Leo Shane III

VA workers say mandatory overtime won't solve benefits backlog

Claims processors within the Veterans Benefits Administration are skeptical than new overtime mandates from Veterans Affairs officials will help solve the department’s benefits backlog, but they do believe the extra work will ruin employee morale.
12:30 May 17, 2013

Stripes Central

Blue Star Families survey shows stress over finances, deployments

A by-the-numbers look at the annual survey, which surveys troops and their spouses about the successes and challenges they see while serving
15:25 May 16, 2013
White House, Congress bear down on military sexual assault

As lawmakers on Thursday railed against the epidemic of sexual assault in the military, President Barack Obama summoned top Pentagon leaders to an emergency White House meeting to deal with the perceived culture of indifference among service leaders.
13:45 May 17, 2013
The Great Divide

Worlds apart, veterans and civilians get acquainted

For months, Spc. Patrick Murphy had barely seen any civilians; now they peppered him with questions.
16:06 May 15, 2013
VA workers told to work overtime to clear claims backlog

Veterans Affairs claims processors will be required to work overtime this summer to help clear the problematic benefits backlog, department officials announced Wednesday.
15:22 May 15, 2013
Sexual assault in the military gets attention at the White House

Lawmakers and senior administration officials met Thursday at the White House in a hastily planned meeting on military sexual assault to discuss possible fixes for the ongoing problem.
15:35 May 9, 2013
The great divide

An 'unfair fight' for job-seeking veterans

The language barrier between troops who have literally worn their resumes on their sleeves and the civilian hiring system has grown to a gaping chasm.
16:06 May 15, 2013
Lawmakers move to stop bonuses to VA execs for five years

Senior executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs would be banned from receiving any bonuses for five years under legislation approved by a congressional committee Wednesday.
18:58 May 8, 2013
Marketing military jobs to civilians

The staff behind the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Personal Branding Resume Engine say their goal isn’t just to help build better resumes for veterans, but to also help them think more like a civilian job applicant when discussing their military skills.
16:37 May 8, 2013
The Ruptured Duck

College rankings include online veterans programs

U.S. News and World Report say they included the special category in their annual rankings in recognition of the challenges vets face.
09:30 May 7, 2013
Lawmakers again push for Fort Hood shootings to be labeled terrorism

