Veteran Stigma: "What Does My Country think of Me?"

As if to pour salt on the physical and psychological wounds of millions of America's veterans, a recent trend has emerged in both public pronouncements and privately held attitudes that suggests that veterans returning from the "long wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan pose a security risk to potential employers, fellow workers, and workplace patrons.

"I cannot be open about my post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with prospective employers in light of the Homeland Security debacle," says former Army Sgt. and Iraq veteran Steve Kraft. "It's like a scarlet letter."

The "debacle" Sgt. Kraft refers to is comments made by Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing a section of an April 7, 2009, DHS Report titled "Disgruntled Military Veterans." Among other things, Secretary Napolitano said, "DHS assesses that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans...suffering from the psychological effects of war."

"Having been singled out by the media for attention," Sgt. Kraft said, "Napolitano's statement surely discourages would-be employers from considering hiring veterans applying for jobs, especially in an uncertain economy."

But while the DHS incident lingers in the minds of the public, it isn't the only highly publicized case of veterans stigmatized for their courageous and honorable military service.

A scandal at Penn State erupted in February when the University's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department posted a contentious video on its website. Produced as part of a package to help faculty deal with "worrisome student behaviors," the video depicted an angry young veteran and a professor who felt threatened by him. Unhappy with his grade, the veteran threatens the professor and says he deserves a better grade, "or else."

Former Petty Officer 3rd Class Maggie Kwok, a 25-year-old Chinese-American sophomore and the President of Penn State's Veterans Organization was shocked by the University video.

"I can't believe they made this video about us," recalled the former Navy Corpsman of the incident when it happened.

"Veterans on campus were very upset," said the veteran of Guantanamo and Iraq.

The university responded to the veterans' concerns by removing the video.

And yet, the stigma that veterans face has, as Sgt. Kraft feels, turned into widespread employment discrimination, precisely at a time when getting a job is especially difficult.

Major Matt Tully, a New York Army National Guardsman and an attorney in his civilian life, specializes in fighting the employment discrimination faced by many veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.

"It's a growing problem," said Major Tully, "higher now than at any other time in the past."

According to a 2007 GAO Report, only 1 in 10 veterans file a Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) complaint.

"It used to be that employers didn't know that it was illegal to discriminate against veterans who served in the Reserve or National Guard," said Major Tully. "Now, employers intentionally disregard USERRA."

Due to the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, employers have taken steps to lay off those Reservists who are called up to Active Duty.

"For example, an airline pilot who deploys to Iraq for a year..." said Major Tully, "...has to be retrained upon his return, which costs a lot of money and overtime."

In recent years, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and Justice (DOJ) have taken a much harder stance against the discrimination facing military reservists now that violations are becoming more flagrant.

The growing problem is also being discussed and debated in Congress.

In January 2009, Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D-TX], sponsored H.R. 466, the "Wounded Veteran Job Security Act." If passed, the bill would prohibit "...any employment discrimination or acts of reprisal against any person who has, or who has been treated for, an injury, illness, or disability determined by the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to have been incurred in, or aggravated by, military service."

According to testimony by Congressman Doggett, "...the amount of time required for the treatment of a veteran's service-connected disability exceeds the amount of vacation and sick leave allotted to the veteran. Some employers have viewed this as grounds to terminate veterans, leaving them faced with an impossible choice - whether to continue receiving the treatment that they need or to keep the job that supports them."

But many veterans aren't even able to get a foot in the doorways of potential employers.

Rick Jackson, the Program Coordinator for New York State's "Troops to Teachers Program," is worried that his office will soon shut down.

"School principals have PTSD in the back of their minds after DHS put out their 'terrorist watch' for veterans," said Jackson.

"Many principals seem to have the attitude that 'All these guys [veterans] do is yell and scream and I'm not going to have that in my hallway."

In a labor market that is contracting rather than expanding, seeing the hiring of returning veterans as unnecessarily risky puts those military personnel behind the 8-ball in terms of landing jobs.

For many veterans, dealing with the stigma attached to their wounds isn't something easy to do.

