The TAPS Daily - October 30, 2020

Welcome to The TAPS Daily - curated news and resources relevant to military, veterans, and their families. For more news and resources, visit our Government Resources page.

1. Eagles will wear decals to honor two fans who made the ultimate sacrifice
   Philadelphia Eagles
   With the help of the TAPS, the Eagles' helmets will feature a decal honoring local fallen heroes when they play the Dallas Cowboys in their November 1st NFL Salute to Service game. TAPS is a Salute to Service Partner of the NFL. Families and their fallen loved ones are recognized and honored in a variety of ways during Salute to Service month.
2. What to Expect When a Service Member Is Killed or Injured
   Military.com SpouseBuzz
   What to expect from the casualty notification process.
3. We salute the Marine who rushed to aid an injured police officer after a motorcycle wreck
   Task & Purpose
   Marine officer awarded for aiding police officer injured in motorcycle accident.
4. Amid civil unrest, National Guard arrives in Philadelphia
   Stars & Stripes
   The Pennsylvania National Guard arrived in Philadelphia on Friday following days of unrest after a Black man with mental health issues was shot and killed by police.
5. COVID news: U.S. adding cases faster than 1 per second; Congressional panel blasts Trump
   USA Today
   The U.S. reported 88,521 new coronavirus cases, a record for one day.
6. A new Pentagon report on sexual assault in the military is a wakeup call to a ‘systemic’ problem
   Task & Purpose
   A new report released this month reaffirms a depressing truth: the U.S. military's handling of sexual assault is abysmal.
7. Rare Halloween 'Blue Moon' is a spooky treat for us all
   Space.com
   A truly special confluence of spookiness; a Halloween full moon visible for all time zones on Earth hasn't happened since 1944. It won't happen again until 2039.
8. Daylight savings 2020: Experts call for end due to COVID-19
   NY Post
   There’s now a renewed call for a nationwide end to the pesky tradition of changing the time twice yearly. It’s led by medical experts, lawmakers and frazzled parents.
9. How to Save Money on Groceries and Lower Food Waste
   Military.com
   Food waste is no small problem. In the U.S, an estimated 30% to 40% of food is thrown away.

• Video: 27 Years - 27 Ways
  TAPS was founded 27 years ago! In commemoration of this anniversary we'd like to share 27 ways in which TAPS provides help, hope, and healing to the families of America's fallen heroes.
• Free Beers for Veterans November 6 through 11 at Water's End Brewery
  Prince William Living
  Waters End Brewery is honoring those who served this Veterans Day with a deal benefitting TAPS mission to care for the families of America’s fallen heroes.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Upcoming Events
  Make plans to join your TAPS Family at an upcoming event.
• TAPS News Archive
  Catch up on all the TAPS news stories over the years on the TAPS media resource page.

• President signs bills for Guard, Reserve benefits help
  Connecting Vets
  The Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act orders a study of disability and pension benefits provided to reservists who served in special active duty missions.
• Check-in calls to new veterans could become a permanent VA program
  Military Times
  A new VA program requiring phone calls to recently separated service members to discuss benefits and support services could be made permanent under plans supported by lawmakers.
• McConnell says Congress will take up stimulus package at start of 2021
  The Hill
  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says he expects Congress to move another coronavirus relief package “right at the beginning” of 2021 instead of just after the election.
• DoD canceled its diversity training audit to comply with new White House rules
  Military Times
  The Defense Department’s inspector general has canceled an audit of its diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity training just a month after first announcing it.
• Air Force Reproves Senate Candidate Doug Collins on Campaign Ads in Uniform
  Military.com
  House Republican Doug Collins of Georgia has gotten a warning from the Air Force about a U.S. Senate campaign ad that shows him in uniform, but does not include the required disclaimer.
• Man Jailed For Defrauding VA Out of $30 Million In GI Bill Funds
  Task & Purpose
  The owner of a technical training school was sentenced to almost four years in jail for defrauding the VA  out of nearly $30 million in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
• Tricare costs for 2021: Some good news for military families
  Military Times
  Many costs will be relatively stable in the coming year for military families in Tricare, and pharmacy costs won’t increase, according to new fee information from the Tricare website.
• Here's how sailors can use their special leave accrual through September 2023
  Navy Times
  Sailors may see some additional leave appear on their Leave and Earnings Statement this month as a result of a special leave accrual policy implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 13 Mental Health Tips You Might Need for Election Day
  SELF
  Consider making an effort to protect your mental health, especially if you anticipate Election Day will be fraught and upsetting for you. Here are some things you can do to look after yourself.
• Governments Worldwide Consider Ditching Daylight Saving Time
  Scientific American
  A pushback has arisen to seasonal clock changes that affect mood, sleep and general well-being
• Demand for Military Couples Counseling on the Rise, Officials Say
  Military.com
  In the past two years, military families have increasingly been relying on counseling available through Military OneSource and the Defense Department's Military and Family Life Programs.
• Veterans Have Higher Rates of Insomnia Than Non-Veterans
  Military.com
  The rate, the study found, was especially high among veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and chronic pain.
• The Marine Corps is charging her with attempted murder. Family says she's suffering from PTSD
  Task & Purpose
  The Marine Corps is pressing charges against a corporal who has been locked up in a brig for months while her family publicly pleads for her to get mental health treatment.
• Election, COVID-19 anxiety spark new run on grocery stores
  The Hill
  Americans are making another run on grocery stores, stockpiling essential goods like they did when the pandemic began, but this time with the added anxiety of a volatile election.

