Daniel Bradley, director of government and military relations for the International Association of Movers, said the announcement earlier this week that all permanent change of station moves would be postponed until at least mid-May was “not coordinated with the moving industry” and will have tremendous effects beyond the military community.

“This stop movement order comes at critical time and could result in a number of companies closing their doors, especially in more remote areas where businesses are specifically tied to supporting (military) installations and have very few opportunities to diversify their moving business with corporate, residential or even office moves,” he said.

“It’s hard to estimate the workers this will impact. Beyond (transportation service providers) and local moving agents involved in the program — which is in the tens of thousands — there are industry suppliers who also support these entities.”

Last week, Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist announced a near total halt to official military moves and travel in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has already resulted in 150 deaths across America.

As of Friday, 67 servicemembers, 26 dependents, 15 defense civilian workers, and 16 defense contractors had been confirmed to have the illness.

As a result of Norquist’s order, U.S. Transportation Command ordered moving companies “to take no action on scheduled pick-ups and pack-outs of household goods” and directed service members to work through their chain of command if they believe they should be eligible for a travel waiver.

Officials from IAM and the American Moving and Storage Association have already begun lobbying Congress for financial help as a result of the military’s move restrictions, saying their losses could top $200 million.

Bradley said his association is working with U.S. Transportation Command on response to the changes. But he also is warning that many companies will shut down before May if solutions aren’t found for their financial losses.

“Getting some infusion of cash to allow moving companies to keep their doors open now will help companies be ready to support DoD personnel moves once the stop movement order is lifted,” he said.

“Without it, some capacity may be lost forever, and what capacity is left will take more time to gear up to support a typical (military) peak season.”

The Defense Department is the single largest shipper of household goods in the world, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all business.

Congressional leaders are discussing a third emergency legislative package in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Senate Republican leaders on Thursday unveiled the outline of a $1 trillion deal which would include funding for industries and individuals to help offset losses from nationwide quarantine and isolation orders.

White House officials in private meetings have said that unemployment for the country could reach as high as 20 percent in coming months, according to various news sources.

Citing the advisory’s “devastating impact on the moving and storage industry,” the associations are seeking over $186 million in federal relief. The stop order remains in effect until May 11.

The amount — to be paid to currently approved DOD Personal Property Program (DP3) transportation service providers and approved non-temporary storage providers — constitutes 60 percent of total revenues obtained from their Defense Department contracts during the same period (March 16 through May 11) from last year, according to the IAM and AMSA.

If “relief is not granted, providers will suffer unprecedented economic losses due to the inability to service Department of Defense business,” the release said.

The U.S. Transportation Command advisory directed moving companies “to take no action on scheduled pick-ups and pack-outs of household goods,” while service members were instructed to work through their chain of command in seeking a waiver “to continue the relocation process.”

“There are typically 55,100 shipments moved from March through May. The average shipment count per week is roughly 6,000 shipments worldwide, this expands within peak season to an average of 9,500 shipments per week,” said John Becker, AMSA interim president, in an emailed statement. “If the stop movement stays in place, small companies that provide service at the curb could go out of business. This result would create a drastic capacity decrease for this summer and for the entire household goods (HHG) industry moving forward.”

“It is our hope that financial relief will be delivered very quickly, ensuring that small businesses stay in business supporting the DoD, the military and service members during the 2020 Peak Season Permanent Change of Station process,” Becker added.

“Household good providers have reserved their capacity in anticipation for these shipments and are now left with no business for the suspension period,” the release added. “It is likely and estimated that entities will go out of business or enact severe layoffs.”

IAM consists of over 2,000 member companies, and AMSA conducts lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill on behalf of the moving and logistics industry. According to the AMSA, nearly one-quarter of “of all interstate moves handled by professional movers each year” comes from the federal government — with the majority related to Defense Department personnel moves.

In a letter to House of Representatives leadership, the associations said “DoD’s Defense Personal Property Program (DP3) represent roughly 20 percent of all moves globally,” with the halt order having “a massive impact on the future financial viability, and structural capacity of the household goods moving industry.”

Officials from the associations noted that U.S. companies were “getting ready to enter ‘peak moving’ season, the timeframe when nearly 80 percent of all household goods moves occur.”

A companion letter was also sent to United States Senate leadership.

In the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Pentagon previously announced a total domestic travel ban for all troops, civilian personnel and their families until May 11. That announcement came just days after Pentagon officials announced severe restrictions on overseas travel for all defense employees, uniformed and civilians.

The new rules covered permanent change of station (PCS) moves and temporary duty (TDY) travel, suspending service members and their families in limbo.

Members of all four services found themselves relying on emergency relief funds and unit-by-unit authorizations of per diem to cover their costs while they wait, including troops and families who have packed up their lives, checked out of housing and were preparing to board planes to their new duty stations now suspended in place, Military Times previously reported.

