Pete Hegseth on ‘Real News From The Blaze’: U.S. Vets Transitioning Back to Civilian Life Not Easy

The Obama economy has been as tough, if not worse on veterans coming back home, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. With fewer generations currently in the work force having served themselves, it is becoming harder and harder for civilian employers to appreciate veterans’ skills and maturity, veterans advocacy groups tell the Los Angeles Times.

The unemployment rate for veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq is 10.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For veterans age 24 and under, the rate is 29.1%, or 12 points higher than for civilians the same age. That compares with 8.2% unemployment nationally, and 7.5% for all veterans.

A survey this year by the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America found that a quarter of its members could not find a job to match their skill level, and half said they did not believe employers were open to hiring veterans.

Out of work and having difficulty explaining their skills, over one million veterans have found themselves in prison. The Business Insider reports that in towns close to military bases home to combat units, the ratio of discharged soldiers having a brush with the law is even greater.

Combat veteran Pete Hegseth, former executive director of Vets for Freedom and current Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, appeared on “Real News” Thursday to discuss the difficulties for veterans coming back home.

 

Comments (48)

  • rickc34
    Posted on May 7, 2012 at 6:03pm

    When my Dad and uncles came back from vietnam the radical liberals or as some have called them hippies where very cruel to them . No heros welcome . Many turned to drugs and some commited suicide . I was an early teen then . I love our vets , they are they bravest willing to give everything for others . I have no problem if they get preference the earned it. But what is sad is when the people of this nation that reap the benefits provided by the sacrifices made turn their backs on them and apologize to other countries like Obama has done .

    Report Post »  
  • Vets2Work
    Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:58am

    Bringing jobs back to America One Veteran at a time.

    A company named Workspace Communications has created the Workspace Warrior Initiative whereas companies who outsource jobs offshore can bring a small percentage back and employ military veterans and their families. These are the higher paying jobs like tech support, product support and customer retention. The positions are staffed virtually from the veteran’s home in order to employ remote and disabled veterans including caretaker family members. With all the Federal and state(s) tax credits available including training, the cost per hour is just slightly above what companies are paying offshore.

    Vets2Work is asking all veterans to identify local businesses that outsource offshore and ask them to bring back a small percentage and hire military veterans. We feel that this small contribution will grow after these companies see the benefits of US veterans over offshore employees.

    Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on April 29, 2012 at 9:53am

    Perhaps they should not be allowed to become police officers until they do. Than there wouldn’t be so many police brutality cases filed.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • Vietvet1
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:27pm

    JUST ANGRY

    Thanks… It took a few years to put together my case on concussion .. I would get frustrated and not appeal…that is what I did wrong. I was finally awarded over 20 years ago. As far as Agent Orange (Dioxin) I didn’t get a presumptive for 40 years… I was diagnosed recently and the paperwork is in. with the backlog..it may be a few months but they are giving me treatment, supplies and meds right now. All Vietvets have Maude deVictor to thank

    http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=2141&page=33

    Have worked with Joyce Riley and Denise Nichols on the Gulf War maladies.

    http://www.all-natural.com/riley.html

    Here is the crux… I think I may have 20 years before my Dirt Nap and I worry, no one will keep the fight on a roll and not with each other.

    You use Brecksville.. VISN 10, I use Pittsburgh/Butler.. VISN4. I have friends in the Cleveland system who seem to like it. I work for our region to do what it has to do for all the Vets, new and old. And no..I don’t get paid LOL. All my Legislators and Hospital Admin, know me. I put a lot of time and work into the issues. I am member of the VFW, AL and DAV. I prefer the DAV as a VSO but use my County VA Director for most. Ohio has them as well.

    Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:02pm

      Man, that 2nd link is pretty depressing. They’ve been telling me it was fibromyalgia. But, I still don’t understand how it could get out to the boat.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • okaaay
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:29pm

    My son is an Iraq vet and has not been able to find a job. He has a degree and is a reservist in the Marine Corp. His wife has a job, so that puts him over the financial need based programs, though they barely make it. He works part time here in there in art (that’s his degree) graphics jobs and his basically the stay at home dad. He’s bright and capable and I know this is difficult for him.

