Posted on Jul 27, 2017
Hello, MG Mark Graham here from Vets4Warriors, I'll be by on Tuesday to chat with you. What questions do you have for me?
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From RP Staff:
RallyPoint is honored to host MG Mark Graham, former commander of First Army - Division West and Fort Carson, for a live Q&A on August 1st, 2017. General Graham began his career in 1977 as a Field Artillery officer and served honorably for more than 34 years. As a brigade commander in California, he was the first Active Duty Army Colonel to command a National Guard brigade in peacetime. During Hurricane Katrina he served as deputy commanding general of Fifth Army, leading evacuation and relief operations. Graham retired as the deputy chief of staff for FORSCOM G-3/5/7.
Today, he continues to serve as the senior director of Rutgers UBHC National Call Center, and Director of Vets4Warriors. Vets4Warriors is an incredible organization that strives to provide 24/7 confidential, stigma free peer support by veterans to Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members, Veterans, Retirees, and their families. Much like many of you have stepped in to help one another via RallyPoint over the past five years, Vets4Warriors’ team works to make sure military members have live access to those who understand at a time of need. The program is available to military members, veterans and families worldwide.
MG Graham is here to answer questions about his military experience, leadership, and the incredible ways Vets4Warriors is changing the game for military members and veterans in need. Please post your questions below!
From RP Staff:
RallyPoint is honored to host MG Mark Graham, former commander of First Army - Division West and Fort Carson, for a live Q&A on August 1st, 2017. General Graham began his career in 1977 as a Field Artillery officer and served honorably for more than 34 years. As a brigade commander in California, he was the first Active Duty Army Colonel to command a National Guard brigade in peacetime. During Hurricane Katrina he served as deputy commanding general of Fifth Army, leading evacuation and relief operations. Graham retired as the deputy chief of staff for FORSCOM G-3/5/7.
Today, he continues to serve as the senior director of Rutgers UBHC National Call Center, and Director of Vets4Warriors. Vets4Warriors is an incredible organization that strives to provide 24/7 confidential, stigma free peer support by veterans to Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members, Veterans, Retirees, and their families. Much like many of you have stepped in to help one another via RallyPoint over the past five years, Vets4Warriors’ team works to make sure military members have live access to those who understand at a time of need. The program is available to military members, veterans and families worldwide.
MG Graham is here to answer questions about his military experience, leadership, and the incredible ways Vets4Warriors is changing the game for military members and veterans in need. Please post your questions below!
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 36
Thanks again for everyone who is currently serving or who has served, and your family members. Thanks too for participating today and for Rally Point for hosting this forum and keeping the conversations going. All the very best. Mark Graham....Land of the Free...Because of the Brave!
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Good afternoon! First I would like to thank Rally Point for hosting this forum and the work they do and for inviting me to join you today. Also, thanks to each of you that served for your service.
I want to start by letting you know a little about the organization I am working with today....Vets4Warriors [login to see]
Vet4Warriors
Discover the Power of Connection
Vets4Warriors is the leading peer support network for a service member, veteran, family member or caregiver who needs to talk to someone who has been through similar situations and can help them get answers to their questions.
Who We Are
Vets4Warriors provides a 24/7 peer support network that any individual in the military community can contact for confidential conversations and trusted solutions to physical, mental or social challenges, before those challenges turn into crises.
Vets4Warriors isn’t a crises or suicide hotline. We are a peer support network staffed by members of the veteran and military communities. Our philosophy is that there are no challenges we can’t help our veterans, military members, their families or their caregivers find the solution for.
We provide a multi-touch and multi-channel service. Clients engage for more than one contact, and there is more than one way to reach us.
What We Do
We provide sustained support to service members, veterans, family members and caregivers through confidential phone, text and online conversation. We are not a single-use resource. Many of the people we help continue to engage with us in an ongoing dialogue that spans months as they work through the challenges that led them to contact us in the first place.
I want to start by letting you know a little about the organization I am working with today....Vets4Warriors [login to see]
Vet4Warriors
Discover the Power of Connection
Vets4Warriors is the leading peer support network for a service member, veteran, family member or caregiver who needs to talk to someone who has been through similar situations and can help them get answers to their questions.
Who We Are
Vets4Warriors provides a 24/7 peer support network that any individual in the military community can contact for confidential conversations and trusted solutions to physical, mental or social challenges, before those challenges turn into crises.
Vets4Warriors isn’t a crises or suicide hotline. We are a peer support network staffed by members of the veteran and military communities. Our philosophy is that there are no challenges we can’t help our veterans, military members, their families or their caregivers find the solution for.