The requested federal financial relief would be in additional to ongoing discussions between Congressional leadership and the Trump Administration regarding the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to AMSA’s website, their members may qualify for low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Treasury Department said Wednesday it wants to dedicate $500 billion to start issuing direct payments to Americans by early next month as the centerpiece of a $1 trillion plan to stabilize the economy as the coronavirus epidemic threatens a body slam to taxpayers and businesses.

Wednesday’s legislation would speed the delivery of testing for the virus and provide paid sick leave to workers, but the focus in Washington has already moved to development of a far, far larger response bill that would inject hundreds of billions of dollars into the faltering economy, provide relief to shuttered businesses, and help keep airlines from going under.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.

The governors of Washington, California, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have all declared individual emergencies.

As of Wednesday afternoon, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo remains the only state executive to activate the National Guard following an earlier disaster emergency declaration thus far.

Emergency declarations carry “additional powers and resources” that “vary from state to state,” including the activation of emergency operations centers and response plans and the “deployment of state personnel, equipment, supplies, and emergency stockpiles,” according to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed an executive order to streamline the state’s response to the virus and grant greater authorities to state officials, including the option to activate the Florida National Guard “as needed.”

“The Florida National Guard is not currently tasked with any active operational type missions in the field, but we are augmenting the state’s planning and logistics efforts,” Maj. M. Caitlin Brown, director of public affairs at the Florida National Guard, told Military Times. “It’s obviously a rapidly evolving situation, and so we are leaning forward in preparation for potential future missions.”

The declaration also enables state officials to establish field hospitals should the health care system become overwhelmed, among other measures.

“[Gov. DeSantis] and the [Florida] Department of Health’s highest priority at this time is to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring anyone who is potentially infected is appropriately identified, cared for and isolated,” Ryan Ash, deputy press secretary for Gov. DeSantis, told Military Times. “The Florida National Guard, led by Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert, Adjutant General of Florida, stands ready to be deployed in order to accomplish this mission.”

Florida has 21 positive cases of COVID-19 with two reported deaths, as well as 155 pending test results and over 1,000 people monitored as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Department of Health.

In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency Tuesday, instructing state agencies to cancel all conferences and large gatherings and activating the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to coordinate “health, human services, public safety” measures.

The order allows state officials wider authorities to obtain resources and deploy federal and state resources.

“The Massachusetts National Guard has not been activated at this time,” Don Veitch, director of public affairs at the Guard, told Military Times. “The Massachusetts National Guard is a diverse and highly trained force capable of assisting in a number of critical roles including; medical, transportation, biological response, decontamination and logistics… [and] is always ready to assist our interagency partners in support the commonwealth when called upon.”

As of Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported a single confirmed case with 91 “presumptive cases” of the new coronavirus.

A state’s governor may activate the National Guard under “State Active Duty” status “in response to natural or man-made disasters or Homeland Defense missions.” In this capacity, Guardsmen remain “command and control” of the governor and are sourced and paid for by the state, according to the National Guard Bureau.

A governor may also activate the Guardsmen to support other states through assistance agreements in a multi-state response to an emergency, although the funding comes from the federal government under Title 32 U.S.C. status.

“In times of emergency, the National Guard Bureau serves as a federal coordinating agency should a state require help from the National Guard of another state,” Master Sgt. W. Michael Houk, National Guard Bureau spokesman, previously told Military Times. “The National Guard Bureau’s operation center is operating with increased staffing and hours and is prepared to coordinate support between the states and our mission partners in any whole of government response.”

Currently, the National Guard Bureau is serving in an advisory and support role, providing guidance and information to local governments, the Guardsmen and their families, a defense official said.

The Defense Department and the National Guard Bureau are working through the interagency process, “synchronizing” but “not actually directing traffic,” the official said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the lead federal agency tasked with combating the spread of COVID-19.

Cuomo’s declaration included a “containment area” within the city of New Rochelle, New York, where public health officials have identified a “cluster” of COVID-19 cases.

There, the Guardsmen were “mobiliz[ed] to deliver food to homes and help with cleaning public spaces in the containment area,” Military Times previously reported.

The defense secretary retains the authority to order National Guard forces to active duty under Title 10 U.S.C. when “necessary to maintain the national health, safety, or interest,” according to the Department of Homeland Security’s National Response Framework.

“I want every tool at my disposal in order to be able to protect Rhode Island,” Gov. Gina Raimondo said at a Monday press conference, as reported by NBC 10 Boston. Authorities there have confirmed five cases.

Lawmakers in Connecticut signed off Wednesday on Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency declaration, which could have been vetoed by a special legislative committee. The state has confirmed two patients as of Tuesday.

Just as Massachusetts and Florida have not activated the National Guard, there are currently no plans for Washington, California, Rhode Island and Connecticut to activate their Guard troops.

There are now over 1,000 confirmed cases in the United States with 31 confirmed deaths, according to CDC Director Robert Redfield.

The World Health Organization declared the global coronavirus outbreak to be a “pandemic” as confirmed cases worldwide topped 113,000 Wednesday with over 4,000 deaths.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.

