Ask Your Fellow Veteran: What Veterans Wish Civilians Understood

Many civilians have only a vague notion of what it's like to serve in the military. In 2022 171,736 members of the military were assigned to active-duty troops abroad, which led to 0.45% of the American population actively serving. If you include former members of the armed services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as of 2023 there are about 16.2 million veterans in the U.S. Adding veterans to numbers mentioned above1 the active personnel results in 7% of all living Americans having served in the military at some point in their lives. That leaves 93% who may not understand the veteran experience. Let me add that we have 80,000 living here in Suffolk County, and Nassau County has 50,000 living there. The Rivard Report asked veterans from different services, active duty and retired, the same question: What do you wish civilians understood about what it's like to be a veteran? The answers spanned from why it's difficult to return home after military service to how many may not understand what motivates people to serve in the military including the sacrifice required by military families. The military provides its service members with a structured community that goes beyond the work day. From health care to recreational activities to daily rituals and shared values embedded in tasks at large and small, the way of life for a veteran stems from this culture, training, and common experiences of belonging to the larger military community. To go from belonging to a community that fully understands and identifies with you to return to a life where most people are unaware of all that comprises military life can make for a difficult transition for many veterans. It helps veterans when civilians show support and how they care about them. Civilian community service projects help them get to know veterans and that they're not all crazy or suffering from PTSD. Do not forget the veteran family who may have lived in the military community when the veteran was on active duty, or is suffering with the veteran as he tries to get back to civilian life. They too may need help. The family of a veteran may be the only ones who can encourage vets to get assistance when suffering from PTSD or Moral Injury. Those are the ones our clergy should be in contact with to help their veterans. Help is available to you by calling the local VA hospital in Northport, (631) 261-4400 or Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, press 1 to talk to a veteran or have a confidential chat at veteranscrisisline.net or text to 838255. If you have any question relating to veteran problems please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to answer it. Contact us at: drfred72@gmail.com. Rev. Frederick Miller, Ph.D.

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Ask Your Fellow Veteran: What Veterans Wish Civilians Understood