Veterans Corner: PFA exposure, veterans fair, FARP and diversity
Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAs) are a class of over 12,000 chemicals that have been used in the military since early 1970s. VA's assessment methodology to determine relationships between exposures and medical conditions and diseases follows guidance from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and will consider available peer reviewed scientific literature, veteran claims data and other relevant data.
As a result of this study, VA may be able to make kidney cancer a preemptive condition for veterans exposed to PFAs, thus lowering the burden of proof on the veteran. More than 700 military installations (in all 50 states) have used PFAs, which may have polluted drinking water on the bases and local civilian areas and likely contaminated them with the "forever chemicals" known as PFAs. The most common use of PFAs on military installations was in firefighting foam made with PFAs, also known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF.
Browse "PFAs in the military" for more details about the study and the PFAs' "forever chemical itself."
VETERANS FAIR 2024
The Central Illinois Veterans Warriors organization is hosting a veterans information and resource fair at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. Veteran-related organizations will have representatives there to answer your questions and possibly even sign you up for benefits provided by the VA and other organizations.
The fair will open from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 9. Bring a copy of your DD214, as this will assist the representatives in determining eligibility for some benefits.
Visit www.civw.org to request being a representative organization, or for more information if you are a veteran or family member of a veteran.
Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) protocols have remained unchanged for decades, even as the pace of combat has increased. The outdated procedure takes 40 to 60 minutes to stage and equip. It takes another hour to arm and fuel the aircraft and more time to pack up and move out, exposing both the helicopter crews and the refueling and rearming crews to unnecessary vulnerability.
The new system is identified as the Helicopter Expedited Refueling Operations project (HERO) and will include artificial intelligence components as well as faster pump systems and robotic fueling. The new procedures will not only reduce vulnerability in a combat zone environment, but also reduce time of exposure to toxic fuel vapors and exhaust, which is now being covered by the PACT Act.
Military com reports that the Army's top enlisted leader has removed key guidance that required diversity to be considered when selecting individuals to serve in upper-level noncommissioned officer positions.
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, the top enlisted leader of the force, recently issued new guidance on selecting command sergeants major that was essentially a copy-and-paste from his predecessor, with one exception. It removed a line directing that a command sergeant major candidate's diversity be considered.
All promotion guidelines in all organizations should be based on merit, not social justice considerations. To do otherwise could reduce the effectiveness of the military to carry out its prime responsibility and purpose, which is to protect our country, our citizens and our way of life.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
As our elections draw near, let us all keep in mind that all our citizens are Americans. We have the freedom to believe and to say almost anything we want without our government having the right to censure our thoughts and our speech.
Most veterans have opinions and often express them. Veterans will and in many past cases did give up their own freedom and in some cases their lives to protect the same freedoms for Americans with whom they disagree. Freedom should be the common factor that unites us. It is too bad that some citizens do not have the same sense of value and purpose of the freedoms as those with whom they disagree.
"I am an American, free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit." — Theodore Roosevelt
Jerry Vogler is superintendent of the McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission.
