...I-Search The Life of a Vietnam War Veteran “Sorry kids, Mr. Watson will not be able to come in this year and talk to you all about his experience of the Vietnam War. It’s too difficult for him, to express the pain he went through during the war and after”. As Mrs. Harvey explain to all of us y Mr. Watson is unable to make it this year I sat there wondering why. What made it so difficult not only for him but for all Vietnam veterans to share their experiences with other people. And I am writing this paper to find what why it is hard for these veterans to share and also what kind of conditions do they go through when coming back home. I am not completely unaware about Vietnam War veterans. I know a few things about life of a Vietnam veteran. For example, I know that they are usually suffering from some type of mental health issue. Also many of them are afraid having cancer due to Agent Orange. I am aware that they don’t like to share stories of the war to society or even close ones. Most importantly, I recognize that these men are going through many problems due to that war. Janda 2 Although I did have a general knowledge of Vietnam War Veterans, I wanted to further enhance my knowledge of the topic. The greatest way I felt to got more edcucated abouit this subject was to interview James Watson, Vietnam War Veteran. I have never really understood the motivation and necessary of their problems. I wanted to know how Vietnam War Veterans becomes so changed due to the war...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
...Facing It Vietnam War veteran, Yusef Komunyakka describes a direct experience into his emotions when he went a visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the poem Facing It. In the poem Facing It, Komunyakka caught my attention because of the title, and how Komunyakka explains the meaning of his title, by the types of speech he has in his poem, and how he describes the wall. Komunyakka’s figurative launuage in this poem drives home the speaker’s feelings and memories that he is encountering at the war memorial, Yusef starts the poem off with an example of visual imagery. He states, “black face fades.” This tells us that Yusef is African American, and it also tells us the key word fades, meaning that he wasn’t the only person affected by the...
Words: 715 - Pages: 3
...military veteran and we were able to be seen at the local Air Force base back home. After I graduated from high school, I too joined the military but my military career was somewhat short lived because I was injured. As a disabled military veteran, I am privileged to use the Veterans Health Administration for my health care. Before transitioning to the civilian life, I did have prior knowledge about the services offered by the Department of Veteran Affairs because of my father, but without him, I wouldn’t have known anything because surprisingly, it was not marketed or advertised while in the military. Without the proper marketing techniques, the Veterans Health Administration could potentially lose out on caring for millions of veterans. Health care reform in the United States has been on the rise and people are constantly looking for ideas on how to improve the system and increase the amount of patients that they provide services for. Health care marketing has been around for some time now and health care organizations often depend on various methods to advertise their services and connect with their patients. As consumers take a more active role in their healthcare decisions, marketers must listen and adapt in order to remain relevant. Many practices, however, are now finding themselves unable to keep up with the changes in marketing technology. Advertising strategies that once worked very effectively are no longer bringing in new patients. The Veterans Health...
Words: 431 - Pages: 2
...Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Unethical Business Practices and their Influence on Veteran Unemployment Chase Jeffrey Engel Georgetown University Abstract Military veterans have consistently experienced high unemployment rates. Challenging veterans’ efforts in finding and maintaining employment is the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Exacerbating this problem, is civilian employers’ utilization of deficient hiring and employment practices. In particular, employers have developed a sense of fear and uncertainty about PTSD. These perceptions often prove to be a reason why employers choose not to select veteran candidates for employment. Additionally, organizations fail to successfully acclimate and socialize new veteran employees (who do or may suffer from PTSD) into the organization’s culture. Such failures can lead veteran employees to quit their job. Together, the deficient hiring and employment practices displayed towards former service members have significant ethical implications that serve as the catalyst for high unemployment rates for the veteran population. To minimize these implications and to improve veteran employment opportunities, organizations’ human resources (HR) departments must develop and incorporate new approaches to hiring and employing veterans who do or may suffer from PTSD. Keywords: PTSD, invisible disability, human resources, implicit bias Post-Traumatic...
