Manitowoc County Veterans Service Office

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

🎉 SAVE THE DATE 🎉

16th Annual VA2K Walk & Roll

📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 John H. Bradley Clinic – Appleton, WI

Calling All Community Partners!
Join us for an engaging, high-energy event supporting Veterans experiencing homelessness in our community.

If you are unable to attend in person and would like to donate new hygiene items, small household items, or gift cards that will go directly to our local homeless Veterans please contact me. I will deliver and then pickup a donation box.

📩 Thank you, Rikka Kushava
920-515-4223 (call or text)
[email protected]

05/06/2026

Mindfulness Meditation Class for Veterans
Join VA’s free, phone-based class called “Mindfulness Meditation.” Designed for Veterans of all eras, this class will help you manage the challenges and stressors of everyday life. Each class covers a topic related to mindfulness, followed by a guided meditation practice. Classes are available from 11a.m. to noon ET on these upcoming days:
Upcoming Schedule (see flyer above for details)
June 5
August 7
September 4
October 2
November 6
December 4
Take any or all classes.

04/15/2026

Subject: [EXTERNAL] SAM is Live in the Battle Buddy App

Over the past year, veterans have been reaching out through Battle Buddy asking the same thing:
They just want someone to talk to.
A lot of them aren’t connected to the VHA.
Some don’t have access to local services.
Some don’t want to call anyone.
One of them was James an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan.
James is a non-VHA connected veteran living in a rural area without access to local mental health services. He didn’t want to call anyone. He told us he didn't trust the system and when he had asked for help when he left the military he didn't get it and people made him feel broken for asking for that help. He just needed somewhere to start.
So we built SAM.
SAM is an AI companion inside the Battle Buddy app. It gives veterans a place to talk and figure out what to do next.
It’s a starting point. Nothing more, nothing less.
If you don’t have the app, download Battle Buddy on the App Store or scan the QR code below.
If you already have it, open the app, tap “Welcome” in the top left, and click “SAM.”

04/02/2026

03/11/2026

Madison VA Hospital & Clinics


Fraud Alert for Veterans



⚠ DO NOT PAY FOR VA OR COMMUNITY CARE APPOINTMENTS UP FRONT

Protect yourself from a recent scam targeting Veterans.
A Veteran recently received a fake letter claiming he had a VA appointment and was asked to pay for the visit.
➢ VA later confirmed he was not enrolled in VA health care, and no appointment had been scheduled.
➢ The letter and payment request were fraudulent.

Remember:
• Veterans should never pay for any VA or Community Care appointment before or at the time of the appointment.
• VA does not charge upfront fees for appointments.
• VA does not send payment requests by email, text message, or phone.
• Community Care appointments are authorized by VA and are free to Veterans except standard VA co-pays when applicable.

If you receive a suspicious letter, call, or message:
• Do not send money or share personal or financial information.
• Contact your local VA medical center directly to verify any appointment.
• Report suspicious activity to your facility’s Integrity and Compliance Officer, Integrity and Compliance Helpline at (866) 842-4357 or [email protected], VSAFE at 1-833-388-7233 or the VA OIG Hotline at 1-800-488-8244.
Your VA team is here to ensure your care is safe and legitimate.

SEE SOMETHING. SAY SOMETHING.
General instances of non-compliance, including potential fraud, waste and abuse:
Office of Integrity and Compliance Helpline
[email protected] or 866-842-4357 (VHA-HELP)

Veterans who suspect they have experienced fraud:
VSAFE Fraud Hotline
https://vsafe.gov/ or 833-38V-SAFE

Reports made to VA OIC or VSAFE may be referred to the independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) for investigation into fraud or other wrongdoing or for its oversight of VA programs and operations.

Visit us at madison.va.gov

On Facebook at Madison VA Hospital

Access your Preferences or Unsubscribe

To contact Madison VA, email us at [email protected]
(Please do not reply to this email as this account is not monitored.)

Find resources about fraud targeting you. ​Know the signs of a scam, get advice about what to do, and learn how to report scams and identity theft.

02/27/2026

Wis-MAC Program
Veterans in Healthcare

Heroes for Healthcare is a nonprofit organization administering the
Wisconsin Military Medics and Corpsmen (Wis-MAC) Program for
transitioning medics, corpsmen, and medical technicians to work in
civilian healthcare.
Program Requirements
• Wis-MAC is an innovative pathway for medics, corpsmen and
medical technicians to work in 18 partner hospitals in Wisconsin.
Wis-MAC participants to work under supervision of RN, ANP, DR.,
PA, or podiatrist
• The Wis-MAC scope of practice is at the LPN level, and average hourly
rate is between $22 to $30 dollars
• Participants must be 12 months post-discharge, with an honorable
or general discharge status
• Required to enroll in educational program to obtain Wisconsin
license in desired healthcare career
• Eligible to work in an in-patient, outpatient healthcare facility, or a
community-based residential care facility
• Eligible to remain in program until Wisconsin license is obtained

Contact Information
Brett Perterson
Talent Acquisition Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 414-395-4481(o)
414-431-0702 (c)
Visit Heroes for Healthcare website .heroesforhealthcare.org