    Report Post »  
  • trueamerican40
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:06pm

    I served in the Navy in the 90‘s and didn’t expierence what these brave men and women of the armed services are expierencing now. I found a job immediately BECAUSE of my service and once coming home for leave, I got pulled over for speeding 5 miles p.h. The cop let it slide because I was serving our country. How times have changed…just 14 years ago!

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • DeVain
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:17pm

    These reports always confuse me. I have lived by Fort Knox my entire 40 years. I know with no doubt that former military get first dibs on jobs around here. If you apply for a job and go to an interview that is one of the first things they ask about. The vast majority of the time it is for a management position.

    I can also state, that although I support the brave men and women and appreciate their sacrifice’s, they don’t make good private sector managers. That’s JMO based off experience. I have seen more than one company struggle due to mismanagement because of that hiring policy.

    It just leaves me conflicted.

    Report Post » DeVain  
    • Vietvet1
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:33pm

      My worries was that my Service in Nam would taint my job opportunities. Today, many active reservists and NG do not want to be treated for PTSD…for promotional opportunity and for civilian employment worries. I was caught in this when the VA decided I needed to attend Mental Health. At the time I had NO employment and they found access to a lot of secure records.. Check out the SPN numbers and RE Codes…These were on our DD-214′s and employers managed to get the Code sheets. Not a good thing. So…there I was, Multi Tour Vietvet, I also collected guns and eventually worked for Uncle Sam.. Talk about pidgeonholed LOL. But, I managed and used Vet Pref. My fear is that Veterans numbers will become very small and we will have NO Representation in the Halls of Government. Veterans cannot afford to NOT be involved. If you want to see Vets who need help..walk through a VA Hospital or Soldiers & Sailors Home. Places like Walter Reed, Bethesda are DOD facilities, not VA. Big difference and been in both types.

      http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Military.htm

      Check the VA list as well..different. Some are not listed but this may help..

      http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1

      “All Gave Some, Some Gave All”

      Report Post »  
  • sapper
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:08am

    furthermore @vietvet1

    simply being a vet has helped me get jobs of course but never has any state or federal program or worker helped at all. When I first got out I re-started my landscaping business that I had prior to enlistment. Didn’t work out as I could not compete with the illegals that have taken over the industry down here. After a few months I got a job with a city water dept. at 6 bucks an hour. 4 months later was hired as a health inspector/code enforcemnt officer by a guy who knew my mother and was chief inspector. 3 years later I bought a business. Tried small business admin loan and got nowhere with them. No governemnt program was any help. My partner and I borrowed money from our families and put half down for a bank loan. Lost our shirts due to government shut down in 1995 as our business relied on national park tourism. Long story short, government has caused nothing but problems, never helped a damned bit other than GI bill and college fund and that was a pain in the ass too. With help from family again I got into my current career in 2005 and am now making 100k a year and my wife 60k. VA health would die laughing if I asked for medical care with the income we have so I have to come up with 10k in cash to get surgery done by civilians. Not like I really want a VA doctor working on me anyway. Sorry for singling you out here but your comments are so asinine I had to answer them from a perspective of a sandbox vet you are so critical of.

    Report Post »  
    • Vietvet1
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:09pm

      Sorry Dude but I am not Critical of the Sand Box Veterans… I go out of my way to help them and represent their issues when I meet on 2 Congressional Veterans Advisory position I am in as well as meetings with the Regional and VISN VA Health System Directors. My point to ANY of the Vets since Jan. 1991… Desert Storm… is this… If you don’t take the time to organize yourselves, you stand the chance on the NON Veterans in Congress to cut the budget on your back. As we banter this issue…the VA has had to get MORE funding and it was hard to do in this atmosphere. Not to mention that Medicare will not reimburse the VA for Care of Non Service Connected of Vets over 65.

      .H.R.814
      Latest Title: Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011
      Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 2/18/2011) Cosponsors (8)
      Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

      This is part of what I do.. Veterans Legislation to help… ALL Veterans. I am on Con. Altmires Veterans Advisory and he signed onto this bill.

      As far as “your comments are so asinine ” You never got it, didn‘t get it and won’t as well. I have found some Government Programs to be difficult but find some people to be equally if not …moreso. Again, you don’t know me and you even felt you had to call me names and disparage… Maybe I can see why things were so difficult but…I could be wrong… Good luck.

