Do you agree that community service is the key to veterans making a good transition into civilian life?

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 16:40:41 -0500

http://www.ameriforce.net/reserve-national-guard-veterans-day-how-the-mission-continues-1511

Veteran's Day: How The Mission Continues

In honor of Veteran's Day, we take a look at how The Mission Continues for many service members.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Dec 7 at 2015 4:47 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 16:47:08 -0500

I think community service is helpful for college kids, but other than that, it is a personal choice.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Dec 7 at 2015 4:48 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 16:48:22 -0500

It depends. I don't believe all community service are equal. If it is a volunteer program that has meaning for a veteran the impact is more likely to be great.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 7 at 2015 5:12 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 17:12:02 -0500

Perhaps Sgt Kelli Mays community service is a key to veterans making a good transition into civilian life. Most military service members are performing national community service while they are members fonteh military.
Some most likely will want to continue while others are overwhelmed by that experience.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 7 at 2015 5:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 17:34:35 -0500

Do I have to get arrested first? lol

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Dec 7 at 2015 6:16 PM

MSG Wally Carmichael — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:16:51 -0500

I don't know that it's THE key, however, I do believe it is important for all citizens.

The key for my success was setting myself up for success prior to my transition. I started learning new skills in an industry that now allows me to make the best decisions for my family. I can work for someone else or not. I can now just take off and spend time with family without worrying about income and going back to a job. I can now spend more time with community service programs in my community. It's the best choice I made. Oh, and now I get to show others how to do what I've done for my family, while I enjoy my time with my family.

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Dec 7 at 2015 6:24 PM

SGT Christopher Churilla — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:24:45 -0500

I think it can be A key, but not THE key. I think that when a Servicemember decides to get out, they need to have a plan on what they're going to do.

It just so happens I just started volunteering at my local police department, not because it would be a stepping stone but because I thought it was the right thing to do--though the thought of it being a stepping stone did come later.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Dec 7 at 2015 7:28 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 19:28:37 -0500

Anytime you donate time to help others is great, but I think the key to being sucessful is to set your goals towards a civilian career and use the confidence you gained in the military to achieve your goals. Really it's about attitude and confidence. Like Nike, just do it.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 7 at 2015 7:33 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 19:33:18 -0500

I don't think it is "the key", but it is very important to foster military/community relations, which, in turn, can tremendously assist/aid in military transitioning to the non-military community.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 8 at 2015 2:02 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 02:02:46 -0500

It should be a good transitioning tool - helps in networking with the civilian society.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 8:52 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:52:35 -0500

I think that is a highly personal and subjective choice. If you feel compelled to do so then by all means, but I think many folks initially want to find themselves and reconnect with loved ones. I don't personally believe it's key to a successful transition.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Dec 8 at 2015 9:28 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 09:28:36 -0500

I do agree that community service is a excellent way to increase the quality of your life. Helping others is never a bad thing. Anything that makes your life better and more rewarding is going to help with transition...any transition, but especially for those who took value from their service.
Community service is not the only component to a good transition and may not be right for everyone but I think most will find great personal value in it, especially if they are doing for the right reasons...which is not to make their transition into civilian life better.

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Dec 8 at 2015 5:40 PM

MSG Wally Carmichael — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:40:13 -0500

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Dec 9 at 2015 6:19 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 06:19:17 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays I think that their first priority is to their family and surviving the transition or to themselves, so they can survive and not become homeless or stay unemployed, then as a second priority if they came provide help to their fellow veterans through community service that is great. The situation for every veteran coming off active service will be different and my hope is they will transition properly and smoothly (but we know that isn't the case for many), so those of us that have or did transition and we are taking care of ourselves and our families should consider providing additional community service to those of veterans and civilians that can't or didn't. I volunteer all of my spare time in the mornings, evenings, and on weekends to help veterans with PTSD, TBI, MST, and that are severely disabled through a program I truly believe in and encourage all of the veterans and retirees here on RP that have the ability to do the same (as their time permits) and we will make a difference for all future veterans and we may be able to safe some lives in the process. I believe in this more today because I lost a Father-in-law yesterday (December 8, 2015) to suicide. A Vietnam Veteran with PTSD since he returned. We lost another brother, father, husband, and veteran! Let's make a difference all of us!

Response by SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres made Dec 9 at 2015 9:41 AM

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 09:41:40 -0500

Yes, for anyone. Doing good for another, makes you feel good yourself. One of the few universal laws that somehow affect everyone the same in this universe. We need more of it. We need people to be honest with themselves, and ask for help. This is basically the silver/golden rule manifested in a generous deed.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2015 8:54 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 08:54:25 -0500

It's one of many keys, not necessarily the key for everyone.

I would recommend it for most.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Apr 15 at 2017 2:56 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 14:56:23 -0400

Definitely a step in the right dirrction ! I helped at a local soup kitchen off and on and was there s'times when they wer passing out vegetables and other items.. of courseshopppers look for the best looking products.. I went through the items and got veggies that were not the best looking of the whole bunch and made the soup for the day. While that simmered I got some various rolls and other items that didn't look great to the eye.. so I cut them up and took milk and sugar and some fruits like berries and apples and some spices and concocted a bread pudding.. for a dessert. I knew they had a nutritionist and didn't know when she'd be in the house.. she didn't show until near the end of lunch that day..
all she heard was how good the soup and dessert was.. some even took hot cups of soup out (kind of against the rules) s'times restaurants donated soup and demanded any leftover to be discarded .
I wouldn't serve that to an enemy, might get charged with a warcrime.. I think
They added extra salt or s'thing .. it'd be disgusting, that's why I liked making them fresh stuff when I could get there.. the rule about food going out appplied to e'thing.. The rule about when lunch was served was varied by a half hour.. to keep them restaurant snoopers on their toes.. if we moved it around enough they wouldn't pester the destitute and homeless. The health dept. helped us a lot.. there were certain ones (destitutes)we could really trust to be of good hygiene to be servers..
And kitchen helpers.. they had food handler cards.. some only did work that didn't require a knife. We tried to put out fresh soup and what we could get donated for meals.. it didn't always be that way .. s'times the kitchen had to be closed..