VA overhaul staffing

COL Tom Wilkinson — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 16:53:44 -0400

I think we, as veterans, should contact our CODEL and demand that the VA be staffed (with exception of doctors and healthcare professionals) with ONLY veterans! If you did not serve, you cannot work at the VA!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 25 at 2015 5:10 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:10:21 -0400

To play Devil's Advocate.

What about Spouses? What about Dependents?

Just because someone didn't serve, doesn't mean they don't have a vested interest, which I believe is why you are suggesting an exclusionary policy.

Furthermore, what if the most qualified, by far, just never served? Sometimes you need someone "outside" to look at a situation to tell you how stupid something is.

Drawing a parallel to the Napoleon's Corporal concept. If a policy cannot be handed to a "layman" to be understood, how can we expect "experts" to understand it?

Response by SGT Eric Dziekan made Aug 25 at 2015 5:29 PM

SGT Eric Dziekan — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:29:46 -0400

In theory it would be a good idea to hire vets. But to find enough qualified / certified vets to fill all of the staff positions would be quite the challenge.

I have a lot of experience with a couple of VA hospitals and clinics and for the most part have had really good service, except for one NP a long time ago. They are doing pretty well promoting the vets that I can see here.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Aug 25 at 2015 5:30 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:30:14 -0400

So what your saying is only veterans are only good enough to work there in non health care roles? I'm sorry but that is wrong. I have had multiple stays in the VA I had exceptional care from the staff some never served others did. By only staffing the VA WITH Veterans except doctors we are sayi mg civilians arnt good enough. Doesn't that drive the us from them mentality further?

Response by SGT Eric Dziekan made Aug 25 at 2015 5:40 PM

SGT Eric Dziekan — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:40:31 -0400

Finally something that makes sense.

Response by PFC Al Sethre made Aug 25 at 2015 5:46 PM

PFC Al Sethre — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:46:14 -0400

My first gov't position was at the VA as a contract specialist. Yes, they should focus on hiring veterans, but be cautious. They should focus on hiring more younger generation veterans straight out of college that need a helping hand, instead of majority military retirees that they hire now. One thing I frequently saw was that their workloads never really kept up with the younger employees, and they took about 3x more leave than others. Another thing I saw, was when their disability claims finally went through and they had a generous income coming in (military pension + 50% disability + gov't salary), some really stopped caring about their work.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Aug 25 at 2015 5:55 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 17:55:18 -0400

Need to hire people that can do the job not just by Veteran Status. Best Qualified gets the job!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 6:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 18:00:21 -0400

There does need to be something done to fix the VA. I'm not sure that all employees be Vets or family of Vets. But how about we at least make a majority of the big decision people vets. People with the experience to understand the impact of their decisions. I don’t mean, picking the one head guy to be a veteran, like General Shenseki. He wanted to make things better but was able to make it happen. More veterans involved in the oversight and planning would be a good idea. You need civilians in the mix to keep it balanced.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Aug 25 at 2015 6:49 PM

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 18:49:05 -0400

Be careful what you wish for. I have found some military folks more hard core than civilians when it comes to understanding a veteran's needs. Some military see things as "suck it up cupcake." Conversely, when we do hire not just military but civilians alike, hire the best qualified and ensure we trained them to do their job. I was at my local VA and they have several new veterans filling in many vacancies. They are horrible at it. It's not their fault, but the fault of their supervisors and managers. I don't take out my frustration upon them because I can see they don't understand or know. I usually track down their supervisor and cite the regulation that I'm trying to accomplish and the supervisor usually helps out. And when they too are incompetent, then I work my way up, documenting names and times.

You mention with the exceptions of doctors and healthcare professionals. I know of at least one civilian doc working for VA who was upset in an e-mail to his peers that a soldier was complaining about a knee issue, when the soldier played college football and spent 20 years in the Army without any documented complaints until now.

I know many civilian and military docs working for VA that do a Yoeman's job for us veterans. Unfortunately, its their facility, VISN (Veterans Integrated Service Network) and VA Central Office leadership that ties the clinicians' hands.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 12 at 2022 8:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:23:07 -0500

What the VA and us veterans absolutely need is a timeline of certain important events. For example, if a person rates at 100% life insurance is provided free by the VA, but you have a two year window to apply for it after leaving the service. Nobody told us that. Nobody told us about the VA Caregiver Program either. A veteran told us about the program.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2022 8:56 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:56:01 -0500

we will see better days including politically