~ Should NOT STOP once they are redeployed or have done their active duty. And after watching our Congress “debate” the Armed Forces Reauthorization bill this past week, I am even more ashamed of this country’s lack of awareness of the needs of our Veterans. Didn’t think that was possible, but there you are.
I have spent the past few years sending packages to Soldiers and Marines and Sailors and Airmen I adopted through several support organizations. Most I never hear from - no problem - I’d prefer they stay focused on the mission. There have been quite a few though, that I have had replies and thank yous from and some that I have kept in touch with after their deployment. Some of these have been wounded, physically and/or emotionally and needed help in getting help. It is not easy and more often than not, extremely frustrating to navigate through the windy paths of the VA or to find organizations to get help for these men and women. The VA is just broken and almost impossible to finally get to that one person who really gives a damn. They are out there, for sure, but they are outnumbered, unfortunately by those who just put in time to get their paycheck. Other organizations have stepped up to fill in the cracks in the VA system and I realize their hearts are in the right place, but so many have restrictive criteria. Understandable, as they can only do so much themselves, but I have found within the Troop Support community that too many are doing the same thing without being connected to all the others that are doing the exact same thing which leaves many vets with different needs out of the loop and their needs not addressed. I have searched for hours on the internet, called Congressmen and Vets groups and anyone I could think of to try to get my vets help, alot of the time coming up empty-handed for their specific needs.
Well, I was just over at Blackfive’s catching up on the posts there and came across this one:
Our wounded in transition need some help
Pam from Maine is a member of the Warrior Legacy Foundation who has been working to help our wounded troops who leave the service make their way. She has seen some holes in the system that need work and wants to discuss how WLF can help with this. Here are her thoughts.
There is a clear sense of urgency for me to continue this work so as few wounded as possible slip through the typical administrative gaps that clearly affect them on a regular basis.
The bottom line is that as many as 65% of these individuals are coming back home with either
TBI, PTSD, or both. Many symptoms for each tend to dovetail into each other and make the
medboard process long and tedious so the DoD can define what type of disability they may
be cut loose with. As you may, or may not, know, the DoD selects the most severe injury or
condition, rates them according to that, and retires or discharges them - usually not coinciding
with their original ETS date issued upon enlisting…
Continue here.
Then please read the comments.
There was one by K9gs that struck me to the core of my heart ~ and my frustration: I am reprinting the whole comment because it needs to be read by as many people as possible. The 99% of Americans who do not have skin in the game need to be educated and apparently reminded that the kid next door or the clerk at the local Sears may have been wearing a uniform just last year, and is having a hard time making the transition back into the civilian world.
Please read every word and then pass on the post link above:
Kudos to Pam! That is the BEST explanation I have read yet. I have been in Pam’s shoes many times and one of the things that I have noted is that many of the charity orgs out there that do help our Veterans in this position have long waiting lists. Most are considered “emergency” relief and it’s a one time donation to help the service member avoid turn off of utilities or make a car repair. I have found most of these agencies put a $1500 cap on their relief. Which in most cases, while helps temporarily, it is just a drop in the bucket of what the warrior and his family need to remain in survival mode at best. They also do inter-agency checks to see if the warrior is “charity hopping”. If he/she has applied at one relief agency and goes to another they often get turned down because another organization has already assisted them, meanwhile they are still in dire need. I can assure you when you are married w/a spouse and four children $1500 does not go far especially when you have months to wait for the VA to make a decision.
I have observed that these orgs will not give cash, and I understand their reasoning. They also will not pay credit card payments, again I understand, but when some sort of payment isn’t made the creditors come after you and it creates a whole new problem and strain on the family. Most are living off their credit cards until they max out. It’s a vicious cycle that spirals. They won’t pay cable, they say it’s not a necessity, in this day and age I say it is, especially if you have children or are disabled. TV can be a life line for some. Sometimes cold hard cash is what is needed to buy milk, bread, gas etc. A Wal-Mart card can only do but so much w/one stop shopping and that is if you have a Wal-Mart where you live and they have gas pumps and full grocery.
In working w/a homeless Veteran the frustration was everything had to be applied for by computer, he had no computer, the library computer was only but so useful, limited phone access, no transportation to get to an office to apply, no cash for cab fare and no buses where he lived, and everything had to be faxed or mailed in which cost money….cash money he did not have. His family ate dried cake mix for food because it is all they had. Food banks and church closets were a joke. I went to visit them and the entire family looked like holocaust survivors or POW’s. It was surreal, this man served our country. The image will haunt me for the rest of my life. I could go on and on w/his story. I have never been ashamed to be an American until I started helping this family.
The scrutiny that our people are put under to prove they are in need is outrageous and demeaning. I know there are scammers out there, always will be. Why not allow X amount of dollars in the budget to be scammed and just eat the money, that is better than making the worthy suffer. When one is down and out it is humiliating to have to continually tell your story over and over to each agency only for them to turn you down or make you jump through hoops to prove that you are in need. Voice mail and prompts can make you go insane. You can spend hours upon hours on the net and phone looking for assistance and all you get is a referral to call someone else…and then they pass the buck to yet another agency. My favorite is when you call and the message says for assistance “visit our website”, if the website was helpful and answered my questions and you responded to emails sent I wouldn’t be calling!!! It is exhausting even for the healthy of sound mind and body. And God forbid any of them understand what an advocate means. The Soldier has PTSD, is depressed as hell and they are screaming “why isn’t he calling?” Well ma’am, he has no strength left or he will rip you to shreds because he is fried from dealing w/assholes like you, take your pick.
The other problem is that that our people are fighting an entity that does not want to give out the benefits they deserve, they are there to cut corners and save money. It’s a disgrace. The VA has been broken forever, pretty much since the dawn of time and here we are seven years into anohter war w/everyone screaming it’s broken….and it still isn’t any better. Close it up and let the private sector have it.
I keep thinking what if that stimulus money had gone to our VA or other Veteran relief agency’s. There is such a need to help our Veterans many jobs could have been created to help move things along faster, but no, the money goes to dirty Senators and Congressmen for their pork projects.
Oh, another peeve. Do not give your donated CRAP to our Military. If you don’t want it because it’s broken, used up, stained, expired or whatever, then they are not going to want it. It’s insulting and rude, and definitely not worth a pat on your back because you think you helped out a Soldier. You aren’t doing anyone any favors, only creating more work for those that have to pay to throw it away. It’s degrading to all to do such a thing. It’s wonderful to share gently recycled items, and those are appreciated…but not the crap!!! I had a box of old paperbacks donated, brown, crumbling paper filled w/rat dung and someone actually thought they could be used at the VA for the wounded and to be sent overseas. I was livid. Our guys may need charity, but they are not charity cases. Big difference. I hate the mindset if you have nothing be grateful for what you get, one man’s trash is another man’s trash. They are human beings that fought for you.
Anyway, yes this scenario is a HUGE problem for our warriors. It’s only going to get worse. Some I have worked w/talked of suicide as a way out from their financial struggles. It’s not an option and it takes work, heartbreaking work to convince them otherwise.
Sorry for the rant, but this one is a big trigger for me. Thank you Pam for all that you do! Keep on, keep on…..Ever Forward!
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Thank you, UJ, Pam and K9gs!
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On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.
Dan Lipinski (D - IL)
Talk don’t cook the rice. ~ Chinese proverb
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