Do you think it all about a VETERAN HELPING VETERANS?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 08:03:57 -0500

Do you think it all about a VETERAN HELPING VETERANS?

Jason Dailey works at his desk in the Oneida County Veterans Service Office. Jason was officially hired full-time in mid-November.

http://www.starjournalnow.com/2015/12/11/veteran-helping-veterans/

Ask any veteran and they’ll tell you: being in combat is like no other experience. It’s something the rest of us can’t even fathom.

So you can imagine how frustrating it must be, as a veteran, to walk into an office designed to help you, only to deal with someone who has no real idea what you’ve been through.

That has been the case for Oneida County vets in recent memory.

Fortunately, veterans today, when they walk into Oneida County’s Veterans Service Office, see a new face—one that has shared those experiences only a combat veteran can relate to.

Jason Dailey, a veteran of the 951st Engineer Company of the Wisconsin Army National Guard in Rhinelander, was deployed to Afghanistan through 2008 and 2009. It was the same unit of fellow Rhinelander soldier Ryan Adams before he was killed in action Oct. 2, 2009.

“Losing somebody is extremely hard,” Dailey said. “I’ve dealt with that heavy loss of losing someone in combat, so when people come in—Vietnam, Iraq, it doesn’t matter—if they’ve done that, I can relate to them… only combat veterans who have dealt with that really understand it.”

Dailey began working in the Office part-time last June, and was only officially promoted to a full-time assistant veterans service officer on Nov. 16. The hire was also part of a bigger change within the office, as from now on that position can only be filled by a veteran.

TSgt Julia Faulks SGT Private RallyPoint Member TSgt Hunter Logan COL Charles Williams LTC Stephen C. LTC Stephen F. CW4 Private RallyPoint Member [
~517979:CW3 Nick Koeppen] SGM Private RallyPoint Member SSG Ryan Rodney CPT Private RallyPoint Member SSgt Private RallyPoint Member CW3 Kevin Storm CMSgt Mark Schubert PO2 Mark Saffell LTC John Shaw SGT Sara Hodgkiss TSgt Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Dec 12 at 2015 8:20 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 08:20:25 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I think this situation was Veterans helping Veterans. Small business is the key to the economy and for Veterans helping Veterans. It's great to hear of stories like this one.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 12 at 2015 8:20 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 08:20:34 -0500

Veterans helping veterans is very important COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Family members, friends, and medical professionals, and Christian counsel are all very important in helping veterans as is gainful employment for each veteran.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Dec 12 at 2015 8:51 AM

SSG Leo Bell — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 08:51:22 -0500

Veterans helping veterans is so very important and I think it's the best idea Va has came up with. I no when I go there I feel more comfortable around veterans then I do around civilians. Plus when you work with a veteran at the Va you have a better connection then with a none veteran. Vets understand each other and no one else can.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 12 at 2015 9:55 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 09:55:55 -0500

I decidedly understand; why a combat veteran would need to communicate with a combat veteran; to even begin to heal.
I served during the Cold War. I know nothing about combat.
In my case, I choose to see a mental health professional, with whom to communicate my post- military needs. I would not seek help from a peer.
My psychiatrist has, at least, worked at a VA hospital.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Dec 12 at 2015 12:11 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 12:11:21 -0500

VSO's? Sorry, it has been my experience that they are not helpful at all, regardless if they are a Veteran or not. It is a cushy VA job where no matter the incompetence, they continue to get a check and pat themselves on the back for 'helping' Veterans. Same with the Voc Rehab folks, I am STILL waiting for the lady to call me back regarding the status of my Voc Rehab packet. This is the program that is supposed to help get Veterans back in the workforce.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 12 at 2015 1:18 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 13:18:23 -0500

All our military experiences are burnt CDs in our mind. Fellow veterans can sympathize because they have burnt CDs in their mind as well.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2015 1:20 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 13:20:48 -0500

This is our local VA office, and a veteran of our local Guard Company. I believe it will be a good thing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2015 3:37 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 15:37:22 -0500

well, one would HOPE to have a veteran in that office, isn't that what it is all about anyway??? a VETERAN to help another vet???

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 12 at 2015 11:24 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 23:24:21 -0500

Good on Oneida County for hiring Jason and making the decision that his position can only be filled by a veteran.

I'm a member of Combat Vets Motorcycle Association, and our motto is "Vets Helping Vets."

Check it out, you may like it and decide to join!

https://www.combatvet.org/

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 13 at 2015 12:32 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 00:32:07 -0500

Veterans have a better sense of what our fellow Veterans have been thru. Veterans can't translate Military Skills Sets to Civilian Skill Sets better than a Civilian can. If I told a Civilian my Rate is a CTO and my primary skill is COMSEC they would have no idea what I just said.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2015 2:15 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 02:15:24 -0500

I feel that the first criteria for a job that provides support for veterans is that the person have a true calling or love for veterans. The second is that they be/become a subject matter expert to provide timely and accurate service. That being said, if they are a veteran (and they share these qualities), they lend a high level of credibility.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 13 at 2015 11:07 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 11:07:00 -0500

The WA State DVA ONLY hires vets...