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Started By
Message
OT vets, question for you
Posted on 10/24/17 at 8:52 am
Posted on 10/24/17 at 8:52 am
How hard is it to get assimilated to real life? Why are there so many homeless veterans? Do you help or donate to homeless vets who couldn’t get their life going?
14
Posted on 10/24/17 at 9:09 am to fareplay
quote:
How hard is it to get assimilated to real life?
Depends on what you did while you served. Combat arms may be harder to assimilate based off of what you are doing. It wasn't too hard for me because I'm doing the same thing I did in the Marines now, but just as a civilian. Personally, I miss the people I served with far more than I do serving. Once you get out you don't get the camaraderie and brotherhood like you did while you were in.
quote:
Do you help or donate to homeless vets who couldn’t get their life going?
I've volunteered with the VFW in New Orleans a couple of times. They renovated a house for struggling vets to stay in. They do a really good job of helping vets out if you are interested in volunteering.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 9:15 am to fareplay
Took me anout 6 years to find my niche after I got out.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 9:34 am to fareplay
As far as I know the percentage of vets in the homeless population is lower than the percentage of vets in the total US population.
Many of them claim to be vets because it tugs at your heart strings.
Many of them claim to be vets because it tugs at your heart strings.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 9:35 am to fareplay
I think the biggest hurdle is not job related stuff, but the mentality of the people you interact with. The military is full of all kinds of people, but the underlying current is everyone working for a common goal. You do not find that in the civilian world very often. The motivation is different, from a larger than one’s self mentality to a selfish one.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 9:47 am to touchdownjeebus
As the guy above said, you miss the fraternity of those you work with. I hated some of the politics etc while i was active but looking back i dont even think about the bad parts. I just miss my guys and being partvof a real team.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 9:48 am to prince of fools
quote:
As far as I know the percentage of vets in the homeless population is lower than the percentage of vets in the total US population.
Many of them claim to be vets because it tugs at your heart strings.
This..... I don't know of anyone I served with that I kept tabs on that was ever homeless in fact most live in homes procured with their VA loans.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 10:00 am to fareplay
quote:
How hard is it to get assimilated to real life
From a year long deployment its tough, things and people change, kids are older. Its not easy but I would say I quit reaching for my weapon after 6 months.
quote:
Why are there so many homeless veterans?
After having most things and decisions made or made easier for you then you get out and dont have the right skills to cope with life. Enter booze and drugs.
quote:
Do you help or donate to homeless vets who couldn’t get their life going?
NOLA VFW has a zero homeless vet tolerance in NO. We have an apartment for homeless vets getting on their feet. We have a big network of combat vets that help with jobs and we do service work on vet homes that are in disrepair.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 10:02 am to Packer
quote:
I've volunteered with the VFW in New Orleans a couple of times. They renovated a house for struggling vets to stay in. They do a really good job of helping vets out if you are interested in volunteering.
Thanks man, wish you would join full time, just do what you can no pressure.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 10:16 am to Lakeboy7
quote:
Lakeboy7
You with NO VFW?
Posted on 10/24/17 at 10:22 am to brass2mouth
Yes, very active in 09 (got back from Iraq in 08) and 2012 and 2013 (got back from Afghanistan in 2011). But my practice took off and I'm mainly a financial contributor now, still try to make a meeting when I can. Good group of guys.
This post was edited on 10/24/17 at 10:26 am
Posted on 10/24/17 at 11:09 am to fareplay
I remember when I was stationed out at Camp Pendleten and I got picked to go out one weekend in a van and offer to pick up homeless vets to bring them back to base for food, showers, cloths and help finding a job. We were turned down a lot more than who accepted the help.
Just like the civilian population, some people just don't want to be helped for whatever reason.
Just like the civilian population, some people just don't want to be helped for whatever reason.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 11:23 am to fareplay
quote:
How hard is it to get assimilated to real life?
Not hard for me.
quote:
Why are there so many homeless veterans?
Variety of reasons. No singular one. Many don't take advantage of readily available help, though.
quote:
Do you help or donate to homeless vets who couldn’t get their life going?
If and when I can.
This post was edited on 10/24/17 at 11:24 am
Posted on 10/24/17 at 11:48 am to TbirdSpur2010
I struggled a bit, probably more towards and around my wife and kids than I ever showed anyone outside my home. There's a lot of lost time that can't be made up for and things you never forget after two tours in 05 and 06-07, but I managed and have had a successful career despite it all. There's a lot of great memories and probably just as many bad, but without it I wouldn't be where I am today.
With all that being said, I don't judge anyone who struggles with those demons. There's a reason vets have an extremely high sucide rate at 22 a day. Not everyone is built the same or processes things the same.
There is help out there if they're truly a veteran AND if they truly want it.
With all that being said, I don't judge anyone who struggles with those demons. There's a reason vets have an extremely high sucide rate at 22 a day. Not everyone is built the same or processes things the same.
There is help out there if they're truly a veteran AND if they truly want it.
This post was edited on 10/24/17 at 11:53 am
Posted on 10/24/17 at 12:03 pm to bubba102105
quote:
I don't judge anyone who struggles with those demons. There's a reason vets have an extremely high sucide rate at 22 a day. Not everyone is built the same or processes things the same.
Agree 100%.
quote:
There's a lot of lost time that can't be made up for and things you never forget after two tours in 05 and 06-07
This was the main reason my wife made the decision to separate (I was med boarded). In our first 5 years of marriage we only lived under the same roof for just under half that time (combo of deployments/TDYs/tech schools/being stationed at separate bases for a time).
Posted on 10/24/17 at 12:05 pm to fareplay
I think it's a combination of things. Those seeing combat will definitely have a harder time. It also depends on maturity level and how emotionally stable you were to begin with. I was a 30 year old Infantry PL in 2004-2005. We saw a lot of action. I think those of us around age 30 dealt with it better. The younger guys had a little harder time for the most part. I also think some people like the attention they get from playing the 'woe is me' role. Don't get me wrong, PTSD is real, but I think a lot of people play to it and use it for attention. As for me, I compartmentalize and look at what happened as part of my life. I think about things that happened every day, but I won't let it affect my current life.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 1:28 pm to terriblegreen
Just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all who have served.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 6:57 pm to fareplay
quote:
How hard is it to get assimilated to real life?
Job wise it wasn't that hard, if anything, I found my civilian job boring. As far as relating to the rest of the civilian experience, that took a lot longer. I still find it very mundane at times. I definitely miss always having a group of guys that have my back to roll with. But at the same time, I'm older and don't go out that much anyways.
quote:
Why are there so many homeless veterans?
I wonder how inflated that stat is by young one term guys that couch surf for a while when they get out?
quote:
Do you help or donate to homeless vets who couldn’t get their life going?
Not vets specifically but I participate in a program at my church that prepares food for shelters. I could do a lot more, I know.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 7:00 pm to fareplay
Some may have seen things that will not allow them to lead a normal life, while others may just need a seriously structured life to be productive.
Posted on 10/24/17 at 7:14 pm to fareplay
quote:
How hard is it to get assimilated to real life? Why are there so many homeless veterans? Do you help or donate to homeless vets who couldn’t get their life going?
You make the assumption that pre-vets were assimilated prior to joining up. I don't think that that is the case.....in many cases.
My experience in the army showed me that there are lots and lots of fricked up people in there. People who literally couldn't make it on the outside.
The military takes care of you so that you don't have to make too many difficult decisions.
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