Words: 7652 - Pages: 31
...Introduction and Background Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is one of the three major organizations that make up the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The organization was formed on July 21, 1930 and is responsible for administrating financial and other supportive assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors. (U.S Department of Vereans Affairs, 2012) The VBA started off handling non-medical financial assistance such as compensation and benefits, loan guaranty, and life insurance. Back in 1944, the VBA expanded by taking on the education program where veterans are given the opportunity to attend classes and pursue a higher education. With the large amount of veterans discharged from the Iraq starting December 2011 (Cutler, 2011) , the demand to process benefit claims are rapidly increasing and their move for horizontal expansion might be more than they can handle. Education program After the Vietnam War, the DVA proposed a new program to help veterans and their education with the education program. The idea is promising because the benefits included financial assistance with tuition, housing, and textbooks. Realistically, the program had encountered a major issue with the new education program. With the rapid increase of veterans in the past decade, the claims processed could be too much for the VBA to handle. Early in September 2009, the DVA failed to send out “about 227,000 scheduled college checks for those qualifying for the GI Bill education benefits...
Words: 731 - Pages: 3
...The Department of Veterans Affairs Information Management System: Serving those that Served Punefuolemotu E.L. Aiumu Everest University MBA Degree Program Information Management System Abstract I selected this title because I served in the United States Army from 2003 to 2010. I was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and several other operations. However, when I left the Service it became clear to me years later that Veterans Affairs weren’t ready to treat our Men and Women coming back from War. So I did some extensive research on how the system may have failed the people it was supposed to serve. And a good example of the system’s failure was the second Fort Hood incident in 2014. Keywords: Veterans Affairs, Fort Hood, Service The Department of Veterans Affairs Information Management System: Serving those that Served The reason why I chose this subject is because it is close to home and it also affects me. After two weeks of this class I wanted to dive deep into information management. I want to know why our system at the Department of Veterans Affairs do not stand ready to serve the Veteran population of our Nation properly. So many Veterans complain about loss or insufficient pensions because the VA hasn’t track them sufficiently. Sitting at Veterans Hospital in Orlando, FL I hear two Vietnam era Veterans talk about not having VA ID Cards. And they have been waiting for it since 2009. I asked them why it took this long, and they said, “The...
Words: 1987 - Pages: 8
...The United States Department of Veteran Affairs PAD 705 Organization Theory and Management May 12, 2015 Brian Wilson Since an Executive Order in 1930 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been an independent agency dedicated to serving America’s Veterans. “The Department’s mission is to serve America’s Veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to their principal advocate in ensuring that they receive medical care, benefits, social support, and lasting memorials promoting the health, welfare, and dignity of all Veterans in recognition of their service to this nation” (VA 2010). The VA is the second largest Federal department with over 278,000 employees as of 2010. Among these employees are a wide array of professions including; nurses, physicians, counselors, statisticians, architects, computer specialists, and attorneys. The VA is comprised of a Central Office, and field facilities throughout the Nation administered by its three major line organizations: Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration. The services and benefits provided to our nations Veterans are presented through a nationwide network comprised of 153 hospitals, 956 outpatient clinics, 134 community living centers, 90 domiciliary residential rehabilitation treatment programs, 232 Vet centers, 57 Veterans benefits regional offices, and 131 national cemeteries. The Secretary has identified five strategic goals for...
Words: 2178 - Pages: 9
...STRENGTHS • Veteran Staffing • Teamwork Based • Patriotic Spirit • Nationwide Facilities WEAKNESSES • Time Constraints • Excessive Workload • Position Attrition • Economic Budget Constraints OPPORTUNITIES • Benefits Packages • Upward Promotion Mobility • Veteran Outreach Satisfaction THREATS • Privatization • Non Bipartisan Government • Veteran Mortality Rates Working at the Department of Veterans Regional office in St. Petersburg, Florida is a challenging and rewarding career position. This is the third component of the Federal government that I have been employed by and it is by far the most rewarding position I have held. As a disabled veteran, I am already appreciative of the dedication of the employees that helped me with my medical issues when I was going through my examinations and rehabilitation and some twelve years later I was able to join the ranks myself. What is most amazing about working at the Department of Veterans Affairs is that everyone that crosses our paths each day is a brother or sister of our military family. By conducting a SWOT analysis of my position at the Department of Veterans Affairs, I can give a better understanding of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to myself and those outside of my environment which gives an opinion of the employment. The Strengths of being an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs are that” nearly about 57 percent...
