Introduction
Professionally, Johnson is a construction worker who is relatively skilled at what he does. He has also served his country as a soldier and had to go for overseas missions outside his country. His recent mission was to Afghanistan where along with some of his mates he did a successful and deserved service for the United States of America. Nevertheless, this came at a grueling cost. He has come back home with an injured arm and he is not very sure whether the war torn country of Afghanistan has rendered his injury a permanent one. Since his November 21 return, he has had to struggle through his construction profession and also through his romantic relationship. He has confessed that the changes that have occurred from his long term overseas mission have changed him, most of which is not for the good. He admits that he is not the same person he was when he left for the mission (Verburg, 2010, para.2).
The 21 year old Johnson already has a story to tell, as young as he is. The thing that is interesting is that similar situations await three thousand soldiers who have been deployed from overseas theatres of explosion and exposure of live bullet fires over the last one year, with many of them having had served in Iraq for the last eight months. The question that openly stands to be answered is this one: What awaits our soldiers when they return home from combat or war? It is clear that most of them struggle in their efforts in trying to come to terms with the constantly changing time. Soldiers like Johnson have had to adjust their living styles and this not only affects them but also affects the people that surround them. What are some of the efforts that have been put in place by the government to make sure that these soldiers are as comfortable as possible after they have returned home? After all, they deserve a reward that is of worth considering their service they have done to the nation. This paper tries to look into this issue.
Veterans: Their Mental and Physical Health
The Brigade Combat Team of the 32nd Infantry has been the 2nd largest group of soldiers to be deployed since the Second World War. Despite the preparation that the federal state and the other agencies involved have had in order to make sure that the soldiers have had a safe landing home, some of the problems that they have been experiencing on their return home have been rampant post traumatic stress disorders (Freshour, 2006, para.10). The numbers of divorces that have occurred between 2000 and 2004 in the military have increased by 53% and this has a lot to do with the stresses that a family may go through in these times of deployment. In addition, extension of missions is having a toll on families in a strenuous way. To curb this effect, the military is developing some programs that will help the families that are going through such rough times as these. These programs enable families left behind to first of all understand why the deployment and extension is taking place after which they are taken through other programs that will help them cope with the same. Margaret, a senior director in the Naval Base explains how the staff in the bases has been taken through training courses that will help spouses to the soldiers address the concerns that come about by such sudden departure of their loved ones.
When these soldiers return, it is rather obvious that the stresses that were once felt will reduce. Nevertheless, the imbalances caused by their departure will more often than not have to be minimized further through constant counseling sessions and probable medication. The Veterans’ Centre in every hospital is a division that helps the soldiers who have returned to deal with any physical disabilities that may have occurred during their services overseas.
Veterans and Employment
Another of the strategies that the federal state has employed is the starting up departments of the workforce that veterans can be included in. The government aims at providing job placements and services like free tuition fees for veterans who are willing to pursue tertiary education. It also aims at providing training for specific jobs that fit the current market. It does all this with the aim of making sure that the people leaving the military are given the most comfortable send- off, and in the long run giving the ex- soldiers an opportunity to stand on their own in their native land (Congress Record, 2005, p. 134). Nevertheless, Ken, who runs one of these workforce departments, says vividly that of late, it has posed a challenge to maintain the ex- soldiers in the offices. Increased unemployment rates in the country and the influx of more and more people in the unemployment list has made it impossible to maintain an upward employment rate. Many more employees are trying to reduce the costs of employing more people, while others are retrenching people.
In the normal circumstances, only one out of a possible ten people is getting to secure a job with these departments. Nevertheless, there are individuals like Grant in such departments as these whoa are making somewhat what seems to be a difference. He is helping out the veterans to write proper resumes and trying to link them up with other available opportunities in the job market, or even other educational opportunities. Veterans who apply through theses agencies that Grant offers get a head start in securing opportunities in the market. Most of the veterans are securing more and more jobs in clinic centers for veterans, counseling centers and other similar places. Some of them even get to secure opportunities in these places as part of the team that does paperwork for these companies.
