WDVA top aide Johns stepping down

The Associated Press is reporting that Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Jason Johns has decided to resign.

Johns is an Iraq veteran and earned a Purple Heart. He has served as deputy secretary at WDVA since September 2011. Before that, he was a lobbyist in the Capitol.

His last day at the agency will be Friday. He said in a statement WDVA released Monday he has decided to focus on his family.

Agency Secretary John Scocos wrote in a memo to his staff Monday that Johns has decided to concentrate on caring for his son, William, who was born premature in April, his 3-year-old twin daughters and his wife. (Wisconsin State Journal archive photo by John Maniaci)

www.madison.com 

According to the WDVA website:

Jason Johns was appointed by Secretary Scocos and serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. He serves as the chief legislative liaison as well as the head of public affairs and policy making.
Deputy Secretary Johns is a Purple Heart recipient and Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having served and been wounded by enemy action there during his tour in 2003-04. He comes to the WDVA from the private sector where he represented his clients in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as volunteering his time to act as a legislative officer for multiple veterans service organizations in the state.
Deputy Secretary Johns grew up in Louisburg, WI and has earned a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law as well as a B.A. in History from the University of Northern Iowa. After completing his education he practiced law in Washington, D.C. before returning home to Wisconsin, where he worked in the Capitol as well as on numerous political campaigns and then moving back in to the private sector.
Deputy Secretary Johns resides just outside of Madison in the Village of Oregon, where has been an active member of the community over the years serving on village committees, as President of the Chamber of Commerce, and multiple years as commander of his local VFW Post.

 

Census and CSPAN: "Who are U.S. vets?"

From the U.S. Census Bureau: 

Live on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” “America by the Numbers” 
Seven percent of U.S. women were veterans in 2010. Find out more on Friday, May 25, at approximately 9 a.m. CDT as Melissa Chiu, chief of the Industry and Occupation Statistics Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau, discusses statistics about our veteran population. Each Friday, C-SPAN’s “America By the Numbers” segment features information from the federal statistical system. The program highlights the trends and allows the public to call in or email their views. More information on previous C-SPAN programs is available at http://www.census.gov/newsroom/cspan

ICYMI: "War on women" also hits returning military, Wis vet says

Military veterans are the big losers in the rollback of a Wisconsin law that had allowed women, minorities and other protected groups to sue in state court over employment discrimination, say leaders of a statewide veterans group. Read the Wisconsin State Journal article here.

Wisconsin Dryhootch found honored at White House

Dryhootch founder Bob Curry will be honored at the White House tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT.

The grand opening of Dryhootch Madison at the Veterans Welcome Resource Center, 8025 Excelsior Drive,  took place last week..

From the White House:

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, May 24^th, the White House Office of Public Engagement will honor Robert Curry as one of eleven individuals within the veterans’ community, especially those who served in Vietnam, who are Champions of Change.  These individuals have shown continued support for efforts to end veterans’ homelessness, boost veterans’ employment, treat problems with substance abuse, and develop treatment programs for those dealing with PTSD.

“Today’s Vietnam Veteran Champions of Change represent some of the best of their generation – those who served with dedication and courage.  These American patriots continue to serve in their communities today, improving the lives of their fellow veterans and military families,” said Rosye Cloud, the White House Director of Veterans, Wounded Warrior and Military Family Policy.  “As we mark the 50^th anniversary of the Vietnam War, we are reminded of their unwavering commitment to their country yesterday, today and tomorrow.” 

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 12:00 pm ET on May 24^th.

Robert Curry is a combat veteran of Vietnam and Laos. In an effort to help our newest generation of soldiers transition as they returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, he founded Dryhootch.org, which has grown rapidly in locations and services and helped an increasing number of veterans and their families.

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Lighting the way for Spc. Ben Neal

Spc. Ben Neal of Orfordville, Wis, was killed in action last week. 

A "Lighting the way to bring Ben home" movement has begun on Facebook.

Ag mission changes for Wisconsin guard in Afghanistan

The mission has changed for a Wisconsin National Guard team that arrived in Afghanistan in early April to work on improving agriculture.
The team's security contingent will be reassigned because the team's agriculture specialists will be merged with a larger Army unit, the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team, which has its own protective force, said Madison-based spokeswoman Lt. Col. Jackie Guthrie.
Read the Wisconsin State Journal article here.