If you had 5 minutes to discuss a veteran issue with your senator/representative, what would you say?

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:42:34 -0500

What are the most important issues? How would you make your argument?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 2:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:47:13 -0500

Jobs, mainly a transition program that would allow soldiers in overstrength areas in the Army to ETS if they are able to hired in a government job. If a soldier is a SPC with 3 years left in the army and will never make points due to his MOS being overstrength and applies to a job at the Dept of Veteran Affairs as an IT guy and gets it. Why not let him do it.

If he is given a conditional job offer I would let him separate from the Army and go into a Reserve capacity to continue his service and start on a civilian career. I would see this as a WIN-WIN-WIN situation. That is one less soldier that would need ACAP services, reduce the overstrength numbers in the MOS to get soldier promoted, and give a quality person to work in the GOV as a civilian.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 24 at 2014 2:46 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 14:46:20 -0500

This is one of the best threads on RallyPoint if you ask me. I hope it runs forever. We are all having difficulties in one area or another. I was medically retired at the height of the surge and it was a nightmare. I lost the career, my home, my credit, and even my family from too much stress. Back then, there should have been legislature in place to freeze creditors from raising interest rates on mortgages and credit cards while we were left to wait on a disability decision. No creditor cares that there is "a big check expected in the mail."

Response by CPO Bernie Penkin made Nov 24 at 2014 3:13 PM

CPO Bernie Penkin — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:13:57 -0500

1. The establishment of concurrent receipt for all percentages of disability.

2. Restructuring of the disability rating scale to reflect actual math and not VA math. An additional 10% of disability will be an actual 10% not 10% of the remaining percentage re-adjusted to 100%.

3. All military retirement should be tax free at federal and state levels.

Once that was all said I would wait wait patienly for the laughter tondie down.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 24 at 2014 3:20 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:20:00 -0500

I think the most important issue is not necessarily a veteran's issue. The issue is the current strategic misalignment among our national security interests, strategy, and resources. I would use historical examples to make my argument:
- During Cold War, the US had a threat based alignment. The threat was the Soviet Union and its allies which drove US actions and response.
- After DS/DS, the US transitioned to a capabilities based alignment. Simply stated, we did not know what the future threat would be so we developed capabilities that we needed to implement our strategy.
- The US now has a budget based strategy. We do not have a global threat like the Soviet Union so we can not be threat based but yet we can not afford or will not pay for the capabilities we need. Therefore we have as much capability and capacity as our budget allows.
Based upon the above, this means that I expect my Senator/Representative to be more interested in doing their job than in keeping their job. This means they need to be engaged on the discussion of what our national security interests, strategy, and resources are and what they should be. I then want them to vote based upon their analysis of these issues based upon what is best for the United States rather than what is best for them personally or for their political party.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 3:43 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:43:14 -0500

The true statesmen of this country are those that have worn the uniform and served. Those that have given their Blood, sweat, tears and life for others to have life, liberty and justice. Please never forget that and never take away what they so righty deserve.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 24 at 2014 3:49 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:49:10 -0500

1) 22 Veterans take their life every day
2) 60,000 Homeless Vets on the street at any given time
3) 150,000 will experience homeless this year
4) 1.5 million at risk and in poverty

The military has a mission and those unable to fill the mission need to transition out. But they should not be lost in transition. PTS(D), TBI, Amputees, Moral Injury, Depression, Self-medication... There are 1.5 million Veterans that need(ed) a better transition from service. Better community partnerships to show that veterans are welcome and appreciated when they come home.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 5:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:31:50 -0500

There are those out here who purport to have the Veterans needs of veterans foremost. They hide inside the bubble of a 501c3 and yet produce no discernible results. Secondly, these agencies need to work together and provide a better solution to homelessness and those who have legal issues that restrain them from finding a home.

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Nov 24 at 2014 5:36 PM

CSM Michael Lynch — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:36:17 -0500

My 5 minutes with them, would address that should they determine that the elderly, veterans, teacher, LEO, Firefighters and any other group that has benefits earned in one aspect or another need to pay more taxes or more for health care or receive less of their benefits "resign". As one politician wrote back to me when I was getting ready to retire, and asked why him and the rest of congress never discuss cutting their lifetime benefits (medical and paycheck) but are so eager to decide that those of us and our parents, grand parents that worked for everything they have and are receiving can live on less in their golden years.

His response to me was that Mr. Lynch during these tough times everyone has to sacrifice for the country. I'm not joking. So below is the rest of my proposal to them and I'll still keep some to my self for future debates(discussions).

If you Senator/Representative really cared about the people and the nation, then introduce a bill that state you and your comrades in politics pay the same for benefits as the people you are forcing to pay more, no more pay for life based on any amount of term(s) you are elected to serve.

If you really want to impress me, then when you start talking about cutting items, funding and programs to save money--- Start with your right and left flank then your 12 and 6 and tell all of them not only are they not getting a pay raise but they are working for the same minimum wage as the rest of the nation they are so pleased to keep in poverty. Just one mans opinion what his Senator and Representative would hear.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 24 at 2014 7:01 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:01:08 -0500

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member Ma'am, what a coincidence, I happen to have exactly the right issue for five minutes of a congressperson's time: the right and responsibility of the "armed forces" of the United States to, in fact, be armed.

The fully developed 5 minute pitch can be found ready for letter composition to representatives, planned for supporters of the measure to email at once at the start of the new congress!
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arm-the-armed-forces

Arm the Armed Forces! | RallyPoint

The outcome of the discussion "Concealed carry for CAC holders?" by [~222148:SGT Bernard Boyer III]. Below follows my skeleton letter to congress, based on the edits RP members have suggested to the 10 points. Anyone and everyone is welcome to edit and personalize the letter for their own use in writing to their congressional representatives. We sent a mass email on 3 January, the swearing in of the new congress, now it's a free for all. You...

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Nov 24 at 2014 11:21 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 23:21:03 -0500

I'd say my 5 minutes would be spent asking questions. What are we doing to combat veteran suicides, PTS, and give proper transition assistance for all service members leaving due to the RIF? Regarding the last point, what specific initiatives are being rolled out to properly educate industry leaders on the skills veterans bring to the table? Entry level offerings by employers are just not acceptable considering the valuable skills we all collect on active duty.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Dec 30 at 2014 11:45 PM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 23:45:08 -0500

I'd talk about how Congress screwed folks like me out of the GI Bill.