Air Force Veterans Essay

There are so many history stories in history books and on the internet, but the source from people who were actually there is so much better than reading the nonsense. It’s better to hear stories from people who have actually lived and witnessed it rather than just read stories about it. Most students listen better than they read. When you listen to stuff, it sticks in our mind way longer than looking at a book trying to figure out what’s going on. Veterans are an example of this. They tell us stories about the times they were in the training and when they battled, if they did or have already. They have always been an important part of our nation’s history, present, and future. Everyone who went into the military or is currently planning to join has or will have a story to tell. It will be a part of them that they will always remember, the good times and the bad times. So many veterans love telling all the experiences they have witnessed. Thinking of it, it’s not a bad thing; it’s a great thing to be able to say they were actually there. Many students ask what the training is like when they first join the military, although it’s really tough, many still consider going, some even make the commitment to join right after they graduate. Those who do make it, the commitment, are the reason our nation’s history and future is how it is and how

     My grandfather, Larry, served in WWII. He enlisted and stationed at Camp Polk. He went through places like New Guinea and the Philippines during the war.

People often say that freedom is not free and that price has been paid by countless brave individuals. These brave individuals are known as veterans. Veterans should be remembered, respected and honored because of their sacrifices, courage, and patriotism.

First off Congrats on the promotion to a very distinguished rank, part of the elite officers of the Armed Forces. I know it is well deserved. I appreciate the opportunity I was bestowed to meet you and also having my spouse be a part of your leadership team. I wish the best for you and your family as you pursue the next leg of your military

1. A social problem that personally resonates with are veterans that are homeless. This is personally important to me because I am a big believer that if someone goes to protect our country that the country should welcome theses veterans back with open arms to unsure they can adjust back to normal life. To help myself better understand the situation that many homeless veterans face I did a quick google search on the topic. After looking at http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/homeless-veterans-facts/2015/06/17/id/651036/ I learned that PTSD is a huge reason why many veterans end up homeless. They are not homeless because they don't care but rather because they are not able to hold a job due to this disorder.

United States Military personnel that have sacrificed so much for their country have been discarded by the very people that they swore an oath to protect. While there are advocates for our service members, their voice as well of the voice of the men and women in uniform have fallen on deaf ears. There have been attempts to address some of the issues within the Department of Veterans Affairs but they have fallen short of fixing the systemic problems that are covered up on a daily basis. It has been three years since the latest VA scandals were brought into the light by sympathetic whistleblowers and there are still reports of corruption in the highest ranks of the VA and veterans continue to be denied quality health care that they have

“Have you hugged a veteran today?” What about yesterday? most likely the answer is no. Veterans are important to our nations history and future, but we are not very good at recognizing this and following through with our promises. A quote from John Kennedy states that "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." We do not realize the impact they have on our lives today. They protected our freedom, they remind us of how deadly war really is, and most importantly they teach our future generations.

I retain an increased value and compassion toward the military community since this experience. Our society praises and dedicates media to the individuals fighting for our freedom, yet fails to discuss the harsh reality that many veterans face when returning home from war – homelessness, mental illness, relationship failures, and inability to acquire a job. In an essence, our society takes military veterans for granted. We can support and cheer them on while they fight for our freedom, yet we neglect their freedom when they return to the United States. It stands truly heartbreaking how many veterans survive the war, yet find themselves struggling to live in their own nation. At the VA, I noticed that many Veterans, while appearing tough and strong, do not mind discussing their mental health and the components of life they struggle with. I noticed that while the veterans will state where they served and their purpose in the war, they tend to shift the topic away from their service. I am not sure whether this behavior relates to their humble personalities, an inability to discuss military information, or emotional pain. No matter the reason, the “brotherhood” of military veterans remains evident. Veterans connect on a level society will never understand. They are a family that does not discriminate one another based on race, mental health, age, or gender. After

Imagine walking through the front door of your home after a long day of school excited to see your parents. You slam the door behind you, hearing a huge thud and someone scream “Get on the ground!” You are shocked and follow the noise, only to discover it was your father, who had just returned from war just weeks earlier and was diagnosed with a severe case of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The door slamming gave him a flashback of war and he had felt like he was back in service under attack. This is a possible situation for many men and women who have returned home from war or other traumatic experiences during their service. This type of scenario influenced a group of veteran friends who were looking to give

