Apologize for the long hiatus -- work's been killing me. Here's a good read from CNN.
Highlights the fact that we now have another generation of combat vets in the ranks of the population, and underscores some of the common issues many returning vets face: issues that the public-at-large remains largely ignorant of (and sometimes insensitive to).
Are people aware that returning vets might have problems? Yeah, sure: common knowledge, standard data. But most aren't tuned in to the (sometimes substantial) depths of these problems. We saw the ripple effects for years after Vietnam: vets in jail, vets that were homeless, vets that were jobless, vets that were killing themselves. I think we're starting to see a little bit more of the iceberg now, and the waterline will continue to recede and reveal the ugly monster even more in the years to come.
I think right now, common opinion in the ranks is that the Army and our society is not doing a good job in helping a lot of these guys out. Anyone familiar with the process when a soldier separates from the Army (under normal, honorable discharge circumstances) knows it's a joke: PowerPoint briefings acting as a substitute for quality career/life/health/financial/mental counseling.
I would be very interested to hear your suggestions for improving the "exit strategy" for outgoing vets face upon leaving a war zone and/or the armed forces.
ReplyDeleteAlso, are there things nonmilitary types can do to aid in the transition to civilian life?