Words: 1017 - Pages: 5
...Re-entry back into civilian life Prepared by John Smith Submitted to Jenny Smith, Ph.D. March 11, 2014 Memo Date: | March 12, 2014 | To: | Jenny Smith | From: | John Smith | Re: | A study of veterans re-entry back into civilian life | | | I’m transmitting this report for your review, which was prepared to determine the importance of re-entry back into civilian life, and how this information can have a big impact on our veterans’ livelihood. This study focuses on VA support, VA counseling, and VA rehabilitation. I have looked in all three scenarios to better understand its importance in our veterans, our society, and our well-being as a whole. This report provides necessary actions to take so our veterans can have a positive future, and progress as they return from line of duty. These actions will significantly improve our society likelihood to make better decisions about our veteran’s future. Taking accountability and acknowledging our own role in an encounter with a veteran will immediately get a handgrip and correct our situations for the future. If you have a question or comment, please feel free to contact me at (248) 248-1248. CONTENTS EXECTUTIVE SUMMARY ……………………………………………………………………………………. 1 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 RE-ENTRY BACK INTO CIVILIAN LIFE ………………………………………………………………….. 2 Description of the findings ……………………………………………………………………. 2 Summary of findings …………………………………………………………………………….. 3 BODY...
Words: 4070 - Pages: 17
...Cecilia Perez Ethics and Credibility in Business Communication The Department of Veterans Affairs duties are to provide vital services to veterans. VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) provides health care services, benefits programs and access to national cemeteries for vets and their dependents (VA.gov). There are three main administrative divisions that assist in carrying out its duties: Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and National Cemetery Administration. The Department of Veterans Affairs is to assist military veterans to assure they are provided the care and needs they are afforded when separated from service. Veterans rely on VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) on these services. When a veteran wants to claim any disability through VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) they are given options to whom they want to represent them on filing their claim for disability. Houston Rip-offs of Disabled Vets Leland Spencer a disabled ex-Marine had the Department of Veterans Affairs appoint him an Attorney to handle his claims. This Attorney was Joe B. Phillips who is 72. Mr. Phillips and his wife Dorothy stood trial for conspiracy to commit fraud. They both had embezzled over 2 million dollars from close to 28 reported disabled veterans (Housotn, Chron 2011). Pulling off the largest uncovered VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) rip-off which is responsible for around 3.1 billion in disabled veteran’s assets nationwide (Houston...
Words: 975 - Pages: 4
...The DAGGER OPEN SOURCE INTEL BRIEF is a compilation of news reporting within the previous 24-hour cycle. Included are stories of events that may impact the brigade in its upcoming deployment. AMERICAN NIGHT VISION, LAPTOPS AND SPOTTING SCOPES STOLEN BLUF: Polish news agency reporting a theft of U.S. equipment from a container. SUMMARY: As of 14SEP17, the Radio Muzyka Fakty (RMF24) reported the theft of U.S. equipment from a container in Zagan that contained night vision devices, laptops, telescopes, and range finders. The value of the stolen goods totals at least 200,000 USD. Police stated that the container had not been emptied entirely and that the Wroclaw Prosecutor's Office and Military Police are handling the case. http://www.rmf24.pl/fakty/news-ktos-ukradl-amerykanskim-zolnierzom-noktowizory-laptopy-i-lu,nId,2440331 AN AMERICAN TRUCK HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE A18 MOTORWAY BLUF: Polish news agency reporting of a non-fatal accident involving a U.S. military truck. SUMMARY: As of 13SEP17, Polish news agency Wrocław reported a vehicle belonging to the U.S. Army hooked up on the median rails on the A18 motorway, overturning and landing on its roof. No one was hurt in the accident, but traffic was blocked towards Wroclaw and the German border until the truck was towed away. https://wroclaw.onet.pl/na-autostradzie-a18-wypadek-ciezarowki-wojsk-amerykanskich/1r4jn1f US MILITARY EQUIPMENT ARRIVES IN GDANSK FOR 'COUNTER-RUSSIA' OPERATION BLUF: Russian new reports on that 2-1 ABCT...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...Homeless Veterans (HCHV) The core mission of HCHV is primarily to perform outreach, provided by VA social workers and other mental health clinicians, to identify homeless veterans who are eligible for VA services and assist these veterans in accessing appropriate healthcare and benefits. In addition to its initial core mission, HCHV also functions as a mechanism to contract with providers for community-based residential treatment for homeless veterans. Initially serving as a mechanism to contract with providers for community-based residential treatment for homeless Veterans, many HCHV programs now serve as the hub for a myriad of housing and other services which provide VA a way to outreach and assist homeless Veterans by offering them entry to VA care. Outreach is the core of the HCHV program. The central goal is to reduce homelessness among Veterans by conducting outreach to those who are the most vulnerable and are not currently receiving services and engaging them in treatment and rehabilitative programs. Contract Residential Treatment Program ensures that Veterans with serious mental health diagnoses can be placed in community-based programs which provide quality housing and services. The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homeless Veterans and their...