      Report Post »  
  • sapper
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:55am

    VA has never helped me with a damned thing. While on active duty I ran backhoe, dozer, dump trucks, 18 wheeler, tracked vehicles, qualified expert on several weapons. As a combat engineer we built roads, bridges, buildings, airstrips and also destroyed them with various explosives. I’m trained to use TNT, Dynamite and C4 to demo just about anything. Have ACE college credits for physical fitness, use of hand, power and pneumatic tools. I have a VAST wealth of knowledge and not one damned thing was of any benefit in civilian life. I went to VA and got no help at all….with anything. They are totally useless in my opinion. I don’t even think of going to them anymore. As for medical, if your not disabled and make any kind of money at all you get stuck in a treatment tier that is pretty much worthless. I need surgery on my knee as I write this and instead of trying to get help from VA I‘m just saving the 10k I need for the surgery because it’s easier that getting help from VA. VA rep at unemployment office has never done a damned thing to help me. I’ve gained employment on my own through contacts of my family. VA rep never gave me a single job lead that led to an actual job. Useless as usual. @vietvet1, hate to break it to you bub but my worst enemy has always been my governement. They screw me daily but are never any practical use for anything. I won’t even use VA loan for getting a house anymore as they tried to screw me on that once too. Stop blaming vets ya jerk.

    Report Post »  
    • Vietvet1
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:16pm

      Just to add… Please check this and decide which one you are in.

      http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/priority_groups.asp

      Some of us don’t know that the VA Health system was originally set up for..

      http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/vamotto.pdf

      Originally it was only for treatment of Battle borne maladies..the rest was added to include disability payments. The root was to CARE for those wounded. Now the VA Health System can be used, like any other medical system to include possible need to pay for treatment. I have yet to see (Other than retired) a contract that guaranteed health care for the rest of your life for serving less than retirement or disabled parameters.

      We need to learn how the system actually works. I am offering what I know… I have outside hospitalization but even when well, I used the VA to keep me registered in the system. So many, due to economic reasons, are just now trying to get into the system and finding roadblocks. I always recommended ALL Vets to use the VA once a year but many just blew it off and now are scrambling and are PO’d. Again..I see they are looking in that mirror. The system isn’t perfect but, it can become useful if approached the right way.. and I to had problems but learned. Now I fight for All Veterans Benefits. If no one does..it will be lost to the next generation.

      Report Post »  
    • Vietvet1
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:50pm

      “Stop blaming vets ya jerk.” If that was meant at me… you have no idea who I am or what I do. I have dealt with many Veterans and have seen those who do know how the system works and those who just badmouth without knowledge. I have seen Vets who get 10% and should be rated higher and have seen those with 100% who could have been rated lower. I don’t blame VETERANS, I blame those Veterans who blame the system for every damned thing that is wrong in their lives. Life is made up of more than that. Again… I encourage Vets to get involved but not drop out at the first pothole. And if you have knowledge of the system, let other Veterans know what you actually learned.

      I still run into Vietnam Vets who “hate” the VA and deal with presumtives of Agent Orange without even knowing they WILL be treated at the VA. I tell them and they go.. and the hatred seems to stop. All those other years all they did was badmouth everything about the “system”…until now. Hmmmm Go figure.

      Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:02pm

      Hey Vietvet, I know you’re fighting the good fight, man. How long, and what did it take for the VA to recognize Agent Orange from your day? I mean, weren’t you fellas screwed over pretty hard for a long time before science and the media gave Uncle Sam a black eye? The VA is now trying to prove the existence of a “PTSD” gene. http://www.military.com/news/article/study-reveals-ptsd-gene-link.html. Presumably to deny benefits. I know, I’m not happy with the Columbus clinic and Cleveland Regional office. My experience has been like our brother’s here. Got into the American Legion and VFW based on a tip. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m still expecting resistence from the VA.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 10:30am

    In 1974, I was just another soldier with an MOS the Army no longer wanted. Unemployment was high. Vets were competing against people 3-4 years younger who didn’t have to go into the service. Viet Nam vets were viewed as crazy and liable to go violent without warning.

