in early childhood development, the Department of Defense has chosen Virginia as one of 13 states with whom they will partner to make certain that the young children of Virginia’s military families gain increased access to the highest quality early development opportunities possible.
Under this partnership the Department of Defense will fund a State Child Care Liaison for the Commonwealth. This early childhood expert will work hand in hand with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, state agencies, and each of your Smart Beginnings communities to bring even greater effectiveness to our early childhood work, particularly when it benefits the children of our women and men in uniform.”
Read the full text of Terrie Suit’s speech (PDF).
