Posted on May 4, 2019
Has there ever been any serious Federal effort to use disabled veterans and military retirees to support the military?
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I was yakking with somebody on a thread on here a cpl of days ago, and had something I thought interesting get brought up, OK? One of the other guys I'd been yakking with is apparently mil retired, possibly also disabled, I'm not entirely sure...anyway, he, as have I, had wanted to try to contribute to the svcs somehow in a serious volunteer way, so, as I did, he'd looked at the state defense forces (SDFs), the ones that largely fall under that group SGAUS, that I'd sent in here sevl times. Apparently, he pretty much agreed with my thoughts, though, he'd also found that, for total perm disabled, evidently, insurance rules seem to preclude use of mil/vet disabled, esp total perm, from being used by them, I guess due to perfectly understandable state-government liability thoughts of some kind, from what I've gathered. Now I can obviously understand the reasoning behind such thoughts, as well as the bureaucratic caution involved, of course; I merely pointed out to him various other suggestions, many of which he'd also considered himself, like CAP, USCG Auxiliary, JROTC volunteer faculty, Navy Sea Cadets, and Army Volunteer Corps (AVC), which I've sent in here asking about, to see if any of you knew anything about it at all. Which then begged the question I'd thought to send in here: Have any of you ever heard of any serious Federal effort to create a serious Federal body to use mil/vet disabled, of any level, incl total perm, on any serious organized basis, to help with, say, local Reserve/Guard centers, or state armory stuff? I'm obviously well aware of the family MWR stuff, certainly, I've also looked at USCG Auxiliary, esp, being as they have, from what I've gathered, the most in the way of serious usage of an auxiliary for actual operational stuff, I've been really wanting to do it, it's just that my whole total perm disabled thing constantly gets in the way, for myriad reasons. Now, that being said, I'd obviously be more than willing to help, say, the NY Guard (NYG) by us, one of the SDFs, of course, if it could somehow be legally allowed. Though, whether that'd take a Federal or state law, I clearly don't have a clue; my point is, if you all look at the whole border wall thing, or disaster relief/aid, there's also the USPHS, which runs the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) nationwide, which our dentist, who went NYG as a dental friend of his had wanted him to join him in the NY ARNG, had suggested for me. I just wasn't sure if the total perm disabled rules might let me actually do MRC, as I'd obviously possibly need to turn on my clinical license again, which, likewise, I have no clue if it'd also be allowed, as well. He eventually switched from NYG to NY ARNG, as he found he was suited to it, NYG let him go, when NY ARNG picked him up. I know, also, that USCG Aux has a clinical program for licensed clinicians to be able to help at USCG facilities, among other things they allow, like standing real radio watches, helping guard installations, also helping in galleys for cooking, I've seen sites on those aspects as well. My point is, the whole thing just strikes me as rather haphazard and disorganized, only insofar as one has to basically try to search out some mechanism suited to one's background, where one could be allowed to participate. I've just wondered, quite seriously, whether it might make sense to actually try to create an organized mechanism for mil/vet disabled to be able to contribute to the svcs, whether active, Guard, Reserve, whichever, on any serious combined Federal/state organized level, you know? As I'd said, the idea has just been rolling around in my noggin for some time now, it was just that my yakking with that other guy on that other thread kind of crystallized the whole thing for me, prompting me to write the whole question up here for all of you to also try to chew on, so far as possible. I mean, I wouldn't have clue one how to actually organize such a thing, plus, God knows, it'd obviously need manifest help from all of the major disabled-vet groups, of course, as well as other vet groups besides, in addition to Congressional as well as state legislative help. My sole thought is that the whole mil/vet disabled population could represent, if properly organized, potentially, on any serious organized level, as opposed to doing the whole thing piecemeal and haphazardly, a serious potential Federal/state resource that could really be a major possible force multiplier, in terms of being able to contribute experientially to local units, as well as on a serious state/national level, that's all I'm trying to get across. As I'd said, those are obviously solely my thoughts, of course; I'd just wondered if all of you might be able to give any thought to the notion, whether disabled or not. I know there's apparently some sort of mechanism for mil/vet retirees to be able to try to go back in, whether active, Guard, Reserve, whatever, however, the laws for them are different than for those mil/vets who are disabled. Whether one might be mil/vet retired combined with mil/vet disabled, or not, my point is, the whole mil/vet disabled thing clearly seems to preempt one's ability to try to contribute seriously in the fashion I describe, not due to any overt wish to interfere, rather, merely out of, as I'd said, bureaucratic caution as to liability, I've gathered. Maybe I'm reading the whole thing wrong; honestly, I'm not entirely