Bam! The sounds of gunshots filled the air. Being used are terrible weapons far worse than we could ever imagine. Hundreds of wounded soldiers scattered across the battlefield. Dozens of casualties. “Why do they do it?” you may ask. “Why do thousands of soldiers risk their lives everyday and go to war just to keep us safe?” They do it for our freedom. Soldiers battle knowing they are protecting this amazing country of The United States of America. These soldiers and veterans have all put their lives in danger doing their job. We as citizens need to thank them for all their hard work, their courage, and their blood, sweat, and tears to achieve the goal of freedom.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is now believed to be a common condition for many active military and veterans who have experienced direct combat. PTSD symptoms can last a lifetime, and are particularly troubling for those veterans from the Vietnam War who have struggled for years to get help (Daniels, Boehnlein, & McCallion, 2015). Bergman, Przeworski &Feeny (2017) note that active military personnel and veterans constitute about half of the overall population, but have a disproportionate number of mental health problems including instances of PTSD. The authors also observe that “ many military veterans and service members may experience symptoms of psychological disorders as well as impairment related to these symptoms, but may

Soldiers are impacted by their experiences in war however; surviving the challenges of war can be rewarding, maturing, and growth-promoting (e.g. higher self-efficacy, enhanced identity and sense of purposefulness, pride, camaraderie, etc.) on the other hand, demands, stressors, and conflicts of participation in war, could also be also be traumatizing for veterans, highly destructive, and cause change in potentially damaging ways; with significant impact to quality of life, well-being, and mental health (Department of Veterans Affairs). Indirect effects of combat veterans PTSD may also occur with family members (Berger, 2015). Writer will discuss combat veterans exposure to stressful events, mode of coping and impact on mental health.

Have you ever seen the loss of hope in the eyes of a homeless veteran? I have and it is an awful thing, knowing a veteran have served time for your freedom and can’t even get their life together. A veteran living on the streets of Louisville feels hopeless and helpless. Having an honorable discharge doesn’t guarantee great job. Signing up for a class is confusing when you are not computer literate. Filling out the right forms and applications to get student aid is a hard and a confusing process, without someone’s help, even for the most experienced computer person. Knowing what you’re good at after working for the military can be a bit confusing. Coming back to civilian life after 4-20 yrs. can be overwhelming. Where do I turn to now? I believe as a combat veteran that struggled with these questions, there needs to be more help for veterans from the community. Getting help with a good job, a better education, and a nice home to live in is what a

When a member of the armed forces returns home from war, or transitions from active-duty to civilian lifestyle there are many repercussions that each soldier must face. Invisible wounds such as PTSD, Depression, Suicide, Anger Issues, Alcoholism, and traumatic brain injury are all issues that a veteran may face when they are going through a major transition in their career. It is important that crisis intervention specialist recognize which invisible wound the veteran is displaying and find the origin in which it came from. It is possible for the veteran to become dangerous if they believe that their everyday life is now a war zone. However, experiences from war are not the only life event that a crisis intervention specialist must be aware of. After serving active duty it may be hard for the soldier to transition into a civilian lifestyle. If a veteran is unable to get a job, a sense of abandonment will become present. This could lead towards feelings of depression, alcoholism, and suicide, even if the veteran never went through a traumatic event while actively serving our nation. Another challenge that is present for the crisis intervention specialist when counseling a veteran is the ability to gain rapport. Often times veterans are unwilling to open up about their pain because they may perceive help from a counselor as a form of weakness. It is vital when crisis intervention specialist are dealing with veterans to take time and develop rapport on a basis of trust,

G was that of personal knowledge. I was able to talk to both Mr G and his daughter, after his anxiety subsided. I got to know how his daughter manages his PTSD and anxiety. She also shared with me some his issues with PTSD such as him getting angry and “panic attacks” in their home. His daughter and I collaborated on effective interventions in their home for Mr. G’s PTSD symptoms. Mr. G shared with me his personal stories and horrors of war. He felt relieved to have a fellow veteran to share this with and was appreciate of the patience and understanding I displayed to