Veterans Continue to Serve

Frank graduated from high school when he was 18 and didn’t know what to do, so he had made the decision to join the Army and become a paratrooper.  During his time he discovered the importance of leadership and taking care of the troops, something that would follow him throughout his life. After attaining the grade of Staff Sergeant (E-6) Frank made the decision to leave the Army. He had bigger plans for his life. He enrolled in college and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. But like few veterans who separate, he went back in the Army as an infantry officer. He later continued his education receiving his MBA to help him advance in his military career. As he rose in the ranks he was finally in the position to make a big difference. By having the experience of being an enlisted soldier he understood the need and importance for training, this is where he excelled.

Once Frank became the commander of a brigade he focused on training soldiers for the changing battlefield. Frank had the task of getting our troops ready to successfully run convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in charge of developing training for the post 9-11 era Army, a huge task to say the least. As he developed this training his goal was to save lives and do his part at getting the soldiers safely home. During the war Frank spent time in theatre helping train the Iraqi Army. The tactics he helped develop had now become an important part of the training in the Army and other Army’s in the world. True to Army form Frank was moved into a position where he   deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the leader of the US Army’s intelligence for that country. Frank retired from the Army in 2013 after 38 years of military service and began his civilian life.

Like most veterans Frank has a heart for helping veterans. He now runs the San Bernardino County Department of Veteran’s affairs. He took the reins from one of the most respected members of the county. In this position Frank has 9 veteran representatives and several office staff who help San Bernardino county veterans apply for their benefits among other duties in the largest county in the nation, another huge undertaking.

In fiscal year 2014 the San Bernardino County Department of Veteran’s affairs Franks office has helped Veterans and their families navigate the system and secure 4.8 million dollars in tuition waivers for San Bernardino county residents for college. The county Veterans Department also helps with securing earned benefits for veterans, helping them work through the red tape of the Veterans Administration’s system. The department has helped find housing for 166 homelessness veterans this year working with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement program HOPE team. The deputies in this program seek out homeless veterans and send them to the county veterans department for help. The help does not stop there, the office helps those of the past who have fallen. They have helped get headstones for 3 veterans buried without one, and acts on behalf of veterans who have passed without families among other issues. While talking to Frank we discussed benefits that I was unaware of, one included low income pensions from the VA for eligible veterans. The biggest program Franks department offers is the veteran ID program. This ID allows veterans to receive a 10% discount at any business that displays the County of San Bernardino Veteran – Friendly Business sticker in their window.

Frank is not alone, he is like many veterans and continue to serve the community in many ways. A majority of non-profits that cater to veterans are controlled by veterans themselves. Veterans are trained and taught to leave “no one behind”. We are there for each other, and many veterans and their families continue to serve our veteran brothers, sisters, and community once they get out. At times it is just one veteran neighbor helping their veteran neighbor navigate the VA system. We help each other. To those veterans who are out there hidden in the background, please come forward and grace us with your wisdom and knowledge. With so many veterans in the United States struggling to survive we need all hands on deck. Check your local community to see if there are veteran programs available and get the word out about their existence.  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Veterans Continue to Serve

Frank graduated from high school when he was 18 and didn’t know what to do, so he had made the decision to join the Army and become a paratrooper.  During his time he discovered the importance of leadership and taking care of the troops, something that would follow him throughout his life. After attaining the grade of Staff Sergeant (E-6) Frank made the decision to leave the Army. He had bigger plans for his life. He enrolled in college and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. But like few veterans who separate, he went back in the Army as an infantry officer. He later continued his education receiving his MBA to help him advance in his military career. As he rose in the ranks he was finally in the position to make a big difference. By having the experience of being an enlisted soldier he understood the need and importance for training, this is where he excelled.

Once Frank became the commander of a brigade he focused on training soldiers for the changing battlefield. Frank had the task of getting our troops ready to successfully run convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in charge of developing training for the post 9-11 era Army, a huge task to say the least. As he developed this training his goal was to save lives and do his part at getting the soldiers safely home. During the war Frank spent time in theatre helping train the Iraqi Army. The tactics he helped develop had now become an important part of the training in the Army and other Army’s in the world. True to Army form Frank was moved into a position where he   deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the leader of the US Army’s intelligence for that country. Frank retired from the Army in 2013 after 38 years of military service and began his civilian life.

