Guest Column by Interim Commissioner Brad Lindsay

Veteran Suicide ? a preventable tragedy

Did you know that Minnesota loses 100 Veterans a year to suicide?

At the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), we grieve the loss of these comrades, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. While we alone cannot prevent all Veteran suicide, we are committed to doing all we can to raise awareness of this tragedy and to educate the community about how we can all work together to support Veterans in crisis and avoid this tragic outcome.

Read More >>

The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Duluth received the Operational Excellence Award from the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a division of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for receiving 100% in the compliance review.

?The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Duluth staff has embraced Minnesota?s reputation for operating State Veterans Cemeteries to nationwide-leading standards and is committed to providing Veterans and their families with the highest quality customer service that honors their service and sacrifice," said MDVA Deputy Director of Memorial Affairs David Swantek.

Read More >>

Another school year is in full swing and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is here to support Veteran students. MDVA and the Office of Education and Occupational Resources are dedicated to providing Veterans, active military members and their families with an abundance of resources and benefits in the pursuit of their higher education goals.

One of the major and exciting changes this fall has been the expansion of the Minnesota GI Bill, which was adjusted during the last Minnesota Legislative session.

Read More >>

Minnesota Veterans who served sometime between Sept. 11, 2001, and Aug. 30, 2021 may be eligible for a Post-9/11 Service Bonus.?

The 2023 Legislative Session resulted in several changes that expanded Minnesota Veteran eligibility for the Post-9/11 Service Bonus. Newly eligible Veterans now include:

• Veterans who did not enlist/begin their service in Minnesota
• Recipients of the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal may now receive the full bonus allotment
• Veterans who were previously denied the bonus or are now eligible for a larger bonus can reapply based on the changes that were made this session

To apply, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/ServiceBonus.

More Information >>

A bit of history is bringing its beauty, color and artistry to Veterans throughout Minnesota. Classic stained-glass windows will be part of the meditation rooms at the three new Minnesota State Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston. The refinished windows come from a historic building on the Minneapolis Veterans Home campus.

The new meditation rooms were made possible thanks to the enthusiastic work of Mary Kuperus, past President of the Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary?and many others.?

Read More >>

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Although mental health and suicide prevention are important to address year-round, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health, publicizes Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices and share that there is hope, help is available, and healing is possible.

Join MDVA on Oct. 7 for the Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day?at Paul Bunyan Park, Bemidji, MN.

Read More >>

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) proudly recognizes National Hispanic/Latino
Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This is a time which celebrates the contributions, heritage and
culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans as well as the anniversary of independence for several Latin
American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.

The theme for 2023 is Prosperity, Power and Progress, honoring the significant strides of Hispanics in the economic, political and social growth of the U.S.

Read More >>

Rosh Hashanah (beginning at sundown on Sept. 15 and ending at nightfall on Sept. 17) and Yom Kippur (spanning from before sunset on Sept. 24 to after nightfall on Sept. 25) are observed annually by Jewish people around the world as a period of penitence and spiritual renewal. Jewish Americans have served in all branches of the U.S. armed forces and in every major armed conflict in which the United States has been involved dating back to before the colonial era.

Read More >>

Interested in serving Veterans? Looking to make a difference in your community? Consider a career with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs! Roles in healthcare, nursing, facilities management and program management are featured below. Sign-up to receive our monthly jobs bulletin.

We proudly offer competitive pay, generous benefits as a State of MN employee, welcoming and supportive teams, and most importantly, meaningful careers.

To see full job posting and apply:
1. Go to https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/ and select your applicant type: External Applicants or Current Employees or Accessible Applicant Portal.
2. On the Careers landing page, enter the Job ID in the Search Jobs field. Click on the posting.
3. Select ?Apply for Job? button. New users will need to create an applicant account to apply.