Veteran organizations, are they really helping veterans?

I know first hand of how the American Legion is helping vets. I also know that Project Sanctuary does and has helped members of RP. I have heard good things about Wounded Warrior and Segs4Vets too. Thank you for this thread

I served at the Disabled American Veterans local chapter as a Service Officer for over four years, until headaches from my s/c neck injury got too bad. Our office was renowned in the region for our productivity and effectiveness.

In addition to benefits counseling, I provided pastoral counseling to veterans who were suffering and families who were grieving.

I think that VSOs are extremely dedicated to the cause (of course that varies by organization, personality, region, etc). Keep in mind that this is disabled veterans serving disabled veterans. We do this as a labor of love, because who else but a disabled vet really understands what you're going through?

1SG David Niles This is one of those never ending stories..... MOST VSO's (Veterans Service Organizations) are non-profit organizations. For most of us that means the local organization - the one most of us actually meet - are dependent on the good will and donations of those in our community. Of course, there's the regional organization/group and utlitmately the national organization/group. From the point of the individual veteran the Post (or the local organization) is where the rubber hits the road. If you have an active, working post you may have any of a dozen or more efforts ongoing that focus on veterans, their families and then the local community. Most local organizations utilize a Service Officer that is trained to VA minimum standards updated annually to help veterans, families and survivors obtain the legally mandates benefits from the VA, etc. If you have a well-trained, experienced and motivated Service Officer the rest of the events of the local organization will usually be successful and vibrant. There rests the problem and the solution.... the Post Service Officer can't "brag" about what they do - because it involves the personal lives of other veterans, their families or survivors. BUUUTTTT, those who HAVE been helped by the Service Officer often return the favor - because who DOESN'T want to be part of an organization that takes the time to train and assist someone who helped YOU??? People will volunteer for things because they know the organization has their backs.

However, Service Officers don't do it by themselves. Success always has a thousand hands, that somewhere along the line, helped push things along.

IMO - it's all about personalities. If you have nothing but drunks that just want cheap drinks - you have that stereotypical "smoky bar" with a bunch of crabby old bums that roll in and out, depending on when they have money. I would hazard a guess that those types of Post's will cease to exist eventually - when all the old bastards die off.

There is NO single answer that fits all conditions and situaitions. But there are a few things that make a good VSO standout: (1) Leadership that is willing to roll up their sleeves and walk the walk (2) A focus; whether it's solely a focus on taking care of homeless veterans or a huge focus on TBI, PTS, MTS - it doesn't matter. Pick one thing...and be damned good at it. (3) a properly trained and fully financially backed Service Officer. You can have the most ardent Service Officer in the world - but if he/she is spending hundreds of dollars out of their own pocket for office supplies, etc. you'll find yourself with a Service Officer that's MIA. When it comes to aiding, abetting and making the Service Officer's life a more enjoyable one - a cheap Post will find themselves with a bad reputation and a missing Service Officer. Take care of that Service Officer and you will reap the rewards. Don't get me wrong - you don't need to PAY the Service Officer (most VSO's don't). The great majority of the Service officers do it because they want to help others.

Notice....there's not one mention of a particular group.....you could pick a name and it'd be the same.