Veterans: Quality of Life - Salem-News.Com

(MEDIA, PA) - What is Quality of life for our veterans? The meaning for most upon returning home is security. Jobs that offer equitable pay with benefits, home ownership, education opportunity.

Many veterans returning home bring with them acquired skills. Skills they did not have prior to entering the military. These personnel are the support groups who maintain and operate equipment. They are apart from those whose primary duty is combat. For the most part, they are well trained in job skills. They are mechanics, builders, electronics technicians, equipment operators, medical technicians, cooks, bakers, administrative personnel; just to name a few skills they bring home. Most have attended schools in the military.

Those personnel who do require education, it is available to them through government programs. Programs that offer a variety of productive skills. Veterans Affairs (VA) have counselors to help in their decision making process. Many of these counselors maintain offices in nearly all schools of higher education.

Employers can be eligible for tax break incentives for hiring veterans. Some might say,why give preferential treatment to veterans? Military personnel of all branches can and often are placed in harms way. Their main obligation is to maintain our Country’s posterity, freedom from oppression as a sovereign nation. They have earned the hard way a right to better quality of life.

Many returning veterans are not without problems, medical and mental. Here again, one other purpose of our VA is to afford its veterans undeniable medical and mental care. All the veteran should need to verify service is their DD-214 proof of military service and discharge under honorable conditions. In the event of being in combat, proof of medals in a combat campaign. For any service connected disability, whether it be combat or non-combat, proof of that disability. Military personnel at discharge should make copies of their DD-214, record of awards, record of duty stations, medical records that could be significant for possible disability medical issues in the future. If and or when a time lends itself, these records become valuable in making a VA claim. Congress and Senate introduces legislation for VA disability to help veterans. How many of these Bills are stuck in committee? Our best support is the American people to write Congress and Senate, ask them to support our veterans in need for medical care and compensation.

If a veteran needs advice in dealing with the VA, there is help. The VA has veterans liaison coordinators. Other good sources of help is the VFW 1-816-756-3390, American Legion 1-202-861-2700, Disabled American Veterans 1-877-426-2838, Vietnam Veterans of America 1-800-vva-1316, American Veterans 1-877-726-8387. These organizations are recognized by the VA and Federal Government. There is no charge for their services. Upon discharge from military service, it is advised to register with the VA to be in the system.

John Bury represents both his interests and those of military veterans, with an emphasis on the U.S. Navy, and specific interest in health-related issues stemming from Agent Orange contamination; a rampant problem affecting so many who didn't necessarily have the deadly chemical dropped on their heads while fighting in Vietnam's jungles. John was onboard the USS Sacramento (AOE-1) a fast combat support ship from Oct. 1967 to Feb. 1972, making four deployments to Vietnam waters.

Now an activist and writer, John lives in the aptly named Pennsylvania city, Media, where he continues to seek justice while becoming a larger and larger voice of the movement. John has a college degree (AS) Management from Delaware County Community College, and he taught disciplines of engineering at Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. When he isn't writing articles, performing research or rallying support for his fellow military veterans, John enjoys fishing; he is an amateur artist, and also spends time gardening and traveling. You can write to John Bury at Email: johnb1936@verizon.net