2014 is just the beginning! How can you help Veterans?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 22:57:05 -0500

Is there anything you plan to do this year that will help alleviate the problems suffered by homeless veterans and veterans suffering PTSD and so on?  I have some plans that are pretty interesting to help and I hope you can help in some capacity. Our World War II veterans are dying off quickly and this includes the beloved Retails who should us what courage is,  considering their own barriers.   I have talked to one of the senior offices with the Tuskegee Airman and they plan to send a veteran or family to help us with Veteran's causes.  This is going to be a great year for veterans and it will be us,  not the government that gets this done. Thanks again and Happy New in 2014!!!

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 31 at 2013 11:03 PM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 23:03:23 -0500

I agree totally Larry and would be very interested to hear what you have planned and what assistance you would need from other vets or SMs alike.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jan 2 at 2014 3:59 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:59:43 -0500

I'm currently working with two other organizations to host an event to highlight the service of Post 9/11 Veterans here in Pittsburgh. We are hosting this event at the historic Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall with a keynote address by CSM (ret) Bart Womack's who just released a book titled "Embedded Enemy" which takes a look at the events surrounding the Soldier-on-Soldier attack that occurred on Camp Pennsylvania in March of 2003. After his address, we will open the floor to other veterans to share a story. Our goal is to get veterans talking and connecting with their brothers and sisters-in-arms here in the area as well connecting their families.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2014 6:05 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 18:05:53 -0500

One of my personal goals is to ensure active duty, reserve, and veteran service members are aware the VA has substantially changed and is reaching out to provide helpful information about behavioral health problems, treatment benefits, and where to refer friends, colleagues, partners, and family members:

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/info/about-us.html

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/veterans.html

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/clinicians.html

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/info/get-help.html

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/where-to-get-help.asp

• http://maketheconnection.net

• Veterans Crisis Line: [login to see]

• http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/military-sexual-trauma-general.asp

• Military Sexual Trauma Crisis Line: [login to see]

AboutFace: How this site works - National Center for PTSD

AboutFace is a website dedicated to improving the lives of Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, Veterans can learn about PTSD, explore treatment options and, most importantly,

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2014 6:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 18:08:12 -0500

Larry, I would like to pose a question back to you: Why do you think that homeless people are disproportionately veterans? It is devastating that those who gave so much could have so little to show for it. Do you think it's about war injuries, PTSD, or less-than-honorable discharges making them unemployable? Or are people who were already having trouble affording college and/or finding work "marginally" more likely to join the military, and more likely to have trouble finding work once they get out? Perhaps if we find the reason, we can more readily provide assistance.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 19 at 2015 2:49 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 14:49:22 -0400

I often question what benefits that they are getting, and I give them a PTSD Recovery paper I wrote.