ACHS named 2011 Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine, its second year to receive this honor

ACHS has been named a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine for 2011, its second year to receive this honor. ACHS was previously named a Military Friendly School for 2010, an honor ranking ACHS in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools who do the most to create opportunity for American veterans.

ACHS currently has more than 150 active duty service members, veterans, and military spouses enrolled. The College participates in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program and is a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), strictly complying with SOC principles and criteria for flexible programs, including accommodations for non-traditional learners, a fully online format, and 24-hour access.

In addition, ACHS accepts all military education benefits, including the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) for military spouses pursuing degrees, licenses, or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields, and a partnership with the Imagine America Foundation to offer a military scholarship for veterans and military spouses.

“It’s wonderful to see our military students apply what they learned where deployed to prepare for a career stateside,” says ACHS Dean of Admissions and Military Education Coordinator Tracey Miller. “CAM education and career training are a perfect fit for military students who are looking to continue their work educating others about holistic approaches to wellness, such as helping military and non-military clients who may be struggling with PTSD.”

A detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools, which will be distributed to thousands of active and former military personnel in late September. For more information, see the G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Schools announcement here: http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/2011-military-friendly-schools-list-released

For more information about Military Friendly Schools and military education benefits, read the full-length press release on the ACHS website under News and Events, here: http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=241

New Definition of PTSD Creates Greater Access for Veterans

According to a recent article on the website Military.com, there is a new process for service members to claim post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans who may not have engaged in combat, but are experiencing symptoms of PTSD no longer have to cite a specific incident on their claim. Rather, "the new policy recognizes that living with the fear of death and injury may be enough for troops to develop mental health issues," said Bryant Jordan in "New PTSD Rules Relax Definition".

Veterans are no longer required to cite specific incidences of stress--or support their claims with documentation. Veterans are now only required to show that they served in a combat zone and performed a job "consistent with conditions related to their PTSD symptom." And "many more veterans will now be able to file claims for PTSD, including troops who did not have direct contact with the enemy," Michael Walcoff, acting undersecretary for benefits for the VA, said during a press conference in Washington DC.

Women, Walcoff said, will be among the major beneficiaries "because their military records often did not reflect combat experience." In addition, doctors, nurses, and troops working in medical care who witnessed trauma, and other troops who found themselves working in a stressful role, will also benefit.

For more information about using aromatherapy to help ease symptoms of PTSD, click here for the ACHS article Aromatherapy Can Help PTSD.

"When treating chronic challenges like PTSD, a consistent routine is important. The recommended solution is a combination of wellness protocols such as holistic nutrition and aromatherapy." Click here to learn more about aromatherapy and wellness protocols for PTSD.

> Click here to read New PTSD Rules Relax Definition: http://www.military.com/news/article/new-ptsd-rules-relax-definition.html?col=1186032310810&ESRC=dod.n

Tell Your Congressman to Vote YES on HR 950

Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Bob Filner, sent out a letter asking for our support for H.R. 950, the bill he introduced last year, which would provide a housing allowance for Post-9/11 veterans who choose to take online education.

Rep. Filner states in his letter: "There should not be a distinction between those who attend a brick-and-mortar classroom versus those who study online and take their tests on a computer. Supporters of this bill are standing up for: disabled veterans, veteran families, rural veterans, and single-parent households who are getting an education and working to improve their lives. Join me in support of H.R. 950 and help restore equity by choosing to provide all our veterans with equal housing benefits while they participate in online higher education."

Your support for this bill would provide the same living allowance as veterans who choose to attend "brick-and-mortar", or more traditional, schools, and would show support for ALL veterans.

