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What’s changed: One year after Afghanistan withdrawal?
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If you have a resource, we invite you to please share! Veterans who served in Afghanistan may be continue to be experiencing a range of challenging emotions embarking on the one year anniversary of U.S withdrawal from the country. Veterans who served during other conflicts may also be feeling strong emotions as they may be reminded of their own deployment experiences. VA continues to share VA resources, call center information, peer support, and other community services.
- Vet Centers – Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call [login to see] or find one near you.
- Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 988 then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
- VA Women Veterans Call Center – Call or text [login to see] (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 6:30PM ET)
- VA Caregiver Support Line – Call [login to see] (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 5PM ET)
- Download VA’s self-help apps – Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
- VA Mental Health Services Guide – This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services. Bottom line, support is available if you want it. Even if none of these resources appeal to you – get help. Talk about it with someone, try something new. If you are struggling, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Don’t be afraid to lean on your Veteran community and please consider reaching out to VA if you would like to learn more about what is available. We’re here for you.
- Find more on common reactions and tips for managing stress at our blog, Coping with current events in Afghanistan.
- MakeTheConnection.net – information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
- Vet Centers – Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call [login to see] or find one near you.
- Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 988 then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
- VA Women Veterans Call Center – Call or text [login to see] (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 6:30PM ET)
- VA Caregiver Support Line – Call [login to see] (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 5PM ET)
- Download VA’s self-help apps – Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
- VA Mental Health Services Guide – This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services. Bottom line, support is available if you want it. Even if none of these resources appeal to you – get help. Talk about it with someone, try something new. If you are struggling, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Don’t be afraid to lean on your Veteran community and please consider reaching out to VA if you would like to learn more about what is available. We’re here for you.
- Find more on common reactions and tips for managing stress at our blog, Coping with current events in Afghanistan.
- MakeTheConnection.net – information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
Posted in these groups: 
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan Afghanistan Veterans Affairs (VA)
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I'm interested to know what is happening in Afghanistan today. Also, closer to home, it also seems we need to figure out how to take care of our Afghan interpreters. I only served in Iraq - not Afghanistan - but we would have had many more casualties without those local members of the Iraqi community would could translate both the language and the culture for us. We need more success stories on this front as I don't see too many. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/afghanistan-conflict-anniversary-immigrant/
A year of struggle as an Afghan family builds a new life in California
Najib Mohammadi had high hopes for his life in the U.S. when he and his family left Afghanistan in 2021 under the Special Immigrant Visa program.
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We should have learned our lesson just like in Vietnam.Why do we continue to back every allied nation while have more pressing issues on our own turf. Think about how much money we have spent in Vietnam, Korea,Gulf War and Iraq when add all of these costs. If we had. not spent all of thar money elsewhere. We would be able to have a balanced budget. What are your thoughts
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
Not only a balanced budget, but that money would have gone well into assuring (as best as possible) that NONE of our Brothers and Sisters in Arms, should ever go hungry, be homeless, or lack for healthcare services. We have entirely too many Veterans who suffer from the above afflictions through no fault of their own.
Not only a balanced budget, but that money would have gone well into assuring (as best as possible) that NONE of our Brothers and Sisters in Arms, should ever go hungry, be homeless, or lack for healthcare services. We have entirely too many Veterans who suffer from the above afflictions through no fault of their own.
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SGT John Schmelzkopf
We went through same Garbage with Vietnam, I served 3 tours, May 65-May 66 173rd Airborne, Commo, went out with the Line Companies ("Wire Rat"), Nov 70-Nov71 135th AHC, The EMU's, half Aussie, half Yank, Door Gunner, 15 Aug 72-27 Mar 73, MACV and JMC (POW Co-Ordination after Cease Fire). OK I listed this to give you an idea what we went through.
First Tour, 66 till Discharge in 67 came home we were Hero's. Second Tour 71 came home to being Spit on, "Baby Killers". Third Tour 27 Mar 73, Our Government insured no two Soldiers from same City went together. They would split them up and send them to different cities to go home from so when the Hippies Jumped them they were on their own. My mother was called by the Scum to inform her I was KIA. But the Worst Part and this is my Point, the Depression, we never lost a Battle, but lost the War, NVA General Giap in his book/memoirs Around mid 70's Said We would Defeat ourselves, referring to the Hippie Protesters. Now a bunch of the so-called Fact Checkers like Snopes will try to make this a falsehood but if you read carefully, you will see they create the falsehoods, "He never said NVM was thinking Surrender in 72", but he did say we keep Bloodying them they would defeat Ourselves!
We went through Years of Depression, Suicides went up, We all thought of those who had died in our arms and for what, we were sold out! My Point here is if you have to go to War, its not a Parlor Game, Once you commit you go in hard and fast, destroy the Enemy. You can't Buy Friends, sometimes you just have to settle for Street Rules and make Them fear so much that they never challenge you again!
You Iraq and A-Stan Vets Stand Tall and Proud, you did Your jobs as best you could in spite of the Pansy Leaders you had Like "Milli Vanilli" CJCS Milley, Austan and others. Honor your Fallen, Succeed, Live on for them, stay in touch with your brothers. Our Platoon from the "Herd" still stays in touch and has Platoon Reunions every other year, 10 to 15 and their wives attend.
First Tour, 66 till Discharge in 67 came home we were Hero's. Second Tour 71 came home to being Spit on, "Baby Killers". Third Tour 27 Mar 73, Our Government insured no two Soldiers from same City went together. They would split them up and send them to different cities to go home from so when the Hippies Jumped them they were on their own. My mother was called by the Scum to inform her I was KIA. But the Worst Part and this is my Point, the Depression, we never lost a Battle, but lost the War, NVA General Giap in his book/memoirs Around mid 70's Said We would Defeat ourselves, referring to the Hippie Protesters. Now a bunch of the so-called Fact Checkers like Snopes will try to make this a falsehood but if you read carefully, you will see they create the falsehoods, "He never said NVM was thinking Surrender in 72", but he did say we keep Bloodying them they would defeat Ourselves!
We went through Years of Depression, Suicides went up, We all thought of those who had died in our arms and for what, we were sold out! My Point here is if you have to go to War, its not a Parlor Game, Once you commit you go in hard and fast, destroy the Enemy. You can't Buy Friends, sometimes you just have to settle for Street Rules and make Them fear so much that they never challenge you again!
You Iraq and A-Stan Vets Stand Tall and Proud, you did Your jobs as best you could in spite of the Pansy Leaders you had Like "Milli Vanilli" CJCS Milley, Austan and others. Honor your Fallen, Succeed, Live on for them, stay in touch with your brothers. Our Platoon from the "Herd" still stays in touch and has Platoon Reunions every other year, 10 to 15 and their wives attend.
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