On Thursday May 24th, 2012, I was invited to a round table
discussion with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Retired General Eric
Shinseki. There was considerable build
up for this meeting. Various individuals representing the Albuquerque VA as
well as Veterans Resource Center representatives from the University of New
Mexico called to confirm and re-confirm my attendance. Delivered by mail was a list of events as
well as a flyer discussing the recent changes at the Veterans Resource Center.
To prepare for my meeting I reached out and asked for advice or suggestions on
things I should discuss. My request was met with replies ranging from benefits
to disability claims as well as problems with education allowances and the GI
Bill. I noticed lots of confusion in
regards to resources as well as examples of problems with the “system”; the big
brother black cloud that has delayed us all at some point in our lives.
My friend Michael Wissemann, an a Army Nurse Corps officer
and my company commander in Germany, suggested I say “Sir, I deeply admire the
honesty you displayed during congressional hearings. It took a moral courage
rarely displayed by senior DOD officials to state that we would need
significantly more troops than projected by then Sec Rumsfeld. So I need to ask
you sir, boxers or briefs?" A link to that is here: http://youtu.be/a_xchyIeCQw - I had to laugh at his response.
My friend Eve said “Discussing Education and Benefits seems
all encompassing...Really what the VA can do - is take care of the claims
backlog…It takes claims reps months to get veteran's files/records so that they
can make an accurate determination of disability. Turn it around on him, Mika.
Ask him what he thinks the biggest issues are and where and how can we apply
pressure on the Hill to facilitate change. I never just complain or bring up
issues... I always offer solutions. Ask him specifically for me, what would he
have vets advocates do to help the VA?”
What Eve said struck me. I needed to come to the table
prepared with solutions, not just a list of complaints. Everyone knows there is
a backlog of VA claims, there is a desperate need for more manpower and that
while the post 9/11 G. I. Bill is amazing, there are still problems. My friends
Shawn, Kellie, Genna, Heidi, Andrea, Myke and Rachel had all outlined problems
and I owed it to them to find solutions and present them. So I did my research.
I talked with Patricia, a VSO representative from DAV whom I think is a very
educated individual, and I spoke with UNM veterans center representatives who
understood all the rules to the 9/11 G.I. Bill and Chapter 33. Then I read
speech after speech and every news release I could in regards to the both
disability claims and education benefit challenges. I typed up four pages of broad based problems
and 4-5 possible solutions for each.
I have to admit I was excited and slightly nervous about
attending the round table discussion. I showed up on time (15 minutes early,
some things never change). I sat outside
the conference room with a few other veterans I knew. Of course we waited an
hour for a meeting between Shinseki and the University representatives to be
completed, and then we were ushered to our carefully placed nameplates.
As I tried to take a seat and organize my notes I was greeted
by VA officials asking if it was ok for my picture to be taken with Shinseki
and if I would be available to be interviewed by reporters after the round
table. I agreed and noticed that others were not approached. It is times like
this I think that my face or positive demeanor is mistaken for one that won’t
discuss tough topics. I can only laugh;
they obviously don’t know me very well.
The meeting started with Shinseki greeting us and shaking
each of our hands before starting the discussion. I scanned left and right and
saw that there was a wide range of veterans present. I think there were 14 total
in attendance. Around the outside of our table there were seats for the
representatives of various senators not in attendance as well as different VA
officials and university representatives.
As I scanned my peers I noticed that only a handful brought paper and
only I had prepared notes.
Shinseki opened by discussing the GI Bill (also known as the
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944), the various degrees obtained by using
this benefit and the challenges he faced when returning to college after Vietnam.
He discussed the ability for veterans to have an unspoken communication and
added in the 4 rules Army service members live by: I will always place
the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit and I will
never leave a fallen comrade. He then discussed the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and the
goal of that legislation for veterans today. He said, “If I were to give a
speech it would be one word. Graduate”.
With that he opened the panel for discussion. My friend
Patricia had recommended letting someone else start. Sure enough, a question
was raised about the accessibility of class rooms for individuals with
disabilities. Another veteran answered by informing him that when applying for
the class there is a section to request ADA accessible classrooms. One veteran discussed vocational rehab and
internships available for veterans after gaining their degree. He stated that
even after veterans do obtain their degree an internship is often required
before starting into a new career field. However, those are hard to find and
they often provide less pay. That can be hard for even a single solider let
alone one with a family.
Shinseki discussed hiring fairs held in DC with the sole
purpose of hiring veterans. He said the difference between Job Fairs and Hiring
Fairs is that employers are required to have jobs available and to hire
employees. An interesting concept. Many veterans groups are approached in
regards to Job Fairs and advertising that the job fair is for veterans or
veteran friendly. At times I personally feel as if it is just a publicity stunt
to give the impression of working towards helping the veteran.