Retired Army Capt. Mark Brogan was severely wounded in 2006 when an improvised explosive devise (IED) blasted his HMMWV ("Humvee") while on patrol in Iraq.

"I'm leery of putting down PTSD or TBI on an application for work or school," said Capt. Brogan. "I am concerned with back-door discrimination."

While former Army Sgt. Steve Kraft applies for federal jobs in New York City, he participates in group therapy for PTSD twice a week.

"It potentially can affect me a great deal if I get a job offer" said Kraft of the growing discrimination against America's veterans.

"The way veterans are being mistreated makes me wonder, 'What does my country think of me?'"

Comments

[kjstjohn]

I feel only gratitude to returning vets.

Military people have a work ethic second to none. And PTSD is treatable--with therapy, jobs, and love. Spread the word.

[gilbot]

Shameful admission: Whenever I see a fit, tailored man with service-style hair I tense up, in a subconscious way. It's only when my rational mind kicks in am I able to relax. Humans wear their exposure to violence like a psychic shroud. To me, it's unmistakable. Maybe I am too soft, but True veterans of ANY age pretty much terrify me.

[gaebolgaes]

a word to all the new vets..thank your lucky stars you are not a vietnam vet. and oh..by the way..you may think you have just fought a war but just wait until you start fighting the DVA and the service review boards. that war will make vietnam or iraq seem like a walk in the park.the bean counters and no ..no matter what guys on the DVA rating boards and the service review boards will tear you a new one.they will fight you every step of the way. what allows them to get away with it are the sorry us senators and congressman. they will not help you.

[anitaj]

Thank you for your sevice to your country. You and the thousands of other veterans who have put your lives and health on the line for this country deserve better.

[eagledavey]

Btw, when I come home next year sometime, if I put down PTSD on any new paperwork I can kiss my current job goodbye.

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

I am sorry.

While I am a proud, liberal democrat who never supported this (or just about any) war, I believe that your service to our country should be commended. Thank you for putting yourself into harms way so that candy-asses like me can sit home and eat bon bons.

Even though I have leftie political leanings, my stock broker (yes, a wealthy liberal) was deployed for over one year in Iraq. He has returned unharmed and is still my broker. Fortunately, he still has his job.

I pray for all the men and women serving this country to return unharmed and to be embraced with open arms by all Americans.

God bless you and your families.

[eagledavey]

Thnx for your concern. The military is truly a melting pot. I dont want anyone feeling sorry for me, though. I firmly believe the good from serving FAR outweighs the bad. If it came down to a choice between losing my job or deploying, I'd give my boss a two minute notice and pack my duffels. I think thats true of most reservists.

[eagledavey]

Where I work veterans are preferred. That doesnt change the fact when I come home from deployment there will be a retraining period where I will be receiving less than forty hours and zero overtime until I pass all the tests I already passed earlier. Btw, most vets have a leg up, since veterans are everywhere, and we look after our own first. You have to learn to take the good with the bad.

[iridium53]

You must work for a government of some sort. They do give Veterans an initial preference.

Some cities will be better for Veterans than others. I live in San Diego, where some 600k veterans live.

I've hired lots of people in the last decade - hundreds of consultants. I'm always on the lookout for young former-servicemen. Especially Marines (Semper Fi, what can I say?).

They know how to lead, they know how to work, they know to focus. They know how to shoulder responsibility. I don't have to deal with their Gen-X issues (surf's up, dude). They know how to manage projects, they know how to do risk management, they know how to do the administrivia. They know how to do after-engagement reviews, they know how to do regular status reports without having to be asked. They know how to work independently with the customer to solve problems. They know how to "phone home" before they get themselves into trouble.

I always give the edge to a former Marine or former Naval officer - or, if they went to college after service, a former mid-range enlisted individual. (We just don't have that many former Arrmy or Air Force folks apply).

[woodsywizz]

Had the same 'No Hire' experience right after DESERT STORM. Did not EVER, EVER, get a call-back for an interview when I put STORM service on the resume or application.

Still haven't hit anyone, stomped off the job, let a boss down. But they only hire when the Vet experience is not mentioned.