Within the containment area, “schools, houses of worship and other large gathering facilities within a one-mile radius” of the outbreak’s epicenter will be closed for 14 days until March 25, according to a press release.

The National Guard will assist state health officials in New Rochelle, “mobilizing to deliver food to homes and help with cleaning public spaces in the containment area,” the release added.

People who aren’t personally quarantined will be able to leave their homes and go to work. Local businesses can remain open. Residents or visitors are free to walk the sidewalks. The area includes three public schools.

The Westchester outbreak began to emerge after a 50-year-old lawyer was hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Some of his relatives and friends later tested positive.

Many members of a New Rochelle synagogue where he had attended events were asked to quarantine themselves. Its rabbi also tested positive.

As of Tuesday, there were 108 reported cases in Westchester County, where New Rochelle is located, and 36 cases in New York City, according to the governor’s office and the New York State Department of Health. A total of 173 positive cases are reported statewide.

In the last 24 hours, Westchester County added 10 new cases, and New York City added 17 new cases, the release stated.

A state’s governor may activate the National Guard under “State Active Duty” status “in response to natural or man-made disasters or Homeland Defense missions.” In this capacity, Guardsmen remain “command and control” of the governor and are sourced and paid for by the state, according to the National Guard Bureau.

“In times of emergency, the National Guard Bureau serves as a federal coordinating agency should a state require help from the National Guard of another state,” Master Sgt. W. Michael Houk, National Guard Bureau spokesman, told Military Times. “The National Guard Bureau’s operation center is operating with increased staffing and hours and is prepared to coordinate support between the states and our mission partners in any whole of government response.”

“Though we are monitoring closely, National Guard Bureau is not currently tasked to support any state-to-state requests for assistance regarding COVID-19,” Houk added.

A governor may also activate the Guardsmen to support other states through assistance agreements in a multi-state response to an emergency, although the funding comes from the federal government under Title 32 U.S.C. status.

The activation of the National Guard comes after the Dr. Howard Zucker, state health commissioner for New York, designated the cases in New Rochelle as a “cluster.”

“We are moving from containment to mitigation, and because much of the transmission of this disease tends to happen on a geographic basis, we are attacking this hotspot at the source,” Cuomo said in the press conference. “As the number of positive cases rises, I am urging all New Yorkers to remember the bottom line: we talk about all this stuff to keep the public informed — not to incite fear — and if you are not a member of the vulnerable population then there is no reason for excess anxiety.”

“As we see the number of cases continue to rise based upon close contacts with persons who are positive for COVID-19, there is a particular need to reduce the opportunity for further close contacts,” Zucker said in the release. “These opportunities include schools, churches, synagogues, and other event spaces where large numbers of people gather and remain together for extended periods of time.

The announcement also stated the state is partnering with local health partners to set up a “satellite testing facility” in the area, the release added.

On March 7, Cuomo declared a state of emergency to streamline the state’s response to the virus’ spread.

“As we continue to provide essential updates and encourage people to act upon the facts on coronavirus instead of the hype, I have officially done a declaration of emergency which gives us certain powers to help local health departments that are very stressed,” Cuomo said at the time. “As the local health departments continue to monitor and quarantine people, we have a more expedited purchasing protocol to get them all the tools they need to contain the virus spread.

The state of emergency declaration affords greater powers to the governor to implement a comprehensive emergency management plan and introduce emergency sanitary regulations, among other measures.

Cuomo’s office didn’t immediately have a number of how many troops are being deployed but said some have already arrived.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 647 reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States, resulting in 25 deaths thus far.

The Wall Street Journal first reported this story.

This story contains information from the Associated Press.

Cathay Williams

Pvt. Cathay Williams began her journey with the U.S. military in a support role during the Civil War, forced to serve due to her status as a captured slave, the National Park Service noted. After the war, Williams became the first Black woman to enlist when she joined the Army under a male pseudonym, William Cathay, in 1866, the Army noted.

“A young, female, unmarried former slave,” Williams joined the Army without a full medical examination, and she was assigned to the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment – which would become part of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, according to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Suffering from smallpox, Williams was discovered to be a woman while undergoing treatment and honorably discharged in 1868. She continued in her work as a military cook at Fort Union, New Mexico. Her story was documented in the St. Louis Daily Times in 1876.

Williams was the first Black woman to enlist in the U.S. Army and the only known female Buffalo Soldier.

Dr. Mary E. Walker

In 1861, 29-year-old Dr. Mary Walker applied to become a surgeon with the Union Army, as she had been one of the few female physicians in the country prior to the start of the Civil War. She was rejected but remained on as a volunteer, leveraging her skills to treat the wounded, AUSA noted.

Two years later, Walker finally received an appointment to serve an assistant surgeon in the Army, after spending additional time as a field surgeon in Virginia, according to an Army story. In the latter years of the war, Walker was captured by Confederate forces, held in squalid conditions as a prisoner of war, yet another in a long line of abuses due to her status as a woman.

She lobbied for women’s causes and for her service during the war, she was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865. The award was later rescinded in 1917 due to her status as a civilian, but President Jimmy Carter restored the award in 1977, the Army noted.

