As a veteran, I have never been treated as badly as I was treated at a recent DAV event. Did I do the right thing?

A1C Eric Skaggs — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:42:18 -0400

As a veteran, I have never been treated as badly as I was treated at a recent DAV event.

My father passed away last Thursday. I needed to get out of the house so I noticed there was an event for veterans looking for work.

I am a veteran that has been looking for work for about 6 or 7 years. My father would've wanted me to go. So I went to the event. I expected a warm welcome and to be treated with respect.

A small young boy in an ill fitting mismatched suit tapped me on the shoulder while I was filling out a job application, said he didn't think I was a veteran and told me to leave.

I told him I am a veteran and I was filling out a job application.

He said he didn't care and asked me to leave.

I asked him why and he offered no logical or rational explanation. He got aggressive and insistent, so I began to leave with no recourse on my part. I simply said this doesnt make sense and isn't fair and began to leave.

On the way out, a middle aged woman in a pantsuit got a security guard to escort me out of the building. I said it wasn't necessary because I was leaving.

I am a veteran. I was filling out a job application. This is the worst thing I can imagine.

I fully expect these people to be disciplined appropriately. I wonder if they are veterans? Judging by how they treat real veterans like me, I doubt it.

If they aren't veterans, wouldn't it make sense to let them go and hire veterans with college degrees like me?

What can you do to amend this travesty?

If we can't find a fair and amicable resolution, in the interest of fairness, I will have no choice but to start calling and messaging funding sources and the press. This cannot happen to veterans like me.

Please let me know what you can do to right this wrong by Thursday May 14th 2019. One week from the incident. Isn't that fair?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2019 12:52 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:52:41 -0400

A1C Eric Skaggs I am sorry that you were mistreated, but what is the rest of the story. If a small boy is asking you to leave, why did you not ignore him or ask some of the staff that was there to help you out? The small boy is not a veteran and I do not know about the lady. Did you not question them as to why they wanted you to leave?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2019 1:04 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 01:04:53 -0400

Respectfully, this hardly sounds like a travesty. And if this is the worst you’ve ever been treated, then count your blessings, because you’ve led a charmed life.

That said, if the situation happened as described, is it possible that there was a miscommunication? Why would you leave, simply because a small young boy with no parental oversight was mouthing off? Why would you expect a logical, rational explanation from the aggressive young child wearing a ill fitting mismatched suit?

The child isn’t a veteran, and maybe the lady was concerned because a child without his parents was semi-arguing with a man (not his father) who then walked away when the kid get loud and aggressive? Maybe she thought the kid was going into ‘stranger/danger’ mode?

Honestly, as described, the situation doesn’t make sense, but it’s not that bad, even it it played out exactly as described. (I’m a little more dismayed that a veteran didn’t try to find the parents of a little kid who was by himself, apparently causing trouble).

What type of solution would you like to see to this situation?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 11 at 2019 1:41 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 01:41:24 -0400

I would not have left, sought the person running the event, shown them my 214. Why did they run you out? Did you have your 214?

Many of those events are pipelined from standing programs or are register in advance things. I’ve supported other events where homeless and destitute vets are prioritized, those are usually employment events. Those are usually social services, treatment, cloths, and haircut events. The participants are triaged at the door and escorted to certain stations based on needs.

I’d simply write a one page letter with the 5 Ws to the local DAV with a copy of your 214 so there will be no confusion in the future, requesting a response. There is a piece of this that’s missing.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Mar 11 at 2019 9:11 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 09:11:37 -0400

I'm not sure what is going on here with this particular situation but I know DAV is a fantastic organization. Perhaps you just had a bad experience. Come to think of it, a lot of what you say in your posts doesn't make much sense. You claimed in another post that you received General Discharge under Honorable Conditions because you broke your wrist while on duty and couldn't lift more than 5 pounds. That isn't the way it works Dude. It's never been the way it works --you are leaving something out --something really important that made you get that discharge. Likewise, with your post here, I think you are leaving something out. To put it another way, I am suspect of your truthfulness in your posts.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2019 2:15 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:15:20 -0400

This story sounds an awful lot like there is more to the story.
Did they challenge your credentials? That should have happened in the registration process.
Does characterization of service matter? From your other post, I could see that being a factor. Shouldn't be, but maybe.

