I Prayed have prayed
Lord, help our veterans transition to civilian life; be their provision. And move this government to assist them adequately.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Military veterans often need assistance when transitioning to civilian life. According to a recent report, our government has been failing to adequately provide that assistance.

From The Epoch Times. Many service members experience difficulties when transitioning to civilian life after leaving the military. A new report has revealed that, during a 23-month period, the Department of Defense (DOD) failed to assist more than 4,000 at-risk troops.

This content is supported by your donations.
Give today.

 

A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Department of Defense (DOD), despite having a policy to assist at-risk service members during their transition, failed to help 4,300 troops between April 2021 and March 2023. This assistance, known as a “warm handover,” is supposed to provide these troops with a person-to-person connection to support agencies, such as the Veterans Administration (VA), to aid in their transition. …

Hundreds of thousands of service members each year make the transition from the military to civilian life, and some are at risk of severe challenges, including homelessness.

Veterans also have a higher rate of suicide than civilians. According to the latest VA report, there were 6,392 veteran suicide deaths in 2021, an increase of 114 from 2020. …

Transitioning to civilian life is challenging for many veterans, whether they are considered at risk or not. …

Jim Whaley, CEO of Mission Roll Call, questioned in an op-ed if the funding increases to the DOD and VA have improved the outcomes for veterans.

“Recognizing that more money does not always mean better results, what can the government do to not waste its resources for veterans? For starters, it can improve the transition to civilian life process from the Department of Defense to the VA,” Mr. Whaley wrote.

He indicated community care and local nonprofits can be tapped to help when the VA fails to timely serve veterans, and partnerships with corporations can help support veteran employment.

Mr. Whaley said the change is never easy for the nearly 250,000 veterans who transition every year and it’s made “even more difficult by a confusing and fragmented system involving both the VA and DOD.” …

The GAO report showed the process is a fragmented one with little accountability, as DOD officials did not analyze why some transitioning troops didn’t receive assistance. The Defense Department also did not have a plan in place to assess if the service members who were provided with a warm handover actually received services from the other agencies or if the veterans achieved a positive outcome. …

Share this article to raise awareness of the challenges our veterans face.

(Excerpt from The Epoch Times. Photo Credit: Lance Reis on Unsplash)

Comments (4) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Amy Harrod
April 11, 2024

In Israel’s history, the men were separated from others for seven days. During that time they talked and listened to each other recount the horrors and tragedies. They cried. They got mad and they recounted and processed all that happened over and over again. That was the best therapy. At some point the rage and sorrow began to diminish. They had each other – friends – for support.

I wonder what would happen if we adopted the same policy in the US? I’m sure our soldiers would appreciate giving it a try.

LORD, I pray we adopt this policy on behalf of our service men and women, in Jesus name.

Pat Blauth
April 8, 2024

Lord I pray that our veterans will get the help they need when they return home to us. Lord you are their provider and comforter. Please see that they remember that and cry out to you. Wrap them in your arms to feel your comfort and remember that you are always with them and will never leave them. You are the Lord God almighty and we need you!

10
C B
April 8, 2024

Pray God, you bless our vets & keep them safe.
Amen

10
Mark
April 8, 2024

Having a daughter currently serving in our military for this great country has truly been a blessing but I’m greatly concerned about many of the leaders in our military following the Woke agenda. Using the military for social experimentation is certainly not what it was designed for. I pray that we may elect leaders that will not only support our armed forces but also prioritize what matters most for our country: things like protecting our citizens and defeating terrorism at home and abroad. I also pray for veterans that have been left behind: the homeless, those with PTSD and those who have suffered severe physical wounds from war.

16

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.