Posts and News

Memorial Day – Let’s Do This One Like We Mean It

By Shad Meshad / May 19, 2017

This Memorial Day will be the nation’s 149th. Originally called Decoration Day, May 30th was chosen because it had no…

Why Is It So Hard to Address Sexual Assault in our Military?

By Shad Meshad / May 9, 2017

In a word: the culture.  The military/warrior culture of course, but also our culture at large. Dr. Carl Castro, Associate…

Veterans and Their Families

By Shad Meshad / April 27, 2017

My lifelong career as a veteran advocate started with the Vets of my era—Vietnam.  When I expanded my veteran outreach…

Federal Hiring Freeze Affects Men and Women Veterans

By Shad Meshad / April 11, 2017

On January 23, 2017, the President of the United States ordered a hiring freeze on Federal civilian employees. The Presidential…

Accountability: a Priority?

By Shad Meshad / March 20, 2017

As I watched Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the United States Marine Corps, respond to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a…

Picturing Homeless Veterans

By Shad Meshad / March 3, 2017

Before your read any further, check the image in your mind.  You’re picturing a man, right?  Not so fast. Women…

Veterans Wait to Hear about Changes to the VA

By Shad Meshad / February 7, 2017

Change brings its own challenges.  Not an easy time for vets, though many have a lot of practice: waiting for…

What Happens When a Veteran’s Discharge is Less than Honorable?

By Shad Meshad / January 25, 2017

These three words can change a life if they refer to a veteran’s discharge from military service:  less than honorable.…