Posted on Mar 11, 2019
As a veteran, I have never been treated as badly as I was treated at a recent DAV event. Did I do the right thing?
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As a veteran, I have never been treated as badly as I was treated at a recent DAV event.
My father passed away last Thursday. I needed to get out of the house so I noticed there was an event for veterans looking for work.
I am a veteran that has been looking for work for about 6 or 7 years. My father would've wanted me to go. So I went to the event. I expected a warm welcome and to be treated with respect.
A small young boy in an ill fitting mismatched suit tapped me on the shoulder while I was filling out a job application, said he didn't think I was a veteran and told me to leave.
I told him I am a veteran and I was filling out a job application.
He said he didn't care and asked me to leave.
I asked him why and he offered no logical or rational explanation. He got aggressive and insistent, so I began to leave with no recourse on my part. I simply said this doesnt make sense and isn't fair and began to leave.
On the way out, a middle aged woman in a pantsuit got a security guard to escort me out of the building. I said it wasn't necessary because I was leaving.
I am a veteran. I was filling out a job application. This is the worst thing I can imagine.
I fully expect these people to be disciplined appropriately. I wonder if they are veterans? Judging by how they treat real veterans like me, I doubt it.
If they aren't veterans, wouldn't it make sense to let them go and hire veterans with college degrees like me?
What can you do to amend this travesty?
If we can't find a fair and amicable resolution, in the interest of fairness, I will have no choice but to start calling and messaging funding sources and the press. This cannot happen to veterans like me.
Please let me know what you can do to right this wrong by Thursday May 14th 2019. One week from the incident. Isn't that fair?
My father passed away last Thursday. I needed to get out of the house so I noticed there was an event for veterans looking for work.
I am a veteran that has been looking for work for about 6 or 7 years. My father would've wanted me to go. So I went to the event. I expected a warm welcome and to be treated with respect.
A small young boy in an ill fitting mismatched suit tapped me on the shoulder while I was filling out a job application, said he didn't think I was a veteran and told me to leave.
I told him I am a veteran and I was filling out a job application.
He said he didn't care and asked me to leave.
I asked him why and he offered no logical or rational explanation. He got aggressive and insistent, so I began to leave with no recourse on my part. I simply said this doesnt make sense and isn't fair and began to leave.
On the way out, a middle aged woman in a pantsuit got a security guard to escort me out of the building. I said it wasn't necessary because I was leaving.
I am a veteran. I was filling out a job application. This is the worst thing I can imagine.
I fully expect these people to be disciplined appropriately. I wonder if they are veterans? Judging by how they treat real veterans like me, I doubt it.
If they aren't veterans, wouldn't it make sense to let them go and hire veterans with college degrees like me?
What can you do to amend this travesty?
If we can't find a fair and amicable resolution, in the interest of fairness, I will have no choice but to start calling and messaging funding sources and the press. This cannot happen to veterans like me.
Please let me know what you can do to right this wrong by Thursday May 14th 2019. One week from the incident. Isn't that fair?
Posted in these groups: 
DAV
DAV
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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I would not have left, sought the person running the event, shown them my 214. Why did they run you out? Did you have your 214?
Many of those events are pipelined from standing programs or are register in advance things. I’ve supported other events where homeless and destitute vets are prioritized, those are usually employment events. Those are usually social services, treatment, cloths, and haircut events. The participants are triaged at the door and escorted to certain stations based on needs.
I’d simply write a one page letter with the 5 Ws to the local DAV with a copy of your 214 so there will be no confusion in the future, requesting a response. There is a piece of this that’s missing.
Many of those events are pipelined from standing programs or are register in advance things. I’ve supported other events where homeless and destitute vets are prioritized, those are usually employment events. Those are usually social services, treatment, cloths, and haircut events. The participants are triaged at the door and escorted to certain stations based on needs.
I’d simply write a one page letter with the 5 Ws to the local DAV with a copy of your 214 so there will be no confusion in the future, requesting a response. There is a piece of this that’s missing.
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SGT (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay - agreed. They generally bend over backwards to make sure the veteran is taken care of.
If this situation actually happened, it was certainly be the exception, not the rule.
If this situation actually happened, it was certainly be the exception, not the rule.
