According to a White House report titled "The Fast Track to Civilian Employment: Steamlining Credentialing and Licensing for Service Members, Veterans, and their Spouses," between 240,000 and 360,000 military members leave the Armed Forces for life after service every year. Many of these former servicemembers have families and are looking for a place to settle down. They must consider factors like access to VA facilities, veteran population, median income and quality of life. So, what are the best cities in the United States for veterans? AFBA has compiled the following list:
1. Virginia Beach, Virginia
This coastal city has one of the highest veteran populations in the country, making it a haven for former servicemembers. Not only will veterans be welcomed by fellow military comrades, they will also have great access to local VA. According to Military Times, there is an average of 1 VA office every ten miles in Virginia Beach. A bonus feature of this city is that the median income for veterans is among the top in the nation.
2. San Diego, California
Next on the list is San Diego, California. This gorgeous West Coast city is the perfect place for former servicemembers with growing families. The average monthly income for veterans in this city is $42,118, according to Military Times, and there are plenty of things to keep families busy. The schools in San Diego also average a 7 on the GreatSchools rating system, meaning children of veterans will have access to a good education.
3. Colorado Springs, Colorado
It's no surprise that this mountainous city made the list. Colorado Springs is home to the Air Force Academy, and a veteran population of almost 54,000. The scenic views and low crime rate make Colorado Springs an excellent place to begin life after service, especially because the median home price is $205,600.
4. Washington D.C.
What better place for a former servicemember than the nation's capitol? Aside from a wide variety of jobs available, Washington D.C. is full of activities, festivals, and attractions to keep veterans and their families busy. According to military times, there are about 25 VA centers within a 50 mile radius of the city, and this city has one of the lowest veteran unemployment rates in the nation. In fact, the average income for veterans in D.C. is $52,266 annually.
5. San Antonio, Texas
Though San Antonio's military population is relatively small in comparison with the rest of the country, the number of VA centers don't reflect that. San Antonio is a great place for veterans who may need the communal support or mental health help from VA centers. With 15 VA centers within a 50 mile radius, former servicemembers won't have to travel far to reach the services they need.
All veterans deserve a great place to settle for life after service. By doing a little research ahead of time, they can determine which city would be best for themselves and for their families before they make the big move.
When the brave men and women who serve in the military enter life after service, they may be faced with yet another battle. This one, however, is unseen. Because of the activities involved in military actions, many former servicemembers are left with unseen scars in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other mental health issues. These mental health problems can be difficult to deal with on your own, so it's important for veterans to know that there are plenty of resources available to help.
Military OneSource
This Department of Defense-created program is a 24/7 hotline that struggling servicemembers call call if they are experiencing mental health difficulties. Professionally-trained counselors are available to assist veterans with whatever issues they may be experiencing. The number for Military OneSource is 1-800-342-9647.
VA Mental Health
According to MentalHealth.gov this program is meant to "to enable people with mental health problems to live meaningful lives in their communities and achieve their full potential." It directs former servicemembers and their family members to resources that could be useful for those dealing with depression, anxiety and PTSD.
DoD/VA Suicide Outreach: Resources for Suicide Prevention
This website was created to be an all-access connection to helpful mental health resources. Among suicide prevention hotlines, this website also has videos and forums designed to help former servicemembers reach a healthy mental status and learn better coping skills.
DCoE Outreach Center
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury is responsible for this agency. Here, veterans can find help specifically with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Families members of struggling veterans may also find this organization's information and resources helpful.
Veteran Centers
Sometimes, mental healing comes from simply spending time and talking with others who have experienced similar situations. Veterans centers are often great places for former servicemembers who are struggling with mental health. Getting to know other veterans in the community and having a chance to express feelings to a group of people who will understand can be hugely beneficial.
Though mental health issues are not uncommon in returning servicemembers that does not mean they can go ignored. If you or a loved one is searching for mental health help or resources, you can contact any of the organizations mentioned above or reach out to your local VA office. Remember, you are not alone and there is always someone to help.
