Joining Forces Blog
Joining Forces to Make a Difference
Posted by on October 5, 2012 at 1:11 PM EDTIt is easy to make a difference. Just look around and you will see endless opportunities to help. People often think they need a foundation or strong financial support to make a difference, when in fact, quite the opposite is true. All it takes is a little passion. Find something that interests you, develop a passion, and use that passion to do something outside yourself.
I found my passion in giving back to those who have served; specifically our military troops, veterans, wounded warriors and their families. I looked around and saw all the brave men and women who were willing to lay their life on the line to protect our country, to protect me, and I wanted to do something to support them.
President Barack Obama talks with Girl Scout Gold Award winners in the Oval Office, June 8, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Joining Forces to Train Teachers to Serve Military Children
Posted by on October 3, 2012 at 5:23 PM EDT
Dr. Jill Biden and Chief of Staff of the Army General Ray Odierno laugh during a Joining Forces event celebrating the more than 100 colleges and universities that have signed on to “Operation Educate the Educators” at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Oct. 3, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
This afternoon, I was so honored to meet two of our nation’s youngest heroes – 11-year-old twin sisters Felicity and Abigail. The 7th graders love to read and play sports, and, like many of our nation’s 1.3 million school-age military children, their current school is not their first school.
Felicity and Abigail have attended five different schools in four states in the past seven years. They have left old friends and met new ones, transferred school records, left old soccer fields to join new teammates and coaches, and weathered their father’s many deployments. Their dad missed birthdays four, seven, eight, nine and 10.
But they are resilient and strong young ladies who are fiercely proud to be Army kids. I am proud of them, too.
I am also proud that today, more than 100 colleges of teacher education have signed on to Operation Educate the Educators, a partnership between the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Military Child Education Coalition. Last year, the partners set a Joining Forces goal of getting 100 colleges of education to commit to raising awareness on their campuses about military children in their classrooms, and to help better prepare teachers to support them.
An International Approach to Military Mental Health
Posted by on October 3, 2012 at 10:24 AM EDTPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder has been one of the most significant issues our military has faced --- and we are not alone. Last week, the United States came together with representatives from Canada and the United Kingdom to address military mental health. Ensuring the mental health and wellness of our servicemembers, veterans and their families is a cause that unites all of us.
The event sends a strong message to our military, our veterans and all Americans, that we as a nation, and our partners around the world, are serious about addressing these concerns. This event brought together leaders from the government, non-profit, and private sectors, all committed to the same goal --- tending to the invisible wounds that many service members too often endure in silence.
Many of the best thinkers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom came together, not simply to discuss “what’s wrong” but also to share best practices and to chart a course for addressing these shared issues.The symposium included academics, clinicians, researchers, policy makers, foundations, veteran service organizations, national leaders and, of course, servicemembers, veterans and family members.
Learn more about VeteransThe Decision to Move Forward: Paralympian Lt. Snyder Meets with The First Lady
Posted by on September 20, 2012 at 5:54 PM EDTBrad Snyder’s story is a remarkable one. Just one year ago, Lieutenant Snyder was blinded by an IED while serving in Afghanistan. This summer, he competed in the London Paralympics, bringing home two gold medals and a silver medal in swimming.
Moments after being honored at the White House alongside his fellow athletes, Brad shared his story with First Lady Michelle Obama. “Overcoming adversity is a decision that everyone makes,” Brad said, “And you can let that beat you or you can make the decision to move forward.”
Take a moment to watch, and then share this video on Twitter and Facebook with your friends:
Watch Paralympian Lt. Snyder Meet The First Lady, here.
USTA Launches PSA to Highlight Efforts to Use Tennis to Support Military Families
Posted by on August 30, 2012 at 12:04 PM EDTAs part of Joining Forces, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is launching a new Public Service Announcement today featuring Dr. Jill Biden that describes the many ways the USTA is using tennis to inspire and help connect service members and military families.
The USTA has made an unprecedented effort through its Military Outreach Program to reach more than 100,000 service members and military families to introduce them to the benefits of tennis. The USTA uses programs to reach service members and military families in communities and on bases, and to help wounded warriors through tennis therapy clinics when they come home.
“Tennis can connect our service men and women with each other, their families, and their communities,” Dr. Biden said. “Joining Forces is proud to have partners like the USTA, whose support honors the courage and sacrifice of our military families.”
As part of the USTA’s Military Outreach Program, the US Open will host a Military Appreciation Day on Monday, September 3rd, 2012 to honor and acknowledge the sacrifice of 14 Wounded Warriors.
Watch the PSA here or below and to learn more about Joining Forces visit JoiningForces.gov, like Joining Forces on Facebook and follow @JoiningForces on Twitter.
Melanie Kaye is the Communications Director to Dr. Jill Biden
Learn more aboutAnnouncing 125,000 Hires Through Joining Forces
Posted by on August 24, 2012 at 3:39 PM EDTEarlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville, Florida to announce that 2,000 private sector businesses had hired or trained 125,000 veterans and military spouses in the past year through Joining Forces.
Check out behind the scenes footage from the announcement event in this new video, and hear veterans discuss what this initiative has meant to them as they transition back to civilian life and look for work that allows them to use the skills and experience they gained in the military to continue serving our country.
Watch the video on the Announcement of 125,000 Hires Through Joining Forces, here.
Learn more about Veterans
White House Blogs
- The White House Blog
- Middle Class Task Force
- Council of Economic Advisers
- Council on Environmental Quality
- Council on Women and Girls
- Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Office of Management and Budget
- Office of Public Engagement
- Office of Science & Tech Policy
- Office of Urban Affairs
- Open Government
- Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships
- Social Innovation and Civic Participation
- US Trade Representative
- Office National Drug Control Policy
categories
- Blueprint for an America Built to Last
- Equal Pay
- White House Internships
- Civil Rights
- Defense
- Disabilities
- Economy
- Education
- Energy and Environment
- Ethics
- Family
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Foreign Policy
- Health Care
- Homeland Security
- Immigration
- Inside the White House
- Poverty
- Rural
- Seniors and Social Security
- Service
- Taxes
- Technology
- Urban Policy
- Veterans
- Women
- Additional Issues
