Pennsylvania Veterans Forward

Hello and welcome to Episode 14 of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward.   Today we sit down with District 27 Commander Ken King of the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign wars who shares his thoughts on the state of the VFW in Pennsylvania.  Ken is also a candidate for the High office of State Junior Vice Commander and gives us a window into his views and approach to leadership and his vision for leading Pennsylvania should he be elected State Commander.   

Host John Otte sits down VFW National Legislative Chairman Jim Brown for an update on his recent visit to Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill.   Jim and his team are working tirelessly on lobbying our legislators to pass legislation that benefits veterans and their families.   Jim also speaks about his candidacy for the high office of State Junior Vice Commander in the Department of Pennsylvania, Veterans of Foreign Wars.    It's an episode you don't want to miss!

In this episode of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward, we continue our coverage of the 2023 VFW State Convention. This convention brings together veterans from across Pennsylvania to discuss important issues and make decisions that will impact the future of our veterans.Host John August Otte sits down with Pennsylvania National Legislative Chairman Jim Brown to catch up on the latest legislation that is being tracked on Capitol Hill by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Pennsylvania VFW Service Officer Jonathan Hart stops by to discuss the importance of using an accredited service officer to file compensation Claims with the Veterans Administration and the challenges veterans face when filing these claims using firms and individuals that are not accredited.And finally we catch up with Bill Rowland who was the former Department of Pennsylvania State Surgeon and now a candidate for the high office of State Junior Vice Commander.  Join us for this exciting episode as we continue our coverage of the 2023 VFW State Convention that you wont want to miss.

At the 2023 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Pennsylvania State Convention, Host John Otte catches up with VFW Commander-in-Chief Tim Borland for an in-depth interview on his command year.   Chief Borland, a 22-time Century Recruiter speaks on the importance of growing membership in the VFW and how each member can do their part in that mission.    In the second interview, John sits down with outgoing Pennsylvania State Commander Henry Manella to chat about the great things that happened the past year and the many successes the department has had including a banner year that resulted in being All-American for the first time since 2018.    It's a great episode that you don't want to miss!

Welcome to Episode 10.    On Saint Patrick's Day 2023 host John Otte catches up with VFW Post 6393 Commander Kirk Saboda to learn of all of the incredible things this post has done to revitalize its post including the modernization of its facility, events and culture in an effort to attract new and more younger veterans and their families to the post.   This three phased modernization started with a thorough understanding of the needs and attitudes of younger veterans such as those from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  Today these veterans' interests are focused on obtaining better health care and compensation from Veterans Administration with many having an near term need for for the assistance of an accredited VFW Service Officer that can help them with the filing of their initial claim with the VA for benefits or an appeal after denial.   Come listen how this post is leading the way in Pennsylvania with a transformation of their organization to better serve veterans of all ages and eras.   You won't want to miss this episode.Commander Saboda may be reached at:   kirkmsaboda@gmail.com Yardley VFW Post 6393 may be found here on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vfwpost6393The band that played in this episode is named Jed's Gold.    Find them on Facebook here:   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063454035887

Host John Otte sits down with the team of the Bucks County, PA Veterans Court Treatment program designed to assist veterans that have entered the criminal justice system.   Carolyn Debuque (Bucks County Veterans Court Advocate), Woody Hippel (Bucks County Veterans Court Coordinator) and Caitlin Dryden (Bucks County Assistant District Attorney) explain the benefits of this program to help rehabilitate those veterans entered into a deferred (or alternative) treatment program.  This program is focused on helping veterans successfully complete their court ordered treatment requirements while often reducing the severity and penalty of their alleged crimes.   The team also speaks to the critically important veteran Mentor/Mentee relationship that is established during this process and a brief overview of the Mentor responsibilities and how to apply for the role of a veterans court treatment mentor.  A very exciting episode that you won't want to miss!   To volunteer as a Bucks County Veterans Court Mentor or to find out more about the program please contact Woody Hippel at:  Woody@veteranscourtbucks.orgTo contact the Bucks County District Attorney's Office regarding the Veterans Court Treatment Program please contact Caitlin Dryden at:  Cndryden@buckscounty.orgFor more information or to download the Application to be a Veteran Mentor please visit:  https://vfwpadistrict8.org/programs/veterans-court-advocate/