Various organizations and committees have worked to get veterans into public office, as servicemembers are often well-suited to positions in government. For example, VoteVets.org, a political action committee, was launched to help veterans navigate the election process and gain more visibility among their constituencies. However, few officials had spoken out about the fact that so few jobs within the security arm of the government have been filled by veterans until more recently.
MilitaryTimes reported that Chuck Hagel, the former Defense Secretary for the United States, spoke at an event regarding this strange shortage of veterans in national security departments. Not only was Hagel concerned about the fact that routine decisions were not being made by individuals who had served in the military, but that the highest levels of office are also witnessing a lack of veterans in the mix.
"When you look at the presidential candidates today, not one is a veteran," Hagel affirmed, according to MilitaryTimes. "Our current president and vice president are not veterans. The entire senior White House security staff, none are veterans. That doesn't mean they're bad people, that doesn't mean they're not smart, that doesn't mean they don't care about this country. But there is something missing here. And at a time when everything is hair-triggered, everything is nitro glycerine, and miscalculations can lead to a lot of trouble, we need veterans' input."
At the end of the day, the source pointed out that the rate of Congress members who are veterans has dropped from 70 percent in 1970 to 20 percent today. Perhaps instituting more programs to encourage veterans returning from overseas to run for public office might begin to balance these figures out in a more organic fashion.
Post-traumatic stress disorder affects an estimated 10 percent of Gulf War veterans and a further 11 percent of those who served in Afghanistan more recently. Researchers, government officials, the medical community and others have worked hard to develop treatments for this affliction in the past few years, while veterans have turned to a range of supports to cope, including certain medications and rehabilitation programs.
Awareness has long been held as the first step toward more comprehensive treatment of PTSD among the veteran community, and one Marine recently took to walking 5,000 miles to get the word out about the disorder. Now, one new program and a government initiative are poised to positively impact the veteran community through more successful treatment of PTSD.
Healing in the wilderness
ABC 23 recently reported that Outward Bound, a nationwide wilderness program, has begun to focus its efforts on helping veterans with PTSD heal in nature. Thanks to donations, the source pointed out that this particular program is free for veterans, while the Wounded Heroes Fund in Kern County in California is pushing for more donations to send 10 more former servicemembers to the wilderness for the healing process.
According to the news provider, participants are faced with challenges ranging from tough hikes to those that are more focused on the mental aspects of recovery, while the professionals who run the show also work to instill new skills into veterans. This includes communication and other soft skills, as well as methods to navigate the normalcy of a workday after returning from combat overseas.
ABC 23 noted that both Outward Bound and the Wounded Heroes Fund are currently accepting donations to help send more veterans off on these highly effective wilderness ventures in hopes of mitigating the tougher aspects of PTSD.
Puppies for the win
Fox News reported that the House of Representatives is currently weighing a bill that would fund a new program at the Veterans Administration to pair veterans and puppies in an effort to rehabilitate those with PTSD. Similar programs have been around for years, though this would be the first government-funded one.
The source stated that the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act, also known as the PAWS Act, will put roughly $10 million into the initial venture, and then build out depending upon how the measures play out.
Universities have been actively working to support veterans through a range of educational programs and specialized training initiatives, but these types of ventures are far from the only ones launched by higher education facilities. Rather, some are looking to make an impact on the veteran community by honoring servicemembers in more unique ways, including one in Mississippi that just announced a new project.
WTVA reported that the Northeast Mississippi Junior College, or NEMCC, has announced that it will recognize veterans through the development of a new memorial statue placed on its campus. Interestingly, this particular college has a history with veterans, in that it was largely built by veterans of World War II as they returned stateside from combat in the 1940s.
"We're calling it our Veteran's Memorial Campaign Project," Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director at the school's Alumni Association Patrick Eaton explained. "Each gift of $100 or more will be displayed in a marker recognizing your partnership with this campaign project. It is our privilege and honor to be a part of this project that will forever change Northeast campus. Our goal is $30,000."
