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Are Better Days Ahead for Our Veterans?
RP Members what do you think? I think there is still a lot of work to do This article points out some very disturbing figures in my mind that are still very unacceptable for service members that have put their lives on the line for this country. I question the accuracy sometimes as well. It's worth reading to see what veterans still face in what I think is an uphill climb!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dorian-de-wind/are-better-days-ahead-for_b_8718502.html
Homelessness, suicide and unemployment, along with physical and mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse issues, have continued to plague our veterans from recent wars.
But there are some encouraging trends.
Accusations that Veterans Administration (V.A.) health care facilities veterans were "underserving" or delaying care to its patients resulting in "the death of veterans, some of whom were put on 'secret lists' meant to falsify the documented patient wait times at V.A. facilities," led to intense Congressional, administration and public scrutiny. Today, health care for our veterans is slowly improving.
Veterans homelessness has been a particularly embarrassing problem for our society.
While the administration's pledge to end veterans' homelessness by the end of 2015 will not be met, our country has seen significant reductions in veterans homelessness in the last five years. According to the administration the overall veteran homelessness "has decreased by 36 percent since 2010, and unsheltered homelessness has decreased by nearly 50 percent, resulting in tens of thousands fewer Veterans on the streets and without a place to stay."
Read more in the article...........
RP Members what do you think? I think there is still a lot of work to do This article points out some very disturbing figures in my mind that are still very unacceptable for service members that have put their lives on the line for this country. I question the accuracy sometimes as well. It's worth reading to see what veterans still face in what I think is an uphill climb!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dorian-de-wind/are-better-days-ahead-for_b_8718502.html
Homelessness, suicide and unemployment, along with physical and mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse issues, have continued to plague our veterans from recent wars.
But there are some encouraging trends.
Accusations that Veterans Administration (V.A.) health care facilities veterans were "underserving" or delaying care to its patients resulting in "the death of veterans, some of whom were put on 'secret lists' meant to falsify the documented patient wait times at V.A. facilities," led to intense Congressional, administration and public scrutiny. Today, health care for our veterans is slowly improving.
Veterans homelessness has been a particularly embarrassing problem for our society.
While the administration's pledge to end veterans' homelessness by the end of 2015 will not be met, our country has seen significant reductions in veterans homelessness in the last five years. According to the administration the overall veteran homelessness "has decreased by 36 percent since 2010, and unsheltered homelessness has decreased by nearly 50 percent, resulting in tens of thousands fewer Veterans on the streets and without a place to stay."
Read more in the article...........
Employment
Homeless
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Suicide
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
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Absolutely, COL Mikel J. Burroughs! I've seen this article and it's good to know things are improving for our veteran community. Still A LOT of work to be done, but it's nice to see positive effects!
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If you look at the stats, veterans over 40 have a higher unemployment. That is almost 60% of unemployed vets. I think we need to post demographics and make hose numbers known to active duty. We need to advocate what job skills are in shortage and where to get training. Tech schools can give a high paying career.
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SGT William Howell
Maj Dorian de Wind As a vet and you actually make it to 40, you should statistically live longer that Joe Citizen that did not serve. Below 40, statically, vets don't live as long but not by much.
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SGT William Howell
1SG Nick Baker Top, I just can't understand how a company cannot want to scoop up a 1SG any chance they get. With Mid level management, some of the finest education in the management of people, and a proven track record how could they pass that up? I know they do, but they shouldn't. Thank goodness Deere recognized they were getting a winner.
I am working with our recruiting team now to become more vet friendly and start trying to hire Guard and Reserve members. It was not hard to convince them that just because a guy is or was a motarman or infantry that he does poses the quality skills to be successful in the civilian workforce. They just did not understand that there is more to combat MOSs than being a trained for combat. Leadership, fast comprehension, loyalty, morals and ethics, and a work ethic all play into what people are looking for when they do a new hire. The chances are much greater that a vet will succeed over other hires. Civilians just have to have somebody they trust in the company educate them.
I am working with our recruiting team now to become more vet friendly and start trying to hire Guard and Reserve members. It was not hard to convince them that just because a guy is or was a motarman or infantry that he does poses the quality skills to be successful in the civilian workforce. They just did not understand that there is more to combat MOSs than being a trained for combat. Leadership, fast comprehension, loyalty, morals and ethics, and a work ethic all play into what people are looking for when they do a new hire. The chances are much greater that a vet will succeed over other hires. Civilians just have to have somebody they trust in the company educate them.
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1SG Nick Baker
SGT William Howell - It all goes with connections. But, I am doing ok. I hire for attitude, I can train them to be the best.
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I have been homeless (for three summers). It is the very worst job one can possibly imagine.
But mainly, what concerns me, is the fact that 22 veterans per day-are committing suicide.
That is one too many veterans.
Something MUST be DONE about this....be it by the VA, the Federal government, the State government, or the local governments....or by a concerted effort of all four said governments.
My Group for Suicidal Active Duty and for Suicidal Veterans: can be found on Facebook.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
But mainly, what concerns me, is the fact that 22 veterans per day-are committing suicide.
That is one too many veterans.
Something MUST be DONE about this....be it by the VA, the Federal government, the State government, or the local governments....or by a concerted effort of all four said governments.
My Group for Suicidal Active Duty and for Suicidal Veterans: can be found on Facebook.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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SPC Margaret Higgins
No, Captain. I live in a very comfortable apartment now. Thanks for asking!
To make matters worse, I was raped when I was homeless.
My father was a lawyer at the time (when I was homeless); however, one thing I was left with, after leaving the family home, was: "You are the cause of all the family's problems." Of course being a teenager, I bought into That statement: hook, line and sinker.
To make matters worse, I was raped when I was homeless.
My father was a lawyer at the time (when I was homeless); however, one thing I was left with, after leaving the family home, was: "You are the cause of all the family's problems." Of course being a teenager, I bought into That statement: hook, line and sinker.
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