Dr. Mary Walker remains the only woman to have received the Medal of Honor in U.S. history.

Harriet Tubman

Beyond being the legendary “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, shepherding enslaved persons to freedom, Harriet Tubman also aided the Union’s military effort in the Civil War. Early in the war, Tubman served as a nurse for Union regiments before moving on to a larger role as spymaster and military scout.

Under the direction of War Secretary Edwin Stanton, Tubman recruited locals throughout conquered areas in the South to pass information along to Union commanders and assist in assault preparations. Her group’s work led to a successful assault on Jacksonville, Florida, and the Combahee River Raid in June 1863, as Military Times previously reported.

Decades later, Tubman finally received recognition — to a degree — for her military service during the Civil War, as she had been kept out of official military documents. In 1899, Tubman was granted a pension, officially validating her widely known contributions to the Union cause.

Mary A. Hallaren

Col. Mary Hallaren became a member of the first training class of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (later, Women’s Army Corps, or WAC) in 1942 before commanding the largest all-female unit to serve overseas. In 1948, while serving as WAC’s director, Hallaren “was instrumental” in advocating for women to be fully integrated as “permanent regular members” of the military beyond just wartime, according to the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Hallaren, who had originally enlisted in the military following the Pearl Harbor attack, later became the first commissioned officer in the Regular Army, not a medical role, in 1948, according to the Army’s Center of Military History.

“To me there was no question that women should serve,” Hallaren said, as reported by the New York Times.

Marcella Hayes Ng

Marcella Hayes, who began her military career as an ROTC cadet at the University of Wisconsin, became the first Black female pilot in the U.S. military in 1979. She graduated Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, earning her paratrooper badge during her training as a helicopter pilot, the Army Women’s Foundation reported.

Hayes became the 55th woman to earn her pilot wings, before being assigned to the 394th Transportation Battalion in Germany, the unit’s first black soldier and first woman leader. She went on to marry Dennis Ng, also in the Army, retiring in 2000 as a lieutenant colonel.

Linda Bray

Capt. Linda Bray was one of over 700 women to participate in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989, as she led the 988th Military Police Company, according to the Army. There, she became the first woman to command American soldiers in battle, a trailblazing role that launched a reflection about women in the military.

“I joined the Army for the excitement, the challenge, the experience and loyalty to my country,” Bray said at the time, according to the New York Times. “I haven’t been let down a day.”

Bray’s role in combat forced the U.S. military to reevaluate their prohibition on women in the role, which ultimately culminated in an end to the ban by then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in 2013, the Seattle Times noted.

Kristen Griest & Shaye Haver

Capt. Kristen M. Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye L. Haver became the first two women to complete Army Ranger School and earn their Ranger tabs in 2015. Both graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, the two soldiers became the first females of over 77,000 tabbed soldiers since the Ranger School’s inception in 1950, according to an Army story.

Griest was a military police platoon leader, and Haver was an AH-64 Apache pilot, who both looked at Ranger School as the highest challenge to prepare them to lead soldiers.

“The reasons I chose to come were the same as the men here: to get the experience of the elite leadership school and to give me the opportunity to lead my Soldiers the best that I can,” Haver told the Army at the time. “I think if females continue to come to this course, they can be encouraged by what we have accomplished, but hopefully they’re encouraged by the legacy that the Ranger community has left.”

Since Griest and Haver shattered this barrier, over 30 female soldiers have earned Ranger tabs, including enlisted soldiers and National Guardsmen, Army Times reported.

Ann E. Dunwoody

Retired Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody became the first woman to reach a four-star officer rank in the history of the United States military in 2008. Dunwoody, who led Army Materiel Command before her retirement in 2012, remained a pioneer throughout her decades-long service. In 1992, she became the first woman to command a battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division during the First Gulf War, according to the Purple Heart Foundation.

“I have never considered myself anything but a soldier. I recognize that with this selection, some will view me as a trailblazer,” Dunwoody said on her promotion at the time. “But it’s important that we remember the generations of women, whose dedication, commitment and quality of service helped open the doors of opportunity for us today.”

Dunwoody was a fourth-generation Army officer, and she released a book on leadership in 2015.

In an email to congressional offices, the VA identified University of Phoenix, Colorado Technical University, American InterContinental University, Bellevue University and Temple University as in violation of U.S. law which prohibits illegal “advertising, sales, or enrollment practices.”

“[The] VA notified the schools of the agency’s intent to suspend program approvals and payment of educational assistance for the education and training of new Veterans and other eligible persons,” the email states.

The agency’s suspension applies to all new enrollments, both “in residence and online,” effective May 9, 2020, “unless the schools can provide contrary evidence to refute the evidence provided that supports VA’s conclusion,” the email continues.

The suspension, however, will not affect those currently utilizing GI Bill benefits, as long as there are no breaks in enrollment for the students.

“Our aim in taking this action is to protect Veterans and their dependents’ GI Bill benefits and comply with the law,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a press release. “The department is committed to helping beneficiaries avoid any negative consequences that may result.”

