When veterans fall on hard times, there are often many ways in which they can get help. However, while plenty of organizations exist to help veterans receive anything from medical care to job opportunities, it's not always easy for those former service members to track down every option available to them. To that end, a non-profit in Arizona recently created a directory to help those in the Grand Canyon State get a better handle on things when they need a leg up.
There are currently more than half a million veterans living in Arizona alone, making it fertile ground for a project like the Veterans Directory, according to a report from the Arizona Republic. On the site, veterans can look up a number of different services for both themselves and their families, as well as learn about all the veteran-owned businesses in their area that they can easily support. The site has been open since May, and has data about job opportunities, training classes, financial help, legal advice, events for veterans, and more.
How it started
The Veterans Directory began when a Vietnam vet approached its CEO, Danita Rios, at another veteran's funeral and mentioned that the deceased's death (a suicide) might have been avoidable if the victim had better access to mental health services, through a "Yellow Pages" type of website, the report said. Four years later, the site was a reality, with plenty of fundraising and prep work in between. Currently, 90 percent of the people who work for the site or serve on its board are veterans. Private contributors, donators, and other funding helped get the site off the ground.
"It's been a beautiful, beautiful creation so far," Rios told the newspaper. "It can be a daunting, time-consuming task to comb through the hundreds of websites to find the right information about services. The Veterans Directory makes it easy by curating all the relevant information veterans in Arizona need when it comes to thinking about what's next."
Ongoing needs
Any veteran-owned businesses, or services that help former service members in some way, can be listed on the site, the report said. However, they have to submit themselves for approval through a form available through the Veterans Directory itself, and will be added after a review of their credentials.
The fact of the matter is that veterans face a lot of challenges, and sites like this can go a long way, not only toward helping them take small steps forward, but potentially changing their entire lives. That's because something as simple as a job with a good salary can often mean the difference between life and death for those who are struggling with some of the most common symptoms that can befall vets after they get out of the service. Issues like PTSD and depression need to be addressed as quickly and directly as possible. Fortunately, there now seems to be a growing number of options, including the Veterans Directory, to help them do just that.
It's always heartening when protection and support for active duty service members and veterans are added to state and federal laws. These regulations show that lawmakers are aware of the issues that affect today's military personnel and are doing something to help.
The challenges that come with serving and coming home from active duty are well known and documented, and this means there is plenty of scope to take action and step up aid at both state and national levels. The United States prides itself on being a country that looks after its veterans and current military members, and a few recent laws should help it live up to that promise.
Two new bills in Massachusetts
As the Eagle-Tribune recently reported, Massachusetts has recently passed not one, but two laws designed to help with everyday needs faced by military members in the state. The first piece of legislation eliminates state excise tax on vehicles. The bill was sponsored by state Representative Diana DiZoglio, who heard from a constituent that when military members are on active duty, their vehicles rack up high tax bills back home. Creating the new exception allows a little more financial peace of mind for service personnel.
The news provider reported the bill has now become a law after getting the approval of Governor Charlie Baker, and applies to members of the military deployed outside of Massachusetts over a period of six months or more. The fact that the new law deals with a single tax shows that it was conceived and passed with a specific problem in mind.
As for the second new military-focused bill, the Eagle-Tribune explained it is a wide-ranging bill seeking better conditions for veterans. It will achieve this end by authorizing the creation of a commission. The new body is meant to investigate pressing matters for returning service personnel, such as the risks of suffering from depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. Broader topic areas to be addressed by the committee include the transition process from active duty soldier to civilian, with all the challenges that entails.
Medical records fees waived in Rhode Island
Rhode Island newspaper The Breeze recently explained that the state has just passed its own piece of practical, veteran-friendly legislation. The Rhode Island bill is designed to ensure that veterans applying for benefits do not need to pay money to access their medical records. One of the bill's sponsors, state Senator Donna Nesselbush, explained that the law is meant to create a clear pathway to benefits, a much-needed consideration when individuals return home with pressing medical needs.
The news provider laid out the fees covered by the law, including processing, retrieval and copying fees as well as postage. Language in the legislation also insists that agencies process requests quickly – within 30 days of submission. This is yet another bill that has a narrow scope but could be a huge help for the many veterans returning to their communities and applying for valuable medical services that can improve their quality of life.
Returning from active duty in the armed forces is a major transition, and veterans will have to take stock and decide what to do next. This might involve going back to school and receiving either a bachelor's or advanced degree – which could be a ticket to better employment and drastically improved quality of life.