The source noted that individuals who are interested in donating to this project can do so by visiting the school's website.
Other instances of universities and colleges working to recognize veterans can be found across the country, with schools like Arizona State University and Brown University holding special events on an annual basis. In Brown University's case, the school regularly holds a ceremony that brings together servicemembers and veterans alike, as well as the community that supports them, throughout the campus and neighboring city.
A combination of events that honor veterans and programs to improve education among servicemembers has made universities strong supporters of the community.
In recent years, more large companies have made hiring veterans a priority, and that has afforded many former servicemembers employment opportunities they simply would not have had before. Cable giant Comcast is one such business, and it has a very lofty goal in place to hire veterans in the next few years.
By the end of 2017, Comcast hopes to have hired some 10,000 veterans, making up as much as 15 percent of all new hires, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Already, the company brought aboard 2,400 in 2015 alone, and that number was up nearly 40 percent from 2014. And to that end, it hired a veteran to head up the company's military and veterans affairs division, which reports directly to top executives.
Nationwide, about 495,000 veterans were unemployed at some point last year, and nearly 3 in 5 were over the age of 45, the report said. Close to 2 in 5 were between 25 and 44.
The more companies of all sizes can do to prioritize hiring veterans, the better off both those former servicemembers and the companies themselves will end up being, because veterans routinely prove to be eager, able workers with a wealth of professional skills.
One of the biggest issues many veterans face in their daily lives after service is that it's not always easy for them to get a job. This may be true for a number of reasons, but the good news is that this trend finally seems to be reversing itself. In fact, 2015 saw the biggest uptick in hiring of former servicemembers in years.
The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the unemployment rate for veterans who served after 9/11 slid to just 5.8 percent at the end of 2015, down sharply from the 7.2 percent observed at the same time in 2014, according to a report from the Military Times. That's the lowest annual rate since veterans of those engagements started coming home, and far more in line with those of other demographic groups as well. The overall unemployment rate came in at 5.2 percent, but didn't improve as dramatically as that of post-9/11 veterans.
"Some of the improvement in the unemployment rate for veterans across the board has happened somewhat in parallel with the overall reduction in our nation's unemployment numbers over the last five to six years," Jack Norton, a spokesman spokesperson for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes program, told the news organization. "At the same time, though, through much of our effort, businesses of all sizes have been reminded of the value of veterans as employees and have strengthened their veteran hiring programs as a result."
With veteran hiring on the rise, opportunities likely abound for former servicemembers who are looking for a stable job situation that can help them in many aspects of their lives. The more businesses can do to continue putting an emphasis on hiring these workers, the better off both sides of the equation will be.
The Midwest Veterans Closet in North Chicago, Illinois is a key community resource for local veterans, reported the Chicago Tribune. The organization provides free clothing, food and household items to servicemembers in need. It also helps struggling veterans access federal and state services.
Mary Carmody started the Midwest Veterans Closet in 2014, reported the Daily Herald.
"This has never been my lifelong dream, but it's what I can do to give back after they've given so much to so many," she told the newspaper. "We're able to sit here peacefully and not worry of being hurt because of them."
At first, Carmody ran the organization out of a small trailer in Wadsworth, Illinois. Then, in September 2014, she moved the organization into its current location where it serves an estimated 350 veterans each month. Local partners bus servicemembers to the location once a week.
Dr. Stephen Holt, director of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, is one of those partners.
"Mary and her fantastic staff have been helping the veterans in our residential treatment programs get back on their feet by offering clothes, household goods and more," he told the Chicago Tribune. "I have always believed it takes a community to help serve our veterans and we are happy that Mary and the MVC are providing our veterans tremendous support."
Veterans who frequent the Midwest Veterans Closet also appreciate Carmody's commitment to serving local servicemembers.