sure, it's just that I've obviously been trying to do something serious to be of such use for years, many of you have doubtless see me write up stuff about me asking about such volunteer stuff; I just thought I'd actually send this in, to try, as I'd said, to crystallize my thoughts about the whole thing, in the hope that you all might see it, and be able to maybe give the whole notion some thought, as it were; that's pretty much everything I've thought of, I'd really be most eager to hear the notions of all of you about the whole thing, if you'd all ever have any time to be able to try to give me any of your ideas, honest, many thanks, sorry this was so long, I just needed to try to explain the whole thing adequately, so as to try to convey what was on my mind, that was all, OK? I'd appreciate any thoughts, plus, if sending this might possibly engender any serious effort or reflection about the whole thing, I just figured it'd be at least of some value, purely for that reason, as well, many thanks, obviously, looking forward to any ideas, no rush, whenever might be convenient, I know this is likely gonna have to be modified and/or shortened by admin, I obviously expect that, I just was uncertain how else to send it in, to try to explain my ideas properly, as I'd said, if it's gotta be shortened a good deal, I completely understand the reasons, by all means, many thanks, once again.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
check out how many retirees/disabled folks work for AAFES, places like Central Issue Facilities, etc.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
That is an interesting idea, I hadn't thought of AAFES, or maybe that other one, the Navy equiv org...that is a decent idea, obviously, many thanks....
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Hi Captain, I might be able to shed some light on the State Defense Force part of your question. I received a medical discharge for shattering my ankle in the line of duty. I can walk alright, but running for more than a minute or two is out of the question. Like you, I didn't want my injury to stop me from serving my country in a time of war, so I joined the New York Guard, which is New York State's State Defense Force.
As SDFs don't deploy overseas (they are bound by federal law to stateside deployments only) we were considered a non-combat unit, and were held to different physical fitness standards than federal components of the military. We basically had to meet height/weight standards as well as be able to fulfill our MOS job requirements, but other than that it was pretty lax. As an example, a deaf person could join, but they wouldn't be able to serve as something like a radio operator or masonry specialist obviously.
They took me in at the rank I left at, PFC, and drilled at a national guard armory. We were technically organized under 53rd Troop Command when deployed, which blurs the lines between state an federal forces a little. Much of my unit was made of disabled veterans and retirees, I'd say at least half actually, so I don't think being either of those things would stop you if you wanted to join, but your state might have different rules for their SDF, so you'll have to double check that.
As SDFs don't deploy overseas (they are bound by federal law to stateside deployments only) we were considered a non-combat unit, and were held to different physical fitness standards than federal components of the military. We basically had to meet height/weight standards as well as be able to fulfill our MOS job requirements, but other than that it was pretty lax. As an example, a deaf person could join, but they wouldn't be able to serve as something like a radio operator or masonry specialist obviously.
They took me in at the rank I left at, PFC, and drilled at a national guard armory. We were technically organized under 53rd Troop Command when deployed, which blurs the lines between state an federal forces a little. Much of my unit was made of disabled veterans and retirees, I'd say at least half actually, so I don't think being either of those things would stop you if you wanted to join, but your state might have different rules for their SDF, so you'll have to double check that.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
I knew about it, honest...I did try, as I think I'd said, to get involved, it was just that the whole total perm disability thing nixed it for me, I'm afraid...I appreciate your having sent that, really, I've also wanted to do USCG Aux, as I'd explained, they seemed closest to what I was looking for, I'd just wondered if there'd been any serious Federal/state effort to create such an entity nationally, that was the main point I was trying to get across, I just wanted to try to explain that aspect, though I did find your description quite interesting, certainly, as well....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
And I just saw what you said about checking again, I'll try, I do find interesting that you have disabled vets...are any of them total perm at all? I'd just thought to ask you that as well, if you might perhaps be able to elaborate at all, no rush, whenever you've got time, of course, many thanks....
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SPC Angela Burnham
Capt Daniel Goodman - We had one gentleman who was 100% service connected for hearing loss, combat related wounds, and PTSD. And he was retired from active duty as well, he was our battalion XO for quite a few years and was a great guy. So yeah, I think it could very possibly work out for you.
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