Reintegrating Veterans

[Hacksaw]

1. Reintegration programs, especially informal ones run by us private guys are critical.
2. Formal veterans' organizations need to reinvent themselves to do the same.

BUT read the opening sentence of the article ----
most of the guys this cop was arresting were vets. Most, not some, or a few. MOST. No wonder we're considered threats to national security.

Nah... most of us aren't threats to national security... Old Eagle on the other hand is clearly a threat to himself and the rest of us in the greater KC area... I on the other hand am only a threat to myself

[Schmedlap]

Maybe I'm out of touch. I hear lots of talk about veterans having a tough time "coping" or "reintegrating" into society. But I don't see it. I and many of my peers certainly were surprised at life in the civilian world. Most of our new civilian "peers" seem much softer and weaker than the individuals whom we associated with in the Army. But that does not mean there is a need to help us reintegrate or cope. That would be like saying we need reintegration programs for Olympic athletes who wish to return to intramural sports leagues.

[goesh]

Today's military is dealing with PTSD better than ever before and the whole Human Resource packages available to military personnel IMO preps them better for reintegration, a better whole package to return to civilian life when the time comes. Secondy, military personnel these days are more highly regarded than the previous generation - there have been alot of genuine expressions of gratitude, acknowledgement and appreciation than the last generation received. The anti-war sentiment and rhetoric that has manifested has always had a caveat attached, i.e. our troops are good people, deserving of respect and maybe that is because of the nature of the enemy we have collectively grappled with this time around, I don't know but the sentiment is genuine. The current hard times makes it tough on many job seekers but an honorable discharge is still a big ace-in-the hole in many sectors of the job market. Sure, much of civilian life can seem petty and trivial, and it really is, but adjustment to that comes fairly quickly.

I'm more concerned about the long term resources for disabled Vets because my generation of baby boomers is fast approaching geezerhood and we are a massive bump on the demographic bell curve, but, that bridge will be crossed when we get to it. Semper fi.

[MikeF]

Maybe I'm out of touch.

You're not out of touch; this is an issue that simply persist below the radar. Last year, I had trouble adjusting, and I wanted to know why. So I went out and asked questions to anyone I could find on the street or that I met through my social network.

I took a long, hard look at it. I interviewed numerous veterans from various wars and socio-economic statuses ranging from homelessness and gangs to upper-middle, rich classes. Moreover, I asked the opinions of social workers, prison volunteers, psychologists, and psychiatrists that work directly with veterans. The common denominator was that the individuals had some form of issue in coping for some amount of time after combat.

Sample Set (Direct Observation)
Topeka- 40 veterans
Salinas, CA- 10 veterans
Monterey, CA- 20 veterans
Orange County- 5 veterans

I applied the same techniques learned in tracking down al Qaeda in the Diyala River Valley- I simply went out and had honest conversations with them.

What I found was suprising to me. The suprising thread was that the men were bright, informed, and fascinating, but they were still stuck in their war. That's the only way I can describe it right now.

Just somethings to consider. I'm not throwing out generalizations when I make statements. I'm just particularly frustrated by the DHS and others that do.

v/r

Mike

[Majormarginal]

Maybe I'm out of touch. I hear lots of talk about veterans having a tough time "coping" or "reintegrating" into society. But I don't see it. I and many of my peers certainly were surprised at life in the civilian world. Most of our new civilian "peers" seem much softer and weaker than the individuals whom we associated with in the Army. But that does not mean there is a need to help us reintegrate or cope. That would be like saying we need reintegration programs for Olympic athletes who wish to return to intramural sports leagues.

Very well put.

[Sandman02]

I don't know how well the Active Duty Component hands the transition. However, I know that when I came off my last deployment most of us National Guard guys were put back on the street less than 5 days after having left theater.

[Courtney Massengale]

Maybe I'm out of touch. I hear lots of talk about veterans having a tough time "coping" or "reintegrating" into society. But I don't see it. I and many of my peers certainly were surprised at life in the civilian world. Most of our new civilian "peers" seem much softer and weaker than the individuals whom we associated with in the Army. But that does not mean there is a need to help us reintegrate or cope. That would be like saying we need reintegration programs for Olympic athletes who wish to return to intramural sports leagues.

Very well said.

Most of the programs out there are desigend to help veterans "overcome" rather than "transition" and I worry that we put too much emphasis on tossing out the baby with the bathwater.

Case in point here: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?a...52&section=104

[Ron Humphrey]

Very well said.

Most of the programs out there are desigend to help veterans "overcome" rather than "transition" and I worry that we put too much emphasis on tossing out the baby with the bathwater.

Case in point here: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?a...52&section=104

I remember about a month or so ago a story about a returned soldier and his family who's kid( who was sleeping in a tent on a campground where they were staying while he looked for a job) had to go to the hospital after getting run over by the vehicle which ran over the tent when he went to start it up in the morning. Last thing I saw was him telling the news that he hoped to get a place for them to stay as soon as he could.

Question that ran through my mind was. how recently did he get back and was anyone in his former chain even aware of the circumstances his family was in to at least have helped find alternative options let alone job placement assistance?

[Ken White]

Question that ran through my mind was. how recently did he get back and was anyone in his former chain even aware of the circumstances his family was in to at least have helped find alternative options let alone job placement assistance?

What does his 'former chain' have to do with the case as you relay it? What kind of alternatives could they have offered? What job placement assistance could they have offered. Do they have an obligation to do any of those things? Either way, should they have such an obligation?

[Ron Humphrey]

What does his 'former chain' have to do with the case as you relay it? What kind of alternatives could they have offered? What job placement assistance could they have offered. Do they have an obligation to do any of those things? Either way, should they have such an obligation?

I guess the crux of my ponderings was more in the arena has this guy even tried to get in contact with anyone from the mil side to seek assistance in finding answers to those questions they might be able to answer.

Perhaps I have misunderstood its purpose but I coulda sworn thats what some of the push over the last few years has been in regards to making help available even if it's just some general direction assistance. (and whether it would be sought by those who need it).

Military One source
VA
about a hundred large scale vet support groups both private and publicly funded

just my .00000000035676555432 cents but
Mental health ain't the only arena in which many for any number of reasons don't seek the assistance they should.

[Ken White]

I guess the crux of my ponderings was more in the arena has this guy even tried to get in contact with anyone from the mil side...

Once you're discharged, the Services can't do much for you -- that's what the VA is for. As I read your post, it appeared the guy was no longer in the service. If he got back from a deployment one day and was discharged the next, his former unit (not the people in it, they can do pretty much what they wish to support a former member but the legal entity that is the unit) has no relationship with him. Nor IMO, should it.

Perhaps I have misunderstood its purpose but I coulda sworn thats what some of the push over the last few years has been in regards to making help available even if it's just some general direction assistance. (and whether it would be sought by those who need it).

That's true but there are two categories; those still in uniform that the unit does have a responsibility for -- and units exercise that responsibility on a scale of from bad to great, just like they do on everything else. However, once one is discharged, if they need help there are plenty of places that provide it -- the VA, State Veteran Assistance offices and many private organizations

just my .00000000035676555432 cents but Mental health ain't the only arena in which many for any number of reasons don't seek the assistance they should.

True. In or out, Been in or never been in. Some ask for help, some won't take it, some will give help, some won't. Military or civilian, people are people.