"Recognize our usefulness. We are not charity cases. We are an American asset." - A veteran from Iraq and Afghanistan
America’s “Sea of
Goodwill” in the form of volunteerism still exists … but it’s missing its most
valuable asset: veterans. So claims the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Admiral Michael Mullen, in the foreword of a recent report: All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service.
It makes sense. After
all, veterans are not only armed to the teeth with survival and other
practical, battle-honed skills. They’re also used to laying down their lives
for others. In fact, you could call them “The Ultimate Volunteer.”
That desire to serve, to
give sacrificially for their country doesn’t go away when they’ve traded the
battlefront for the home front. Far from it. In fact, studies show that most
veterans, if given the opportunity, will happily don the uniform of civic
service. After all, these boots are made for walking … not resting.
According to the
aforementioned 42-page report, All Volunteer Force:
From Military to Civilian Service, which was issued by a Washington-based public policy group that surveyed almost
800 veterans, the problem is that no one seems to be giving veterans the
opportunity. In other words, no one is reaching out, welcoming them home and
letting them know they are needed.
“Nearly 9 out of 10
veterans said Americans could learn something from their example of service,
yet 7 in 10 veterans had not been contacted by a community institution, local
non-profit, or place of worship after their return home.”
Ouch. I hope community
organizations, especially churches, are reading this. Or better yet, reading
the report. Because the greatest cure for PTSD may not be spending hours on a
couch unloading their angst to a shrink (if they even get that far), playing “virtual
reality” therapy games or even downing prescription meds. Maybe the only “meds”
our returning heroes need is to know is that they are needed
I’m not just indulging in
wishful thinking here. Neuroscience tells us that improving a person’s civic health
through volunteering can improve a person’s physical and mental health.
And there’s no doubt that the mental health of many—if not most—returning vets
needs to be “improved.” This is especially true for veterans between the ages
of 20 and 24. Their suicide rate is now between two and four times
higher than civilians the same age
At this rate, the number of
suicides among OIF/OEF (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom)
veterans may exceed their combat death toll, a statistic that experts claim “cries
out for both increased mental health care for our veterans and proven
interventions like meaningful service opportunities that increase
happiness and well-being, hopefulness and purpose.”
Of course, nothing
increases one’s sense of well-being and purpose more than a steady job; i.e.,
the ability to take care of oneself and not be a burden to others. Or in the
case of husbands and fathers (and sometimes military mothers), the ability to
provide for your family. Volunteering often leads to job offers, adding yet
another benefit of volunteering—a benefit that is actually twice as
relevant for veterans as it is for civilians. Why? Because the unemployment
rate for veterans who have served in the military since September 2001 has now
outpaced the adult civilian rate, jumping to a whopping 11.3% in August 2009.
What are all the
benefits of a veteran volunteer—both to the veterans and the communities in
which they live? Answer: too many to recount in this blog, which is why I
urge anyone and everyone to read this important report. It’s not just eye-opening,
making us aware of the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical problems
associated with returning vets—it’s also a challenge for each of us to begin
doing something about it. Because now we know we can.
Just as important, the
report outlines practical steps of exactly what we can do to
start. And it also includes stories of veterans who began to reach out to
others as the result of someone else reaching out to them. The one
thing these stories from veterans all have in common is how volunteering in
their communities has helped them heal from “the invisible wounds of war.”
Take Mike Pereira, a
27-year-old OIF/OEF combat veteran. As a PTSD sufferer, he has not let that
disability keep him from giving to others; in fact, he says he’s getting “more
whole” as a result.
“A wounded veteran sets
the example with a higher standard and takes away the excuse of others that
will not or feel they cannot step up. They achieve in the face of obstacle and
that makes them an inspiration to the human heart.”
Now we are left with
no excuse but to turn off our remotes, get off the couch and begin practicing
some purposeful acts of kindness—especially towards our conquering heroes who
might need help in conquering the inner demons of PTSD.
jenni keast
To download and read All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service go to: http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/allvolunteerforce.pdf
To read more about the mental and emotional benefits of volunteering in your community read: Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits: Helping Yourself While Helping Others
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