Like most veterans Frank has a heart for helping veterans. He now runs the San Bernardino County Department of Veteran’s affairs. He took the reins from one of the most respected members of the county. In this position Frank has 9 veteran representatives and several office staff who help San Bernardino county veterans apply for their benefits among other duties in the largest county in the nation, another huge undertaking.

In fiscal year 2014 the San Bernardino County Department of Veteran’s affairs Franks office has helped Veterans and their families navigate the system and secure 4.8 million dollars in tuition waivers for San Bernardino county residents for college. The county Veterans Department also helps with securing earned benefits for veterans, helping them work through the red tape of the Veterans Administration’s system. The department has helped find housing for 166 homelessness veterans this year working with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement program HOPE team. The deputies in this program seek out homeless veterans and send them to the county veterans department for help. The help does not stop there, the office helps those of the past who have fallen. They have helped get headstones for 3 veterans buried without one, and acts on behalf of veterans who have passed without families among other issues. While talking to Frank we discussed benefits that I was unaware of, one included low income pensions from the VA for eligible veterans. The biggest program Franks department offers is the veteran ID program. This ID allows veterans to receive a 10% discount at any business that displays the County of San Bernardino Veteran – Friendly Business sticker in their window.

Frank is not alone, he is like many veterans and continue to serve the community in many ways. A majority of non-profits that cater to veterans are controlled by veterans themselves. Veterans are trained and taught to leave “no one behind”. We are there for each other, and many veterans and their families continue to serve our veteran brothers, sisters, and community once they get out. At times it is just one veteran neighbor helping their veteran neighbor navigate the VA system. We help each other. To those veterans who are out there hidden in the background, please come forward and grace us with your wisdom and knowledge. With so many veterans in the United States struggling to survive we need all hands on deck. Check your local community to see if there are veteran programs available and get the word out about their existence.  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Veterans Continue to Serve

Frank graduated from high school when he was 18 and didn’t know what to do, so he had made the decision to join the Army and become a paratrooper.  During his time he discovered the importance of leadership and taking care of the troops, something that would follow him throughout his life. After attaining the grade of Staff Sergeant (E-6) Frank made the decision to leave the Army. He had bigger plans for his life. He enrolled in college and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. But like few veterans who separate, he went back in the Army as an infantry officer. He later continued his education receiving his MBA to help him advance in his military career. As he rose in the ranks he was finally in the position to make a big difference. By having the experience of being an enlisted soldier he understood the need and importance for training, this is where he excelled.

Once Frank became the commander of a brigade he focused on training soldiers for the changing battlefield. Frank had the task of getting our troops ready to successfully run convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in charge of developing training for the post 9-11 era Army, a huge task to say the least. As he developed this training his goal was to save lives and do his part at getting the soldiers safely home. During the war Frank spent time in theatre helping train the Iraqi Army. The tactics he helped develop had now become an important part of the training in the Army and other Army’s in the world. True to Army form Frank was moved into a position where he   deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the leader of the US Army’s intelligence for that country. Frank retired from the Army in 2013 after 38 years of military service and began his civilian life.

Like most veterans Frank has a heart for helping veterans. He now runs the San Bernardino County Department of Veteran’s affairs. He took the reins from one of the most respected members of the county. In this position Frank has 9 veteran representatives and several office staff who help San Bernardino county veterans apply for their benefits among other duties in the largest county in the nation, another huge undertaking.

In fiscal year 2014 the San Bernardino County Department of Veteran’s affairs Franks office has helped Veterans and their families navigate the system and secure 4.8 million dollars in tuition waivers for San Bernardino county residents for college. The county Veterans Department also helps with securing earned benefits for veterans, helping them work through the red tape of the Veterans Administration’s system. The department has helped find housing for 166 homelessness veterans this year working with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement program HOPE team. The deputies in this program seek out homeless veterans and send them to the county veterans department for help. The help does not stop there, the office helps those of the past who have fallen. They have helped get headstones for 3 veterans buried without one, and acts on behalf of veterans who have passed without families among other issues. While talking to Frank we discussed benefits that I was unaware of, one included low income pensions from the VA for eligible veterans. The biggest program Franks department offers is the veteran ID program. This ID allows veterans to receive a 10% discount at any business that displays the County of San Bernardino Veteran – Friendly Business sticker in their window.

