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Everything posted by Tony
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But Americans have never witnessed anything like the corruption that President Donald Trump and his inner circle have perpetrated in recent months. Its brazenness, volume, and variety defy historical comparison, even in a country with a centuries-long history of graft—including, notably, Trump’s first four years in office. Indeed, his second term makes the financial scandals of his first—foreign regimes staying at Trump’s hotel in Washington, D.C.; the (aborted) plan to host the G7 at Trump’s hotel in Florida—seem quaint.
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Joy Metzler had expected to still be in uniform, working as a junior officer at her Air Force engineering job. Instead, she found herself protesting outside the United Nations, weakened from participating in a 40-day fast as she called on authorities to deliver full humanitarian aid to Gaza and end U.S. weapons transfers to Israel. The soft-spoken 23-year-old had pursued military service with enthusiasm. She graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2023 and received her commission the same year, hoping that the military would provide a meaningful way to give back to a country that became her home when she was adopted from China as an infant.
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NAVADMIN 132/25 outlines key info for Cycle 268 Active Duty/TAR E5 and E6 advancement, including eligibility, deadlines, and exam types. July 31, 2025: PMK-EE Completion Deadline Aug 31, 2025: ELD Course Completion Deadline Exam Dates: Sept 4, 2025: E6 Exam Sept 11, 2025: E5 Exam EAW will close one week after exam date on worksheet.
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ ROUTINE R 101400Z JUL 25 MID180001837396U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 146/25 SUBJ/2025 SEPARATION HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAM FITNESS TO SEPARATE VERSUS FITNESS TO REAFFILIATE TO SERVICE IN THE NAVY RESERVE// REF/A/DOC/DODI 6040.46/14APR16// REF/B/DOC/DoDI 1332.18 Vol 1/24FEB23// REF/C/DOC/DoDI 6130.03 Vol 2/04SEP20// REF/D/DOC/BUMEDINST 1300.6/21MAR23// REF/E/DOC/NAVMED CH 15/15FEB19// REF/F/DOC/DoDI 6130.03 Vol 1/06MAY18// REF/G/DOC/SECNAVINST 1770.5/23AUG18// REF/H/DOC/SECNAVINST M-1850.1/SEP19// NARR/REF A IS DOD INSTRUCTION 6040.46, THE SEPARATION HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION (SHPE) FOR THE DOD SEPARATION HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. REF B IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1332.18 VOLUME 1, DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM MANUAL: PROCESSES. REF C IS DOD INSTRUCTION 6130.03 VOLUME 2, MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY SERVICE: RETENTION. REF D IS BUMEDINST 1300.6, GENERAL DEPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONAL MEDICAL READINESS. REF E IS NAVMED P-117, MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, CHAPTER 15. REF F IS DOD INSTRUCTION 6130.03 VOLUME 1, MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY SERVICE: APPOINTMENT, ENLISTMENT, OR INDUCTION. REF G IS SECNAVINST 1770.5, MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION OF LINE OF DUTY BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RESERVE. REF H IS SECNAVINST M-1850.1, DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM MANUAL. POC/FORCE HEALTH PLANS AND POLICY OFFICER, RESERVE POLICY & INTEGRATION (N1R), NAVY BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY/PHONE/ 703-681-9170 RMKS/1. Per reference (a), all Service members completing a period of qualifying active duty must complete a SHPE. The SHPE serves primarily to: a. Document the member's suitability for continuing service (e.g., Reserve affiliation or potential return to active duty) as the baseline measurement of "Fitness to Separate". "Fit to separate" status at the time of retirement or separation does not imply that a departing Service member is devoid of medical conditions or diagnoses, but rather indicates: (1) The absence of a service-connected disability condition warranting referral to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) (except for cases where the PEB has already made a finding). (2) Member meets medical retention standards, making them physically qualified to satisfy Reserve affiliation obligations or be considered to reenter active service. 2. Per references (a) and (b), SHPEs are predicated on criteria for retention standards, and the exam may be used for affiliation or reaffiliation screening for up to 36 months from the exam completion date. Because of this, it is essential that when conducting SHPEs providers truly assess the member's medical status (diagnoses and all functional limitations) against retention standards stated in reference (c), and document current stability and all duty/deployment limitations associated with each of the Service member's known diagnoses, and whether the Service member is fit for continuing service by stating "fit to affiliate" or "fit to re-affiliate". a. Fitness to Separate. If a provider deems a member is "fit to separate", but the member has a condition that is not currently in a stable phase of treatment or would render them as non-deployable if remaining on active duty, the Service member is considered not fit to immediately affiliate or re-affiliate with the Reserve Component (RC) and will require a new or updated accessions physical as per para 2.b.