“[Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors] is grateful that VA is taking actions to protect military connected students,” Ashlynne Haycock, deputy director of policy and legislation at TAPS told Military Times. “If VA and the [Federal Trade Commission] feel that certain schools have violated the law and their VA contract, they should not be eligible to receive those funds in the future.”

“TAPS and others are standing by to support those students impacted, especially if they need help transferring to a different institution,” Haycock added.

Ahead of the formal VA announcement, several veterans groups were preparing information packets for an expected flood of inquiries from students at the schools. VA is encouraging students attending or considering attending the schools to contact the department’s Education Call Center at 888-442-4551.

“VA has not taken corrective action against these schools lightly and are committed to help beneficiaries avoid or mitigate any negative consequences that may result,” the email added.

At the state level, “agencies responsible for approving courses at these schools may also take independent actions based on VA’s decision,” the press release stated.

If the state agencies “withdraw program approval,” then the “VA’s authority to issue benefit payments to currently enrolled students as well as new students” would be removed, the release added.

According to the VA’s website, over 15,000 GI Bill students (which includes active duty, veterans and family members using benefits) attended the University of Phoenix online alone in the last year.

The university system had an additional nearly 9,000 students receiving benefits at physical locations nationwide and had nearly 600 complaints across its campuses. 332 complaints involved financial issues and/or student loans, 181 about educational quality and 114 about marketing practices.

Nearly 2,000 GI Bill students attended American InterContinental University both online and in person, according to the VA. The university has 25 complaints in the last two years across its campuses, including 14 about tuition, fees and student loans.

Colorado Technical University had over 5,000 GI Bill student attendees in the last year, mostly through their online program. The university had 198 student complaints in the last 24 months, including 112 about tuition and fees and 46 about recruiting and marketing practices, according the VA’s statistics.

Career Education Corporation, the parent company of both AIU and CTU, reached a $30 million settlement with the FTC and agreed to additionally pay nearly $500 million.

“This sends a powerful message…that the federal government and taxpayers will no longer tolerate schools that seek to defraud veterans and other military-connected students out of their hard-earned federal education benefits,” said Carrie Wofford, president at Veterans Education Success, a veterans advocacy group, in a press release. “Today’s decision by VA is more than justified based on the years of mounting evidence against University of Phoenix and Colorado Tech for maliciously defrauding veterans.”

In 2019, the FTC reached a $191 million settlement with the University of Phoenix and its parent company over deceptive advertising practices.

“The welfare of students is obviously or most pressing concern,” said Tanya Ang, vice president at Veterans Education Success. “We’re ready to support any student who wishes to transfer to a new GI Bill-approved school or needs free counseling and legal support on what to do next.”

Officials from University of Phoenix say they will respond quickly to VA to ensure no disruptions take place.

“[University of Phoenix] is a leader in serving military and veteran students in the United States. Our students choose us because of the high degree of support services and convenient modes of learning we offer,” said a university spokesperson in an emailed statement to Military Times. “It’s important to note that no students or benefits are currently impacted by [VA’s] recent announcement. We will respond expeditiously to the VA’s teams that are handling the review process and we are working to assure no disruptions to existing or new students, now or in the future.

“In the meantime, let us be clear: after an FTC investigation that lasted more than five years, the one marketing campaign the Commission had issues with ended six years ago and occurred under prior ownership. The University admitted no wrongdoing in choosing to settle with the FTC and continues to believe we acted appropriately,” the statement continued. “We chose to settle to end the potential for protracted litigation that would impact our focus on our students. Our more than one million alumni are a testament to the value of our accredited University and career-relevant programs for adult learners.”

The university last year announced its intention to contest the FTC’s complaint, and it disputes the VA’s characterization of the situation, the spokesperson added.

Temple University had nearly 1,000 current GI Bill students with only three complaints in the last two years, while Bellevue University had over 1,500 GI Bill students with no complaints, according to the VA.

In December 2019, Temple University reached a settlement agreement with the attorney general of Pennsylvania regarding allegedly deceptive marketing practices.

“The false reporting, which was done intentionally and knowingly to boost the school’s rankings, elevated Fox Business School as the nation’s top Online MBA program for several consecutive years. The school used this ranking to attract prospective student applicants,” a press release stated.

“This behavior mislead students, alumni, employers and the public about the quality and value of these Temple programs,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro in the release. “It’s critical that students and alumni alike have confidence in the value of their degree or certification from Temple University or any other institution.”

The settlement included the establishment and funding of $250,000 in scholarships for Fox Business School students over the next ten years, the release added.

It is not immediately clear if the settlement with the State of Pennsylvania is related to the VA’s benefits decision.

Temple University officials say they will show VA they have taken corrective measures.

“Temple University and the Fox School of Business provide an excellent academic experience for all of its students, including veterans. We have just received this notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs and will respond as requested to demonstrate the substantial corrective actions that have been undertaken,” said Ray Betzner, associate vice president at Temple University, in an emailed statement to Military Times. “We look forward to continuing to provide an outstanding education to veterans. It is important to note that our current veteran students are not affected by this announcement.”

