4 New Year’s Resolutions for Veterans Returning to Civilian Life

2013 was a difficult year for many service members who served overseas in combat zones. Those who have returned to civilian life often find it difficult to pick up where they left off and to pursue the goals and ambitions they had before leaving. With the recent arrival of the new year, now is an excellent time for returning veterans to revisit their personal, career and educational goals by committing to one or more of the following New Year’s resolutions.

 

Go Back to School

If you are in the process of transitioning into civilian life after a deployment, you may be finding it difficult to reconnect with the career goals and interests you once had. One of the best ways to get over this slump is tocommit to furthering your education in the coming year. While applying to colleges may seem like a difficult process, there are veteran’s scholarships and services that can assist you through this process. Find a college that will support you through navigating your Post-9/11 GI Bill, which may pay for part or all of your college tuition. If you find the prospect of diving into fulltime education a bit too intimidating, start out with a few online classes, or take night courses just once or twice per week. Odds are, once you find a program you are passionate about, college will seem less intimidating and more exciting, as you will be taking important steps toward a successful and fulfilling new year.

 

Expedite Your VA Claim

It is no secret that the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the midst of a major disability claims backlog. Some veterans have been waiting for two or more years to get an answer, and many have given up hope of ever having their claims resolved. While the claims process may leave you feeling powerless, there are steps you can takethis year to assist in expediting your claim. If you have already applied for benefits, visityour VA Regional Office and meet with someone who can give you a detailed explanation of what is holding your claim up. Rather than calling the VA’s toll-free number, sitting on hold, and receiving very vague information, find out exactly what pieces of evidence are needed to complete your claim. Sometimes by simply submitting a copy of your DD 214 or service medical records, you can move your claim on to the next step. If you have not yet filed your claim, consider applying under the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) program. Under the FDC program, you will submit all evidence upfront and certify that you have no other information to contribute. This allows the VA to move more quickly, as they will not be required to ask you for additional evidence.

 

Help Other Veterans

Adjusting to civilian life after completinga difficult deployment is something that no veteran should have to do alone. Perhaps the most valuable resource veterans have is other veterans who have been through similar situations and are able to offer valuable guidance and support. If you have received this kind of help from other veterans and would like to pay it forward, joining a veterans mentoring program may be the ideal New Year’s resolution for you.According to Time Magazine, non-profit organizations such as the American Combat Veterans of War (ACVOW) are offering mentoring programs by veterans, for veterans, in an effort to prevent the devastating mental health crises that followed other US wars. Consider joining the ACVOW as a mentor in one of their many veteran outreach programs, and make a positive difference in the lives of other returning veterans.

 

Get Mentally Fit

Many use the new year as motivation to improve physical fitness through renewed commitment to exercise and healthy eating. While being physically healthy is very important, mental fitness can be just as essential for leading a healthy and well-adjusted life. Taking care of mental health needs is particularly important for veterans, as a recentstudyby the RAND Cooperation reveals that 18.5 percent of returning service members suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. There are many steps veterans can take to improve their mental fitness in the coming year, and one of the most important of these steps is seeking the help of a professional. Contact the VA Medical Center in your area to schedule an appointment, or take advantage of your mental health coverage under TRICARE. Other important steps toward improving your mental health include physical activity, social interactions, and emotional openness with those who care about you.

 

While the past year was filled with a variety of obstacles for many veterans, there are resources available that can assist service members in experiencing a healthy and happy new year. Consider committing to one or more of these resolutions to improve your life in 2014 and beyond.

 

 

About the Author:

Courtney Smith served two tours in Iraq and is currently a full-time student. She enjoys contributing articles to a variety of military-related publications.

 

*Image by Minnesota National Guard from Flickr Creative Commons 

 

Categories: civilian life, coming year, fdc program, mental fitness, Mental Health, Resolutions, returning veterans, service members, veterans, year

Are US Troops’ Mental Health Issues Being Taken Care Of?

The mental wellbeing of soldiers is often a cause for concern, and it’s not hard to see why; between PTSD and substance abuse, many soldiers face serious wellness risks both during their time in the army, and in the years that follow. Alcohol and drug abuse are frequently linked to record suicides plaguing the military. This is why a blue ribbon committee has released a report urging the Pentagon to acknowledge a “public health crisis” in the growing abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs by US troops. The Institute of Medicine panel have also called for stronger leadership in dealing with the crisis.

 

One of the key aspects of the report is that it highlights how behind the times the Pentagon is in dealing with the mental health problems of troops. Some of the treatment programmes offered to soldiers haven’t evolved since the Vietnam War, and the report calls for these to be brought into the 21^st century. ‘Rather than continuing to use a 20th-century workforce to treat [substance abuse disorders],’ the report says. ‘[The Pentagon] is challenged to structure and staff treatment services for alcohol and drug use disorders for the 21st century.’ The panel has also encouraged the Pentagon to consider better policing of underage drinking and reducing access to alcohol on bases.

 

This follows Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s recent interview with USA Today, in which he said that stronger leadership is required to reduce abuse-related suicides in the military. The panel allows that some military programmes have worked well in encouraging soldiers to seek help, such as an Army experiment in which soldiers were given access to confidential counselling. However, as this programme is only available at 10% of Army installations (six out of 60), the committee has urged that it be expanded to all bases and adopted by the Navy, Air Force and Marines.

 

However, even without the report’s or Panetta’s recommendations, the statistics speak for themselves: new Pentagon figures show that, since the Afghanistan War began in 2001, the rate of prescription medications handed out by military caregivers has skyrocketed. While 2001 saw fewer than a million prescriptions for pain medication, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, stimulants and barbiturates being handed out to troops, Pentagon data shows this number soared to nearly five million last year.

 

The report also contains some shocking statistics. According to the panel, from 2005 to 2008 (which is the latest data available) opiate pain medication abuse increased in the military from 2% to 11%. As the Army has borne the brunt of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the problem in this branch of the military is much worse. In 2008, one in four soldiers admitted to abusing prescription drugs during a one-year period. Alcohol abuse is likewise a problem, with binge drinking (defined as the consumption of five drinks or more in one setting) was found to be 50% higher among service members aged 18-35 than among civilians. Nearly 60% of Marines engage in binge drinking.

 

The question remains, however, is the military ready to make the changes? Dennis McCarty, a public-health expert on the panel, asserted, ‘I think they’re ready to acknowledge that they can do better.’ Commenting on the report, Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said military health officials ‘are in the process of analyzing [the committee"s] findings and recommendations. But most importantly, we want to do the right thing by the service member. If there are areas in need of improvement, then we will work to improve those areas. The health and wellbeing of our service members is paramount.’

Categories: 21st century, Binge Drinking, drug abuse, Mental Health, pain medication, prescription drugs, public health, service members, stronger leadership, substance abuse, Suicide Risk