I then took the opportunity to talk to Shinseki. I opened
with, “Secretary it is an honor to meet you and be here today. I do not have a
specific complaint but rather would like to say that I am a success story of
the post 9/11 GI bill. 13 days ago I graduated from the University of New
Mexico with a Master’s of Science in Nursing and I am now a Family Nurse
Practitioner. However, after discussing
with various veterans and peers there are some challenges that veterans face in
terms of gaining a degree. Currently education benefits are capped at 48
months, a challenge for many. Another challenge is that when re-entering
college many need refresher courses on materials like math and English, however
if they do take these courses it counts towards the 48 months. In addition,
many degrees take longer than 48 months; some examples are engineering and
nursing schools. However, you should come to any meeting prepared with
suggestions. (I picked up my typed list and Shinseki’s eyes momentarily
widened). I’m an Army Nurse at heart and I come prepared.”
· While on Active duty each service member has the opportunity
to use tuition assistance to further educate themselves while serving their
country. However, with so many being deployed this benefit is not being used.
If this benefit is not used while on Active duty it should be transferred on
top of their Ch 33 benefit.
· Allow for refresher courses that do not count towards the 48
month allowance.
· Universities can give back to those who have served by
providing FREE refresher courses. Universities that participate in this program
can be listed in magazines or advertised through social media outlets.
· If working towards the degree and in good standing benefits
can be extended to help the veteran complete the degree. This can be helpful
for any veteran working to obtain the bachelor's or advanced degrees.
I’m not sure at how many people were staring at me but I know
that Shinseki was. He talked about volunteering to tutor other veterans or
being a paid tutor at the university. I explained that in my case when I worked
as a TA I was given a discount on the tuition that actually decreased the
benefits I received with my GI Bill and it was better for me to tutor without
working for the university. After I spoke three other veterans stood up and
said that they actually did have problems graduating because their benefits
would not cover the amount of time needed to graduate even when taking full
time coursework. A gentleman working for Shinseki discussed the recent change
to allow for $2000 towards tutoring for veterans and representatives from the
University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico College discussed that they had
free tutoring available. It struck me how quickly everyone wanted to defend
their educational institution. I agree that the University of New Mexico is
excellent and I could not have asked for a better place to go for graduate
school. However, the problems that veterans face in the classroom are not
limited to one campus or educational institution.
Another student from Muskogee, OK, discussed his difficulty
with work study payments and an interesting thing happened. The vocational
rehab representative echoed the difficulty in retrieving payments. Shinseki
turned to a VA representative from Muskogee and asked if this was his area, to
which the man replied basically “it’s not my job.” Shinseki replied he didn’t
want to hear that. Instead he wanted to know why students were not getting paid
and how he intended to fix the problem and asked that the solution be emailed
to him by Monday morning. The room was in a state of uncomfortable silence for
awhile. Inside I did a little victory dance. I loved the fact that a widget
worker saying “not my job” was basically stopped in his tracks. That is true
leadership.
The discussion next centered on the need for more providers
at VA hospitals and outpatient centers as well as establishing rapport with
patients. One veteran discussed that her husband preferred seeing a homeopathic
physician and not the VA due to the long waits and short visit times provided.
Shinseki talked about the expansion of outpatient veteran’s centers, the new
proposed budget for the VA, increased numbers of mental health providers as
well as the use of mobile VA mental health centers especially in rural
environments like New Mexico.
Shinseki ended the formal discussion by addressing the difference
between Post Traumatic Stress and Post traumatic Stress Disorder. He said it was
unnatural for soldiers today to go to war and experience what we experience and
not have stress. A truly legitimate statement. How many deployments have we
experienced, how many friends have we said goodbye to, how many fallen comrade
ceremonies do we participate in, how many hands do we as nurses hold before it
wears a spot in our souls?
After our discussion Shinseki presented us with coins, a
gesture familiar to many of us. Then the seats and tables were rearranged for
the press conference, Shinseki was led to another room to review topics
discussed and again I was asked “How do you pronounce your last name.” I was
given directions on where to stand next to the podium as camera men positioned
themselves and reporters took out paper and pen. I stood in silence, the only
student veteran in a line of VA officials. My eyes did glaze over as picture
taking began. Shinseki started fielding questions from reporters attempting to
address issues regarding the backlog of claims (a subject not discussed in our
round table) as well as for-profit universities targeting student veterans.
As the questions came to an end and people started to disperse
I walked to my bag with papers folded neatly and prepared to leave. Shinseki
walked away for the busy “yes men” that surrounded him, walked up to me and
once again shook my hand thanking me for being there. I thanked him and said,
“I know that you recognize the need for change. People still talk about the
congressional hearings and how you discussed the need for more troops. I hope
you know that as a veteran and member of American Women Veterans we want to
help facilitate that change.” He briefly if not slightly smiled (he is not a man
of many smiles) and said “thanks, that makes my job easier.” The “yes men”
looked anxious to take him back so I smiled and released his hand. I was
cornered twice more by reporters asking questions about school and veterans
benefits and what I saw as the need for change.
My answer: “Veterans work hard, we are leaders and we help our
communities, let’s change the stereotype of what a veteran looks like and show
what we really do.”
It was an interesting day to say the least. More topics were
discussed and I would have to say it was a genuine learning experience. Being a
voice that is heard versus being just a voice are two different things. I have
come to appreciate that as a veteran I still want to serve my community, but
finding that voice is something I am still learning. At the end of the day, I
have to remember I am more than JUST a nurse; I am a veteran.
