Though millions of Americans paused to remember those who served our country and honor those who still wear the uniform on Veterans Day, our civilian-military divide persists and must be healed. As a proud family member of three generations who wore the uniform, I'm convinced that we can do more to help.
For years now, we have had raging debates over how to separate the war from the warrior -- how to recruit, support, and fund a strong military while debating the policies for which those in uniform will risk their lives. Now more than ever anti-war activists play a strong role in promoting warriors' benefits. Yet recent surveys of military families reveal an ongoing civilian-military divide. For example, a Blue Star Families release reported over 90 percent of military families believe that the civilian communities do not understand their needs nor support the values and dignity that come with a military career. That is an astounding, depressing number. This is not for lack of information -- we have TV, blogs, papers, and magazines devoted to war coverage -- but lack of experience. When less than three percent of Americans are serving, there is a cultural divide. Short of returning to a draft, what is to be done?
First, build on the historic support for military families. Among the Democratic Congress' sterling achievements are bipartisan successes at delivering unprecedented resources to support America's spouses, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends and neighbors who have answered the call to service. Highlights of the massive increase in veterans and military families support for which all Americans should be proud include the Post-9/11 GI Bill as well as legislation addressing caregivers, women veterans, rural veterans, homeless veterans, and their families. In addition, the Obama-Biden Veterans Administration launched an historic effort to combat post traumatic stress syndrome and invest in suicide prevention to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) get easier access to the treatment and benefits they need -- a critical step forward for the health and well-being of those who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all of our nation's wars.
Second, improve access to work and college for returning veterans. Fully funding the HIRE Act credits and Post-9/11 GI Bill of Rights will bring more veterans into workplaces and classroom across America where peer-to-peer interaction will broaden the horizons of civilians who don't know what it's like to engage in modern warfare.
Third, lift up more veterans voices in public policy debates. No war debate should be complete without its veterans weighing in on strategy and policy. In addition, policy discussions like Don't Ask, Don't Tell are enhanced with the vocal experience-based advocacy by veterans gay (Lt. Dan Choi) and straight (Rep. Patrick Murphy/Sen. John McCain). Active Gold Star and Blue Star Families combined with veterans service organizations bring needed perspective to policy choices. We need decisions with veterans not just for them.
Fourth, destigmatize the mental costs of war. At the 2010 Memorial Day Concert, I sat on the Capitol Mall and experienced the crowd's positive reaction to Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen discussing PTSD to the national audience -- a historic cultural and military breakthrough. More of this open discussion will reduce stigma and heal mental wounds of war. We must continue to eliminate combat stress stigma, and support better health care for female veterans including resources to those coping with PTSD and military sexual trauma (MST).
Fifth, pass a veterans budget worthy of their sacrifice. A veterans budget must include proper training and equipment for our troops as they head to battle, health care options to military families, and assistance for veterans and their families when they return home, with an effort to modernize the VA claims processing system. With government spending cuts all the rage among Debt Commissioners and tea party hawks who are occupying ever-more beltway bandwidth, we cannot renege on promises made to military families, nor can we afford to leave any veteran behind.
As the 2010 Veterans Day weekend comes to a close, and hundreds of thousands of military families prepare for next week's Thanksgiving supper with an empty chair at the family table, we should ask ourselves: what will we do to help? Backing up our Veterans Day rhetoric with everyday resources will not only keep our promises but go a long way toward healing our divisions and working together for a safe and free America.
Follow Christine Pelosi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sfpelosi
I think it's a stretch to credit much of this to the current administration, but over the past 12 years or so, The Military and VA support infastructure has improved by leaps and bounds. I have actually been trying to spread the word about what a shame it is that the government thinks they can just throw money at PTSD sufferers and feel liek they have done their due dilligence. Vets dont need cash, we need an outlet. I have discussed, free trips, hunting/fishing licenses, museum and parks passes for all vets. People don't seem to understand how often adrenaline withdrawal is misdiagnosed as PTSD. Vets don't need 200 bucks a month, they need a white water rafting trip or a hang gliding adventure. Although I am thankful for the GI Bill, it really doesn't set vets up for success. It's barely enough, and forget about getting a degree in a resonable amount of time if you have kids and a family. School should be free for vets. Richard Lariviere makes 400k a year at the University of Oregon... for what? He serves no purpose. I think more schools should worry more about contributing to the Yellow ribbon program instead of making millionares out of their useless figureheads. There is a lot of misinformation out there concerning VA benefits, which are targeted at new recruits rather than veterans.
Military officers are 90% Republican, and they tend to be evangelical Christian. Of course they are in position to push these values on their subordinates. I've lived around military bases. The military people tend to watch FoxNews. When the military base provides entertainment at taxpayer expense, it's always country singers wailing about flags and patriotism. The same songs since 9/11/2001.