Of course, getting back into the education pipeline is not automatic – in some cases, it's not even easy. This is why it's fortunate that some schools and programs have begun taking up the slack, making special efforts to get veterans involved, helping them on the way to valuable degrees.
Grant for veteran center in Illinois
The Northwest Herald highlighted one example of a program on campus meant to help veterans perform the day-to-day tasks they must handle to secure an education. At McHenry County College, the campus veteran center sees 300 visits a month by students who have served in the military. Now, the building is set for a major upgrade, after a Veterans Center Initiative Award, initiated by the Home Depot Foundation and Student Veterans of America.
The money will improve a campus amenity that provides vital services for the veterans who attend MCC, with the news provider explaining that the center is used for registration aid, mentoring, housing help and preparing Veterans Assistance Commission claims. Both the existence of this space and the focus on its improvement could serve as positive examples at other schools that attract significant numbers of former military personnel as students.
The Northwest Herald also shared some facts regarding why it's so important to prioritize veteran education, namely that returning combat personnel between the ages of 19 and 34 can use secondary education to re-integrate into civilian life. If individuals return from the military but receive no support afterwards, the journey from solider to community member could be difficult to navigate. Schools with dedicated programs and spaces to accommodate veteran needs ease that process.
Representative on campus in Michigan
The above example focused on a physical space where veterans can get help with their unique questions and needs. Another recent report, this one from Michigan's The Oakland Press, involves a person who works with people to ensure service members succeed as students. The news provider specified that Oakland University, in Oakland, Michigan, will now have a veteran resource representative on campus as a full-time employee. The representative's daily tasks include liaising with Student Veterans of America and meeting individually with veteran students.
The Oakland Press also explained that the new role will be an advocate for military-affiliated pupils, whether dealing with the school or the community at large. Having someone there to create positive connections between veterans and the civilian organizations around them could make the transition from military to home front life easier.
The news provider specified that OU is currently host to over 300 veteran students, meaning having a dedicated official is a relevant choice. Some of the support for the new hire comes from an outside program – the Michigan Veterans Education Initiative. Such organizations are helping colleges become havens for veterans as they learn new skills.
Now that the presidential race has been whittled down to two candidates, there's a lot more focus put on the issues that each will try to address if elected. Certainly, that will include the ways in which the federal government works to help veterans through all aspects of their daily lives. And recently, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump took the time to outline a 10-point plan that would overhaul the way the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates on a daily basis.
Among the plans Trump has established for how veterans would be treated by the VA going forward is that he would set up a hotline at the White House for veterans to lodge complaints about their care or service at the VA, according to a report from the Beltway news site Politico. All calls would be fielded by a human, and the Trump administration would work to address each one of the complaints received. If, after a given period of time, the issue had not been dealt with, it would be forwarded to the desk of Trump himself, to handle the complaint personally. Trump would also immediately appoint a new Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
"[That appointee would make it his or her] personal mission to clean up the VA," Trump said, according to the site. "And this will be a person of great competence. This will not be a political hack."
Other details
Beyond that first issue, Trump also said that he would work to gain more control over day-to-day operations of the VA, including the ability to discipline and even fire those working for it, the report said. With this power, Trump believes he would be able to better control things if something goes awry and the VA "fail[s] veterans or breach the public trust."
However, Trump also said that he would use his power to protect good workers at the VA, and put them in a position to move more quickly up the ladder in the department, the report said. The incentives for those workers might include a system in which employees who are shown to save money through their work could be able to get a cash bonus for doing so.
Potential speed bumps
However, as with many things related to Trump, this plan is not without controversy, according to a report from the Christian Science Monitor. Some veterans groups have already criticized it for an aspect of the plan that would privatize veteran health care, giving former service members the ability to show a card at just about any health care facility that accepts Medicare and receive treatment. Those groups say that this could lead to veterans running into similar hurdles when it comes to getting treatment, because private doctors may likewise not be equipped to handle the demand that comes with treating many veterans in a short window.
Certainly, the presidential election is something that veterans will have to monitor closely, as they carefully examine the issues that will affect them and work to determine which candidate will best serve their interests going forward.
The needs facing veterans today are the same as those affecting everyone else. They need stability, security, jobs, places to live, peace of mind. When returning from active duty, however, these basic necessities can be hard to find. This is why it's heartening to see organizations stepping up to help the veterans living in their communities. Service members gave of themselves in their military roles, and deserve all the best once they are home. Their transitions to civilian life represent a big step that will determine the tone of their next few years.