• Trump meets troops involved in al-Baghdadi raid
  Connecting Vets
  President Donald Trump quietly met with U.S. Special Forces troops involved in last year’s raid to kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
• Troops Tell Esper that DOD Should Not Lose Focus on Diversity, Inclusion
  Connecting Vets
  Service members tell Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper that they do not want the Defense Department to lose focus on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the force.
• 'Our heart breaks': South digs out from Zeta's wrath
  Connecting Vets
  The Louisiana National Guard is helping the South dig out following Hurricane Zeta.
• Nebraska, Texas National Guard heading to Czech Republic to help with virus surge
  Military Times
  American National Guard troops with medical training are headed to the Czech Republic to work alongside doctors there to help fight coronavirus.
• Army Guard task force, preparing to deal with a nuclear strike, instead responded to COVID-19
  Army Times
  Since shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19, a group of Army National Guard soldiers has shifted its focus from a multistate, interagency nuclear disaster response to the pandemic.
• Coronavirus hits brigade at NTC, as home post deals with surge in cases
  Army Times
  Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division have experienced a number COVID-19 cases since arriving to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.

• Halloween reminder: Veterans and service members like candy as well!
  Connecting Vets
  There is still time for businesses and organizations to sign up by Halloween as collection points for candy donations to be sent to deployed troops and distributed to veterans in VA hospitals.
• Do This to Score the Big 2020 Target Veterans Day Discount
  Military.com
  Target has brought back its Veterans Day military discount for 2020. But unlike years past, shoppers this year need to take an extra step to use it -- and have an extra two days to do so.
• Commissaries, exchanges to recognize shoppers' military service in November
  Connecting Vets
  The Armed Forces exchanges and Defense Commissary Agency are joining forces this Veterans Day to salute all who have served in the nation’s armed forces.
• Organizations offer national-level 2020 Veterans Day virtual events
  VA.gov
  Several national organizations are hosting 2020 Veterans Day virtual events due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a list of which will be updated as new information is available.
• U.S. OKs Extradition of Special Forces Veteran, Son Nabbed in Ex-Nissan Boss' Escape
  Military.com
  The U.S. State Department has agreed to turn over to Japan two American men accused of smuggling former Nissan Motor Company Chairman out of the country while he was awaiting trial.
• CSAF, Tuskegee Airmen, cadets connect via virtual roundtable
  Connecting Vets
  In observance of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. interviewed two Tuskegee Airmen, during a virtual roundtable, October 20.
• Chairman honors WWII Army nurse, others
  Connecting Vets
  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark A. Milley honored Former Army 2nd Lt. Regina Benson and other Angels of the Battlefield at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

• The Military Mama Gift Guide
  Military.com SpouseBuzz
  This straightforward guide is a rundown of the top four items MilMoms said they simply cannot live without in their sometimes single, sometimes dual parent lifestyle.

Banner photo courtesy of the School of Advanced International Studies | John Hopkins University.