A trio of lawmakers is again pushing the Defense Department to classify the 2009 Fort Hood shootings as a terrorist attack, calling it a crucial step in helping the victims and their families.
18:15 May 6, 2013
Report: More veterans are finding work again May 3, 2013
VFW, SVA announce new student vet help program May 2, 2013
Report: Veterans at risk for suicide not getting follow-ups May 2, 2013
Video allegedly shows deadly Afghanistan cargo crash April 30, 2013
No performance bonuses for Veterans Benefits Administration senior executives April 26, 2013
Lawmakers push for new bills, presidential action on VA backlog April 26, 2013
#EndTheBacklog, but which one? April 26, 2013
War wounded offer wealth of advice to Boston victims April 24, 2013
Short-term fix could help vets, but will it solve the backlog problem? April 23, 2013
Website again ranks military among worst jobs April 23, 2013
Team RWB planning 'response runs' to honor Boston victims April 16, 2013
VA hopes to see backlog improvements this fall April 10, 2013
VA budget plan calls for 10 percent increase in funding April 10, 2013
VA downplays claims computers being taken offline April 9, 2013
Federal workers union furious over DOD contracts April 8, 2013
White House closely following VA claims backlog problem April 5, 2013
White House proposes another budget increase for VA in 2014 April 5, 2013
More Iraq and Afghanistan vets have jobs than ever before April 5, 2013
Event brings veterans together through community service April 4, 2013
'MLB: 13: The Show' outshines the real thing April 4, 2013
Furlough time reduced for DOD civilians March 28, 2013
Military tuition assistance restored, but timing is uncertain March 27, 2013
DOMA ruling to have profound effects on military benefits March 27, 2013
A backlog of promises on VA claims backlog March 26, 2013
CBS apologizes to veterans for reality show March 25, 2013
Congress passes bill to force reinstatement of tuition assistance March 21, 2013
Veterans' advocates lobby hard for attention on Capitol Hill March 20, 2013
Senate orders reinstatement of tuition assistance programs March 20, 2013
Congressman calls on top VA official to resign over benefits backlog March 20, 2013
Tuition assistance amendment a casualty of budget push March 19, 2013
Columnist calls for Shinseki to step down March 14, 2013
Defense Department broke with tradition in creating drone medal March 13, 2013
Following complaints, Hagel orders review of Distinguished Warfare Medal March 12, 2013
Student Vets furious over tuition assistance cuts March 8, 2013
Overall vet unemployment falls, but sequester concerns temper good news March 8, 2013
Miller: VA can fire bad workers right now March 8, 2013
Senate too wants Distinguished Warfare Medal knocked down March 7, 2013
House moves to give VA funding some predictability March 7, 2013
Military caregivers for injured vets, often family, number up to a million March 6, 2013
Advocates again push for in vitro fertilization coverage for veterans March 5, 2013
Obama to speak at Naval Academy Commencement March 4, 2013
How to honor non-combat military deaths? March 1, 2013
Distinguished Warfare Medal is off to a rocky start March 1, 2013
Sequestration kicks in: 'The pain will be real' March 1, 2013
Pentagon, VA still divided on system for seamless medical records February 28, 2013
For-profits offer new guidelines for student veterans February 26, 2013
VA backlog continues to mount; no clear solutions in sight February 26, 2013
VA protected from sequester cuts, but veterans will feel the pain February 26, 2013
Lawmaker asks for review of Distinguished Warfare Medal February 25, 2013
American Legion to host claims fair February 20, 2013
University program helps faculty prepare for veterans in classrooms February 20, 2013
Study could offer solutions to troops’ depression February 15, 2013
Lack of GI Bill processing updates causes confusion for veterans, schools February 15, 2013
Gay military spouse goes from shadows to State of the Union February 14, 2013
VA questioned on mental health care progress despite hiring, funding February 13, 2013
Bill lowers burden of proof for military sexual assault victims to get VA disability February 13, 2013
Obama announces return of 34,000 troops from Afghanistan February 12, 2013
Guardsman turned gay rights advocate loses battle with cancer February 11, 2013
Army veteran Clinton Romesha receives Medal of Honor for Afghan fight February 11, 2013
'Crazy vet' assumptions after shootings more stereotype than reality February 7, 2013
Effort to integrate DOD, VA medical records draws criticism February 7, 2013
Basic military health records to be online by end of year February 5, 2013
Ending vet homelessness, one doughnut and handshake at a time February 2, 2013
Number of unemployed veterans up 150,000 in four months February 1, 2013
Can veteran Hagel bridge gap between Pentagon and VA? January 30, 2013
VA issues new grants to expand female vets care January 28, 2013
Congress considering bills that affect veterans' benefits, employment January 25, 2013
Ball honors living Medal of Honor recipients, war heroes past, present January 22, 2013
Budget battle threatens to shape Obama's legacy January 21, 2013
Wal-Mart jobs offer draws critics January 16, 2013
President again invokes military pay, vet benefits in looming budget fight January 15, 2013
US military could be drawn into Mali fight January 14, 2013
Student vets say anti-military attitudes persist on campus January 7, 2013
How many student veterans graduate? No one knows January 7, 2013
What Congress got done, and what it didn't January 2, 2013
Stripes Central’s top 10 posts for 2012 December 27, 2012
Vets bills could fall victim to fiscal cliff indecision December 27, 2012
A year after DADT repeal, gays in the military barely an issue December 27, 2012
DOD budget will be cut; how much is still unclear December 27, 2012
As fiscal cliff nears, Panetta warns of furloughs December 21, 2012
Scaled-down inauguration events honor troops, military families December 20, 2012
VA reduces paperwork for pension payouts December 20, 2012
Advocates protest lowering of COLA for wounded vets December 19, 2012
Stolen Valor Act, other efforts left out of defense bill December 19, 2012
Tributes to a military hero turned Senate icon December 17, 2012
Bill expanding fertility treatment for wounded veterans unlikely to pass December 17, 2012
Lawmakers push new rules on weapons to address suicide risk December 12, 2012
No Medal of Honor upgrade for Peralta after Pentagon review December 12, 2012
New survey aims to fix veterans’ sleep problems December 10, 2012

Leo Shane III

Leo Shane III has worked at Stars and Stripes since 2004, covering Capitol Hill and the White House. His beats include legislation affecting military policy and veterans issues. His work also includes overseas coverage of military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Chile and Ecuador.

In 2010, Shane was part of a team of reporters who received a Polk Award and a National Headliner Award for stories that revealed the military's practice of profiling journalists in Afghanistan in an attempt to steer coverage of the war.

Prior to his work at Stars and Stripes, Shane covered state and local politics for newspapers in Ohio, Illinois and Philadelphia. He is a 1998 graduate of the University of Delaware.

