Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced Aug. 14 that 28 additional vet centers will be established next year across 19 states and American Samoa to address the growing need for readjustment counseling and other assistance for combat veterans. “VA is committed to providing high-quality outreach and readjustment counseling to all combat veterans,” said Shinseki. Already, the VA operates 232 community-based centers across the 50 states. They provide veterans with mental health screening and post-traumatic stress disorder counseling as well as counseling for veterans and family of fallen veterans on employment, family issues, and education, all at no cost. (VA release, including list of locations of the new vet centers)
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.