Words: 268 - Pages: 2
...Operation Continuity: A Resolution for the Veteran Affairs Backlog A Resolution For The VA Backlog Alicia Seabrooks Kaplan University July 16th 2013 How can the problems with the Veteran Affairs compensation claim backlog be resolved and our Veterans be better taken care of? Continuity! Providing some type of transitional continuity of records, especially healthcare records could be the stepping-stone to an overall improvement and solution. This could possibly make it easier for the Department of Defense to have cross platform communication and share data with the VA about those Veterans transitioning out of service. The current backlog is somewhere upward of 600,000 unfulfilled claims, most of which have been waiting in excess of 365 days and counting. By implementing a standard continuity of care for service members transitioning from active or reserve duty status to Veteran status, we can possible save and better protect one of the Nation’s most valuable assets, our former heroes, the American Veteran. The stories of veterans seeking assistance that has been rightfully promised to them are sometimes uplifting and others just heart wrenching and sorrow filled. After doing the legwork and conducting a few interviews, doing some independent research and reading up on proposed solutions I have come across a magnitude of stories filled with so much emotion. These emotions range from despair and hopelessness to joy, appreciation and gratitude to not be forgotten about...
Words: 2445 - Pages: 10
...first started and how it has evolved over the years to become the entity it is today, serving our nations veterans. I will also discuss how the Veteran’s Administration has been plagued with many scandals throughout its existence, from when it was known as the Veterans Bureau during the early 1920’s and also the many issues that the Veterans Administration has dealt with over the years to include those that were involved and their official capacity in wrong doings. This paper will look at how the Veterans administration has tried to make changes to support the increased number of Veterans after many of our past wars and some of the difficulties veterans from the Vietnam War have faced to receive care and benefits that were exposed to Agent Orange. I will also looked at the many problems veterans have faced over the years to include most recent allegation that the VA has gone through since the earlier part of this year and the changes that has taken place to correct the problem. According to an article written by CNN, during the end of the Revolutionary War Congress was supposed to pay those veterans that were disabled during the war, but the service members individual states were left up to the task, leaving only a few thousand to receive any type of payment pay. Congress establishes the Veterans Bureau which was to help administer assistance to veterans of World War I. In 1921 President Harding appointed Colonel Charles R. Forbes as the head of a newly established...
Words: 4780 - Pages: 20
...Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Necessary Improvements the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and United States Department of Defense Must Make Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental anxiety disorder, affects 13% to 20% of armed force members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (Hoge, et. al, 2004), in addition to a large population of Vietnam Veterans. Within the past 32 years, awareness of this disorder has escalated and the realism of the severity of this disorder has been noticed. Efforts to screen and treat PTSD in military veterans have been established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Screening is conducted once military personnel return from deployment and treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Exposure Therapy, and medications are used to relieve the symptoms of PTSD. These screening and treatment methods are evaluated and s suggestion for improvement is made. Necessary Improvements the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Defense Must Make With Regards to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In current political debate, the United States is arguing where budget cuts should be made and how the U.S. should go about spending money. The U.S. military is consistently brought up in these considerations. In such considerations, topics such as downsizing the military and the...
Words: 4896 - Pages: 20
