Posted on Aug 24, 2022
One Native veteran's new mission: Fill in the gaps of VA care on his reservation
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https://www.npr.org/2022/08/24/ [login to see] /native-american-veterans-health-care-military-service
When Jestin Dupree got out of the Army in 2014 after 17 years, he was tired.
"I ended up doing five tours of duty overseas. I went to Bosnia in 2001, Afghanistan in 2003, Iraq in 2005, Iraq in 2007. And then [Iraq] again in 2010," he says, "My body was ... the 'check engine' light came on."
He moved home to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana, but things didn't calm down for him right away. He got on the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribal Council there, and even went to Washington, D.C., to testify before the Senate about VA care for Native vets. He was invited to serve as one of 15 vets on the first-ever VA Secretary's Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. That was around the time he realized that he'd been trying to help his people without taking the time to help himself.
"I guess I've been so busy ... getting out of the military diagnosed with PTSD myself, I haven't been able to seek care," he recalls.
And when he tried to get the care, he says, it wasn't easy.
When Jestin Dupree got out of the Army in 2014 after 17 years, he was tired.
"I ended up doing five tours of duty overseas. I went to Bosnia in 2001, Afghanistan in 2003, Iraq in 2005, Iraq in 2007. And then [Iraq] again in 2010," he says, "My body was ... the 'check engine' light came on."
He moved home to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana, but things didn't calm down for him right away. He got on the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribal Council there, and even went to Washington, D.C., to testify before the Senate about VA care for Native vets. He was invited to serve as one of 15 vets on the first-ever VA Secretary's Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. That was around the time he realized that he'd been trying to help his people without taking the time to help himself.
"I guess I've been so busy ... getting out of the military diagnosed with PTSD myself, I haven't been able to seek care," he recalls.
And when he tried to get the care, he says, it wasn't easy.
One Native veteran's new mission: Fill in the gaps of VA care on his reservation
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Native Americans
Native Americans
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"What is Vava doing for Native American veterans?
VA is committed to ensuring that Native American Veterans and their families are able to utilize all benefits and services they are entitled to receive. Native American Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans."
"What is Vava doing for Native American veterans?
VA is committed to ensuring that Native American Veterans and their families are able to utilize all benefits and services they are entitled to receive. Native American Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans."
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