Posted on Dec 7, 2015
Do you agree that community service is the key to veterans making a good transition into civilian life?
8.97K
47
26
9
9
0
Transition
Military Life
Civilians
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 14
4
4
0
MAJ (Join to see)
MSG Wally Carmichael
I didn't like President Carter much at the time or looking at the historical record, but Jimmy is damn fine human being and makes this world a better place.
I didn't like President Carter much at the time or looking at the historical record, but Jimmy is damn fine human being and makes this world a better place.
(1)
(0)
3
3
0
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.
(3)
(0)
MSG Brad Sand
CPT Ahmed Faried
Not all are equal, but this will depend on each individual. I think anything you can do to help others is going to bring more value to your life than doing nothing?
Not all are equal, but this will depend on each individual. I think anything you can do to help others is going to bring more value to your life than doing nothing?
(0)
(0)
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.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
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.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I think community service is helpful for college kids, but other than that, it is a personal choice.
(2)
(0)
MSG Wally Carmichael
Gus, as I said, you have a very honorable vocation. I too have saved lives, delivered babies etc. That's an awesome and very powerful feeling to use those skills to do such a thing for people. And when you go out in the community and show your other skills, you inspire others to want to grow up to be just like you. You then get the rare chance to be a mentor, to some who other wise does not have someone like you in their life. Now, would you have that young person pay for that experience from you? Or would being the person who changed a young person's life, who would other wise never crossed your path, be more than enough payment.
I assure you, I learn something from every single person I meet in my community. I get more out of the experience than just money.
Granted, I may have much more time in my day to get out than many. It's now my mission to show others how they to can live like I do. Well, those who want it.
I appreciate and enjoy the dialog and your opinion.
I assure you, I learn something from every single person I meet in my community. I get more out of the experience than just money.
Granted, I may have much more time in my day to get out than many. It's now my mission to show others how they to can live like I do. Well, those who want it.
I appreciate and enjoy the dialog and your opinion.
(1)
(0)
MSG Wally Carmichael
Gus, as I said, you have a very honorable vocation. I too have saved lives, delivered babies etc. That's an awesome and very powerful feeling to use those skills to do such a thing for people. And when you go out in the community and show your other skills, you inspire others to want to grow up to be just like you. You then get the rare chance to be a mentor, to some who other wise does not have someone like you in their life. Now, would you have that young person pay for that experience from you? Or would being the person who changed a young person's life, who would other wise never crossed your path, be more than enough payment.
I assure you, I learn something from every single person I meet in my community. I get more out of the experience than just money.
Granted, I may have much more time in my day to get out than many. It's now my mission to show others how they to can live like I do. Well, those who want it.
I appreciate and enjoy the dialog and your opinion.
I assure you, I learn something from every single person I meet in my community. I get more out of the experience than just money.
Granted, I may have much more time in my day to get out than many. It's now my mission to show others how they to can live like I do. Well, those who want it.
I appreciate and enjoy the dialog and your opinion.
(0)
(0)
SPC(P) Jay Heenan
MSG Wally Carmichael
I volunteer, not as regularly as maybe I should, but I have been recognized in the past. I guess my point it that it is not everyone's thing and that is okay.
I volunteer, not as regularly as maybe I should, but I have been recognized in the past. I guess my point it that it is not everyone's thing and that is okay.
(2)
(0)
MSG Wally Carmichael
SPC(P) Jay Heenan - Agreed. And I'm the same. I don't volunteer as much as I would like. I just know from experience, volunteering is a great way to meet new people, explore other cultures and is a great educational experience. Many things we take for granted in our communities would not get done if it were not for volunteers. Some look at volunteers as people who have nothing better to do with their time. I've met some very influential people in our community who volunteer.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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..
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..
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Sgt Kelli Mays
It's one of many keys, not necessarily the key for everyone.
I would recommend it for most.
It's one of many keys, not necessarily the key for everyone.
I would recommend it for most.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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!
(1)
(0)
Sgt Kelli Mays
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Thank you for Volunteering....and I'm so sorry to hear about your father in law's passing.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
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.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google