Serving in the military is a huge sacrifice, often demanding that you put yourself in harm's way in service to your country. Voluntary military personnel are compensated with salaries and benefits, up through and sometimes long after initial service.
However, this support sometimes isn't enough to help veterans tackle the challenges they face as a result of their military service. Where are the shortfalls and what can we do to close them?
The Impact of Service
Let's start by taking a look at how impactful military service can be.
Injury and death. One of the most obvious risks associated with military service is injury or death in the line of duty. Military personnel in dangerous areas are often vulnerable to gunfire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), hostile local forces, and more. Every year, military servicemen and servicewomen die, are maimed, or are seriously injured.
Exposure to hazards. People in the military may also be exposed to specific hazards, like asbestos, in the line of duty. Asbestos is a hazardous material that is banned for most applications, but military personnel may still encounter it. It's known to cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer.
PTSD and mental health. Military veterans also commonly struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues. In the course of duty, they may witness close friends dying, they may be isolated from friends and family members, and they may be forced to do things they don't want to do. This can leave a lasting impact on a person, greatly decreasing their quality of life and making them susceptible to depression, suicidal thoughts, and other struggles.
Lifestyle and adjustment. Beyond that, many veterans struggle to adjust to civilian life. It's a radical transition that imposes financial, emotional, and practical challenges "“ and not everyone thrives after making the change.
Unfortunately, current modes of compensation, including both direct compensation and peripheral benefits seem to be inefficient at addressing all of these issues.
Forms of Support
There are some forms of support available to veterans, but there's more that we can do.
Healthcare. The VA provides a variety of healthcare benefits and services that equal or exceed the quality of comparable services in other areas. However, some veterans struggle to get the care they need, and the VA doesn't cover everything.
Mental healthcare. Perhaps even more notably, veterans don't always have access to the mental healthcare they need. Suicide rates among veterans are exceptionally high, in part because there aren't ample resources to help veterans cope with the depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress they wrestle with on a daily basis.
Transitional support (professional and financial). More than half of post-9/11 veterans say that adjusting to civilian life was difficult, and only half of veterans say the military prepared them for that transition effectively. While there are some forms of guidance available to help military veterans find work, establish themselves financially, and readjust to civilian life, this program would benefit from expansion and refinement.
Enacting Change
It's very easy to point out that changes to our current system would be an improvement for the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of our veterans. It's much harder to speculate about the best ways to enact these changes, as each is associated with pros and cons.
For example:
Hazard reduction. Perhaps one of the best strategies would be reducing the number of hazards that veterans are exposed to. The military is an important part of maintaining a safe nation, but being more strategic about deployments and eliminating potential hazards like asbestos could make a big difference in the health and wellbeing of our veterans.
VA benefits expansion. At the same time, we could entertain the discussion of expanding VA benefits. The VA currently covers a wide variety of physical and mental health issues, but its bureaucratic nature can render it somewhat opaque and inaccessible at times. Additionally, many veterans struggle with issues that are not covered by the VA.
Greater compensation. Greater compensation, in the form of higher salaries and secondary benefits, could help to offset the issues that our veterans face. Making more money isn't going to make you forget about a traumatic episode you endured, but it could help resolve some issues and allow veterans an easier course to transition into civilian life.
Voluntary efforts. Of course, we can all make voluntary efforts to support our veterans as well. Prioritizing job candidates with military experience, lending support to local support groups and organizations, and even developing friendships with veterans you know can make an impact.
Most people can recognize that many veterans aren't getting the compensation or support they deserve, but solving this problem is a tricky matter. Consider lending your support to any veteran-affiliated causes that you believe in.