Much like their counterparts on Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have transition resources available post deployment and/or also upon separation from military service.  Much like the assistance provided at an active duty transition assistance point (TAP)  for active duty component personnel, the reserve and national guard also have a very valuable set of resources through the Reserve Component Transition Assistance Advisor Program.  Their primary mission is "Providing the Direction to the Benefits that Service Members and Veterans have earned"!   Host John Otte sits down with Team Leader Melissa Singer for an in-depth discussion on the benefits and services that the Reserve Component Transition Assistance Advisor Program provides to members of both the reserve and national guard components.  You won't want to miss this episode.Email:  RCTAASocial@gapsi.comInstagram:  RCTAASupportTwitter:      RCTAASupportLinkedIn:   RCTAA-Supportmilitaryonesource.mil/national-guard/transition-assistance/about-the-transition-assistance-program?redirect=%2Fnational-guard%2Ftransition-assistance

Today on Episode 7 of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward, we catch up with Jim Brown and Rich Cassey, Jr, Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Pennsylvania National Legislative Committee for the September 2022 update on the status of Veterans' legislation including passage of the recent PACT ACT and other important pending bills in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Jim and Rich are both headed to Washington D.C to meet with legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss bills such as H.R. 8736 (Governing Non Accredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act and H.R. 1282 (Major Richard Star Act).  Tune in on Wednesday morning September 14, 2022 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to hear and all of the incredible work that Jim and Rich are doing on Capitol Hill to fight for ALL Veterans rights and Entitlements.  https://congress.wiki/legislation/hr8736-117https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1282https://votervoice.net/VFW/register

Watch the Trailer for the highlights of the upcoming Episode 7 of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward and the September 2022 Veterans Legislative Update.

In this episode, we speak with Tom Applebach, Director of Veterans Affairs for Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.   Tom breaks down the role of the Veteran Service Officer and the high value services that are provided by County and Veterans Services organizations.   Working with an accredited service officer is key to helping each veteran understand the complex processes of the Veterans Administration including filing for claims of disability compensation.   Lots of information packed into one interview that will assuredly provide high value information.  This is a must watch episode for any veteran that is thinking about or has already filed a claim for disability with the Veterans Administration.   We hope you enjoy watching and listening.

Join us for Episode 5 of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward as we broadcast from the 2022 VFW National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.   We catch up with Rick McKenna, National Deputy Director of Membership.    Rick gives us his thoughts on being a member of the VFW and how the membership team can help posts, districts and departments succeed with tips, tricks and resources to have a successful membership year.   We hope you will check out our episode and thank you for watching and listening!   

Please join us for Episode 4 of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward when we interview Brian Pultro, U.S. Navy veteran and behaviors finance expert as he talks about the critically important issue of veterans financial planning.  Brian explains the key best practices to identifying and engaging a financial planner especially one that knows the challenges and struggles veterans encounter when addressing the issue of finance and planning for their futures.   We hope you find this content valuable and informative.

Please join us for Episode 3 of Pennsylvania Veterans Forward with fresh interviews of Mary Jean Mastridge (Senior Vice President) and Pam Sopher (Immediate Past Department President) of the PA VFW Auxiliary.   Come and listen to all of the great things that the VFW Auxiliary is doing across the state of PA to support veterans and find out if you are eligible to be part of an organization that provides unwavering support for uncommon heroes!

Join host John Otte on Pennsylvania Veterans Forward from the 2022 Pennsylvania VFW State Convention with highlights and interviews from members and officers from the Department of PA during the convention week.   Outgoing State Commander Nathaniel Smith and Incoming Commander Henry Mannella are among the special interviews of this episode.   Also in this episode we are joined by Brian Armstrong and Wally Paciorkowski (VFW Riders Group), State Legislative Chairman Jim Brown, State Auxiliary President Valerie DeCorte, District 30 Commander Melody Price and District 29 Commander Jessica King.

Our inaugural show launch on Memorial Day 2022 broadcasting live from Willow Creek Brewing Company in West Reading, PA.     Author Susan Snyder shares with us her new book entitled "Off to be a solider with a daily letter to my wife".     This book is dedicated to her late father in law Luke Snyder, a World War II veteran that wrote a letter every single day to his wife while fighting overseas in WW II.   Also, Veteran and Brewmeister Mark Camlin shares his recent experience collaborating with over 20 other breweries in PA to raise money for Keystone Military Families, the largest military only food larder in PA.  Come Join your Host John Otte and Special Guest Host Jim Manser to kickoff and celebrate Pennsylvania Veterans Forward!