We provide a multi-touch and multi-channel service. Clients engage for more than one contact, and there is more than one way to reach us.
What We Do
We provide sustained support to service members, veterans, family members and caregivers through confidential phone, text and online conversation. We are not a single-use resource. Many of the people we help continue to engage with us in an ongoing dialogue that spans months as they work through the challenges that led them to contact us in the first place.
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As a civilian supporter, I would thank everyone for their service and especially MG Mark Graham for his contributions! I note that I am not sure if this is the proper place to ask this question, but I am encouraged by the questions I read here asking how you might work with other military organizations.
I do not have any experience in the application of military justice. I would like to understand the process and reasoning of military justice and the plight of those American soldiers that are in American prisons for events that occurred in life threatening situations such that it is possible they are innocent or that testimony is in question. I read about them on United American Patriots (UAP) website. It occurred to me other Rally Point military personnel may be interested in this question?
I posted the original question today on ISW, because that information leads me to more questions:
https://www.rallypoint.com/organizations/institute-for-the-study-of-war/answers
Please advise if there are better channels for information and/or the best way to work within the system to help. Thank you for your time and consideration!
I did not want to presume everyone knows about UAP so I added the link here:
https://www.unitedpatriots.org/presidential-petitions
I do not have any experience in the application of military justice. I would like to understand the process and reasoning of military justice and the plight of those American soldiers that are in American prisons for events that occurred in life threatening situations such that it is possible they are innocent or that testimony is in question. I read about them on United American Patriots (UAP) website. It occurred to me other Rally Point military personnel may be interested in this question?
I posted the original question today on ISW, because that information leads me to more questions:
https://www.rallypoint.com/organizations/institute-for-the-study-of-war/answers
Please advise if there are better channels for information and/or the best way to work within the system to help. Thank you for your time and consideration!
I did not want to presume everyone knows about UAP so I added the link here:
https://www.unitedpatriots.org/presidential-petitions
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Join discussions by military members and veterans at Institute For The Study of War. Discover career opportunities and get the answers you need from others with your experience.
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SGT Craig Northacker
My experience from way back when is that there maybe a number of political motivations. If a superior officer or NCO does not like a subordinate for reasons other than performance of duty, then said superior may look for a reason to rub their ego rather than address the situation. The lower ranking person then has an uphill battle. This can be for a plethora of reasons. It also depends upon the nature of the crime, or alleged crime.
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MG Mark Graham
I think contacting a local staff judge advocates office would be the first place to start. Also each service has a senior Judge Advocate as does DoD.
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SGT Craig Northacker
Thanks - back then our JAG used the greenest 2LT's for defense. That was less than awe-inspiring.
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Good afternoon sir! As a junior enlisted soldier who has his eyes set on earning a commission in the future, I have many questions I'd like to ask, but I'll keep it brief. In the few years I have been in the military, I have heard many gripes and complaints, both in and out of the service, about upper echelon leadership failing to look after the troops they command and instead looking pretty for their bosses and colleagues. As a flag officer, how do you personally maintain rapport with the lower ranking enlisted soldiers you command?
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MG Mark Graham
Many ways but one for sure is to get out of the office and visit the units and the service members working so hard every day to be ready. I had a commanders 'Hot Line' that was answered 24/7 and I made myself available anytime based on the severity of the situation. Some senior leaders do breakfasts or lunches with lower ranking service members to "stay in touch". I did multiple things but not in the office. Hope this helped.
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Mr Graham I have a question regarding whether or not I should be a part of this site. I didn't serve in the regular military. I spent 4 years in the Ohio Military Reserves. I didn't take an oath to defend the US Constitution, I took an oath to defend the Ohio Constitution. I don't have a dd214, we were never issued one. My driver's license (Ohio) says "Armed Forces" right next to "Organ donor". There are mixed opinions on whether or not thiat service qualifies as military service.
I'm asking you this question now because if this site does not view State Guard as military service, I will ask you to promptly remove me from the site. I'm not a poser, and I would prefer to bow out of this honorably while there's still time. And I don't want to jumped by service men/women and treated as a fake, wannabe, you know all the names.
Can I get a ruling on this?
With Respect
Scott Born
I'm asking you this question now because if this site does not view State Guard as military service, I will ask you to promptly remove me from the site. I'm not a poser, and I would prefer to bow out of this honorably while there's still time. And I don't want to jumped by service men/women and treated as a fake, wannabe, you know all the names.
Can I get a ruling on this?
With Respect
Scott Born
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SGT Matthew Reid
My opinion is that you served and have every right to be on this sight. Just block the haters!!!!
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MG Mark Graham
If you call Vets4Warriors [login to see] one of our peers will try and help you navigate this.