    I got my first civilian job because my college roomate’s father was a WWII vet with the same MOS as I and he knew that most of us were responsible adults. Getting the job took 6 months.

    This is the same story for my son’s generation with one exception. You are not blamed for the war. This will work in your favor. Many business executives are vets and your status is important to them. They know you have aged beyond your years. I know this because I retired as a Human Resource Director-North America. I always made a point to favor a vet if all other qualifications were similar.

    Here is some advice. Look up high school and college friends. Find out whose parents are vets. Join the VFW and/or the American Legion. Some of the old vets have people they can refer you to. Getting a civilian job is like any other mission. Prepare it like any Frag.

    Keep the faith.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • Vietvet1
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:13am

    Please bear with me on this… Thank him for wanting to be one of the few Veterans in our Congress, good luck. now.. I served in SEA with over 2 consecutive years on the ground in SVN. I eventually got out in 1975… Bad time for a job.. I started out in the Army with Artillary and ended up as a “Trick Chief” in a classified Com Center. I supervised 10 to 20 personnel and had a “Top Secret, Crypto” clearance. I handled info the POTUS couldn’t. I did my job well with even citations from the POTUS and when I left… my discharge stated my Civilian Equivalent Job was a “Clerk”. Today it woulld have been supervising Security.

    Now to present. As a Veteran I find the “Sandbox” Vets NOY wanting to be involved in anything. I understand, I felt the same but… there were more of us then. We found that our “excuses” were worthless and organized. I hate to say it but we VIETNAM Veterans now 2/3 gone and we are the last bastion of Veterans issues left. I have listened to the Sandbox vets use the same excuses we did and they are just as worthless. There are good programs out there, administered by the Government to help in their transition. They are offered 5 years of “free” medical care in the VA and many programs for education and employment are there, if you take the initiative to even look. My advice, get your heads out of your “dufflebags” and get involved.. not expect people to come hand it to you. Nuff said. Been there Done that.

    Report Post »  
    • little big man
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:26am

      Yes It was hard for me after spenting most of the 1980′s in the military. granted I never fought in a war during that time period, but you are so ingrained in the military way it’s very hard to adjust to civie life.

      Christ I still eat my food like I was in the chow hall at boot camp, my wife says slow down eat slower.

      Report Post » little big man  
  • hauschild
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 8:25am

    Yeah, going from being coddled to actually having to be productive – can shock anybody.

    Yes, I can say this because I’m a vet and I know it works.

    Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:05am

      What did you do in the military where you think you were being coddled?

      Report Post » justangry  
    • sapper
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:52am

      @hauschild

      Coddled? Really? Not sure what MOS you were in dude but I spent 275 days of every year of my 4 years on active duty in the field wargaming, qualifications testing and training. Coddled? I guess if you call 3/4 of the year low crawling in 3 ft deep snow and mud clearing mines or 16 hour convoys without being able to piss, crap or eat or maybe it’s hauling high explosives down a dirt road covered in 3 inches of ice while in black out drive that you consider coddling. I know, it must be the 12 hour GI parties scrubbing wax off the floor with green pads. I guess it could be having to take communal showers with 10 other dudes or maybe it was the 6 weeks in the arabian desert with only 1 liter of water and one MRE a day and no bath that was the coddling part. Might have been the various trips into the CS chamber sucking down tear gas or the obstacle courses, daily PT, guard duty, vehicle maintenance and army standards of conduct and responsibility. Could be the hazing from fellow soldiers or maybe it was parachuting from airplanes or handling high explosives. Coddling? Dude your an ass and you never served a day in your life. Quit lying about being a veteran.

      Report Post »  
  • Tepeyac
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 8:01am

    God Bless our soldiers! Wake up America!!! Many soldiers who returned from WWI , WWII, Korea etc. were traumatized by those wars. What we are doing to our soldiers today is insanity! Tour after tour can only bring the traumatic results we are seeing today. It’s not over and the final results are not in. It appears we are building a warrior culture within our society that is, in my opinion, not good!