Necessity No. 1: Jobs
Work can easily be the deciding factor in how an individual's life is going. When jobs are attainable and rewarding, everything else can fall into place. A recent Detroit News report indicated that the the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is making an effort to ensure veterans find willing employers upon their re-integration into communities on the home front.
The news provider focused on one event in Detroit's Comerica Park, set to be hosted by General Motors and the Detroit Tigers in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The gathering will feature representatives from more than 100 companies that are hiring, and the veterans themselves aren't the only ones who can benefit. The brands will also give consideration to the spouses of current and former military personnel.
According to The Detroit News, GM itself is very proactive in its hiring of veterans, and it also runs educational programs based around certifications in the automotive field. Sometimes, returning service members have experience that would be very valuable to civilian employers, but not the recognition that will prove it. These side programs will help with the accreditation process.
GM Military and Veteran Affairs Officer Keith Nattrass told the news provider that it makes sense for businesses to look at veterans as potential hires. He explained that the disciplined approach and openness to training that persist among military personnel are the kinds of skills that work well in civilian roles. Making the connection between employers and veterans works well for both parties.
Receiving necessary skills
Automotive skills aren't the only abilities being conveyed by classes pitched to veterans. The Salt Lake Tribune highlighted Culinary Command, which is designed to turn military personnel into competent cooks, ready for commercial roles, over the course of six weeks. The class ends with a "graduation dinner" in which the students cook for the public, and covers a wide variety of topics. Students don't pay, and all the costs involved in running the program are paid by donations.
The founder of Culinary Command, David James Robinson, told the news provider that he believes veterans are well suited to the world of professional cooking, where intense hours of work are carried out under a strict command structure. He noted that rather than learning a whole new set of skills, military personnel can re-tune their current proficiencies to become valuable members of a kitchen staff. Robinson has seen several of his graduates continue on cooking professionally after his training, and is proud that so many have done well, seeing as previous cooking knowledge is not a requirement to join the course.
It sometimes takes a tremendous effort for veterans returning from active duty to resume their lives in the civilian world. It's hugely important to support these individuals, both on personal and organizational levels, because the consequences of coming home yet not feeling part of society can be crushing for veterans.
Fortunately, people are rising to the cause all over the nation, creating programs that will smooth the path from the armed forces back into the towns and cities where veterans will reside once they come home. These can take many forms, but their efforts are all serving the same worthy cause.
Miami-Dade County gets United Way program
The Miami Herald recently focused on the launch of United Way Mission United in Miami-Dade county. This is a specialized process designed to help integrate veterans successfully into civilian roles after their time in the armed forces has ended. A similar program in Broward County served as a template for the new effort, and the need for such a process is clear: According to the Herald, there are more than 62,000 veterans now living in Miami-Dade County.
United Way Mission United is not based around one single method of helping veterans. Instead the news provider stated that it consists of smaller programs each designed to address one element of the re-integration experience. On a macro level, the organization pairs veterans with case workers who periodically make sure their assigned individuals are doing well.
Beyond the use of case workers, there are social functions that keep veterans active and in contact with one another and the public at large. For instance The Miami Herald reported that on Warrior Wednesday, individuals gather at United Way's headquarters for discussions. Another facet of the program is a get-together to celebrate the Army-Navy college football game. The focus is on creating community spaces in which veterans can interact, taking away feelings of isolation that might set in after leaving the military.
The news provider reported that despite the relative newness of Mission United, it has already been helpful. Army Reserve Specialist Franck Kouadje told the source that his struggles following a car accident were eased by the program.
The importance of connection
In a recent Military Times piece on Lockheed Director of Government Relations Joe Rice, he spoke about his own transition from active duty to the Army Reserve and urged veterans to take part in community activities. Isolation is dangerous, and the stark differences between military service and civilian life can take a serious toll if individuals are on their own rather than interacting.
Rice explained that his employer offers its own group for veterans who want to connect with one another and avoid becoming too closed off. Whether through one of these organizations or one that serves a community, such as in the United Way example above, veterans returning home have options when it comes to increasing contact and staying in touch. The journey from soldier to citizen is critical but difficult, and going it alone tends to just make it more taxing. That simple fact highlights the value provided by groups.
