During the Oct. 13 Democratic debates, the presidential candidates took on topics like health care reform and guns laws. One of the more hot button subjects covered was veterans' issues. Former Marine and Vietnam veteran Jim Webb and Bernie Sanders were especially focused on this area.
Debate moderator Anderson Cooper questioned Sanders on his avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War, but Sanders was quick to respond. According to Stars and Stripes, the candidate once worked with John McCain as chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee where the pair drafted the Veterans Choice, Access and Accountability Act of 2014. Sanders argued that his act had the most effect on improving veterans' health care than any act before it.
Webb worked hard to outshine Sanders in terms of veterans issues.
"In government service, I've fought and bled for our country in Vietnam as a Marine," Webb said. "I spent years as assistant secretary of defense, secretary of the Navy – in the Reagan administration."
Stars and Stripes also reported that Webb was one of the government officials responsible for resurrecting the GI Bill. While Webb and Sanders pushed to connect with veteran voters, other candidates remained silent on the issue. For example, Hillary Clinton never said the word "veteran" during the entire debate, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
In 2013, The Huffington Post reported that over 1 million former servicemembers and their dependents had enrolled in college after service. For many of those veterans, the GI Bill and other service-based scholarship made it possible for them to pursue higher education. Such was the case with Daniel Ybarra.
While serving in Iraq as a Navy medical corpsman, Ybarra helped his fellow servicemembers and locals with their injuries and illnesses. When he returned to the U.S., Ybarra decided to return to school to pursue a medical degree.
"To be honest, the thought of becoming a doctor had never crossed my mind before," Ybarra told the UCLA Newsroom. "Anything that required school was just a no-go for me. But I had some awesome mentors and came off of active duty thinking, 'I'm going to enroll in community college and keep pushing until something disqualifies me.'"
Ybarra found help in his pursuits from the Tillman Foundation, an organization that was founded by former NFL player Pat Tillman to provide veterans with scholarships and other support.
Thanks to the scholarship from the organization and academic support, Ybarra, who was one of five to receive the financial award, will graduate with an M.D. and a master of public health degree in 2016, according to the news source.
Most people are familiar with the phrase "pay it forward." It simply means that when something kind is done for you, it is your responsibility to do something kind for someone else. A pizza shop in North Tonawanda, New York, took this concept and applied it to the veterans in the community.
Submasters, a local pizza and sandwich shop, decided to start a program aptly named the "Pay It Forward Program." Whenever a customer comes in to purchase a lunch card, they have the option of purchasing an additional ticket. According to ABC News 7, the customer then places the extra ticket on the bulletin board, so that when a veteran comes in, he or she can take a ticket, show his or her military ID and receive a free meal.
"I just thought this was a good way to say to the veterans, thanks for what you have done for us," Submasters owner Tommy Daniels told the news source.
Many veterans in the community have not only received a meal from the program, but they have also purchased one for another former servicemember. In addition to the "Pay It Forward Program," Submasters also hosts "The Grunt Gut Program," where locals can drop off nonperishable items and toiletries for soldiers' care packages.
For many veterans, one of the most important things they learned in their time in the military was the service to others. A large percentage do not want to stop helping their communities even once they have been discharged. The commitment to service is so ingrained in their personalities that many seek alternative ways to continue helping those around them. AFBA has listed several ways veterans can continue to serve their communities after they leave the military.
1. Volunteer with local veterans groups
One of the most rewarding things former servicemembers can do is to help other veterans with the transition to civilian life. Seek out veteran advocacy groups in your community and find out what you can do to help them out.
2. Participate in fundraising activities
Whether it be a bake sale for your kid's elementary school class field trip or collecting donations for local first responders, getting involved with fundraising can be an excellent way to help promote development in your community.
3. Be a listening ear
As a former servicemember, you have likely experienced some difficult things in your life. You could use those memories and your coping methods to help others who may be struggling. Host a support group for fellow veterans or community members who need a little extra help getting from day to day.
4. Join a nonprofit
The goal of nonprofit organizations is to provide a service that will improve the community in some way. These programs often have difficulty finding volunteers to help run things. Your military experience made you highly organized and prepared to tackle tough projects. Lend your valuable skills to a nonprofit of your choosing and watch how your help can make a difference.
5. Organize a community event
As a veteran, people look to you for leadership. You can use your influence to organize an event like a community clean-up, a family-friendly activity day or a block party. Not only will this strengthen community relations, it may give you a chance to reconnect with neighbors and friends you missed during your service.
6. Become a mentor
Children need positive role models to look up to. You can fulfill that role by mentoring the youth in your community. Consider coaching a Little League team, tutoring at the local high school or volunteering to help at-risk teens.
7. Donate blood
This may seem like a simple act, but you would be surprised how helpful it can be. Many blood banks are often low on supplies, and your donation may even save someone's life. This is an especially useful form of service if you have one of the rarer blood types.
8. Lend a hand to the homeless
Veterans homelessness is a big issue in the media right now. However, former servicemembers are not the only group of people affected by it. You could help your community in a big way by raising the money for a transitional housing community. By fundraising and organizing a build, you might provide housing for the less fortunate members of your community. You could also donate your time to a local food bank or soup kitchen for more immediate results.
Life after service does not have to mean life without service. There are plenty of opportunities for veterans to get involved with their communities and continue serving. In the words of author Howard Truman, "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." If service is what makes you come alive, then that is something you should pursue.