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PFC (Join to see)
You signed your name on a dotted line just like we did. Your swearing in may have differed from our's but in the end you still served. You took and oath to uphold the laws of your state, that being said, you have a right to be on here just like everyone else.
Do not second guess your service or doubt what you have done is any lower than an active duty soldier or military personnel. Be proud, hold your head up if you are still active congrats keep going, if you are out, congrats as well, you're officially a veteran.
Do not second guess your service or doubt what you have done is any lower than an active duty soldier or military personnel. Be proud, hold your head up if you are still active congrats keep going, if you are out, congrats as well, you're officially a veteran.
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A friend of mine from high school husband served and passed away from cancer. She does not have a copy of his DD-214 to get credit for a federal position, she is a nurse. Aside from requesting a copy from the National Archives, any suggestions to expedite the process?
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MG Mark Graham
Either you can contact Vets4Warriors or she can but we can certainly try to help assist. [login to see] . So very sorry for the loss of her husband and please pass it on to her. Nice of you to assist.
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SGT Matthew Reid
I do appreciate you taking the time to respond Sir. I will pass it on to her. I did serve for many years in In Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, on the Banana Belt. I will text her now.
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I have a question that has been nagging at me for a while. When I was younger and first started searching for a job, I was told "dress to impress" which to me meant suit tie etc..these days, I am told casual dress is acceptable. Isn't it more professional to dress like you want to make a good first impression?
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MG Mark Graham
I think you always do so, but it is key to learn about the culture of the organization you are interviewing with. Never dress down, always up. It is easy once hired if the boss says you do not have to always wear a tie, etc. It is always impressive to see someone who cares about themselves.
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General Graham, Sir I have a question. So I served as both National Guard Infantryman and Active Duty Army Infantryman in the early to mid-1980's. Saw a lot of change and my Wisconsin National Guard unit was among the first to get the new TOW Humvees back then. So now for my question the Civil Disturbance mission of the National Guard always had me a little curious being in the National Guard and now outside looking in. Most of those Infantry units have very little in the way of non-lethal defenses or non lethal approaches to Civil Disturbance management. The choice seems is just the appearance of the National Guard will quell the Civil Disturbance.
All we had back when I was in as far as equipment were clubs and lexan face Shields...........the next choice for escalation was live ammo it seemed. Will NG units ever be equipped with non lethal Civil Disturbance equipment beyond clubs and tear gas or what exactly is the Pentagon thinking there? They are always a last resort so they do not necessarily need the non-lethal stuff? I have always been curious about this and not really trying to open a can of worms or anything.
All we had back when I was in as far as equipment were clubs and lexan face Shields...........the next choice for escalation was live ammo it seemed. Will NG units ever be equipped with non lethal Civil Disturbance equipment beyond clubs and tear gas or what exactly is the Pentagon thinking there? They are always a last resort so they do not necessarily need the non-lethal stuff? I have always been curious about this and not really trying to open a can of worms or anything.
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SPC Scott Born
During my time, 2005-2009 an uprising would have been handled with brain bucket, lexan and batons. In the last 8 years the OHMR mission has changed from 31B to more of a service and sustainment role, ie setting up and maintaining a safe place and atmosphere for ARC to operate from. So I'm not really qualified to answer that question.
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MG Mark Graham
I think the National Guard Bureau or your state National Guard HQ would be the best place to ask. Each state can do different things to include equipment. Certainly we need to ensure our service members are not in harms way without any protective equipment.
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SGT Matthew Reid
If I may inject my thoughts. I agree with MG Graham, that is on your state and you to figure out. SPC Scott Born is spot on. Things happen, that no one ever knows about that on record never happened, that is a Federal thing, your issue is more of a state. Hope that helps!
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Sir, I am an active duty LT and co-founder of a platfrom called OweYaa.com where we link vets and spouses to online project-based internships to help them develop relevant work experience in their transition.
What are the cornerstone issues you see that lead to difficulties in employment and thereby financial difficulties post transition? Do you agree with the statement that a sound financial (meaningful/fulfilling work) standing is the cornerstone to a successful transition?
What are the cornerstone issues you see that lead to difficulties in employment and thereby financial difficulties post transition? Do you agree with the statement that a sound financial (meaningful/fulfilling work) standing is the cornerstone to a successful transition?
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MG Mark Graham
I agree a satisfying job is truly key and can impact health and much more. We at Vets4Warriors offer peer support but connect those who contact us to other organizations then we follow up and check in to see how things are going. I think transition is hard no matter the rank and networking is key in the civilian world for sure and sometimes that is frustrating. Contact us and lets discuss the owrk you are doing.
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