A Deeper Appreciation of Those Who Serve

Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder and president of Give an Hour

Special to Veterans Advantage

On November 11 we will celebrate Veterans Day, a holiday originally called Armistice Day and intended to commemorate the end of World War I. As we know, the war formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.Today Veterans Day is a day for us to honor all of those who have served our country.

It has been over nine years since the attacks of September 11. Our men and women in uniform have been waging war in Afghanistan and Iraq for over nine years, and their families have absorbed the impact of these conflicts—the multiple deployments, the physical and invisible injuries that result. Clearly, our nation wants to support this generation of warriors; yet we continue to see story after story indicating that those who are coming home—and their families—are suffering. Suicide among military personnel is higher than it has ever been and according to some studies, significant mental health issues affect as many as 35 percent of those who see combat. Unemployment rates are higher among returning Veterans than among civilians, and this generation of Veterans is becoming homeless at a much faster rate than their predecessors. In addition, military children are being seen for behavioral difficulties at record rates, and divorce within the military community is on the rise.

We know we must do better, but it has been difficult to determine why current efforts have not succeeded in caring for those who serve. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are spending millions of dollars to address the issues affecting our military. Nonprofits, foundations, private corporations, and Veterans service organizations are pouring money, resources, and time into addressing the needs of those who serve and their families. The current administration has been steadfast in its support of our military community:  our First Lady and Dr. Biden have been tireless in their focus on the issues affecting the men, women, and families who serve. Some of the brightest minds in our country are working to address this growing public health crisis. Yet, thus far, we have been unable to provide the support and services necessary to ensure that those coming home and the families who love them are able to rebuild their lives, raise their children, and realize their dreams.

Our efforts, however, have been successful in some key areas of care. Medical advances have allowed tens of thousands to survive who would have died on the battlefield during prior conflicts. Prosthetic devices are now engineered with impressive sophistication, flexibility, and durability. They allow those who might otherwise be severely disabled and dependent to lead more self-sufficient and productive lives.

In addition, we have greater understanding about the psychological impact of combat on those who serve. Not all who go to war return home with devastating emotional injuries , but all are affected. We know that post-traumatic stress is a natural human reaction to horrific events and that the development of this reaction is neither a sign of weakness nor a defect.  Furthermore, we know that these invisible injuries of war affect every aspect of life, from employment to education to family functioning. And we know that repeated exposure to trauma increases the likelihood of developing severe and chronic mental health symptoms. Sadly, we also know that secondary trauma is a real and potentially devastating phenomenon that can affect family members when the aftershocks of trauma go untreated in a loved one.

We have seen a significant portion of our troops come home with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) owing to the frequent exposure to blasts resulting from improvised explosive devices (IEDS). Although functioning can improve following a mild TBI such as a single concussion, many who come home have had multiple concussions and report ongoing difficulties including problems with concentration, memory, impulse control, depression, substance abuse, anger, and hearing loss. Moreover, many of those who suffer a TBI also experience the distress of other significant mental health challenges.

While we must continue to seek medical advances that will save lives and psychological treatments that will heal invisible injuries, perhaps we should spend more time and energy on efforts that teach us how to effectively communicate our offers of support to Veterans as they come home.  Although we say that we support those who serve—we claim to recognize the sacrifices they make, we regularly applaud them for their courage and bravery, and we proudly display related magnets on our cars and refrigerators—the good will that we feel does not always translate into real services for those in need of care and support.

Many civilians are uncomfortable and awkward around military personnel. We don’t know what to say, what to ask, or how to act. We don’t understand the military culture, and we are afraid of embarrassing ourselves by saying something that seems ignorant or insensitive. Thankfully, some of us are able to push past our discomfort long enough to contribute financially to a cause that supports those who serve. But there is so much more that we could do if we knew how to bridge the gap between our two worlds.  We are the neighbors, the coworkers, the employers, the teachers  who will interact with Veterans as they leave the military community and join ours. We must learn how to effectively share our respect, our concern, and our interest.

The responsibility to close the gap between the military and civilian communities must be shared. Awkwardness and discomfort is evident on both sides. Our military leadership must do more to help those who serve recognize the opportunities that exist for them in our communities. They too must remove obstacles and build alliances with those outside the military who have something of value to offer returning troops and their families.

Fortunately, some of our finest leaders are taking steps to open the lines of communication. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, speaks frequently and compassionately about the need to wrap our communities around the men, women, and families who serve. He is engaging communities in conversation and breaking down barriers to understanding and care. General Peter Chiarelli repeatedly invites civilian leaders to his office and to his home to discuss opportunities for coordination and collaboration. In addition, President Obama’s administration has taken an active role in facilitating gatherings, meetings, and opportunities to improve the relationship between our two communities. We are making progress but more must be done.

Our children are taught the details of every war our country has waged since our nation was born. They spend hours memorizing names and dates, yet few could name the different branches of the military or explain the history and importance of our all-volunteer service. Most of us know little about the average length of service for military personnel, the range of career paths available to them, or the significance of the bars, medals, and patches that adorn their uniforms. Incorporating basic information into our civilian culture would make communication with those who serve much easier. Such a change would also show respect and appreciation to those who fight our wars. It would signal to them that we are interested in their experiences and their sacrifices. It would establish that we stand ready—and are truly able—to understand and assist them when they come home.

Give an Hour, providing free mental health services to military personnel and their loved ones, at www.giveanhour.org.

Editors Note: Give an Hour is a strategic partner of Veterans Advantage. Learn more about our partnership with Give an Hour.

Veterans Advantage is also hosting a special online PTSD Transition Center for its members, with customized news and resources to help in this vital area.