When football players take the field, they are usually deep in their own thoughts and focus. They may be psyching themselves up for the game or running through assignments in their head. However, one high school football player in Louisiana recently chose to direct his attention to the veterans in attendance at the game.
Chase Hill, #83 on the Parkway High School team, left his teammates as they were rushing onto the field for the second half to individually thank all the veterans who were at the game. The Oct. 9 game in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, was dedicated to servicemembers, veterans and first responders. However, Hill took the time to shake every veteran's hand and thank them for their service.
According to KSLA 12 News, one of the people at the game took a photo of Hill's actions and posted it to the Bossier Parish Police Department Facebook page. The photo quickly went viral, receiving thousands of comments and shares, all of them praising Hill's respect for the veterans.
The Daily Caller reported that the police department praised Hill on their website, calling him a class act.
On Oct. 24, the VA in Prescott, Arizona will host the 2nd annual Veterans Olympic Day. Servicemembers and veterans from every branch are invited to bring their families and participate in a day of sporting competition. This year's event will be sponsored by the Arnold Air Society at Embry-Riddle University, the Marine Corps League and the local VA.
According to The Daily Courier, the main events of the day will be held at Northern Arizona Veteran Affairs Health Care System's sporting venues. The competition categories include dodgeball, basketball, pickleball and cornhole. Aside from the sports, there will be music, free food and other activities for those in attendance to enjoy.
This is a great way for veterans and current military personnel to let loose for a day and enjoy themselves. It is also an excellent opportunity for servicemembers to meet and influence some of the ROTC students at Embry-Riddle University.
"This is the second year we are hosting this event and our veterans really seemed to enjoy the sports and activities," Dr. M. Keith Piatt, the VA's chief of staff, told The Daily Courier.
The 2015 Veterans Olympic Day will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is required.
Starting in 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs has planned a program to increase education and employment opportunities for veterans. The Veterans Economic Communities Initiative will begin in 25 test counties, according to WKMS.org. One of those counties is Montgomery County in Tennessee.
The news sourced also reported that while many other counties had to apply to be considered for inclusion in the program, the government selected Montgomery County on its own. The heavy military population and Fort Campbell make the Tennessee region an excellent place to test the initiative's effectiveness.
"This is a great opportunity for us to continue to support and empower our local veterans and provide them with the resources necessary for continued success," County Mayor Jim Durrett told ClarksvilleNow.com. "This is yet another tool to assist our veterans in making the decision to stay in Montgomery County after serving."
Every community involved with the initiative will be assigned an economic liaison, as reported by ClarksvilleNow.com. This individual is responsible for working with local government officials and business leaders to develop programs and resources for the veterans in the area. Every liaison position will be funded through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
While veteran unemployment reached its lowest numbers in 2014, there is still a significant percentage of former servicemembers who are unable to find work. The Border Jobs for Veterans Act hopes to provide some relief by employing these individuals in defense positions along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.- Canadian borders.
According to Tucson News Now, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act will employ former servicemembers with Customs and Border Protection. They will be trained to guard the border and be responsible for legal entry into the U.S. Proponents of the Act argue that not only would hiring veterans fulfill the vacant Customs and Border Protection positions, but the extra employees could help speed up processing checkpoints at the borders.
"This legislation will put veterans to work, improve national security, increase trade, and grow the economy – all at no additional cost to the taxpayer," Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said on his website.
Veterans that spoke to Tucson New Now were also very enthusiastic about the Act's potential. Many said that the job sounded like meaningful work that would benefit them in their lives after service.
On Sept. 9, the Act was passed in both houses of Congress, meaning the only thing it needs to go into full effect is the president's signature.
Michigan State University has consistently made College Factual's veteran-friendly campus list, and a group of MSU students are working to make the campus even more welcoming to former servicemembers. Junior Michael Shepard is one of the students in charge of Spartans Aiding Warriors, a group that partners with the Wounded Warrior Project to make the campus more welcoming for veterans.
"Spartans Aiding Warriors is dedicated to helping veterans on this campus," Shepard told The State News. "We want to provide an avenue for veterans to have fun with a larger group while fundraising for a great cause."
Most recently, Spartans Aiding Warriors held an event called the Spartan Race to raise money for their organization and generate awareness for their group. Shepard and the others wants to make the project fun for all in involved.
Anyone who joins the organization pays a $10 club fee and gets kit full of promotional materials and campaign resources, according to The State News. Shepard, whose life has been affected by veterans in many ways, hopes to see his organization grow, so that even more former servicemembers would be interested in making Michigan State University home.
Even though it is sometimes called the Forgotten War, over 5.7 million servicemembers served in the Korean War, according to CNN. The memorial for those who served and gave their lives in that war is located in Washington, D.C. However, the U.S. National Park Service reported that the memorial is in need of some major repairs. Samsung Electronics answered their call in a big way.
"Over sixty years ago, millions of U.S. service members came to South Korea's aid during the Korean War," Won-Kyong Kim, the executive vice president of Samsung Electronics America, told Business Wire. "More than one hundred thousand Americans were wounded and over 36,000 gave their lives in defense of freedom. Samsung remembers their sacrifice."
The electronics company donated $1,000,000 to Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation's Maintenance Fund. The money will be used to help the park service redo the grouting around the Pool of Remembrance, maintain the shrubbery in the area and keep the statues polished. Military Times reported that the donation money will be kept in an endowment where it can gather interest and keep the memorial in good repair for years to come.
Samsung Electronics made the donation on Oct. 12, and on Oct. 16, officials from the company will help clean up the Korean War Memorial as part of the company's National Day of Service.