Stupid.

Oh, yeah, and thanks for all the non-funding of the VA!

[historymatters]

Trying to scapegoat Napolitano for a DHS report that was commissioned and conducted before she even was confirmed is a waste of time and distracts from the real problem. Veterans are being discriminated against because American society remains bigoted and prejudiced when it comes to mental health issues and mental illness in general. Such discrimination is not unique to veterans. But is made more tragic by the fact that these men and women suffer from PTSD and other stress and anxiety problems as a direct result of their service to this country. It is yet another shameful aspect of the way that the U.S. treats its men and women in uniform.

[NancyStarnes]

Thank you for this enlightening article. We at the National Organization on Disability believe that veterans who are dealing with the physical, mental and psychological legacies of war need more than our thanks for their service. Some of our service men and women transitioning back into civilian life will need intensive, long-term support. Our work with 144 of these veterans and their families through the Army Wounded Warrior Career program has brought the continuing challenge home and we are dedicated to making their return to the community a success. As a grateful nation, we urge everyone to learn more about the unseen wounds of war. Nancy Starnes, Senior Vice President, National Organization on Disability

[PatRyan]

While I can't comment specifically on the PTSD issue, my experience regarding vet employment is exactly opposite of the author's.

In the blue collar trades, a non-com (especially a non-com with commendations from a superior) is an extremely hot property among the skilled trades. As a floor supervisor in a fabrication shop, I always went after the vets first. I usually struck out, as these guys would be hired by a competitor by the time I called them for an interview.

In my civilian world, even those of us who didn't serve are totally aware that the work habits, discipline and knowledge of returning vets puts them at the top of most lists on the capitalistic merits, never mind the patriotism part of the equation.

[olmossy]

You remind me , Military people are " Mission Oriented" , they know why they are there, To accomplish a goal. I found the lack of this in a lot of younger ( non military ) people who seemed to think once they had the job, it was the Supervisor's job to try to get some work out of them.

[research]

Agreed.

I think the fear of health care cost is also a factor.

[lvdragonlady]

Just so you know, this 'trend' started with the vets coming home from V ie t nam.
This is nothing new just very very sad that the government would treat vets this way.
Why do you think there are so many homeless vets? VA does not care, period.

[olmossy]

Ok Congress and President Obama.
How about some sort of reward for anyone who hires a Vet. ( tax break ect.)
Five years of NO taxes for Any retruning Iraq, or Afganistan Vet.
If somthing like this is allready being done, or Anyone has a better Idea
Lets have It.
Time for this country to STEP UP, the soldiers allready have.
My little County in N. Fl. allready waives property taxes on any soldier called up.

[BlackJAC]

And the existing Affirmative Action points accorded to veterans under 38 USC 4212 are insufficient because...?

Nobody's hiring anywhere, dude. Civilians and veterans alike are Sierra Oscar Lima in the job search.

[BluestateGuyInTX]

Every single generation falls for the "pro troop" and "glory" rhetoric that governments use to recruit cannon fodder for wars that increase the power of those rule. Those that fight the wars that benefit those that rule always seem surprised when they come home and realize they were recruited on a lie. Wilfred Owen knew the lie back around the beginning of the 20th century. Now, 90 years later his poem is just as true:

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.

[BlackJAC]

Forget USERRA and 38 USC 4212, there aren't any jobs anywhere for anyone these days. Monster.com simply keeps kicking back want ads for these boiler-room "direct marketing" outfits where state college dropouts who won't shell out the $9 necessary to register a website domain name just to look professional hang outside CVSes in nice suits hawking cheap childrens' trinkets. You have the wonderful moral clarity of Dubya et al regarding Iraq to thank for this.

[KaylaWilliams]

I agree that this is a problem - but don't think it is due to the DHS report. The media has been regularly reporting on violent incidents perpetrated by veterans for years now, without noting that violence rates among military and veterans are actually lower than their civilian counterparts. As an advocate for veterans issues, I regularly struggle with concerns about how to call attention to the very real problems that post traumatic stress can cause without adding to the misperception that all veterans are screwed up.