VAntage Point is the official blog of the U.S. Section of Veterans Affairs. Here yous volition discover stories from around VA and the Veteran customs. These stories and blog posts include health care topics and services; non-health benefits, similar instruction, rehabilitation, and transition and employment assistance, compensation and alimony, life insurance and abode loan guaranty; every bit well as memorial affairs, VA careers, homelessness, recovery, mental health and messages from the Secretarial assistant.

VAntage Point is also the home of our daily #VeteranOfTheDay postal service and our weekly Borne the Battle podcast.

Please, cheque out our posts, leave a comment with your thoughts, and share these important stories with your family and friends. You lot can view our social media policy here. A reminder: inclusion of information well-nigh a programme or service external to VA does non found an endorsement or recommendation by VA or its employees.

Encounter the Team:

Manager
U.Due south. Department of Veterans Affairs ~ Read stories

Gary Hicks is the Director of Digital Media Engagement in VA's Office of Public and Intergovernmental Diplomacy. He joined OPIA in 2008 as the editor of the Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors handbook, VAnguard magazine and other internal and external print communications products used throughout VA. Prior to joining OPIA, Gary worked for VA's Center for Veterans Enterprise equally a community liaison officer and pocket-sized business organisation specialist assisting Veteran entrepreneurs with starting and expanding pocket-sized businesses. Prior to joining VA, he was the manager of control information at the National Guard Agency and served every bit the editor of the Army and Air National Guard's flagship publication, The OnGuard. Gary began his public affairs career as an Army photojournalist, deploying to Bosnia-Herzegovina. After the deployment, he landed a job as a staff author at a daily paper – eventually working his mode upwards the ladder to get the youngest managing editor in the newspaper's 111-year history as well as the parent company'due south chain of 300 newspapers. Gary'southward wife is an Air Force Senior NCO stationed at Joint Base of operations Andrews in Maryland.

Public Affairs Specialist
U.Southward. Department of Veterans Affairs ~ Read stories

Jason Davis served five years with the Army's 101st Airborne, including two combat tours to Iraq in support of Functioning Iraqi Freedom. Later on leaving service, he earned a BA in Literary Journalism from the University of California at Irvine, and an MA in Writing (nonfiction) from Johns Hopkins University. Jason was an editor and photographer under the Motor Tendency umbrella prior to running VBA'due south social media from 2013-2019. Jason moved up the street to VA'south Digital Media Engagement team in June 2019.

Public Diplomacy Specialist
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ~ Read stories

Reynaldo Leal is a public affairs specialist for VA's function of Digital Media Appointment and member for the VAntage Point'southward staff. He is a proud Marine Corps Veteran who deployed to the Al Anbar Province with 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment in 2004 and 2006. He as well took part in some of the heaviest fighting during Functioning Phantom Fury in 2004.

Producer
U.S. Department of Veterans Diplomacy ~ Read stories

Tanner Iskra joined the VA in 2018 and is the host of the VA'southward podcast, "Borne the Battle." He is a proud Us Marine Corps Veteran who served as an ambassador, an intel analyst and equally a combat videographer/photographer. During his armed forces career he deployed to OIF 3 and spent time in many countries as part of the Black Sea Rotational Force. Afterwards leaving active duty, Tanner was a Senior Post Production Editor with NASCAR Productions. Tanner is a graduate of the Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies and holds a Certificate in Armed services Move Media from the Newhouse Schoolhouse of Journalism at Syracuse University. Joining the Department of Veteran'southward Affairs in Oct 2018, Tanner is a video producer with the Digital Media Engagement team focusing on producing, editing and shooting content that tells the Veteran's story.

Tass Mimikos

Producer
U.South. Department of Veterans Affairs

Tass is a video producer for VA's Digital Media Engagement squad. He is a U.S. Air Force Veteran who specializes in cinematography and photography. Before joining DME, he produced video content for DoD and other federal government agencies, every bit well as fortune 500 clients. Recognized past the American Constitute of Architects for his Architectural photography, Tass's work has also been published in several magazines.

Production Lead / Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ~ Watch videos

Ben Pekkanen is a video producer/photographer/editor with a comprehensive groundwork in commercial filmmaking and television production. He spent 10 years in I.A.T.Due south.E. Local #478 grip and lighting in New Orleans' iconic feature film market before transitioning to broadcast tv set in 2003. Ben'southward work has won v Emmy® Awards for VA and his career includes work for HBO, NFL Films, MTV, CBS, NBC and Pull a fast one on. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane and an Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from University of Maryland.

New Media Technologist / Public Affairs Specialist
U.Southward. Department of Veterans Diplomacy ~ Read stories

Dominique joined VA in 2013 and has supported a wide array of activities within the Office of Public Affairs. As a spider web programmer, he helps manage pages across the VA.gov domain. He also manages the VAntage Indicate and VA Insider blogs. Equally the Intern Program Director for the Digital Media Appointment team, Dominique leads a team that helps create content for VAntage Point, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Instagram. Dominique has a Bachelors caste in Business Assistants from the University of San Diego, and a Master of Science in Data Technology from Southern New Hampshire University. Prior to his work in the federal government, Dominique spent x years in the U.S. Navy.

Photographer
U.S. Department of Veterans Diplomacy ~ Read stories

Robert Turtil is a public affairs specialist who produces still photography for a total range of Veteran and government related programs, personalities and events. He contributes regularly to VA's digital efforts provides oversight to VA's Flickr page. He works closely with VA internal and external customers, producing or procuring photos for news releases, executive and congressional reports, intergovernmental initiatives, leadership presentations and outreach projects, recruitment, training programs and field facility projects.

Josh Tuscher

New Media Technologist
U.Due south. Department of Veterans Diplomacy

Every bit VA'southward New Media Technologist, Josh Tuscher ensures the Department uses the most current communications platforms to engage with Veterans. Prior to joining VA, Josh worked as a graphic designer and web developer in the private sector. During that time, he served for viii years equally an infantryman in the New Hampshire Army National Guard and Regular army Reserve. In 2004, Josh deployed to Balad, Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment. Afterward returning in 2005, Josh again mobilized—this fourth dimension for duty in New Orleans assisting with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. While in Iraq, Josh kept extensive video footage, later contributing it to the gainsay documentary "The State of war Tapes" (for which he received a credit). The film went on to win "Best Documentary" at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Josh graduated in 2006 with a BFA from Keene State College.