Should we take the VA out of civilian hands and put it under military control?

2016-09-15T15:18:14-04:00

I personally think it's time to take the VA out of civilian hands and put it under military leadership. It's apparent civilians no more understand veterans needs than they do civilian healthcare. The crisis we have now is directly related to the last 2-3 generations with no family members ever having served. Seriously could this have happened if there was a military Chan of command instead of the political chain of command that exists today?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 3:22 PM

2016-09-15T15:22:47-04:00

Not really an option since civilians do oversight for the military and that's already a poodle screw.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Sep 15 at 2016 3:24 PM

2016-09-15T15:24:07-04:00

Interesting, however the military medical system is already over whelmed and somewhat under manned. There are some existing joint facilities of sharing resources, but the need for providers and support staff is universally a concern for both medical systems. Not wise to overwhelm a taxed resource mainly intended to keep the medical fitness up for the war fighters (AD).

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Sep 15 at 2016 3:25 PM

2016-09-15T15:25:29-04:00

This is what I have said for a long time now and I know nobody serves a Veteran better than another Veteran. At least try this idea for a year, and there will be an improvement in moral because the needs of the Vet will be met.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 15 at 2016 4:00 PM

2016-09-15T16:00:01-04:00

I disagree. The military medical system was quite lacking when I was in. Just because it's free, doesn't mean it's good. The VA standard practice would be to throw 800mg motrin at people just like the military does. Now I do think that the VA should be staffed mainly by veterans. I think that would go a long way in fixing things.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 4:00 PM

2016-09-15T16:00:10-04:00

I'd prefer to see the military remain focused on how to dominate and destroy our adversaries. It would make more sense to merge the VA with Medicare and let them run it. One less bloated bureaucracy for Americans to sustain.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 15 at 2016 4:11 PM

2016-09-15T16:11:57-04:00

Does the name Shinseki ring a bell bell? It's systemic and needs total top to bottom reform.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 4:46 PM

2016-09-15T16:46:16-04:00

I agree with SMSgt Jesse Ohlsson let the vets get a card and let them choose their doctor... Shit, it might save money, oh wait... Government doesn't like doing that..

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 5:01 PM

2016-09-15T17:01:47-04:00

Most are retired Officers, I don't personally thing much would change regardless of who is in charge.

Problems within organizations are usually due to middle tier, not the top.

The whole system needs to be gutted and reworked to be somewhat decent in my honest opinion.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Sep 15 at 2016 5:21 PM

2016-09-15T17:21:35-04:00

Perhaps USPHS vs DOD. Let Warriors fight. The medical side of VA could be better solved with a 100% coverage Medicare card. We've paid into both systems. Many of the other VA functions could be handled under a smaller Veterans Administration.

Response by PO3 Leroy Leftwich made Sep 15 at 2016 8:18 PM

2016-09-15T20:18:19-04:00

Yes, what we get are the low bids. The federal government always picks the lowest biders. I had one doctor who was asleep and when I ask the desk if my appointment was still set for that day. They said yes, I replied well it's an hour and a half past. When I was called in to her office she had been sleeping.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 15 at 2016 10:12 PM

2016-09-15T22:12:16-04:00

Oh great, flip the thing to the MILs. So let's work this through. You have a subset of MILs that get type cast into Vet care. They soon won't be useful for anything else, likely won't promote as well because they're something different over there; and the list goes on. That's what happens when you make MILs do non MIL stuff. Even the high end MIL hospitals which deal with amputations, PTSD, etc. have a large staff of civilians because MIL medicine should be more focused on supporting operations vs. a permanent landing pad.

I've seen the "give me a free insurance card" line. Interesting idea but who'll keep the service connected stuff free vs. a bad liver because you won't stop drinking? That isn't an easy one to sort either. Bottom line, if you don't make any solution work well, it won't be any better than the one we seem to bash now, rightfully or wrongly.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 15 at 2016 11:36 PM

2016-09-15T23:36:56-04:00

I've been asking the same question for a long time

Response by SGT Tim Soyars made Sep 16 at 2016 12:18 AM

2016-09-16T00:18:09-04:00

The military is famous for spending too much on things that are not productive. Too much money, too much time, too much effort for too little in the end. Doesn't everyone remember either having had two people for a five man job, or five men for a one man job. How about "hurry up and wait"? It's a system that the military, as a whole, is not good at. It's like the Navy manning an aircraft carrier with soldiers from the Army. It just will not work. Revamp the system. Find the hospitals that are doing it right and immulate them. Remember, the head of the VA right now is the guy who took the Ranger's black beret and gave to everyone else so they could, "feel special, too." (His works, not mine.)

Response by Caleb Vroman made Sep 16 at 2016 1:30 AM

2016-09-16T01:30:38-04:00

The va is totally fucked. They gave my brother vitamins for the excruciating pain in his back. Then the doctor suggested he do yoga. Putting it in the military's hands will only make it worse.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Sep 16 at 2016 11:20 AM

2016-09-16T11:20:52-04:00

This is something that has received a lot of attention lately and the answer clearly is 'NO'. The mission of the military is to fight and win wars, ensure national security, and keep America safe. The military falls under the DEPARTMENT of Defense, which is ran by civilians by the way. The VA, also known as the DEPARTMENT of Veterans Affairs is a cabinet-level department, with its own appointed civilian leadership. Their mission is to take care of America's Veterans. This is a fundamentally different mission and focus than the DOD. Creating further bureaucracy within the DOD for a mission outside of DOD's purview would almost certainly create a far worse situation than we have now. Likewise, Vets get a lot of attention because VA is a cabinet-level department, directly under the President. Privatizing the VA would almost certainly ensure that Vets get less attention and care, since everything privatized in government goes to the lowest bidder. Bad idea.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2016 10:36 PM

2016-09-18T22:36:00-04:00

Hey all,
I read all the responses and so far giving the veterans a "Universal Medical Card" to go anywhere they need to if they can't get the VA care they are entitled to seems to be the best recommendation BUT that hasn't happened yet for some reason in spite of some on the hill recommending it. It's all political, GS unions, lobbyist, the VA itself all see potential problems with there "little kingdom" being infringed upon. Bottom line, i my humble opinion, it has to be taken out of the political arena. In the Marine Corps, the Navy provides all medical and JAG and Navy Corpsmen accompany the Marines into combat. The Army medical Corps is just as good with profrssionals who decide to put in their time and wear a uniform AND still practice medicine. They have a tie to both worlds and could run the VA better than civilians who never served as we are seeing now and over the last 10 years. They have no skin in the game, no attachment, co concept of veteran needs.