Military

B2B Stories

Rallying support for EAMC

Local elected officials support keeping Eisenhower Army Medical Center functioning as a full-service facility. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced plans to transition EAMC into an ambulatory care center, ending inpatient care with the emergency room as an urgent care facility. The reaction is eye-opening. State Rep. Mark Howard (R-District 127) views the announcement through three lenses. As an elected official, a doctor, and a military retiree who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He told ABD he was both surprised and disappointed at the announcement.  “Very disappointed, and

Read More »
B2B Stories

Military Monday Free vs. Paid Help for Your VA Disability Claim

For many Veterans, filing a VA disability claim can feel overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating. The paperwork is extensive, the medical evidence requirements are complex, and the process often leaves Veterans wondering if they need to pay someone thousands of dollars just to get the benefits they earned through service and sacrifice. The truth is this: YOU do not have to pay someone to file your VA disability claim. Across the country, accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) dedicate their time to helping Veterans navigate the claims process at absolutely no cost. Organizations

Read More »
B2B Stories

Alliance for Fort Gordon Recognized as a 2026 Great American Defense Community

Greater Augusta – Alliance for Fort Gordon has been recognized as one of the 2026 Great American Defense Communities by the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), joining communities in Shreveport-Bossier and Jacksonville in this year’s distinguished class. Launched in 2016, the Great American Defense Community program honors communities that demonstrate exceptional and sustained support for service members, veterans, military families, and the broader defense community. Since the program’s inception, ADC has recognized more than 50 communities across the nation for their commitment to military partnership and community resilience. Greater Augusta – Alliance for Fort Gordon

Read More »
B2B Stories

Military Monday: I Only Need 10% or 20% More — Understanding How VA Ratings Really Work

One of the most common statements I hear from Veterans is: “I only need 10% or 20% more to get to 100%.” At first glance, that sounds logical. In everyday math, if you have 90% and add 10%, you reach 100%. Simple, right? Unfortunately, VA compensation does not work like regular math, and this misunderstanding often leads to frustration, unrealistic expectations, and, at times, missed opportunities to build a strong claim properly. When Veterans tell me they only need “10% more,” I take time to explain how the VA disability

Read More »
B2B Stories

Major construction update at SRS

Contractors will begin retrofitting a 103,000 square foot building at SRS, according to the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Officials say this is all about security for our country. ABD first told you about this project over the Christmas holidays with THIS story. “The HFTOC at SRS will be an important training facility used to accelerate the re-establishment of large-scale plutonium pit manufacturing in the United States, “ said NNSA Savannah River Field Office Manager Michael Mikolanis in a news release on March 9th. The current

Read More »
B2B Stories

Guest Column: Airpower of Iran—the secret sauce of success

There are many leadership lessons to be learned from examining the War with Iran—some good lessons, some bad.  The planning, execution, and success of this campaign will be studied for decades. Much of the credit goes to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and the commander of Centcom, Admiral Brad Cooper.  What leadership skills did they employ? Deep understanding of military history Open to new and creative ideas Willingness to empower subordinates Communication with their bosses Interaction with Israeli military leaders Incorporation of the newest technologies.

Read More »
B2B Stories

Military Monday: Discharge Matters

Greetings, Military Community, One topic that is often overlooked but carries life-changing implications is the type of discharge a Service Member receives from the military. Many Veterans are unaware that their discharge characterization can directly affect their eligibility for benefits earned through service and sacrifice. The question we should all ask is: Should a single incident, mistake, or difficult moment permanently strip a Veteran of benefits intended to support their health, stability, and future? In many cases, the answer is no—and fortunately, there are established pathways to correct or challenge

Read More »
B2B Stories

Military Monday: Making a pact to help veterans

Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to and engage in discussion with the Honorable Senator Mark Kelly, alongside Senator Jon Ossoff, as the PACT Act and other critical Veteran issues were addressed. So, what is the PACT Act? In short, the PACT Act expands access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. If a Veteran experienced toxic exposure during deployment, the PACT Act ensures eligibility for VA health care and establishes presumptive service connections for certain conditions related to those

Read More »
B2B Stories

Teaching veteran business owners how to thrive

A training program designed for Metro Augusta’s large veterans’ community is underway at the Accelerate Augusta microenterprise center on Broad Street.  ABD first wrote about Mission: Accelerate Lab in the Jan. 5 edition. It is a partnership with Accelerate Augusta, Mission United, and the United Way of the CSRA. It was created to help veteran-owned businesses succeed and develop a pipeline to hire veterans and military spouses.  “If you’re brand new, or if you’ve been in business for a few years, the goal of the program is to help vets

Read More »
B2B Stories

Military Monday: In the World of Disability

It’s a Military Monday! Each month on a Monday, Africa Thomas will be sharing her expertise on VA disability claims, ratings, and navigating the process for a successful submission. She is a retired United States Army veteran with a combined 29 years of honorable service. Her first column centers on proof of your injury. I am grateful for the opportunity to share information on VA service-connected disabilities in my first article for our local business paper. Filing a VA claim can be a daunting task, and it can feel even more

Read More »