Returning from the War on Terrorism

By Bruce C. Brown

Reviewed by Julie Scott

The “Buddy System” works well when buddies cooperate.  They watch each other through thick and thin, offer help when the going gets tough and rejoice together in the accomplishments earned by the other buddy.  A buddy system is recommended for risky or dangerous situations: swimming, gymnastics, class work … and WAR.

A tour of duty ends and the buddies go to their separate homes … alone.  Each becomes a civilian, a combat veteran discharged from service.  Most come home with special needs and no buddy to help out.  They have benefits, yet no idea where to get them or who to contact.

Finding the Benefits That Are Right For You

Meet your new buddy: Returning from the War on Terrorism: What Every Veteran Needs to Know to Receive Your Maximum Benefits written by Bruce C. Brown.  It is one of those handbooks that should be given to each member of the military as they prepare for separation from active duty.

This handbook is organized into chapters arranged in accordance with the evolution of a veteran.  The introduction sets the pace for the entire book, covering information about the main organization available to all veterans, The Veterans Administration Organization, which is divided into several units.  Collectively, the units are referred to as the VA.

Upon honorable, medical and/or general discharge from active military service, the veteran has a general eligibility for VA benefits automatically.  The degree of eligibility and the benefits each veteran can claim must be determined … by the VA.

The information in this handbook travels from the definition of a veteran, separating from the military into “normal” civilian life, guiding the reader through the veteran’s healthcare system, explaining disability benefits and compensation. Available benefits don’t stop there.  Life insurance, guaranteed home loans, scholarships, grants and other aid, education and training programs, relief for homeless veterans, survivor’s benefits and funeral/burial and memorial benefits are among the additional.

This book is very well-written and an easy read.  As a matter-of-fact, it is sure to get a second reading to absorb the gold mine of information between the covers of this book.  The author mentions that the book is the result of his personal crusade to make veteran entitlements known to those who need them most.  His stated mission transforms this book of information into the veteran’s new best buddy.

Chapters 7 and 8 are most noteworthy as the bounty of information is geared toward all the veterans and not just the recently separated ones.  Practical, useful, current information is presented clearly and augmented with tables and helpful lists which are immediately useful and easy to follow.  Phone numbers are provided where most needed.

This title is available as a paperback copy from your favorite bookstore as well as from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com at a very reasonable cost in proportion to the amount and quality of information it provides.  Family members will find it most helpful as well.  Yes, the author has accomplished his mission.  Here is a veteran’s new best buddy … it could be the chicken soup for those Returning from the War on Terrorism.

The Veteran’s Administration identified six programs that would be critical to the rehabilitation of injured or disturbed veterans.  Identification of beneficial services is the easiest part of the process.  Homeless people do not normally search around for these services.  Veterans need to be found and connected with a coordinator of services.

A fair number of homeless veterans are well educated, yet they are poor wanderers.  This indicates that it was too difficult to pick up where they left off in pre-combat life. Coming home is easy. Being home is the hard part.  It is much easier to drown in alcohol, drift with drugs and let life – and themselves – pass by.

To try to alleviate some of this problem, the VA activated an Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.  The committee is charged with the responsibility to ensure that every veteran – no matter what age, gender, disability or race – shall be provided the services needed to help in the process of rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life as a fully functioning member of society.

Homeless Veteran Coordinator

The Advisory Committee recommended establishing a position called the Homeless Veteran Coordinator.  Most VA Medical Centers have a Coordinator available to connect veterans with the most appropriate professionals that can render the needed services.  Most important, the veterans who needed those services had to be found.

When and where is the best place to find the homeless veteran?  Since the homeless population tends to congregate together and watch out for each other, it is unlikely that members of this group would be conveniently located at a VA Medical Center.  The Coordinator had a responsibility to wander out of the office and mingle with the members of this population. 

Fortunately, homeless shelters have been available in most cities for several decades.  They formerly catered to the street people looking for a place to sleep overnight or to seek shelter from the weather.  Among the benefits at the shelter were hot showers, good evening meals, warm blankets and soft pillows.

When census-takers and shelter managers noticed an increase in existing homeless populations, questions surfaced concerning the identities and city/town of origin.  They discovered that the homeless population was growing with veterans – homeless veterans who had no place to live or call home.

Services Available to Homeless Veterans

One of the previously identified priorities was housing homeless veterans. This need was real and immediate. The Homeless Veteran Coordinator position was created for this very reason.  The Coordinator would also be the scout for properties suitable for group living.  These properties were identified, bought or rented and furnished as shelters for homeless veterans.

The most important part of this position, however, would be public relations.  The soon-to-be veterans had to be advised that these places existed and the best time to inform them had to be during the pre-homecoming debriefings.  The good news is that this approach appears to be viable.  It is working as evidenced by the fact that the network of veteran shelters has grown since 1987.  Space within the existing shelters is at an all-time premium.

Locating Veteran Shelters

Volunteers are always welcome at the shelters for homeless veterans.  Don’t let this be a fleeting thought to be taken lightly.  Your time and effort is a meaningful way to say “thank you” to a combat veteran.  There may be a homeless veteran shelter in your community.  The residents would be grateful for your tax-deductible support, fundraising assistance or telemarketing expertise.

The Veterans Administration keeps a list of the 232 homeless veteran shelters located across the 50 United States.  Follow this link to valuable information and locations of these shelters: http://www1.va.gov/homeless.  The entire site is dedicated to the health, safety and support of homeless veterans.

Supporting Veteran Shelters

Most of the shelters provide space for counseling services, group sessions, job training and connect the veteran with needed medical and dental attention.  The shelters are dependent on fundraising efforts, especially public outreach by way of awareness mailings, donation request mailings, telemarketing and open houses.