Bellevue University officials said they are looking forward to providing the VA with a “full, timely and accurate response” while reiterating the agency has “received zero complaints” from the university’s over “1,500 veteran-benefitted students.”

“Bellevue University believes that the [VA’s] recent notification is based on unsubstantiated, recycled allegations from a [county court] lawsuit. The allegations in that lawsuit by the Nebraska Attorney General have been denied in [county court],” said Cris Hay-Merchant, director of strategic communications at Bellevue, in an email to Military Times. “We stand by our initial response that we have never misled or would mislead any student, and that includes our military and veteran-benefitted students. We intend to defend this matter vigorously.”

Lawmakers have taken notice.

“The financial incentive for for-profit colleges to prey on veterans and service members is well documented,” said Democratic Reps. Mark Takano and Mike Levin, both of California, in a joint statement with Illinois Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin. “Today’s action by the Department of Veterans Affairs protects new G.I. Bill enrollees from being defrauded or misled.”

The three members had previously sent a joint letter to VA Secretary Wilkie regarding the FTC settlements.

This story has been updated to include new information. Stay with Military Times for updates on this developing story.

So, too, is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, an animal rights organization that sent a letter to Marine Commandant Gen. David H. Berger denouncing “the crude killing of animals during the annual Cobra Gold 2020 military exercise.”

“The photos showing giddy Marines swallowing scorpions and guzzling cobra blood are more reminiscent of a frat party gone wrong than a military drill,” Shalin Gala, vice president of international laboratory methods with PETA, said in a press release.

“PETA is calling on the Marine Corps to take immediate action to replace this barbaric exploitation of animals with cutting-edge, technology-based survival training courses that will better prepare troops.”

The letter cites a story from the Daily Mail, which included accounts of how service members “learn to de-fang tarantulas before eating them, as well as consuming lizards and other creatures indigenous to densely forested areas” during training.

The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cobra Gold is an annual, multinational exercise sponsored by Thailand and the United States, which features more than 5,500 U.S. personnel alongside service members from multiple countries.

The largest joint military exercise in southeast Asia, Cobra Gold is in its 39th year, and this year’s components include exercises in cybersecurity, amphibious assault, combined arms live fire, and humanitarian assistance.

Of course, jungle survival training from Thai military instructors is included, and as Stars and Stripes notes, these “sessions are among the most photographed events during the exercise.”

Thai-led survival training includes drinking cobra blood, killing chickens, eating geckos and consuming live creatures native to the jungle as part of survival preparedness.

Referenced in the letter from PETA to the Marine Corps is a 1993 decision from the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground and a 2011 decision from the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center to suspend its use of live animals in survival training.

PETA instead recommended “more effective non-animal training options, including interactive video games with food procurement components” to replace the current training.

Mariam Taha Thompson, 61, is accused of delivering classified information to an unidentified co-conspirator who worked for the Lebanese government and has “apparent connections” to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department.

While working as a contract linguist assigned to a special operations task force in Erbil, Iraq, Thompson allegedly “accessed dozens of files concerning human intelligence sources, including true names, personal identification data, background information, and photographs of human assets” during a six-week period between late December and early February, the release stated.

“While in a war zone, the defendant allegedly gave sensitive national defense information, including the names of individuals helping the United States, to a Lebanese national located overseas,” said John C. Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, in the release. “If true, this conduct is a disgrace, especially for someone serving as a contractor with the United States military. This betrayal of country and colleagues will be punished.”

Thompson was arrested by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Feb. 27 at the overseas military facility where she worked. Throughout her time as a linguist, she held a top-secret security clearance.

“The Department of Defense is aware that the Department of Justice charged a DoD contractor with serious criminal offenses,” Alyssa Farah, Defense Department press secretary, said in an emailed statement. “DoD will continue to cooperate with the DOJ throughout its investigation. DoD is taking all necessary precautions, including the protection of U.S. forces. At this time, we refer all questions on this matter to DOJ.”

The arrest came after a multi-agency investigation which involved the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, the Pentagon, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the release added.

“The conduct alleged in this complaint is a grave threat to national security, placed lives at risk, and represents a betrayal of our armed forces,” said Timothy J. Shea, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, in the release. “The charges we’ve filed today should serve as a warning to anyone who would consider disclosing classified national defense information to a terrorist organization.”

Around Dec. 30, officials noticed a “notable shift” in Thompson’s network activity on classified systems around the time protesters attempted to storm the U.S. embassy, a day after U.S. military airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia forces.

U.S. forces struck five targets of Iraqi-based Hezbollah affiliates in both Iraq and Syria, two days after a rocket attack from Iranian-backed militias on an Iraqi Security Forces base in Kirkuk, Iraq, Military Times previously reported. That attack led to the death of one American contractor.

These exchanges led to a spiraling of tensions which culminated in the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander, Qasem Soleimani, near Baghdad International Airport in early January, and an Iranian ballistic missile response on two Iraqi bases housing coalition troops.