(3) of this policy to immediately affiliate or re-affiliate with the Reserve Component (RC), the provider must clearly document on the SHPE that the member is "NOT fit to affiliate" to avoid automatic clearance to affiliate or re-affiliate into the Active or Reserve Component with conditions that do not meet retention standards. b. Fitness to Affiliate/Re-affiliate. (1) For the purpose of this NAVADMIN, affiliation refers to direct transfer from Active Component (AC) to RC immediately after separation from the AC. Reaffiliation pertains to applicants with prior service in the Navy or Marine Corps who are not currently contracted in the Active or Reserve Component and desire to affiliate with the Navy or Marine Corps Reserve after a break in service. (2) Fit to affiliate/re-affiliate equates to Deployability Category one (DCAT1) or two (DCAT2) as defined in reference (d). (3) If their prior Service separation was related to a medical condition (e.g., a PEB finding of unfitness, administrative separation for fraudulent or defective enlistment related to a medical condition, or not being worldwide assignable due to a medical condition) the following applies: (a) These applicants must undergo a new or updated accessions physical examination, following the procedures outlined in reference (e) and; (b) To affiliate, these applicants are required to meet the accession standards for enlistment or commission, as outlined in reference (f) or receive a waiver of the standards. (4) If their prior Service separation was not related to a medical condition (e.g., separation at end of obligated service or separation at the convenience of the government), their SHPE is current within 36 months, and they were deemed "fit for separation" with all diagnoses noted as stable with a deployability assessment that equates to DCAT1 or DCAT2 as documented on the SHPE and "fit for affiliation/re-affiliation" (equating to Deployability Category one [1] or two [2]), a new accession physical is not required unless specifically requested by the organization through which they complete their re-affiliation processing. Other documents may be required in lieu of a full accession physical, such as an updated DD 2807-1. (5) An Echelon 5 medical department shall not initiate a Medical Retention Review for condition(s) determined in the SHPE to meet affiliation or re-affiliation standards for the period the SHPE is valid. MP1 Manpower Availability Status Code may be directly assigned if the following criteria are met: SHPE has been completed within the last 12 months, and Echelon 4 Regional Medical Director reviews SHPE and confirms mobilization limiting medical conditions are present and meet the criteria of Physically Qualified - Mobilization Limited. (6) If the individual has been separated for over 36 months or if there is no available SHPE or military physical examination current within 36 months, the individual is required to obtain a new accession physical examination and receive a "physically qualified" determination or medical waiver to re-affiliate. Other examination timelines or requirements may apply based on the policies of the organization through which the reaffiliation is processed. 3. Other Findings. RC Service members on active duty for more than 30 days may be eligible for medical hold (MEDHOLD) per reference (g) and (h). RC Service members who decline or are ineligible for MEDHOLD may be eligible for Line of Duty Healthcare, or Line of Duty Benefits for Disability Evaluation System if their disability was incurred or aggravated in a qualified duty status pending adjudication by Benefits Issuing Authority per reference (h). RC Service members may enter the DES process from either MEDHOLD or LOD if conditions do not resolve. Limited Duty is not an administrative category available to RC members. 4. The point of contact is BUMED N1R and can be reached at 703-681-9170. 5. This NAVADMIN remains in effect until superseded or cancelled, whichever comes first. 6. Released by Rear Admiral Darin K. Via, N093, Surgeon General of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/
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This lying by the trump administration needs to stop... “But that’s not a deal, that’s a threat,” Bash pressed. “No, that’s the level. That’s the deal. If you wanna trade with the United States, this is—” Treasury Secretary Bessent tried to explain. “But that’s not a negotiation, that’s just a declaration,” Bash said. “Well, many of these countries never even contacted us,” Bessent replied. But just months ago, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the phones at the White House were “ringing off the hook” with countries calling to make deals with the United States.
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pResident trump is losing control... When the British defense team came to the Pentagon in June and spoke about the U.K.’s decision to send an aircraft carrier to Asia on a routine deployment, Colby interjected with a brusque comment. “He basically asked them, ‘Is it too late to call it back?’” said the person familiar with Trump administration dynamics. “Because we don't want you there.” A second person familiar with the meeting confirmed this account.
