On July 13, VA and the PenFed Foundation brought 80 women veteran entrepreneurs from 29 different states to participate in a six-month accelerator program to help guide and prepare them in federal and commercial marketplaces, according to a statement from the VA.

Participants are “VA center for Verification and evaluation verified, with three to five years in business and have past performance as a prime or subcontractor,” the statement said.

The six-month program was created to support women veteran entrepreneurs and bring empowerment to those seeking to grow their business. The program provides training and resources to start and grow businesses.

“It’s important we provide an environment where women entrepreneurs can receive strategic and deliberate education, empowerment, engagement and access to enhance their businesses,” said VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Executive Director Sharon Ridley.

“Through entrepreneurship, women veterans have an opportunity to leverage their military and leadership skills to increase and create economic opportunities,” Ridley continued.

Classes are available with a focus on relationship building, product/market analysis, business development and growth preparation.

Coaching from industry leaders such as AstraZeneca and Halfaker and Associates and OptumServe will be available to participants, as well as small groups for participation.

The program closes with a pitch competition. One participant with a winning pitch will be awarded a PenFed Foundation grant to use toward their own business.

“We have shared a goal: to empower women Veterans and create access to capital and systems to support them,” PenFed Foundation President and retired Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr. said.

“We believe in creating a business ecosystem that establishes service in the U.S. military as the most reliable pathway to a successful entrepreneurship,” said Nicholson.

Learn more about VA’s mission to empower and educate Women Veteran Entrepreneurs for success and economic opportunities at Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

On Tuesday, Amazon pledged to hire 100,000 US veterans and veterans’ spouses by the year 2024.

Over 40,000 veterans and military spouses are currently employed by Amazon, from operations to Alexa to sustainability to Amazon Web Services (AWS), company offiicials say.

“Amazon is focused on recruiting and developing military talent with training programs specifically designed to help veterans transition into roles in the private sector,” said John Quintas, Amazon’s director of Global Military Affairs.

Vice president at the US Chamber of Commerce, Eric Eversole, spoke highly on behalf of the company’s goal, according to a statement from Amazon.

“Amazon recognizes the diverse backgrounds and experiences veterans and military spouses bring and how they strengthen the workforce, through their commitment to provide upskilling and employment opportunities in high demand careers, Amazon is equalizing opportunity for veterans and military spouses,” said Eversole.

The company will continue to offer opportunities to help transitioning veterans and their spouses to find a career within their preferred interest. “This includes access to company-funder skills training in high-demand areas, such as cloud computing, through initiatives like the Amazon Technical Apprenticeship Program and AWS re/Start,” a statement from amazon said.

Free exclusive opportunities will be available for military members to gain new technical skills to move into higher paying jobs. Programs include Career Choice and Amazon Technical Academy.

Amazon’s goal is to hire 16,000 military spouses.

Military Spouse programs are available for military spouses to apply for jobs that best fit their skills. Amazon is also offering classes, and a mentorship program.

“Amazon truly, truly, values what military spouses bring to the work force.” Beth Conlin, program manager of Military Spouse Programs at Amazon told Military Times.

An affinity group known as Warriors@amazon, with a community of over 10,000 former service members spouses and allies across the company is also available for those looking for fellowship and support.

Amazon has more than 35,000 positions in the US open. To apply and learn more about career opportunities visit Amazon.Jobs.

Marine Cpl. Dominick Bonner of Parkville, Maryland, received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on June 8, Stars and Stripes first reported.

In April, Bonner had been out to breakfast at an off-base eatery, celebrating his wife’s birthday, when the Marine was told an employee needed medical attention.

The restaurant employee was on the ground in the kitchen area, motionless and without a pulse, a Marine Corps statement said. Bonner quickly began chest compressions after relieving the employee’s fatigued co-workers.

“After 10 minutes of performing the lifesaving aid, paramedics were able to take the man to a nearby hospital,” the Marine Corps said.

Bonner, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, said, “I did what any Marine would have done.”

“It’s all about looking out for our fellow brothers and sisters of mankind. He needed help, and there was no way I was going to stand back and watch him die,” Bonner said in the statement.

The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal is awarded to any person who distinguishes him or herself by “heroic or meritorious achievement or service,” according to the Marine Corps.

“Cpl. Bonner is the kind of Marine you want by your side at all times,” Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Malchow, the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense operations coordinator of 1st MAW, said in the press release.

Malchow read the award, stating Bonner’s collected demeanor, leadership and decisive actions at the moment of crisis enabled the best on-scene to care possible prior to the arrival of medical services.

Cpl. Eric John Niss-De Jesus had been swept out to sea by a large wave June 5 while swimming with colleagues near a reef, a Japanese coast guard spokesman told Stars and Stripes.

“The remains of U.S. Marine Cpl. Eric John Niss-De Jesus were located at Odo Beach, Itoman Okinawa, recovered and identified on June 9, 2021,” Marine Corps spokeswoman 1st Lt. Ashleigh Fairow told Marine Corps Times in a Monday email.

Niss-De Jesus was a military working dog handler with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Fairow said. He was a native of Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

Helicopters and patrol boats were actively searching for the missing Marine until noon June 7, Stripes reported. Japanese fireman also searched on land.

Niss-De Jesus is survived by his parents and nine siblings, according to an online obituary.

“Eric-John’s whole life was about excellence,” his mother, Jessica Blom, told Marine Corps Times in an email. “He pushed himself physically and mentally ― he didn’t want to waste any time or talents that God gave him.”

“(Niss-De Jesus) used his time to learn about those around him, and to extend help in any way he could. … He had a servant’s heart and he earned the trust of all those in his path. They believed what he said, because he walked the walk. He didn’t expect anything in return for his kindness ― he gave it freely in hopes that it would be paid forward.”

The Marine was assigned to Camp Kinser on Okinawa, Japan, and recently was selected for the enlisted commissioning program.

The Marine had a constant concern for his friends’ safety as the struggled in the strong waters, according to his obituary.

“As (Niss-De Jesus) was fighting for his own life, he kept checking in with (the other Marines) and encouraging them to fight hard to survive,” his obituary said.

“The Marine Corps is working closely with local officials to determine the facts surrounding Cpl. Niss-De Jesus’ death,” Fairow said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Niss-De Jesus family.”

A procession in his honor will be held Thursday among several Minnesota communities, The Mankato Free Press reported.

A visitation will be held Friday at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, according to his obituary. His funeral will be held Saturday at Mountain Lake High School.