Military/Veteran

As we honor those Americans who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country, we must do more to address a threat that stalks all too many of them: veteran suicide.

Most Americans understand the potential benefits of pursuing higher education. Though higher education may not be for everyone, it certainly provides its own set of additional opportunities for veterans as they return home from service and begin to transition – and ultimately adjust – to civilian life.

As the stigma surrounding mental health has continued to lessen in recent years, more of an emphasis has been placed on suicide prevention and as a result a number of programs have emerged to varying degrees of success.

Last year the Department of Veterans Affairs released a report that found that 32% of veterans work in public service or charitable organizations. This is higher compared to their non-veteran counterparts, of which 22% work in those particular fields. Some may ask what makes veterans more likely to work in these types of organizations, but the fact that they do should come as no real surprise. It makes sense that those who choose to serve their country would find new ways to serve their communities in life after service.

It’s often said that “not all wounds are visible.” June offers the prime opportunity to reflect on that sentiment and conceptualize how we can ensure that even though some wounds may not be visible, they are still treated like those wounds that are.

In honor of International Women’s Month, as we take the time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in our society, we must also remember to acknowledge the many accomplishments of the women warriors in the United States military.

As the co-founder and chairman of the national nonprofit SoldierStrong, an organization dedicated to helping veterans take their next steps forward into life after service through the donation of revolutionary medical technologies, I am concerned for the health of veterans in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those veterans who are currently homeless.

As important as it is on this Veterans Day to thank those brave men and women who selflessly served in defense of our freedom and liberties, our obligation does not and must not end there. Much attention has been placed on the backlog and wait times for veterans seeking Department of Veterans Administration care. But we should also recognize that the VA cannot care for our veterans alone; we all have a calling to serve.

Policy advocacy is as integral a piece of the puzzle to better serving veterans as is the actual provision of hardware and services. Yet that integral piece of the puzzle has been missing as these technical compliance issues are wrestled with.