This attack resulted in over 100 U.S. service members sustaining mild traumatic brain injuries, according to the latest Pentagon figures.

On Feb. 19, a search of the linguist’s living quarters “led to the discovery of a handwritten note in Arabic concealed under” Thompson’s mattress, which contained classified information, the release stated.

When asked by investigators if her co-conspirator was involved in Hezbollah or a separate Shiite Lebanese political party, the linguist responded “Yeah, one of the two. They are the same,” according to the Justice Department affidavit.

The affidavit also states that Thompson took screenshots of handwritten Arabic notes containing memorized classified information, often naming human assets in the area of operations. Thompson admitted to having a “romantic interest” in the co-conspirator, the release said.

Thompson appeared briefly in Washington’s federal court, where she was ordered held without bond pending a detention hearing next week. Neither she nor her lawyer addressed the allegations in court.

If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.

Story has been updated to include a statement from the Pentagon.

The Major Richard Star Act, HR 5995, introduced by Bilirakis, a Republican from Florida, seeks to eliminate a legal provision that prevents some retired veterans from simultaneously collecting two types of federal monetary benefits, referred to as “concurrent receipt.”

More than 200,000 medically retired veterans with disabilities currently “have their military [retirement] pay offset or reduced dollar-for-dollar” by the amount of their disability compensation, according to the Congressional Research Service. This bill would affect one-fifth of these retirees.

Bilirakis, among others, has contended these payments are two “completely different benefits,” of which service members should be entitled to both.

“These retirees are unjustly denied the benefits they deserve, and in this country that should never happen,” Bilirakis said Tuesday. “It is because of stories like Maj. Star’s that I was moved to rectify this injustice…That’s the least we can do for our heroes.”

Star, 50, a former combat engineer with multiple overseas deployments, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2018, which he said is linked to repeated, intimate exposures to burn pits over 20 years. Scans of Star’s lungs had shown irregularities as far back as 2017, but civilian and military doctors incorrectly diagnosed him with asthma and other respiratory illnesses, Star said.

After emergency surgery in May 2018, Star has undergone three types of chemotherapy treatment, including one medical trial. His cancer diagnosis ended his nearly 30-year-long service in the Reserves and on active duty, and his family has since grappled with the benefits offset.

“This [offset] had been something that had been weighing on our minds, and we had no idea where to turn,” Star said. “Everybody that we talked to or even mentioned this to, has been so supportive of this bill.”

By his side throughout his fight and during Tuesday’s event was Tonya Star, the veteran’s wife.

“This [bill] means so much to me, to all the caregivers — the wives, the moms, the sisters, the aunts — that have loved ones come back from serving overseas and have an injury or illness,” Tonya Star said. “They are thrown into a role that they didn’t apply for and they don’t get paid for. But they wouldn’t let anybody else do it.”

“I just want to give them hope that this bill will help compensate for what they are doing, that they get retirement benefits and disability benefits, so families don’t have to struggle financially after going through something that is life-changing,” Tonya Star added.

“She supported me through the hard times when we thought we were going to be basically hung out to dry,” Star said of his wife. “She helped me through some of the toughest times I’ve ever had and some of the toughest treatments I’ve ever had.”

Working with numerous service organizations, Maj. Star’s attorney, Natalie Khawam, advocated for the bill to bear the retired soldier’s name.

“Even though I represent [veterans] on military medical malpractice, it’s not a one-dimensional issue. Medical malpractice causes other issues,” said Khawam, founder of the Whistleblower Law Firm in Tampa, Florida. “This is one of those issues: the offset. I told [the Star family], ‘Somebody has got to do something about this.’”

“It’s not a Democrat issue. It’s not a Republican issue. It’s an American issue, so I know we have a really good chance here of getting this bill passed,” Khawam added.

In 2004, Congress enacted legislation to eliminate the offset for retirees with 20-plus years of service with a disability rated at 50 percent or greater. Over 210,000 military retirees, however, still do not qualify.

Bilirakis’ goal is to eventually enact full concurrent receipt for all these veterans, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cost $30 billion over 10 years.

The Major Richard Star Act specifically addresses 42,000 of these veterans who, like Star, were medically retired due to combat-related injuries or illnesses before 20 years of active-duty service. These retirees are currently eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), but the coverage varies dramatically on a case-by-case basis.

“This has been a decades-long issue, and we are trying to rectify the issue by chipping away at the problem,” said Kyle Kalman, associate director of legislative service at the VFW. “We are trying to chip away at it block by block, so we have the next five years to completely eliminate the offset.”

From its inception, Bilirakis’ legislation has been supported by a wide array of veterans’ service organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Fleet Reserve Association, Wounded Warrior Project, TREA: The Enlisted Association, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Military Family Association.

“I think it’s very fitting, particularly as a fellow Army officer, that we have a combat engineer who’s responsible for route clearance, helping us clear the path,” said retired Lt. Col. Mark Belinsky, director of currently serving and retired affairs at MOAA. “It is absolutely very fitting for you to help clear this road for this portion of concurrent receipt. It’s a clear injustice.”