Except for some limited staff, the shelters are essentially self-sufficient and not directly government funded.  The Veterans Administration does provide Grant and Per Diem assistance as funds allow.  When the opportunity arises – and it will – giving a contribution to a veteran’s shelter is the biggest “thank you” that you could ever give our guardians of freedom.

When entering a war theatre, unusual circumstances become quite commonplace.  Traumatic events are certain to follow a soldier back into civilian life.  Physical injuries need to be treated.  Traumatic brain injuries are far more common due to advances in modern warfare.

Soldiers come home to families that do not understand the changes in personality, mental ability or the inability to re-integrate into civilian life.  As a result, these former soldiers turn to abuses, experience failed relationships and become too stressed for normal interaction.  The result is that they begin wandering in an effort to burn energy and get to sleep.

97% of homeless veterans are male and the majority of them come from challenging backgrounds, are single, poor, older and educated.  Half of the homeless veterans are African-American or Hispanic.  More than 70% have alcohol or drug abuse issues.  Almost all of these veterans are lost to the system with the resources to help them.

Veteran’s Administration Specialized Programs

 In 1987, the Veteran’s Administration was authorized to develop major homeless-specific programs.  Since then, these programs have grown and developed.  They attempt to address the issues of homelessness among veterans, identify and integrate related services and offer this series of interwoven services to veterans and their dependents.

Among the services available to the homeless veteran, the following programs were identified:

·                 Aggressive outreach program aimed at shelters and known populations of street people

·                 Assessment and a referral for approved medical, physical and psychiatric issues

·                 Long term shelter, transitional assistance, case worker assignment and/or rehabilitation

·                 Identification of marketable education, skills and abilities as well as employment assistance and connections with other income resources

·                 Permanent housing with support services

·                 In 1992, the Homeless Veterans Dental Program was added to the foregoing list of services

Lessons from Vietnam

We lost many combat soldiers during the war in Vietnam.  The final number is still undetermined.  Those that returned came home with an array of issues and there were no established services to deal with those issues.  The current estimate of Vietnam veterans who are homeless is greater than the number that died.

Desert Storm veterans are beginning to appear among the homeless population.  At present, the number is very small.  If history repeats itself, the number will grow over time.

The majority of homeless veterans, who saw combat in Vietnam; also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Exposure to combat conditions, however, is not the only determinant that identifies veterans who are likely to become homeless.  There are stronger determinants that involve support from family and friends, family history and personal character traits or flaws.

Homeless Veteran Coordinator

The Department of Veterans Affairs has established Homeless Veteran Coordinator Offices in each state.  This office dispenses information to homeless veterans about the services available in their state through the Veterans Health Administration.  Each facility provides the services most in demand.

The homeless veteran is not left on his own or without supportive services.  Bringing the service and the veteran together is just the beginning of a relationship with support network personnel.  Homeless veterans have some unknown entitlements to tap for assistance.

Do you know a homeless veteran that you can point in the right direction?  Consider it your duty to both God and your Country to help that veteran find these services.

Some of our combat soldiers do manage to befriend animals displaced by the ravages of war.  The soldier comforts the scared animal, feeds it and loves it.  The animal follows its new owner and provides comfort in return.  Soon, the two become one as they share experiences of combat and the peace that comes from being together.  They are the only two that know about their experiences of war.

The end of the tour of duty will come soon for the soldier and home looms ahead.  How will this soul mate get home?  Military rules deal with situations of this sort by referencing document GO-1A that prohibits soldiers from keeping pets.

GO-1A claims that a pet somehow compromises troop character and morale.  They somehow “distract” the soldier from performing duties with integrity. Worse, pets cannot accompany the soldier home.  Upon departure of the troops, these pets again become victims of war. They are euthanized which only serves to complicate the mental health of the soldier.

Our soldier knows the reality of combat and is already depressed, stressed and traumatized. Now, they need to go through the process of grieving over the loss of their pet, friend and soul mate.  Simply put, it appears that the military would rather incur the steep costs of mental health treatment even when the cost to bring a “therapy” pet home is negligible in comparison.

Therapy pets give an indescribable and immeasurable amount of comfort to the elderly, handicapped and disabled.  They lift spirits, helping the over-wrought to re-focus for a bit and even forget.

Research over the years shows the intrinsic value when therapy pets visit the nursing homes, climb into the lap of a disabled person and slurping a big kiss on the face of this lucky person.  People note their feelings of comfort and happiness when an enthusiastic four-footed canine greets its returning family.  There is a bond between a pet and its family.

PTSD among our returning troops does not go away – for them or their pets.  It might lie latent for periods, but these latent episodes will emerge when least expected.  A pet cannot stop this from happening, but it will be a shorter episode when shared with a reassuring canine or feline buddy.  A loyal pet gives free, immediate comfort, warmth and security.  In the bigger scheme of war, it costs the military much less to provide vaccination and passage for a pet than paying when the veteran must reach for the speed dial to a psychiatrist’s office.

The troops should not suffer any longer.  Neither should the pets.  It is time that the Veterans Administration and the military acknowledge that these pets serve an important role in the mental health and general safety of our combat troops. A spirit of cooperation with organizations willing to help bring the adopted pets home would be a great benefit for troop morale as well as individual mental and emotional well-being.

The only other “person” that knows the horrific experiences of war is the pet that is adopted by our combat soldier.  At this time, it is important for the Department of Defense to consider the benefits of ditching this unfair policy in favor of the mental health of our returning troops.  These pets serve as a lifeline to reality when battle renders our soldier mentally wounded.  In this capacity, these animals honorably serve our country and deserve rewards for their faithful service.