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The Navy expects to have a decision on further well testing around Naval Air Station Oceana by the end of the summer, according to a defense official. The Navy is currently assessing the need for additional sampling of private drinking water wells surrounding Oceana. One private well near NAS Oceana was offered an alternative source of drinking water, after an earlier round of testing. Households living near 55 bases around the country have been offered similar help.
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The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) Reserve Program (NWRP) recognized its Sailor of Year (SOY) at a ceremony in NAVWAR headquarters in San Diego Feb. 23. Electronics Technician (ET1) Makayla Burgan, from Palm Bay, Fla., was named NAVWAR’s Reserve Sailor of the Year, following a three-day board process. After Burgan’s recognition at the NAVWAR level, she went on to participate in the national SOY board in Washington, D.C. May 14-16. This three-day event in San Diego took place Feb. 21-23 and was modeled after the national board, including history, heritage, physical training, social and formal interview activities. The other Reserve finalists from NAVWAR included ET1 Joseph Schmidt, ET1 Terra Ritchie, ET1 Jonathan Goetz and ET1 Christopher Kane. The Sailor of the Year program was established in 1972 by then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt to recognize outstanding Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors. It was later expanded to include top Shore and Reserve Force Sailors as well. “In the NWRP, our Sailors are constantly going well above and beyond, exemplifying their dedication to enhance our warfighting capabilities through technology, as well as demonstrating the core values of honor, courage and commitment both in and out of uniform,” said Alex Aguila, command master chief of the NWRP. “Recognizing our best Sailors through the SOY program is something the Chiefs at NAVWAR and I take great pride in.” Burgan originally joined the Navy as a path towards higher education. After being active duty for six years, she signed up for the Reserve to keep serving with more flexibility. “I wanted to find a way to continue helping Sailors,” she said. “My time as a victim advocate during active duty is how I discovered I wanted to become a chaplain. They can provide counseling services and be a support system for those struggling while on deployment.” With a bachelor’s in Christian ministry and currently pursuing a master’s in divinity with a concentration in chaplaincy, she hopes to eventually join the Navy chaplain corps to be a resource to her fellow Sailors and allow them a safe place to share their experiences. Burgan has spent all eight years of her Reserve career with NAVWAR. As part of the NAVWAR Reserve Detachment Unit Cyber Warfare Midwest in Austin, Texas, she currently works as a cybersecurity service provider (CSSP) operations analyst. She supports the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic CSSP watch-floor in Charleston, S.C. “I’ve loved being part of the NAVWAR team. I’ve had incredible opportunities to support programs like Unmanned Systems, Project Overmatch and cyber readiness, as well as to work on the Network Operations Support Team (NST),” she said. Her NAVWAR role has also taken her around the world—including to Djibouti, Italy, Hawaii and Norfolk, Va. In D.C., Burgan and the four other finalists were brought together from U.S. Navy and Marine Corps commands across the country to face a board of Navy Reserve’s leadership to gauge the candidates’ knowledge, bearing and professionalism. They also toured historical sites such as the National Archives and the National Museum of the U.S. Navy to connect with the Navy’s heritage. “I was humbled and excited to represent NAVWAR at a national level. Spending the week with other finalists, making connections with these like-minded Sailors was truly life changing,” she said. “My time in D.C. has renewed me as both a Sailor and a leader. I would not be here without the amazing Sailors I work with and the mentors who have guided me. Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel.” About NAVWAR: NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains information warfighting capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space. NAVWAR consists of more than 11,000 civilian, active duty and reserve professionals located around the world.
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The big picture: Jumbled narratives and dismissive answers raise questions about what an "America First" foreign policy looks like, and who really holds the levers of power in Washington. Driving the news: President Trump on Monday reversed a hold on weapons shipments to Ukraine. He told his counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the intervening days he hadn't actually ordered the freeze, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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Secretary of Defense Pete did not inform the White House before he authorized a pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, according to five sources familiar with the matter, setting off a scramble inside the administration to understand why the halt was implemented and explain it to Congress and the Ukrainian government. President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that he was not responsible for the move. Asked on Tuesday during a Cabinet meeting whether he approved of the pause in shipments, Trump demurred, saying only that the US would continue to send defensive weapons to Ukraine. Pressed again on who authorized the pause, Trump replied, “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?”