Frank is not alone, he is like many veterans and continue to serve the community in many ways. A majority of non-profits that cater to veterans are controlled by veterans themselves. Veterans are trained and taught to leave “no one behind”. We are there for each other, and many veterans and their families continue to serve our veteran brothers, sisters, and community once they get out. At times it is just one veteran neighbor helping their veteran neighbor navigate the VA system. We help each other. To those veterans who are out there hidden in the background, please come forward and grace us with your wisdom and knowledge. With so many veterans in the United States struggling to survive we need all hands on deck. Check your local community to see if there are veteran programs available and get the word out about their existence.  

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Veterans Using College to Compete for Jobs

A veteran getting a job when they separate from the military is imperative to their wellbeing. Where the job prospects are improving, veteran’s unemployment is still a problem. There are surveys that state 70% of employer’s steer clear of veterans for fear of PTSD or the veteran acting like they are in “Boot Camp”. To me this is appalling and a black eye for our country. Veterans are not asking for a handout, they just want a chance to prove themselves again. The media has done an excellent job at making veterans look like they are damaged. Veterans are not broken, we are strong with allot to offer to any employer willing to hire us. Many newer veterans are using their post 9-11 education benefits to help compete for employment or starting their own businesses because they can, which will greatly benefit our society.   

About two years ago I needed some work done on my truck. I pulled into a shop, a young man walked out and started to talk to me about what I needed repaired. Since I am a retired old timer and still have a base sticker on my truck he asked me about my service, he proceeded to discuss his two tours in Iraq like he has known me all of his life. Like many veterans we started talking about our service. He had just gotten out of the military and was running a shop owned by his dad. We started discussing in depth what he wanted to do for a new career. He stated he wanted to go to college.  Like most who get out of the military he was struggling to understand the bureaucracy of the Veterans Administration (VA) benefits system, including his education benefits.

We spent an hour talking about benefits. I encouraged him to look into using his post 9-11 education benefits where he could get paid while going to college.  He asked several questions and I answered as best I could. I suggested he call the school he wanted to attend and talk to them, they know all of the ins and outs. I offered my story and how I used my benefits to attain my Master’s Degree in psychology. I also asked if he had filed a claim for his service connected complications. Like many he said he hadn’t because he had friends that were allot worse off than him and he did not want to ask for a handout. We continued to discuss his situation, I gave him some information and where he could go to file a claim. He fixed my truck and I went on my way.

I stopped by from time to time to say hi and see how he was doing. Later I needed some work on my car, so of course I went back to him. He has reasonable pricing and was a Vet so he gets my money. When I saw him he appeared happy to see me. He told me he had filed a claim with the VA and was waiting for the results, he also had chosen a school to get his business degree. He wanted to continue running his dads shop and possibly all of them in the future, so a business degree fit right in.

From what I am seeing, todays veterans are struggling to find employment and are attending college in droves. Many are trying to gain an upper hand in the job market. I just hope the 70% of employers who steer clear of veterans start looking at the benefits of hiring veterans and allow them to compete in a fair competitive job market.    

Many veterans are still struggling with employment issues. One of the main problems seen in today’s workforce is the civilians do not understand veterans. Less than 1% of today’s US population has served in the military since Iraq and Afghanistan started. That translates to very few veterans being in the position to hire veterans. Many veterans do not understand how to put their leadership, logistics, and teamwork on a resume.  The few veterans who do the position to hire veterans know and understand, but many civilians don’t.  Many veterans are using their post 9-11 benefits to go to college to become competitive, others are starting their own businesses, some are doing both. Many veterans get certain preferences when starting a business. What I would like to see is veterans supporting veteran businesses, and older veterans mentoring the younger ones. We are the 1% so we need to help each other thrive.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.