Lung cancer screening

Thomas Wishart encourages his fellow Veterans to prioritize lung cancer screening. Wishart’s journey in the Navy began in 1970 when he served with the P3 Squadron as a mechanic and hydraulics specialist in California. Several years later, he transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat program in Virginia Beach, splitting his time between land and the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. After leaving active duty, Wishart settled in Columbia, South Carolina, where he made regular visits to t...

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Breast cancer: the power of early detection

When Dak Conrad, a six-year Navy Veteran, discovered a swollen and tender node under her arm, she knew that her life was about to change. Thankfully, her breast cancer was detected early, a fortunate break that spared her from the harsh realities of chemotherapy and radiation. “I was devastated, but because it was caught early, we did early intervention,” she shared. Following a double mastectomy, Conrad avoided additional treatments and now returns for annual sonograms. Sh...

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Employment Compensation from a Foreign Government Can Impact Your Retired Pay

Did You Know: Your military retired pay can be impacted if you receive compensation from a foreign government without advance permission?The U.S. Constitution prohibits federal government employees from accepting compensation, gifts, or titles from foreign governments without the prior consent of Congress. This prohibition also applies to military retirees. Congress granted its consent to retirees seeking foreign government employment so long as the retirees obtain the advance approvals required...

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Women Veterans: Lower your risk for diabetes

VA understands that life after service is much different than while wearing the uniform. After leaving service, you become less physically active, have different eating habits, have started smoking, or you may have increased stress or other mental health concerns. Unfortunately, these factors play a big role in your risk for developing diabetes. In fact, women Veterans are 2.5 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than non-Veterans, but prevention is possible. Understanding diab...

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