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TACO Tuesday WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a pause in critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv. Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-07-07/trump-us-weapons-ukraine-18368419.html Source - Stars and Stripes
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25 MAP-R ALNAVRESFOR V1.txt[7/8/25, 10:11:21] RTTUZYUW RHBVHHQ0001 1231234-UUUU--RHMCSUU. ZNR UUUUU R XXXXXXXX JUN 25 FM COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA TO NAVRESFOR INFO COMNAVPERSCOM MILLINGTON TN COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA COMNAVRESFORCOM NORFOLK VA COMNAVAIRFORES SAN DIEGO CA COMNAVIFORES FORT WORTH TX COMNAVCRUIT REG EAST MILLINGTON TN COMNAVCRUIT REG WEST MILLINGTON TN NAVCRUITRESCOM MILLINGTON TN BT UNCLAS ALNAVRESFOR 021/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA/-/JUN 25// SUBJ/CY 2025 NAVY RESERVE FORCE MERITORIOUS ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR SELECTED RESERVE SAILORS// REF/A/MSG/COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA/131621ZFEB24// REF/B/MSG/COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA/081933ZJAN21// REF/C/DOC/MILPERSMAN/24APR18// REF/D/DOC/BUPERSINST/19SEP18// REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/161157ZJUL20// REF/F/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/092201ZNOV21/ NARR/REF A IS ALNAVRESFOR 004/24, UPDATE TO THE 2024 NAVY RESERVE FORCE MERITORIOUS ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR SELRES SAILORS (MAP-R) SEASON ONE ANNOUNCEMENT. REF B IS ALNAVRESFOR 001/21, SELRES MAP-R AUTOMATION. REF C IS MILPERSMAN 1510-030, ADVANCED ELECTRONICS FIELD, ADVANCED TECHNICAL FIELD, AND NUCLEAR FIELD PROGRAMS. REF D IS BUPERSINST 1430.16G, ADVANCEMENT MANUAL FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NAVY AND U.S. NAVY RESERVISTS. REF E IS NAVADMIN 201/20, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY KNOWLEDGE ELIGIBILITY EXAM REVISED BUSINESS RULES. REF F IS NAVADMIN 254/21, UPDATES TO THE NAVY LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.// RMKS/1. This message announces Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF) Policy and Guidance for the calendar year (CY) 2025 and 2026 Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) for Selected Reserve (SELRES) Sailors and supersedes reference (a) and (b). 2. MAP Intent. The Navy Reserve has reached its authorized end strength of 57,700 Sailors for Fiscal Year 2025, for the first time since 2020, boosting the Navy’s ability to project power, respond to crises, and deliver combat capability across all domains. To support continued readiness, Reserve commands are empowered to nominate top-performing Sailors through a tailored Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP), designed to maintain balanced opportunities and account for the Reserve’s unique force structure. Reserve MAP utilizes specific controls to maintain a healthy and balanced total advancement opportunity. 3. CY25 MAP-R: One season. The Navy Reserve Force will convene a MAP season for E-4 to E-5 and E-5 to E-6 candidates in December 2025 and conclude an ECH II MAP 25 MAP-R ALNAVRESFOR V1.txt[7/8/25, 10:11:21] board in January 2026. Ratings will be identified in the MAP-R season announcement for those ratings identified as open, controlled and closed. Ratings identified as open will be delegated to the Fleet or Force Reserve Program Director (F-RPD) Pillar/Reserve Program Code for utilization. For controlled ratings, the ECH II board will ensure MAP selections are determined utilizing a board precept, convening order and selection standards consistent with advancement boards. Ratings not eligible for MAP due to community health will also be identified. 4. CY26 and beyond. MAP-R: Two seasons annually. Starting in 2026, MAP-R will commence twoseasons, Summer and Winter, to allow flexibility in quota utilization to ensure advancement opportunities are fully leveraged across eligible ratings and allow commands to focus on NWAE eligibly requirements. 5. Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) Approver Access is Required. All Navy Reserve Units must request and maintain Unit Approver access in NSIPS. Readiness and MobilizationCommands (REDCOMs) and Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) Commands must request REDCOM Approver and ISIC Approver access respectively. Utilize MAP-R NSIPS tutorials that are located at https://www.nsips.cloud.navy.mil under the training tab. Reference (b) contains guidance on NSIPS MAP-R user roles. 