Women serve in a full range of roles in the military but, according to a recent report by Southern California Public Radio, they don't always feel adequately recognized or visible once they leave the armed forces and return to civilian life. The Department of Veterans Affairs, to its credit, has resolved to take steps to change this status quo and give female veterans a reception equal to that of their male peers. Taking the next step in such processes is critical in taking the next steps and improving the VA overall.
Becoming welcoming to women
According to the report, VA officials realize that a lack of services for women has resulted from the organization's founding with men in mind. Their task now is to expand the purview of VA hospitals and other affiliated agencies. Dr. Patty Hayes, who is serving at the chief consultant in the effort to serve female veterans more effectively, told Southern California Public Radio that today, 15 percent of individuals leaving the armed forces are women. During World War II, the figure was only 2 percent, which is a large reason why the system was created the way it was.
The news provider cited stories from women who have felt overlooked, either when going for care or in general. There is still a mainstream perception that military careers are solely male, and female veterans can have an uphill struggle to be recognized for their accomplishments and receive the treatments they need.
"It's weird to me that people don't think, or even let it into their head, that females go into the military and serve their country as well as men do," Ramona Yates, a Marine Corps veteran, explained to Southern California Public Radio. "It's interesting and bothersome at the same time."
Yates told the radio station that she goes to a women-only clinic opened by the VA, but feels "invisible" when in other areas of the hospital. This is the kind of environment that will have to change as the VA grows and becomes more capable of supporting all service members in their needs, specifically in getting them the medical care they need.
A huge impact
As previously mentioned on this blog, the suicide rate among veterans remains staggering. Getting the rate down requires drastic attention and, relevant to the VA's female outreach efforts, women in particular can be prevented from taking their own lives through active engagement with medical services. A recent VA study determined that the suicide rate among female veterans increased 4.6 percent since 2001 for those in contact with the VA – and 98 percent for those who don't deal with the VA.
Seeing such plain evidence of the positive effect health services can have on individuals' lives, the need to make women feel more included becomes obvious. By increasing outreach and introducing specialized programs, the VA is in a position to positively impact lives. The armed forces today are more diverse than ever before, and the constant presence of female service members can't be ignored. Programs for veterans are moving in the right direction by acknowledging these individuals' contributions.
It's a well-known fact that millions of veterans struggle with some of the scars of service, both visible and otherwise. And in the latter category, problems like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression are unfortunately all too common. The bigger issue is that they can also lead to self-harm, including suicide, and it's a very real problem in the veterans community today. Fortunately, more is now being done to address it.
An average of 20 veterans take their own lives each day, according to the latest and largest survey of suicide data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The data comes from 2014 – the latest year for which complete information was available – and more than 7,400 former service members commit suicide in that calendar year. That accounted for nearly 1 in 5 suicides of all types seen nationwide (down from 22 percent in 2010), despite the fact that veterans make up about 9 percent of the total population.
"One veteran suicide is one too many, and this collaborative effort provides both updated and comprehensive data that allows us to make better informed decisions on how to prevent this national tragedy," said Dr. David Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health. "We as a nation must focus on bringing the number of veteran suicides to zero."
A closer look at the numbers
The number of suicides in the total U.S. population has likewise surged during that 13-year stretch, rising 23 percent since 2001, but there was a 32 percent increase among veterans during the same time, the report said. When controlling for a number of factors, veterans are 21 percent more likely to take their own lives. In addition, nearly 2 in every 3 veteran suicides involved a former service member who was age 50 or older.
But it's worth noting that a good preventative step is simply reaching out to someone, the report said. The suicide rate among veterans regularly using VA services was much more in line with the national average, and grew just 8.8 percent from 2001 to 2014, in comparison with a 38.6 percent increase among those who did not use such services. Suicides among males saw an 11 percent jump among those who used VA services and 35 percent for those who did not. More stunningly, the rate for females who interacted with the VA only grew 4.6 percent, while that among females who did not surged 98 percent.
What's being done?
Fortunately, the VA is moving to address these concerns, the report said. It will expand care through its telemental hubs, hire more than 60 new counselors for its crisis hotline, and work with non-VA institutions to establish better partnerships and expand programs available to veterans who desperately need the help.
The more that can be done to both understand and address the problem of veteran suicide, the better off these former service members, their friends, families, and communities will be. Any efforts to provide them with help will likely go a long way toward helping to save their lives.
It's vitally important that communities have plans in place to help returning veterans re-integrate into civilian life. The unique strain of serving in the armed forces means these individuals sometimes have a circuitous route back to a happy and healthy everyday life. Fortunately, many cities and states have implemented helpful programs that aid veterans and family members in several ways. They can serve as examples of how to assist military personnel in times of need.