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Sgt Justen Ortloff
Something just doesn't add up.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericskaggs
Also claims to be a combat vet from Desert Storm
Air Force | Aircraft Armament Manager
Owner/Founder at BuckGet.com
Dates of Service: Jan 1992 - Jan 1996
@EricGSkaggs
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Replying to @WhiteHouse
I am a disabled uncompensated Gulf War Desert Storm era combat veteran that was "left behind". How will this executive order help me? Will you or someone please help me get the disability and GI Bill I was promised and deserve? Ideas?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericskaggs
Also claims to be a combat vet from Desert Storm
Air Force | Aircraft Armament Manager
Owner/Founder at BuckGet.com
Dates of Service: Jan 1992 - Jan 1996
@EricGSkaggs
Follow Follow @EricGSkaggs
More
Replying to @WhiteHouse
I am a disabled uncompensated Gulf War Desert Storm era combat veteran that was "left behind". How will this executive order help me? Will you or someone please help me get the disability and GI Bill I was promised and deserve? Ideas?
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Sgt (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay, I saw the initial post by A1C Eric Skaggs and started researching the issue he experienced... Basically, Eric went to a Recruiting Event put on by a company named "RecruitMilitary". As the name states, the are a military recruiting company. They say that the DAV is a "Strategic Partner" and use the DAV Logo in their literature to provide a level of comfort to those seeking jobs... The DAV is not affiliated in any kind of Legal way that I know of... I am a Massachusetts DAV Commander of Chapter #90, Norwood, MA, so I understand more than most about the DAV and what we do for our Disabled Vets. There is no way the DAV would ever treat a Veteran the way A1C Eric Skaggs was treated at this recruiting event... Suffice it to say that I have communicated this with Eric and have provided him with information on "RecruitMilitary" and have provided the contact info for a DAV Chapter in Pittsburgh, PA, as He stated to me that He lives in Pittsburgh...They may be able to assist him or at least steer him in the right direction.
Best regards,
Kerry
Best regards,
Kerry
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This story sounds an awful lot like there is more to the story.
Did they challenge your credentials? That should have happened in the registration process.
Does characterization of service matter? From your other post, I could see that being a factor. Shouldn't be, but maybe.
I don't think you were treated well, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. You served. You have been looking for work for 7 years. This job fair didn't have a good outcome - probably not the first time that has happened. Let it go and get back on your horse. Life is more important than filing a hurt feelings report.
Did they challenge your credentials? That should have happened in the registration process.
Does characterization of service matter? From your other post, I could see that being a factor. Shouldn't be, but maybe.
I don't think you were treated well, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. You served. You have been looking for work for 7 years. This job fair didn't have a good outcome - probably not the first time that has happened. Let it go and get back on your horse. Life is more important than filing a hurt feelings report.
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Sgt (Join to see)
1Sgt Jerry Healy: I have responded several times, the last to CMSgt Virgil Horsley. I have made contact with Eric and this is not a DAV issue, but a recruiting company named "RecruitMilitary"... They say they have strategic partners and use the DAV Logo with a typed DAV and a link to our National Organization. I've provided eric with information regarding both the DAV In Pittsburgh and related that He should Google "RecruitMilitary" to obtain factual data...
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1SG (Join to see)
Sgt (Join to see) - I appreciate the work you do for Veterans. By the way this is unfolding, this particular gentleman seem to be in need of some professional assistance.
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Sgt (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) - Yes, I agree... I entered into Eric's discussion and took what He said at face value..., thinking at that time that there were a few things weren't adding up... That said, I continued to try and help until about 11:30pm or so and had to hit the sack... I just don't know whether I was strung along... Oh well...
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I'm not sure what is going on here with this particular situation but I know DAV is a fantastic organization. Perhaps you just had a bad experience. Come to think of it, a lot of what you say in your posts doesn't make much sense. You claimed in another post that you received General Discharge under Honorable Conditions because you broke your wrist while on duty and couldn't lift more than 5 pounds. That isn't the way it works Dude. It's never been the way it works --you are leaving something out --something really important that made you get that discharge. Likewise, with your post here, I think you are leaving something out. To put it another way, I am suspect of your truthfulness in your posts.
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Sgt (Join to see)
Having read most of all of the current posts by Eric Skaggs and the responses by all of us, I think that we may have been had... too many things do not fit into the puzzle... I'd like to think I helped someone, but am not sure... His story is like the sheep who cried wolf! Am I wrong here???
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A1C George Lyda
I don't know whether a General (?) or Medical Discharge gets it. Get your papers, present them to the person in charge and go from there.
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