Military briefs around Northern Nevada: Week of Oct. 20

AUSA dinner

The Association of the United States Army Veterans Day dinner speaker on Nov. 8 is Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry, the retired adjutant general of Nevada.

A social hour begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The cost is $58 per person. The dinner will be held at the Tamarack Casino, 13101 S. Virginia St., Reno.

For additional information, contact David Sousa at (775-)544-8786 or vfwsousa@gmail.com

RSVP online at https://www.ausa-westmoreland.org. Deadline is Nov. 1.

Berry served as the Adjutant General for the State of Nevada from 2019-2024. He was the senior uniformed Nevada National Guard officer responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than 4,700 Nevada Army and Air National Guard personnel. 

Appointed by the governor five years ago, Berry was the principal advisor on all National Guard issues and responsible for both the federal and state missions of the Nevada National Guard.

This is Berry’s first public appearance following his retirement last week.

VVA 989 Camos to Classroom

The annual Camos to Classroom scholarship program is rapidly approaching.

The event will be held Nov. 16 at the Renaissance Hotel Ballroom, 1 South Lake St., in Reno. The evening includes a no-host cocktail hour, silent auction, live entertainment by the University of Nevada, Reno jazz ensemble, dinner, program and presentation of scholarships.

The featured speaker is Nevada’s newest adjutant general, Brig. Gen. D. Rodger “Dan” Waters.

General seating is $140 per person, and there’s assigned seating. Sponsor opportunities are also available.

For questions, call Brigitte Stafford at (650)888-2564.

This is a nonpolitical event sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Nevada chapter 989 Veterans Benefit Foundation.

To order tickets online, go to vvaReno989.org.

VFW speech contests deadline Oct. 31

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is now accepting entries for its 78th annual 2024-2025 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions. 

This year’s themes ask America’s high school students “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” while middle school students will have the opportunity to contemplate, “My Voice in America’s Democracy.”

The VFW’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions help encourage a better understanding and appreciation for America and work to foster patriotism among today’s youth. The programs offer friendly competition as well as reward success in the form of individual scholarships and awards totaling more than $3 million at the national, state and local levels.

The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to high school students in 9th-12th grades, with the national first place prize scholarship totaling $35,000. The first place department (state) winners receive a special Parade of Winners trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Twisted X, where they compete for more than $170,000 in national scholarship awards. Nearly 22,000 high school students worldwide compete each year.

Open to middle school students in sixth through eighth grade, nearly 55,800 students participate annually in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition. Bryant Day, the 2023-2024 Patriot’s Pen first place winner, was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio. 

Student entries may be submitted along with a completed entry form to their local participating VFW Post. The deadline for both contests is Oct. 31.

Read more about the contests, or submit your essay and entry form at your local participating VFW Post.

Caregiver Support Program

The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) announces the launch of its innovative “Safe Transfer” series of videos and an accompanying tip sheet designed specifically for caregivers assisting veterans with body mechanics and transfers. 

These videos feature essential tips and skills tailored to aid caregivers in facilitating safe transfers, including transfers for beds, wheelchairs, toilets and tubs. In addition, caregivers can use the accompanying tip sheet as a comprehensive guide, offering insights into proper transfer techniques, caregiver body mechanics and key considerations throughout the transfer process.

Developed by a dedicated CSP workgroup, which includes occupational and physical therapists, this comprehensive library of resources aims to enhance the safety of veterans within the comfort of their homes. 

To access these resources, visit CSP’s website, where you’ll find the tip sheet and a dedicated YouTube playlist: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Tips_Tools.asp.

Veterans Day 

Veterans will be treated to a free breakfast  on Nov. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Fallon Convention Center. The event begins with opening ceremonies and then breakfast for the first 500 veterans. New Millennium is the event’s sponsor.

The Veterans Day parade in Virginia City begins at 11 a.m. on C Street, while the Reno parade begins at 11:11 on Virginia Street.

Veterans Upward Bound

Veterans Upward Bound at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno welcomes veterans. TMCC can help with academic advisement, college applications, educational benefits, academic review and referrals to community resources.