    Report Post »  
  • bald stick
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:51am

    Sad to say, but when they left for duty 4 years ago we were a representative republic. Now we are socialists (on the way to full communists) and the veterans don’t recognize our country when they come back. We civilians are the frogs in the water slowly heating to a comfy death. The veterans notice the water is almost boiling. Our troops may be the final answer to save our once cherished republic.

    Report Post »  
  • Ira WIlson
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:43am

    My wife and I live next to a large military post in Texas. There are approximately 150 soldiers a month leaving the service here, many with no “usable” skills. We’ve actually seen 22 – 24 year-old homeless veterans. It’s an outrage! While there are Veteran Transitional Living Centers in and around the area, there are NONE for women who have served this country. My wife and I are determined to change that. ALL veterans who leave the service should be given every advantage to transition back into civilian life as easily as possible. Temporary housing should be provided until they pick up the skills they’ll need to be competitive for work. WE OWE THEM! As for me and my family, we will NEVER forget them.

    Report Post » Ira WIlson  
  • deannpoulin
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:07am

    Unemployment numbers are comprised of those that are in the job market for the past 30 days. It does not include those that have not been in the job market in the last 30 days: people who have given up looking; those that have gone off unemployment because it has run out. One solution to unemployment is High Speed Universities check it out

    Report Post »  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:34am

    What do you expect? If they knew how to find a job, they wouldn’t have had to join the military in the first place.

    Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 1:09am

      Go to hell.

      Report Post » justangry  
    • Raven249
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:12am

      Some of us joined the military to serve our country, dickwad. Just happens we get paid to do it. Most of us probably know how to find a job better than you’ve ever tried, but we get crazy looks because we‘re ’potential terrorists‘ whether we’ve actually been deployed or not. Maybe before you start talking BS about someone, you should actually get to know a few.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 2:40am

      Raven249
      The reason you get crazy looks is because the suckers you’re asking to take a chance on you all know that you could get called back and redeployed at any time, and that any promise not to do so from the country you served, or at least intended to be of service to, ain’t worth spit.

      Report Post »  
    • Raven249
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:03am

      Did you not read the article? VETERANS, not active duty, smart guy. Meaning, we’re out. Service is complete. Not going back, in other words. Honestly, do you not pay attention? And if you’re citing Inactive Ready Reserve, they usually don’t ever get bothered. We have the normal Reserve and Guard components for that.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:12am

      If you really think that being a veteran is actually making it harder to get a job, rather than just not helping as much as you had hoped it would, then just lie about it. Tell them that you were never in, and see if your new supposed non-veteran status really opens any doors.

      Report Post »  
    • Raven249
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:32am

      Be mighty hard to get by on that. Falsifying information like that, grounds for immediate dismissal, and they do background checks. Seriously, do you just not think about these things?

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:40am

      You can only get dismissed from a job that you got, so it’s better than never getting hired at all. With all of the companies that have gone out of business in the last in the last five years, it’s never been easier to fake a plausible sounding work history. Lying is the most important skill any job seeker can cultivate. And you don’t always have to say “I was never in the military,” you can just leave all of that stuff blank like someone who had never been in would.

      Report Post »  
    • slappyhooper
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:46am

      HAHAHAH. Funny. I’m a Marine, and I laughed at that. I‘m assuming you’re trolling, but even if you’re not, you still made me laugh.

      Report Post »  
    • Cruelnunusual
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 6:20am

      Reminds me of that ‘forsake the troops’ guy. Do yourselves a favor and just ignore him.

      Report Post » Cruelnunusual  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 8:33am

      @Chet Hempstead
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:34am
      “What do you expect? If they knew how to find a job, they wouldn’t have had to join the military in the first place.”

      And if they hadn’t joined the military, you wouldn’t have a job or business either, you’d be nothing more than a serf.

      Report Post » BSdetector  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:13pm

      BSdetector
      What the hell are your talking about? The last time this country fought a war against an enemy who represented a serious threat to our freedom was World War II, and I don’t think any of those guys are still on the job market.

      Report Post »  
    • okaaay
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 5:30pm

      You are really ignorant.

