Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, IN

Letters to the Editor

July 3, 2012

Veterans: Quality of life

Greensburg Daily News

Greensburg — Dear Editor:

What is Quality of Life for our veterans?

The meaning for most upon returning home is security: Jobs that offer equitable pay with benefits, home ownership and educational opportunities.

Many veterans returning home bring with them acquired skills, skills they did not have prior to entering the military. These personnel are the support groups who maintain and operate equipment.  

They are apart from those whose primary duty is combat. For the most part, they are well trained in job skills.

They are mechanics, builders, electronics technicians, equipment operators, medical technicians, cooks, bakers, administrative personnel; just to name a few skills they bring home.  

Most have attended schools in the military.

For those personnel who do require education, it is available to them through government programs. Programs that offer a variety of productive skills. Veterans Affairs (VA) have counselors to help in their decision making process. Many of these counselors maintain offices in nearly all schools of higher education.

Employers can be eligible for tax break incentives for hiring veterans. Some might say, why give preferential treatment to veterans?  Military personnel of all branches can and often are placed in harm's way. Their main obligation is to maintain our Country's posterity and freedom from oppression as a sovereign nation. They have earned the hard way a right to better quality of life.

Many returning veterans are not without problems, medical and mental. Here again, one other purpose of our VA is to afford its veterans undeniable medical and mental care. All the veteran should need to verify service is their DD-214 proof of military service and discharge under honorable conditions. In the event of being in combat, proof of medals in a combat campaign. For any service connected disability, whether it be combat or non-combat, proof of that disability.  

Military personnel at discharge should make copies of their DD-214, record of awards, record of  duty stations, medical records that could be significant for possible disability medical issues in the future.  If and or when a time lends itself, these records become valuable in making a VA claim. Congress and Senate introduces legislation for VA disability to help veterans. How many of these Bills are stuck in committee? Our best support is the American people to write Congress and Senate, ask them to support our veterans in need for medical care and compensation.

If a veteran needs advice in dealing with the VA, there is help. The VA has veterans liaison coordinators. Other good sources of help are the VFW 1-816-756-3390, American Legion 1-202-861-2700, Disabled American Veterans 1-877-426-2838, Vietnam Veterans of America 1-800-VVA-1316, American Veterans 1-877-726-8387.

These organizations are recognized by the VA and Federal Government. There is no charge for their services. Upon discharge from military service, it is advised to register with the VA to be in the system.

John Bury

Pennsylvania

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