“Thank you, [Richard Star], for sharing your story and using your struggle as an opportunity to help other people,” said Aleks Morosky, government affairs specialist with Wounded Warrior Project. “I can only imagine what it’s like to have your military career cut short and then to be hit with the bad news that your military retirement will be cut short. It doesn’t make any sense.”

The bill has received bipartisan support from cosponsor Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., who previously led an effort to add language to the National Defense Authorization Act to acknowledge cancers caused by burn pit exposure.

Neither the Defense Department nor the Department of Veterans Affairs have yet to affirm the connection between exposure to burn pits and various cancers.

At the unveiling event, Bilirakis said a Senate companion bill will soon be introduced by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and the congressman vowed to personally bring up the matter with President Donald Trump.

“These brave men and women who return from serving our country should be able to receive the benefits promised to them,” Bilirakis said. “We’re going to get this done this year. We must get this done.”

Editors’ note: This story has been updated to reflect the legislation’s current sponsors in the Senate.

#StillServing seeks to highlight positive contributions of civic engagement, volunteerism and other forms of community-centered service, and the VFW hopes the hashtag campaign will encourage other veterans nationwide to share on social media “how they continue to answer the call to serve in ways big and small,” a press release stated.

“Veterans truly exemplify the best of America,” said William “Doc” Schmitz, VFW national commander, in the release. “They are dedicated to giving of themselves, and the skills and values they develop in the military only deepen their desire to better themselves, their communities and their country through service.”

One of those former service members who has positively influenced his local community is Javier Galvan, 31, who served in the Marine Corps as a sergeant.

Galvan, now a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco, wanted to provide mentorship opportunities for underserved and underrepresented youth from the Mission District of San Francisco.

With the help of his fellow medical students, Galvan launched Brain Camp, a free, week-long summer experience to familiarize local high school students with neurology, anatomy and psychology and to provide accessible college guidance.

“Since I benefited greatly from mentorship, I thought it was something I could do to give back to the community. I had never seen a Latino doctor, a doctor who looked like me,” Galvan told Military Times. “I thought that was also important: to work with these kids, to show them that there are people in the medical profession that look like them. If they wanted to reach that goal, they could certainly do it.”

Galvan, who said he would have never imagined becoming a doctor when he first enlisted in the Marine Corps, now wants to explore mentorship opportunities for younger Marines transitioning out of the service.

“How do we target those that are recently getting out? To transition from being in the military to being a civilian is not an easy transition. Your entire life is planned out for you [in the military],” Galvan said. “Then you have to leave that structured environment for a completely unstructured environment. You might not know anybody who went to college, how to apply for financial aid, how to use your [Post-9/11] GI Bill.”

And Galvan is not alone in his contributions to his community following the conclusion of his military service.

Former Marine, Reinaldo “Ray” Guasp, Jr., 49, who served as a lance corporal in Task Force Ripper during the Persian Gulf War, was looking to leverage his military background beyond his civilian career in the medical devices business.

After supporting local responses during both Hurricane Sandy in the New York-area and Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Guasp founded Veterans Response, a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization.

“All those skills we learned in the military transfer right over to disaster response in this organization,” Guasp told Military Times. “It is a great vehicle to be able to put someone in an environment that they are accustomed to — mission-forward, mission-centric, focused and disciplined.”

“[Service] creates a balance in our life. It still keeps a foot in that world that we were once a part of, that we enjoyed, that brotherhood,” Guasp added.

Since 2018, Veterans Response has worked alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other nongovernmental organizations to distribute aid, assist in post-disaster recovery and provide potable water to local residents.

The all-volunteer organization has deployed to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria (where their mission lasted nearly two years) and the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.

To Guasp, the provision of aid to these communities is an example of veterans helping civilians as well as veterans helping other veterans.

“To be able to find one of these veteran-centric organizations where people understand you, understand the position you are coming from and can speak to you in the same language, it’s amazing,” Guasp said. “It’s not any one organization that’s going to provide the ‘silver bullet’ solution. It takes veterans supporting veterans: to be a part of something that is larger than themselves, to provide veterans with a sense of pride, of continuing service.”

To this end, Guasp is planning an upcoming veterans retreat in Connecticut to continue the organization’s impact beyond disaster relief.

“We don’t like to look at it as losing 22 [veterans per day to suicide]. We want to look at it as adding to the 78,” Guasp said. “We want to take that 22 and make it 21, move it from 78 to 79. We want [the veterans] to leave the retreat with a phone number and a network to talk to, if the time comes when they need it.”

The launch of the VFW’s campaign, #StillServing, follows a 2018 report from the Corporation for National & Community Service, which showed that veterans “volunteer 25 percent more time [per year], are 17 percent more likely to make a monetary donation and are 30 percent more likely to participate in local organizations than the civilian population,” according to the VFW release.

To find instructions to share your own #StillServing story, visit the campaign’s website.