Contact your Congressman and ask them to vote YES on H.R. 950. Click on this link to find the email of your representative: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

For a generic form you can use to send to your representative, click here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

H.R. 950, to "increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning," can be found here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-950

Use Your VA Education Benefits for an In-Demand, Satisfying Career

Over the next decade, the healthcare industry is expected to grow more than any other industry. There are more opportunities than ever to help people by providing person-to-person support that promotes sustainable health and wellness. In specific, the healthcare industry is experiencing a growing demand for specialists in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, massage, chiropractic, nutrition, wellness coaching, and acupuncture to work with physical therapists, doctors, and dieticians, among others.

The opportunity to help people find wellness and balance, is relatively unlimited. For many military servicemembers and spouses, it is this pride in helping others that attracted them to the military. A career in holistic health is an opportunity to find new ways to help other.

To read the full-length version of this article, which originally appeared in the 2010 Veterans Education Guide, download it as a PDF here: http://www.schoolguides.com/veterans_education_online.html (This ACHS article starts on page 76 of the Guide.)

United Aromatherapy Effort to Expand Focus of Disaster Relief to Military

Founder and Director of the United Aromatherapy Effort, Inc. Sylla Sheppard-Hanger is spearheading a new campaign to refocus the energies of the UAE to include our military personnel who are currently at war, serving overseas and here in America.

The United Aromatherapy Effort would like to see all military personnel and their families receive emotional and physical support through aromatherapy, massage, and other modalities. Sheppard-Hanger is looking to "go big" and partner the UAE with the United Service Organizations (USO). The goal is to provide our troops with comforts of home away from home.

This UAE and USO partnership could involve teams or individuals that offer seated massage, aromatherapy, and other services in Veterans Hospitals, Military Centers, or Family Support Centers. The USO makes uso2go kits and the UAE is looking at putting something together with a couple of blends for stress, fatigue, focus, etc.

The UAE needs your ideas and input to establish what items might be most viable for such a kit. To contact the UAE, email Sylla Sheppard-Hanger at sylla@tampabay.rr.com or unitedaromatherapy@gmail.com.

United Aromatherapy Effort to Expand Focus of Disaster Relief to Military

Founder and Director of the United Aromatherapy Effort, Inc. Sylla Sheppard-Hanger is spearheading a new campaign to refocus the energies of the UAE to include our military personnel who are currently at war, serving overseas and here in America.

The United Aromatherapy Effort would like to see all military personnel and their families receive emotional and physical support through aromatherapy, massage, and other modalities. Sheppard-Hanger is looking to "go big" and partner the UAE with the United Service Organizations (USO). The goal is to provide our troops with comforts of home away from home.

This UAE and USO partnership could involve teams or individuals that offer seated massage, aromatherapy, and other services in Veterans Hospitals, Military Centers, or Family Support Centers. The USO makes uso2go kits and the UAE is looking at putting something together with a couple of blends for stress, fatigue, focus, etc.

The UAE needs your ideas and input to establish what items might be most viable for such a kit. To contact the UAE, email Sylla Sheppard-Hanger at sylla@tampabay.rr.com or unitedaromatherapy@gmail.com.

ACHS at DoD Worldwide Educational Symposium July 27-31

ACHS Dean of Admissions and Military Education Coordinator Tracey Miller setting up the American College booth at the DoD Worldwide Education Symposium on Sunday, July 26.

The DoD Worldwide Education Symposium brings together all of the major players in voluntary education: Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

The 2009 theme, "Educating America's Patriots," focuses on the mission of providing voluntary education opportunities that measure up to the high quality and value that Service members expect and deserve.

ACHS is a military friendly institution and supports voluntary education opportunities. Meet ACHS Director of Military Relations, Kate Harmon, and ACHS Dean of Admissions and Military Education Coordinator, Tracey Miller, at DoD 2009, booth #811.

Check back for more information about the DoD, ACHS military benefits, or ACHS Meet and Greet event opportunities, call (800) 487-8839 or visit: http://www.achs.edu/militaryfunding.aspx?id=1

For more information about ACHS at DoD, visit: http://www.ww09atlanta.com/who-should.html

July 27-31, 2009. Mariott Atlanta Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Ave., Atlanta, Georgia