Veterans and the Franchising Business
There are some things that work to the advantage of the experience that the soldiers get even in their lives as civilians: Franchising is one of them. It has been noted that just above 20% of the veterans who have the skill of running businesses are getting into this line of the market every passing day. Franchisors are getting more and more interested in recruiting veterans as employees or as custodians of their business property. The skills, discipline and commitment that the soldiers acquire from the training camps and the war zones find a way to play to their advantage in this sector. There are principles that are also acquired by the veteran that are highly favoring him in the franchising business (Norman, 2006, p.38).
In addition, firms like VetFran, an organization formed to link up different franchisors are swarming with veterans. The link up of more and more franchisors gives a certain needed support system to these franchisors, and since most of them are in one way or the other related, due to military backgrounds, business ends up playing to their advantage. Financial incentives are part of the many important advantages that such systems offer to the veterans. More than 400 veterans are linked up to companies like VetFran, which runs certain programs that help these ex-military men to become better franchisees, giving training that is adequate to enable them handle these business in a better way. Such incentives as loans and discounts are linked with these associations.
Veterans and the Education Sector
Another aspect that the ex-military officer will have acquired from the military training and fighting ground is additional skill and knowledge to help him out in many different ways in the educational sector. It is important to note that even after world war two, there has been an issue about the level of education that the young veteran should be having. The level of discipline in the military has for a long time had an impact on the thinking pattern of many soldiers, especially in the line of education. Studies have shown that since World War 2, there has been as upsurge in the number of men over the next ten years (1945 to 1955) that had at least a year or so of college education. The 55% upsurge was analyzed, most of which ended up being because of students who had a touch of military background in their former lives.
With the introduction of the Veteran Education Act, many more veterans have been attracted towards the education sector and due to the educational benefits that are awarded to veterans; many have ended up being enrolled in college programs. Not only so, but these former military men have been known to sore high in the academic world than other citizens. The shear discipline that they acquire in military training makes them more focused and more resilient even in the tough times in campuses. It is easier for them to wake up early and stay up late working. Ex- soldiers find it easier to read for longer hours, an action synonymous to the long training hours and the long hours of service in the war zones. Not only so but the veterans are becoming top leaders in the school campuses that they are in. Again, due to the training that they have been previously subjected to, the ex- military have adopted leadership skills which are being used in very many colleges. Many have been known to run student organizations, fighting viciously for the rights of the students, without fear.
School administrations are beginning to embrace veterans all the more because of some of the benefits that come with the package. Sandra, an executive director in one of the universities that has openly incorporated some former military men explains that she would rather have had a student body in her school containing at least 50% of veterans. Administratively, the packages that these schools receive from the government is highly attractive and even if the most students who have been through military training never had performed well in high school, the military changes their way of thinking towards being more mature, focused and committed to life’s important issues. (Pope, 2007, para 12).
Minnesota has a national guard’s program that has over the years been working on getting troops to colleges through help initiatives that are given to them. Studies reveal that 23 campuses are being enabled to boost their veteran population on campus grounds to 4800 at the end of the campus year 2006 to 2007.
Conclusion
It is out of m that the country goes an extra mile to ensure that the veterans are treated with a little appreciation. Without them serving in the military, the country will have suffered a great deal within and without its grounds. It is good that the state has gone ahead to make some form of provision for the people who have been through the military and are now at home. Medical care, psychological adjustment, post military employment and advancement in education are the basic needs of a veteran after coming back home. If these are provided adequately, a few more smiles will appear on many military based families across America.
Reference List
- Congress Record. (2005). Government. Congress Record. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office.
- Freshour, R. (2006). Returning Soldiers Bring Joy, Stress to Families. Spark Action.
- Norman, J. (2006). Selling Franchises to Military Veterans. What no one ever tells you about franchising: real-life franchising advice? NY New York: Kaplan Publishing.
- Pope, J. (2007).Veterans is standing tall on campuses. US: Lexis Nexis. Associated Press.
- Verburg, S. (2010). For soldiers returning home, more challenges await. The Wisconsin State Journal.US: Lexis Nexis.