Several efforts involved in military outreach take the form of sports events or leagues. The communal spirit and pulling together associated with games can serve as a bridge between the sometimes-isolated world of returning veterans and the communities they have come home to.
Hockey league opens doors to veterans
A recent report from The Oakland Press highlighted a hockey program that caters directly to veterans with a current or pending disability rating, as well as those who earned Purple Hearts while serving. The news provider explained that there is no need to be an expert in the sport – any individual fitting the above criteria can participate, from the most to least experienced in hockey. The Michigan Warriors Hockey Program creates a space for hurt veterans to communicate and engage with one another in a recreational setting, hopefully helping them rejoin civilian life.
Wheelchair lacrosse proves life-saving
Fox6, a local news station in Wisconsin, reported on another league designed to help those with disabilities. Playing wheelchair lacrosse has proved to be an important and positive outlet for veterans who have suffered traumatic wounds. The psychological strain that can come with such an injury is a real risk, and playing a sport designed for those with a physical disability has the potential to restore hope and optimism.
"Many have gone down to the wrong pathway where there's drug abuses, violence. As soon as we bring them into adaptive sports and give them an ultimatum, 'We will kick you out if you go back to that life' – almost 100 percent of them turned around," Dr. Kenneth Lee, wheelchair lacrosse team founder and an Iraq veteran, told Fox6.
The news provider noted that the wheelchair lacrosse league is made up of veterans and civilians alike, brought together by the desire to enjoy a game with the attendant camaraderie and teamwork.
Games reach 36th year
Sports have long been harnessed as a way to help injured veterans engage with life after service. In fact, as Salt Lake Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe pointed out,the National Veterans Wheelchair Games are in their 36th year. The event is an ambitious blend of sports and games, and this is the first year that it will include bobsledding – though just as an exhibition this time around.
This year's event has drawn more than 625 athletes who have served in the U.S. military, showing that there are many people eligible for such competitions. As more of these events pop up around the nation, individuals with pressing needs can find exciting new opportunities through sports and games. There is more than one way to help a veteran re-integrate into civilian life, and plenty of examples have appeared lately.
When service members return home and re-integrate themselves into civilian life, they often face challenges related to their time on active duty. The unique strain of military service can prove harmful unless these individuals receive assistance from concerned third parties. Thankfully, such groups are stepping up their efforts to be helpful and improve quality of life for veterans who have returned home. Facing longtime challenges with new technology is one of the interesting trends developing in this space lately.
Valuable counseling via text
A recent Military Times report zoomed in on an effort to connect individuals in crisis with help. The source noted that the military community is coalescing around the service, Crisis Text Line, which was originally developed for teenagers facing difficult situations. Over its three years of operation thus far, the line has branched out into new groups of individuals facing personal crises, veterans among them.
According to Military Times, it's impossible to tell exactly how many service members are receiving these texts due to the confidential nature of the program. That said, the organization behind the service believes military use is up 33 percent over two years. These service members are seeking help facing issues that can be triggered or exacerbated by the strain of life in the armed forces, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among them. Furthermore, financial problems tend to be more common than expected. All of these issues deserve attention to keep sufferers safe.
Due to the line's wide-ranging nature, urgent texts from a number of different groups are receiving replies, the source explained. Military members on active duty can text the line, as can veterans and family members helping their loved ones deal with these issues or facing problems themselves. The line's founder, Nancy Lublin, told Military Times that while the organization does not provide ongoing counseling or therapy, it seeks to assist those in moments of crisis, de-escalating trouble and helping individuals move forward.
Filling a vital need
Services that help veterans through crises are valuable and much-needed at present. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a sobering VA report that showed the suicide rate among veterans is still shockingly elevated. The survey, designed to determine an accurate figure of how many veterans commit suicide each day, put the daily figure at 20. That is lower than the 22 a day determined by previous research, but still frighteningly high, showing signs of a persistent crisis in the veterans community.
The Wall Street Journal reported that suicide is most pronounced among older service members, with 65 percent of those who die this way being 50 years old or older. The news source also noted that there are new efforts afoot to try and bring the rate down dramatically. Now, for instance, the VA has committed to holistic treatment methods that will seek out previously undiagnosed issues and hopefully intervene before it is too late. Mobilizing new efforts to save lives is necessary as a wide variety of groups attempt to make life better for those who have given so much to the country through their service.