      Report Post »  
  • Conservative_T-Rex
    Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:00am

    these guys deserve every bit of help they ask for. god bless our veterans.

    game/quiz for avid fox news watchers: http://www.sporcle.com/games/Bohnfather/fox-news-personalities

    Report Post »  
  • BellaMia7
    Posted on April 26, 2012 at 11:44pm

    If you know a vet encourage him to talk whenever he wants. Keep an open door policy. They’ve spent so much time away from their families. It’s really tough, and then they have a bloody dirty job to do. God bless them. My son is one serving as an MP guarding the worst of the worst.

    Report Post » BellaMia7  
  • lukerw
    Posted on April 26, 2012 at 11:16pm

    It will be… after May 1st.

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • taxpro4u03
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:03pm

      True DAT! — We, the People can only ‘hope’ the VETERANS who have the necessary skills will STEP UP and teach the rest of us how to ‘p * e * e* ‘ in the radiator (red dawn, wolverines!!) if an when the time comes to ‘save the Republic’ — Where the HELL are these people NOW, and why are they NOT involved? hail FIRE… that is ONE niche market right now lol — ever seen that bogus show ‘doomsday preppers?’ — and no – I‘m not EVEN talking about the ’fringe’ survivalist hate groups (militia wannabes) — Just teaching the ordinary urban ‘cowboy’ how to build a campfire, identify an edible nut/berry, trap a ‘possum for supper type-stuff. :-) THANK YOU VETS!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Legion5
    Posted on April 26, 2012 at 11:04pm

    Employers have bought into the myth that we vets are dangerous.Our own government has labeled us as potential terrorist after we have done our job with honor we come home to this for a thank you from Uncle Sam, thanks for your support political and bureaucratic hacks!! We come home it takes months to get the VA to finish our claims and we try to return to some type of a normal life and only want to work but with the government seemingly against us we are looked at by employers and others as a risk because of the limited negative incidents by our brothers and sisters and a government hatred for our sacrifice. Thanks Mr. Obama your a real piece of work!

    Report Post » Legion5  
    • justangry
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 6:48am

      I hear ya, brother. App for the American Legion and VFW, if you haven’t already.

      Report Post » justangry  
    • Vietvet1
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 9:31am

      Being bitter doesn’t help. I have worked as a Veterans Advocate for 4 decades and have found a lot of these “problems” are as much the Vets doing as those he or she works with. Right now we have only a few Veterans in Congress and that needs corrected. We also have a big influx of Veterans into the system and yes…right now the backlog is about 900,000. Try driving on the LA Freeway at rush hour. Some benefits only require you to apply. If a Vet of the Desert.. you have 5 years of “free” medical care from the VA. There are many programs for your employment and education.. not just flipping burgers. When you were in the military, you learned to do things as needed…the practice doesn’t stop after ETS. NO ONE is going to come to YOU..YOU go to them.

      Never get angry at the system, that is like yelling at a stone.. learn to work it to your benefit honestly. Go to your Veterans Affairs (VA) Director for info, become involved in Veteran Service Orgs, I live in PA. We have a VA office in every county. loaded with info and help for you in every aspect… from health to Benefits you earned. Join the Veterans Orgs but… realize it isn’t the bar you get answers at but at the MEETINGS! A lot of veterans can wake up and see their worst enemy just by facing a mirror. Learn how to do these things and they won’t be so overwelming. I learned this and hope you take something from what I have said. Be well.

      Report Post »  
  • jeanr
    Posted on April 26, 2012 at 10:42pm

    God bless our troops…But not enough to raise my taxes one dime to improve our mental health system to help support the influx of troops coming back who need support.

    Report Post »  
    • taxpro4u03
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 12:13pm

      ‘$” is a misnomer — Corp USA has a printing press (doesn’t a nearly $16 trillion debt {not OUR debt — THEIR debt…} say enuff?) that puts fiat federal reserve notes that are generally accepted as ‘payment’ in the ‘mainstream’ for goods and services. Barter is NOT ‘unlawful.’ Neighbors helping neighbors — a unique concept in the “Me, MINE – NOW! CREDIT — SWIPE IT til it DIES” throw-away society, I know — but it WORKS. “You can’t always get what you WANT.. but if ya try — ya just MIGHT get what ya need….” –

      Report Post »  
    • jeanr
      Posted on April 27, 2012 at 7:38pm

      Were you trying to make a point or did you just start mashing your fists into your keyboard?

      Report Post »  

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