Gary Spicer, a U.S. Army veteran, looked to the organization for help after he lost his job and attempted suicide. Through the Midwest Veterans Closet, Spicer entered a recovery program at the Lovell Health Care Center. Now, he has his own apartment in Waukegan, Illinois that is filled with furniture from Carmody's organization.
"I'm so grateful," Spicer said in an interview with the Daily Herald. "I probably would have nothing in my apartment. I'd have an empty apartment, but she kept calling me saying I've got something for you."
Unfortunately, the Midwest Veterans Closet is at risk of losing its place in the community. According to the Lake County News-Sun, the organization needs $700,000 to maintain its current location.
"We're serving 300 to 350 veterans a month," Carmody said in an interview with the newspaper. "It would be a pity to have it close."
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, "between 2000 and 2012, more than 900,000 veterans and military service members received education benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs." Former servicemembers have an increasing presence on college campuses today, but how do they choose which school to attend? Take a look at AFBA's list of things veterans should consider when choosing a college:
Admissions requirements and degree offerings
Before spending the time to apply to a school, veterans should ensure that they meet the admission requirements. Some universities will require applicants to take admissions tests, such as the ACT or SAT, before accepting them. Additionally, veterans should make sure the college offers the degree program the former servicemembers are interested in pursuing.
Veterans support on campus
Going back to school is a big decision, especially for veterans – many of whom are nontraditional students. Completing a degree may seem like an impossible feat without the right support. Look for colleges that have a veterans support program on campus or offer programs to help former servicemembers transition into campus life. Talking to veterans already enrolled in certain colleges can also help others get a feel of the reception former servicemembers get on campus.
Ability to gain credit from military service
Some schools offer veterans the opportunity to translate their military service into credit. Ask your on-campus advisor if any of your experience qualifies as college credit. This is especially important for former servicemembers who took the CLEP during service or learned a foreign language as part of their service duties. Getting credit for things already accomplished can help veterans save money in the long run.
Affordability
Veterans will get some money for school from their GI Bill benefits. However, depending on the institution they choose to attend or the number of credits in which they enroll, these benefits may not cover the cost of school in its entirety. Former servicemembers should pay attention to tuition and fees each semester to avoid accumulating student aid debt. Staying within financial means will help veterans get the most from their benefits.
Going back to school is a great way to begin life after service. For veterans, knowing how to choose the right college could be the driving element that leads them to successfully earn a degree.
Veterans in Visalia, California plan to raise awareness about servicemember suicide rates with a commemorative march, reported the Visalia Times-Delta. The event, called the 22 Veterans a Day Suicide Awareness March, takes place April 22 at 8 a.m.
Joel Rosales, a Navy veteran, organized the march to memorialize the estimated 22 veterans who die by suicide every day.
"It's something I really want to bring forward to our local veterans and community," he told the newspaper. "It's not something that we should take lightly."
Veteran suicide is a major concern for military insiders and outsiders alike. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, servicemembers deployed between 2001 and 2007 have a 41 percent higher risk of suffering from suicide than U.S. civilians. Additionally, operators at the VA's Veterans Crisis Hotline have taken over 2 million calls since 2007.
Over the last few years, the VA and other federal agencies have attempted to address the problem by building out their mental health services. As a result, veteran suicide rates have stabilized, reported the Military Times.
Earlier this year at the VA's annual Veterans Suicide Summit in Washington, D.C., officials talked over new strategies. VA Undersecretary of Health Dr. David Shulkin said his staff would first focus on enrolling veterans in VA care, as 70 percent of servicemembers who die by suicide don't receive care via VA medical facilities. In the end, Shulkin pledged to take meaningful action as soon as possible.
"We're going to come up with a plan. And we're not going to stop until we can figure out how to do more," he said.
In the meantime, Rosales and the organizers of the 22 Veterans a Day Suicide Awareness March will try to make a difference by supporting veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome and other deployment-related psychological illnesses that sometimes precipitate suicide.
"We want them to know that we are here for them," he told the Visalia Times-Delta.