What do you think are the largest issues facing the Veteran community?

My memory must have failed me... In 1960, I would have been receiving around $85.80 a month!

1958-1962 Enlisted Basic Military Pay Chart
Enlisted pay for less than 2 to over 6 years of service.
Pay Grade Years of Service
Under 2 Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6
E-5 145.24 180.00 180.00 205.00 210.00
E-4 122.30 150.00 160.00 170.00 180.00
E-3 99.37 124.00 124.00 141.00 141.00
E-2 85.80 108.00 108.00 108.00 108.00
E-1 83.20 105.00 105.00 105.00 105.00
E-1 under 4 months 78.00

Not a lot of Social Security earnings power with these rates!

health benefits

enough money to retire securely

Military leadership manipulating/stripping their subordinates' basic self-efficacy – since you first get off the bus. This sets a very unhealthy precedent for the future Airmen of the Air Force. Leadership is about so much more than rank/grade, not to mention the pandemic of mental health issues sweeping the nation. Leadership should be more caring/compassionate towards their troops, not belittle and make them fear repercussions for seeking help.

One of the largest issues that we have within our community is mental health. It is sad to hear that we are losing veterans to suicide or prolonged suicide (substance abuse) more than combat related casualties. The enemy may have been hiding in some building or trench. But after the conflict is over, there is another conflict within our mind. Understandably not not everyone is a combat veteran,but once you get out it is hard to deal with the civilian life because you don't feel like you have any value or people just don't care. Nobody understands you and you feel lonely. It is easy to die but it's hard to live. The dialogue of pain must be heard and listen to. We must be willing radio out that we are hurting and we need help. But we also need to be reassured help is on its way.

Not having more people to connect with for help with more common issues example military common senses and paperwork for the unknown or ignorant

Finding adequate support services including trauma-trained mental health specialists and dental care. Often services available are located at quite a distance away from the service person, so more satellite facilities.

Getting their care within 30 days like under President Trump. My knee surgery was recently delayed again! The medial meniscus was the original problem. The delays have caused a Tear in the Lateral meniscus. Also my teeth fell out because I was on 5 times the recommended dose of opiates. I have had dentures made by the VA that although they fit at the time the front teeth made me look like a chimp. I have had between 5 and 7 sets of dentures. It has taken 6 months to see the VA dentist, after visiting with an outside care dentist. Why does the VA need to confirm what they have already been told? I need implants! Now I believe that I have broken my Humerus in my right arm. I cannot get help through VA. I am tired of them hiring Muslim doctors for our care. If they wanted to kill a lot of people for carrying out their orders these Doctors could commit murder and no one would be the wiser. Plus trying to talk with them is near impossible. Also we know masks don't work, yet the VA is continuing to perpetuate the Covid lies.

A huge lack of respect for decision makers on veterans exposed to herbicide and toxic chemicals. Veterans are dying while it seems all those in power are wanting to do is deny and delay making decisions pertaining to pensions. We were promised that we would be medically cared for after our enlistments . Problems would not show up for years and such answers given were you can’t prove it. Sickening, we give up filing claims and rot and die because of assenting decision making.

The greatest threat to service members today is their elected leaders. Those who would co-opt us for a photo while failing to support us after we leave the service are the worst kind of hypocrite. But, on the other hand, those who demonize us and call us crazy or a danger to society simply because we signed up to do a job feels equally dangerous. I don't know any veteran who leaves the service and feels that the system takes care of them. I appreciate that our government is big and complicated, and the DoD does its best to teach and train service members what life outside the military can be like: but I think that in the end the danger is really that we lose access to those whom we can relate to most. I don't know of any service members in my area much less any who would gather together to talk about anything more than their anger at the VA or larger system. I think it's unfortunate as it's given so many cause to give up, to take more drastic and dangerous paths than they otherwise would've. Our system is failing so many, and our leaders are either unable or unwilling to resolve those issues and until they do, I think we will continue to see these harms growing.