I don't think you were treated well, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. You served. You have been looking for work for 7 years. This job fair didn't have a good outcome - probably not the first time that has happened. Let it go and get back on your horse. Life is more important than filing a hurt feelings report.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 11 at 2019 5:12 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 17:12:59 -0400

Wow...I don't even BEGIN to know what to say to that...I'm life member DAV, my wife and I have known them for a fairly long time now, we had them start my total perm disability claim, then moved it to an attorney, as mine was really involved, though they did certainly try to help us, by all means. I mean, I've NEVER heard a scenario like that, certainly, not that I don't believe you, of course...purely as a suggestion, did you at least just try calling their state or national offices, to explain what happened at all? I only suggest that as we've gotten to know a good many of their higher staff, we donated a car to the their state office by us at one point, we've gone to their annual state dinner by us a few times...I can only assure you that, from what my wife and I have seen, that what happened in your case was by all means atypical, at least from what we know of the group, thus, please trust what I tell you, and believe what I say, call the state office where you are, I'm sure it's listed on the web, as well as possibly their national offices in, I think, KY, as well as Wash, DC, I'm positive they'd be most helpful to you in your efforts, honest, if you'd care to chat further, please of course just let me know, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 11 at 2019 5:16 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 17:16:12 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=dav%20national%20headquarters%20kentucky&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Look through these sites on this search, you should see the toll-free for the headquarters office in KY, and, as I'd mentioned, their national service office is in Wash, DC, on a different phone line...I assure you, as I'd said, from all we know of them, what happened in your case was quite atpyically, promise, as I'd said, if you'd care to chat, I'm here, OK? No rush, whenever you'd want to, whenever convenient....

dav%20national%20headquarters%20kentucky - AOL Search Results

Contact the DAV : (877) 426-2838 - (877) I AM A VET - Join, Volunteer and Donate to the Disabled American Veterans Join, Volunteer and Donate to the DAV - (877) 426-2838 - (877) I AM A VET - Contact the Disabled American Veterans (DAV.org)

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2019 10:26 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 22:26:47 -0400

Thank you for your question A1C Eric Skaggs... If you read my profile you would have seen that I am a DAV Commander of DAV Chapter #90, Norwood, MA. My Chapter is part of DAV Department of Massachusetts. I am appalled at what happened to you when you were applying for a job at an apparent veteran job fair... First and foremost, the DAV would NEVER turn away a Veteran regardless of whether He or She was a disabled Veteran... We always try to help our brothers and sisters in arms... Also, we do not seek, look for or employ young people to help a Veteran with any applications or Veteran claims... When we have a function each of us wears his or her cover (cap or hat) like the one I am wearing in my photo. We also would ask you questions like what branch were you in or what was your MOS or AFSC (Air Force), how long did you serve, where did you serve, etc. We would also ask you how we could help you... In my Chapter, we have men and women from all branches and they all take their role as Veteran very seriously...

So, Eric, I believe that this job fair was not run by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), but some other organization saying they were acting on Veterans behalf. I for one can't help you outside of my state, but if you Identify what state and city where this occurred, I may be able to steer you in the right direction... In Massachusetts we have NSOs and VSOs (National Service Officers and Veteran Services Officers) VSOs are usually located at City or Town Hall and have limited computer access into the National System. You might check with your local city or town to find out if they have a VSO... Let me know how you make out... by messaging me...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2019 10:47 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 22:47:56 -0400

A1C Eric Skaggs: I posted already, but I noted in another post that you are from Kentucky... you can try DAV Department of Kentucky as follows:
Department of Kentucky
Mailing Address:
PO Box 129
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
Ph: [login to see]
Fax: 502-805-003
Also, just so you know, the majority of DAV Members are Volunteers, not employees... Our committed duty is to assist Disabled Veterans, but we do help any Veteran that we can to help them find the information that the Veteran needs...
Good luck, Eric.

Response by A1C George Lyda made Sep 8 at 2019 11:05 PM

A1C George Lyda — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 23:05:28 -0400

Never heard of such callous treatment of a veteran by a veterans group ever. My AL Post operates out of the same War Museum as the SAL other auxiliaries. I'd seek out the Commanders Phone for the American Legion and see whether she/he can offer any assistance. Sorry to hear about your treatment. Thanks for your service buddy!

Response by A1C Charles Hagen made Sep 26 at 2019 9:22 PM

A1C Charles Hagen — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 21:22:50 -0400

As part of my Master's Degree I did a paper on post-traumatic stress disorder in the workplace, defining what most employers and employees with PTSD needed to know. I bring this up because during my studies in this report and my surveys and information-gathering I was startled at the blunt and utter ignorance of the civilian World in regards to Veterans and Veterans needs in the workplace. You're not alone.

Response by SSgt Dee O'Connor made Sep 27 at 2019 1:31 AM

SSgt Dee O'Connor — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 01:31:46 -0400

Report it. That the most horrible thing I've heard. I send apologies to you. You didnt deserve that.