Another Kind of Valor:

A Day of Learning How to Better

Serve Veterans
and Their Families
 Overview
• What am I going to learn?
– The effects of war on returning Veterans and
their families
– The effects of war and differences among
those who served in all military branches, and
in services available to Veterans and their
families
– How to engage, talk to, work with Veterans
and their families
– Resources for Veterans and their families
 Today’s Returning Veterans
• Who are returning vets?
– Over 1.6 million soldiers have been deployed to
Iraq or Afghanistan.
– Over 1/3 of those soldiers have been deployed
multiple times.
– Global War on Terror (GWOT): 799,791 veterans
are currently separated from the military.
– As of January 2008, there were 299,585 GWOT
Veterans who have sought health care through
the VA.
– Over 100,00 veterans have returned to California.
Alphabet Soup: Veteran Key Terms
• OEF: Operation Enduring Freedom
• OIF: Operation Iraqi Freedom
• GWOT: Global War on Terror
• DOD: Department of Defense
• VA: Veterans Administration
• VBA: Veteran Benefits Administration
• VHA: Veteran Health Administration
Major Issues for Combat Veterans
• Major Depression • Suicide
• Post-Traumatic • Job loss
Stress Disorder • Family dissolution
(PTSD) • Homelessness
• Traumatic Brain • Violence towards
Injury (TBI) self and others
• Military Sexual • Incarceration
Trauma (MST)
• Substance Abuse
 Population: Regular Forces
• What are concerns for those who served in
active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marines and Coast Guard as well as the
National Guard & Reserves?
• 46.6% of regular forces are under 25 years
old.
• Many entered as teenagers and left home for
the first time.
• They may return to an already unstable home
environment with added stress from combat.
 Population: National Guard &
Reserves
• What are the concerns among National
Guard and Reservist Veterans?
– The average age of Guard and Reservists is
35.8 years old.
– Many Guard and Reservists are forced to
leave jobs at or near the peak of their career.
– These “volunteer” soldier veterans are half as
likely to file VA claims as their regular forces
counterparts, and half as likely to have their
claims approved.
 Population: Women Military
in the Military
• What are concerns among soldiers and
Veterans who are women?
– More women are engaging in combat roles in Iraq.
– To date there are between 155,000- 180,000 women
who have served in OIF/OEF.
– Women are 2 to 4 times more likely than non-Veteran
women to be homeless.
– Preliminary research shows that women in war have
much higher exposure to traumatic experiences than
women in the community.
 Population: Veteran Families
• What are some of the issues facing Veteran families?
– PTSD frequently has a debilitating effect on Veterans’ ability to
maintain employment and family relationships.
– 50-60% of spouses of brain injured Veterans reported having
depression.
– A drastic increase in the rate of child abuse and neglect in
military families has been reported since 2002.
– Resources for Spouses and children of Guard and Reservists
lose all benefits 90 days after their soldier returns from war
 Getting Help:
Support and Resources
• Where can Veterans and their families
go to get help?
– Veterans Administration.
– Vet Centers.
– Community Organizations like:
• Coming Home Project
• Swords to Plowshares
– YOU.
– What are helpful resources that you would
recommend?
Resource: Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Can’t all veterans go to the VA?
The Department – No. Generally, veterans must have an
of Veterans Affairs honorable discharge, have served 24
continuous months, demonstrate
financial need, and/or have a service
connected disability.
– OIF/OEF Veterans who served in
combat are eligible for 5 years of free
Veteran’s Health Veterans Benefits health care and may be eligible for 90
Administration Administration days of dental care after separation.
– Veterans must apply separately to the
VHA and the VBA.
– Vet Centers are designed to serve
combat veterans, their surviving family
members and victims of military sexual
trauma (MST).
Vet Centers
– Provide marital and family counseling
with counselors who are a Veteran as a
conduit for care.
 Barriers to Assistance
• I sent a veteran to the VA for help, so they
should be okay, right?
– Hopefully. Veterans do not always receive immediate
assistance.
– The backlog in Veteran benefit claims has risen to
600,000.
– As of June 2007, there were 202,705 GWOT
Veterans filing claims for the first time.
– The AVERAGE WAIT TIME for an initial decision on a
claim 183 days!
– The time frame for a claim decision, including
appeals, can exceed 10 years
What can I do to Help Veterans and
Their Families?
• Learn
– About military culture, experiences of soldiers,
and the needs of military, Veterans and their families.
• Give
– Them some of your time and energy, your
appreciation, and your resources.
• Be an Advocate
– For military, Veterans, and their families
• Talk
– To them with respect and honor, listening with
compassion and patience.