Are Better Days Ahead for Our Veterans?

2015-12-05T08:34:06-05:00

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...........

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.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Dec 5 at 2015 8:35 AM

2015-12-05T08:35:47-05:00

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!

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 5 at 2015 9:01 AM

2015-12-05T09:01:09-05:00

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.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Dec 5 at 2015 10:11 AM

2015-12-05T10:11:23-05:00

Perhaps.
The economy is improving, albeit slowly, and has yet to truly reach pre-2008 levels.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 5 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-12-05T11:10:21-05:00

I've seen other articles that indicate a positive trend, however, what I see around me seems to be stagnant... Maybe I'm not looking hard enough, as that is an issue with me sometimes. But if the trend in documents and numbers are positive, then yes, It would indicate better days ahead for our Vets, I'm just waiting for my eyes to catch up! LOL!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 5 at 2015 2:18 PM

2015-12-05T14:18:48-05:00

There are 94,000,000 people not even in the market for a job or underemployed, out of a nearly 319 million population. That includes all citizens, anyone else that qualifies for a count by the BLS. Many of these people are taking jobs, sometimes a couple of jobs to make it day by day. The 5% unemployment number is a joke. I hope that the drop in unemployment rates for Veterans is due to decent jobs and not merely something to pay the bills.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 5 at 2015 7:54 PM

2015-12-05T19:54:10-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I hope and pray there a better days for our nations military veterans ahead. To be honest I would not expect much more improvement until after the next POTUS is sworn in and he/she has developed their prioritization and shared it with Congress.
Until that time we can expect marginal improvement in the VA medical facilities and some improvement in the VA Choice Program. I expect limited improvement in the VBA process and no significant acceleration in the resolution of the appeals since the Veterans appellate court has such a significant backlog.
FYI, I was homeless while employed from May 1995 after my first heart catheterization through November 1999 just before I married my wife who is the love of my life.
I have been homeless since July 2014 when I moved with my wife and minimal belongings to take care of her mother in a small house.

Response by Maj Dorian de Wind made Dec 5 at 2015 8:54 PM

2015-12-05T20:54:48-05:00

I am the author of this article and I appreciate RallyPoint posting it and asking its readers for opinions on whether things are truly improving for veterans. There is nothing better than the opinions of those directly affected by the problems and issues discussed in the article.

If it is alright with the editors of this web site, I would like to come back from time to time to collect the views expressed and perhaps write a follow-up piece.

Maj. Dorian de Wind (USAF, Ret.)

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Dec 6 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-12-06T09:13:15-05:00

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.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 6 at 2015 11:55 PM

2015-12-06T23:55:05-05:00

I hope so. We do need some Hope at this point. Concerned with what we might find out about the Tools and Chemicals that my and later generations of Veterans were exposed too. I will wait and see.