Issues

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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Local events and in-person initiatives and screenings take place throughout the country all month long in an effort to lessen the stigma surrounding mental health and provide much-needed resources. After all, our mental health is ultimately a vital aspect of our physical health.

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.

Even if you don’t live near our nation’s southern border, you undoubtedly hear frequently about human trafficking.

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.

After spending a recent day in Tokyo, I was refreshed to see how polite people can be for a very simple reason.

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.