Veterans Upward Bound is a U.S. Department of Education program for veterans. For information, call (775)829-9007 or email vub@TMCC.edu. The website is vub.tmcc.edu.

Nevada Guard retiree monthly meetings

The Nevada Air Guard’s monthly breakfast is on the second Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Reno Elks Club. 

The Nevada Army Guard’s breakfast is on the second Monday of the month at 8 a.m. at the Carson City Elks Club. (November’s breakfast will be Nov. 18.)The group would really like to increase participation. Currently, the group has about 20-25 regulars. There is no charge from the Elks for the breakfast.  

Each meeting normally features a guest speaker. Guests are welcome.

Nevada Veterans Coalition

There will be an unaccompanied service at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley (14 Veterans Way) Oct. 24 from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

There will be a BBQ for Veterans Day at Vet Mech Arms Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. This is a fundraiser for the Nevada Veterans Coalition and other veterans organizations.  Stop by their shop or call to learn more about this event at (775)294-5458. 

Veterans parents act

The Education Flexibility for Veteran Parents Act will allow veterans with children to access full housing benefits provided through the G.I. Bill, regardless of whether that program is in person or online. 

The G.I. Bill is an essential tool for many veterans to advance their education. Currently, veterans who are parents and pursuing their education online are only eligible for half of the G.I. Bill’s available housing benefits. This requirement often forces parents to choose between attending in-person classes to receive full benefits or staying at home with their children.

DEERS station opens in Carson City

A new Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) station in Carson City promises to give uniformed service members in the Capital City region improved access to the Department of Defense’s database, which includes information for each uniformed service member (including active duty, retired and reserve component individuals), DOD civilians and other personnel as directed by the DOD.

The new Carson City station, located within the Office of the Adjutant General, 2460 Fairview Drive, replaces the recently closed DEERS station in Reno at the Military Services Support Center, 685 E. Plumb Lane. Reno does retain a DEERS station just a short distance from Plumb Lane at the Nevada Air National Guard Base, 1776 National Guard Way.

DEERS enrollment is essential for those seeking a military common access card or a Uniformed Services identification card. DEERS registration is also required for TRICARE eligibility and enrollment.

To make an appointment, go to https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/ (use the location “AG HQ Nevada.”) Due to security issues, walk-in appointments are not possible. 

To request an appointment at the Reno DEERS station, go to https://airbasescheduler.com/fss/ or call (775)788-4523.

For information about identification card processing at Naval Air Station Fallon, call (775)426-2808.

Vet Tix Discount tickets to events

The Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities to currently serving military members, veterans of all eras and immediate family of those killed in action. 

Since 2008, Vet Tix has provided over 25 million free event tickets to over two million members. 

In 2018, Vet Tix launched 1st Tix, which provides the same benefit to first responders, including current and retired law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs and 911 Dispatchers. 

These events help service members, veterans and first responders reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build lifelong memories and stay engaged with American life and their local communities. 

Vet Tix spends over 98 percent of its revenue on its programs, ensuring they give back to those who have given so much. 

Visit VetTix.org and 1stTix.org to learn more. 

Veterans Guest House needs supplies

The Veterans Guest House in Reno’s pantry shelves are getting bare. The nonprofit provides free lodging for veterans and their families when they come to Reno/Sparks for medical care, houses more than 30 veterans at a time and has been breaking capacity records in 2024. 

The consistent high number of guests has complicated the nonprofit’s supply of perishables, non-perishables and pantry supplies. Any assistance in sharing about this need would be greatly appreciated! 

In particular, the nonprofit is asking for the those in the community who may want to help to consider donating canned meats (e.g. spam, Vienna sausages, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned salmon, etc.), canned fruits and soups, bottled water, cereals, individually wrapped chips, mac’n’cheese, TV dinners (low in sodium) and gas and gift cards

Military articles and news briefs are compiled by the Nevada News Group.Questions may be directed to SNMGmilitaryeditor@gmail.com