Don't blame the civilian-military divide on civilians. Most civilians want the military people serving overseas to come home NOW!
The Pentagon has 30 000 public relations people to sell the all war all-the-time propaganda. Let me know when the Pentagon lets a general debate an anti-war person on TV!
Where did you find this absolutely fabricated information? As a veteran, I can personally attest to the fact that this is simply not true. It is more near to 60/40 in favor of democrats. You must have gone to the Obama school of "people will gullibly accept everything I say". The fact of the matter is that the VAST majority of soldiers would rather stay and finish the job than be pulled out, and thats a fact. They watch Fox news because all the other media sources demonize and try to discredit what they are doing... just read some file articles posted on this glorious site if you don't believe me.
The elitist desire to send other people's children to die for profit would be curbed as SOMEONE'S silver-spooned darling would be serving at any time. And everyone else would be motivated to keep the powerful in check, as THEIR children would be potentially at risk as well.
The important point is - no excuses, no free passes.
But having written this ... it does not appear to have worked with Israel.
With nearly 6,000 casualties (could be there by tomorrow) between OIF and OEF are we still a negligible factor?
Perhaps with the military being less-than 3% of the population we become a neglegible factor in the minds of this not so grateful nation.
Some will tell us to suck it up but will not walk a mile in my shoes.
I believe in national conscription--service and sacrifice for all. I don't believe any conscripts should be forced into the military although a portion of conscripts would choose to do so. But everyone should provide national service and also make some financial sacrifice. When we served in the late 60s, the starting pay in the army was $99/month--about 11 cents an hour...1/10 of the minimum wage ($1.25 an hour then).
Beyond the professional military now, we have a very large mercenary force--Blackwater/Xe. I've heard there are more mercenaries in Afghanistan now than soldiers. This is a whole new American story, and it isn't pretty.
We have to reevaluate the whole concept of the military. National defense means protecting the country itself, not corporate interests abroad.
Interestingly, Total Foce and the All Volunteer military, which go hand in hand, were implemented to prevent the abuses of the military which were illustrated and exacerbated during the Vietnam War. I guess we forget.
Incidentally, actual mercenaries fight for the highet bidder, and have no allegiance to any one. They can also walk off a job if they wish.
Military personnel earn retirement through years of service. Veterans who are disabled through their service receive disability payments through the VA.
Those people who are able to serve 20 years, and thus qualify for retirement based on years of service are also eligible for VA to compansate for disabilities incurred in that service. For example: If 20 years in an engine room at sea leaves a Boiler Tech nearly deaf because of exposure to constant high decible noise, he or she will qualify for their retirement through their service, and for the VA disability that their deafness reflects.
HOWEVER, those who are so severely injured that they cannot serve a full tour, such as those disabled in war, or in an accident, do not receive both the retirement earned through service, and their disability. They are forced to choose. It can mean hundreds, even thousands of dollars/month compensation given up. For example; I was forced to retire in 1995 with 19 1/2 years of service. I have been forced to give up about $600/month since. I've paid my share of national debt, the debt of both parents, and I'm now paying back my nieces' liability. ($7k x 15 years = $105k forfeited). My military disability is permanent and debilitating. Please help us.
Pr Chris
As far as civilians are concerned I've never cared for the the bumper stickered, flag waving crowd because , frankly, it's too easy to do. When President Bush allowed the gutting of benefits civilians didn't care. Why? Because they may have bought into the idea that military people made sacrifices but they also were under the impression that the steady paycheck was enough. I heard a congressman tell a TSgt friend of mine that the TSgt had a great life with great restaurants and the life of incredible opportunities and he wished it was tougher for him. I have little doubt this same congressmen was an active shill for "soldiers who sacrifice" when he was campaigning. There's plenty of blame on both sides but all the military member chest beating and utter ignorance of military life by civilians doesn't help a thing. Recruiters are no help.
Thank you for your service Zack.
I'm a Desert Storm Veteran. I came home to parades and celebrations (Freedom Fests).
But I have been trying for years to get my disability benefits.
The "bumper-sticker" patriots are not sincere in "supporting" the troops.
This is a word never associated with our military or our country because it carries a highly charged connotation which we purposely color over with the term "spreading democracy." Parsed or not, that is what we do and it's starting to dawn on people this is just not what America should be doing at all, ever. We set up huge bases (forts,) we hunt down dissidents (rebels), engage in business contracts to secure whatever natural resources we're actually after. Then we install our candidate (puppet government) and do everything in our might to insure the people vote for him. When they don't, our president says "Democracy doesn't always work the way you think it should." No kidding. Let Americans decide what wars we want to fund and the whole civilian versus military issue goes away.