6. Eligibility. MAP-R is open to all E-3, E-4 and E-5 Sailors who meet MAP-R advancement eligibility requirements per reference (d) and (e) and are in valid billets. For CY25, Prior Service Re-enlistment Eligibility - Reserve (PRISE-R) Sailors are eligible only if their new rate is permanent before 1 September 2025. a. Sailors may only meritoriously advance one paygrade. Sailors in frocked status are not eligible for advancement to the next higher paygrade until advanced (i.e., frocked E-5 cannot be meritoriously advanced to E-6). b. PMK-EE. Per reference (e), Sailors must complete PMK-EE for the desired advancement paygrade to be eligible for the Meritorious Advancement Program. c. Enlisted Leadership Development ELD Course. Per reference (f), Sailors must complete ELD for the desired advancement paygrade to be eligible for MAP-R. d. Sailors must have passed, Not Advanced last participating NWAE. e. Mobilized, Definite Recall, Active Duty for Operational Support (ADOS), and Canvasser Recruiter (CANREC) Sailors. Sailors who are currently mobilized or serving on Definite Recall, ADOS, or CANREC orders may compete for a SELRES MAP-R nomination opportunity but are ineligible for AC/TAR quotas. Nomination packages for Sailors on Mobilization, Definite Recall, and ADOS orders must be submitted in NSIPS via the automation tool by the Sailor's respective Navy Reserve Unit (specifically their Unit Mobilization Unit Identification Code (UMUIC)). Nomination packages for Sailors on CANREC orders must be submitted manually to CNRF via their respective recruiting region or Navy Recruiting Reserve Command. Nomination packages for Sailors supporting the Navy Reserve Centers on long term ADOS or Definite Recall orders must be submitted manually to the REDCOM. 7. The MAP-R program manager is NCCM(AW) Melody Rivas, available at e-mail: melody.b.rivas.mil(at)us.navy.mil. 8. This ALNAVRESFOR message will remain in effect until superseded or cancelled. 9. Leaders, now is the time to assess and recognize our exceptional Sailors who demonstrate superior performance. By selecting these individuals for advancement, we not only reward excellence but also strengthen our strategic capabilities and enhance warfighting readiness by advancing them to perform jobs with increased authority and responsibility. Let's take decisive action and ensure our Force is poised for success. 10. Released by Vice Admiral N. S. Lacore, Commander, Navy Reserve Force.// 25 MAP-R ALNAVRESFOR V1.txt[7/8/25, 10:11:21]
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Two men accused of spying for China are facing federal charges, with one suspect having ties to Washington. A multi-agency investigation disrupted a “clandestine People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of State Security Intelligence network operating in the U.S.,” the Department of Justice said. The Chinese spies allegedly tried to recruit U.S. Navy personnel at multiple naval stations, including at a base in Washington state. The U.S. Department of Justice release does not specify which base in Washington.
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As Russia slowly creeps into the trump Administration... When he was named director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel under U.S. President Donald Trump, a media report called Sergio Gor “maybe the most powerful man you’ve never heard of.” Gor’s public profile has increased more recently, as he continued his work overseeing appointments of thousands of officials for the Trump administration. Media coverage has since filled in much of his biography with one glaring exception — his birthplace.
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Foreign born spouses mainly, be forewarned & have a plan in place including legal options... According to a recent memo, the department plans to focus not only on individuals who may have lied about a crime or having done something illegal during the naturalization process. But authorities also plan to focus on others who may have committed a crime after becoming citizens — a generally untested legal frontier.
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CFL/ACFLs, Updated PRP FAQ (JULY 2025).
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“Cutting SNAP exemptions for veterans is an unacceptable betrayal. Research consistently shows that military and veteran families face food insecurity at alarming rates. While Congress bipartisanly acknowledged these struggles, giving lower-enlisted service members a much-needed pay raise in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, these proposed SNAP cuts directly contradict that progress. They ignore the unique challenges veterans face, from service-connected disabilities to navigating the transition to civilian life. SNAP isn’t a handout; it’s a vital lifeline that keeps food on the table for those who serve,” Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) said in a statement.
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The consortium includes groups like Quaker House and The Center on Conscience & War, which assists service members with applications for conscientious objector status, and has seen a similar uptick in requests for help. So far this year, the center has helped 30 service members submit applications — more than they typically submit in an entire year. A high percentage of these applications are usually successfully accepted, according to the center.