Contact information:

shane.leo@stripes.com

Phone:
Civ: (202) 656-3039
DSN: (312) 763-1183

Tweets by @LeoShane

Recent blogs

Blue Star Families survey shows stress over finances, deployments

A by-the-numbers look at the annual survey, which surveys troops and their spouses about the successes and challenges they see while serving
College rankings include online veterans programs

U.S. News and World Report say they included the special category in their annual rankings in recognition of the challenges vets face.
VFW, SVA announce new student vet help program

The new “1 Student Veteran” program is designed to provide answers and assistance on a host of benefits issues for veterans attending college.
Video allegedly shows deadly Afghanistan cargo crash

ISAF officials have not yet confirmed if the graphic clip is from Monday’s accident.
#EndTheBacklog, but which one?

Critics calling for solutions to the veterans disability claims backlog might not be in the right fight on social media.
War wounded offer wealth of advice to Boston victims

Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan know the pain and challenges facing many of the victims of the Boston attack.
Website again ranks military among worst jobs

Out of 200 possible professions, “enlisted military personnel” comes in 198. But it could be worse...
Team RWB planning 'response runs' to honor Boston victims

Organizers with Team Red, White and Blue are planning “response runs” in cities throughout the country this week in the aftermath of the attack on Boston Marathon runners on Monday.
VA hopes to see backlog improvements this fall

Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey said she expects to see the drop in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, which starts Oct. 1.
Federal workers union furious over DOD contracts

As military leaders announced plans last month for civilian worker furloughs, they also approved contracts worth $39.4 billion

Live now on the Tablet Edition

Does social media add fuel to servicemembers' degrading actions?

Despite urgent efforts by the White House, Congress and the Pentagon to address the military’s burgeoning sexual assault crisis, degrading hate speech against women remains ubiquitous in the military — and it’s as close as the nearest computer screen.
Improved grenade design on the way

Troops can soon look forward to small improvements, even a possible complete redesign, of the fragmentation hand grenade.
Gallery

Wandering through Sicily with an eye for awe

A photo essay explores the charm of Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Latest Blog Postings

Stripes Central

Fort Bliss gets on the microgrid, an energy first for DOD

The Army flipped the switch on an advanced power system at Fort Bliss Thursday, taking a step towards the Pentagon's goal to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its military bases around the world.
Stripes Central

Blue Star Families survey shows stress over finances, deployments

A by-the-numbers look at the annual survey, which surveys troops and their spouses about the successes and challenges they see while serving
Europe Traveler

Catch a Middle Ages festival on Pentacost weekend

Feel like a step back in time? Middle Ages festivals are scheduled in several German cities from Saturday, May 18, through Monday, May 20.
Spouse Calls

Less talk, more action

Pentagon programs and officials need to translate good intentions and policies into meaningful action for military families.
Spouse Calls

Q&A with a council member

Marine Corps spouse serving on the DOD Military Family Readiness Council answers questions about the purpose, actions and accomplishments of the council.
Pacific Sportsblog

Far East high school track and field meet record endangered species list

We’ve gazed at possible Pacific track records; what records will fall at the Far East meet at Yokota?

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Marine, dog reunited in surprise ceremony May 17, 2013
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1 SEAL dead, 7 sailors hurt in training accident May 17, 2013
Navy commander relieved of duty due to 'inappropriate' emails May 17, 2013
31st Fighter Wing's designated new commander to retire; replacement named May 17, 2013
Welsh: Open to all options to stop military sexual assault May 17, 2013
Obama nominates Scaparrotti to command US South Korean forces May 17, 2013
VA workers say mandatory overtime won't solve benefits backlog May 17, 2013
Pentagon approves use of advanced devices from Apple and others - but don't expect quick change May 17, 2013

Army sex assault officer arrested in domestic spat 19:32 May 16, 2013
Osaka mayor: ‘Wild Marines’ should consider using prostitutes 21:46 May 14, 2013
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1 SEAL dead, 7 sailors hurt in training accident 17:08 May 18, 2013
Fort Hood soldier in sexual assault case identified 13:05 May 16, 2013
Review chairman: Clinton didn't make Benghazi call 17:11 May 12, 2013
Pentagon said to seek $80 billion for war amid withdrawal 09:34 May 17, 2013
Polling specialists question Pentagon sex-assault survey 09:12 May 17, 2013
Navy commander relieved of duty due to 'inappropriate' emails 03:03 May 17, 2013
Privatization of Army lodging begins at Meade 16:33 May 16, 2013

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