Help connect California's returning vets with services created for them
The birth of our country was made possible by a passion for freedom and a willingness to go to war for it. War creates veterans.
It is no surprise then that as early as 1781, George Washington made the point that "the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."
Soon afterwards, the first veterans' crisis emerged with speculators taking advantage of veterans who had been paid in Continental dollars. It seems we have had to learn from every war right down to the aftermath of the Vietnam War, which resulted in thousands of long-term homeless veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
As the old maxim goes, "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." As our troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan, let's make sure California doesn't make the same mistakes we made following the Vietnam War 35 years ago.
Although we have the know-how to make sure we do not lose a significant portion of this generation of veterans to PTSD and other war-related issues, we do not have a way to connect with them to get them services they desperately need and truly deserve.
The State Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee recently held two hearings on the challenges facing returning veterans. What we found is that California and the federal government both underserve them. Neither adequately tracks veterans after they leave the military. The result is returning veterans can't be properly informed about services available to them, such as medical screenings, PTSD or traumatic brain injury treatment, or educational and job opportunities.
The California Department of Veterans' Affairs recently created a database to connect and communicate with California veterans. CDVA's goal is to have at least 30,000 of the over 2 million California veterans added to the database by spring 2010.
This is a huge undertaking and we are asking for your help to reach and connect our veterans. If you have a daughter, son, brother sister, parent or any family member who has worn the uniform, help us help them get registered with the CDVA.
Especially if you know of a soldier who needs help, time is of the essence. Waiting too long is the difference between getting a veteran full help with the federal government or letting him or her fall through the cracks.
The way to register with the CDVA and get added to the database is to simply fill out a veteran reintegration form. There are a number of ways to get this form:
* Online: CDVA has an online veteran reintegration form available at www.calvet.ca.gov.
* DMV/EDD Offices: CDVA is partnering with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Employment Development Department to make forms available at local offices.
* County veteran service office: Call your county veteran service office for a form. The phone number should be in the local government pages of your phone book.
Let's make sure none of the brave men and women who served to keep our freedom fall through the cracks. Let's get our returning California veterans connected to services that will help them successfully reintegrate into civilian life.
Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, is the chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and a 16-year U.S. Air Force veteran. Contributing to this article was Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, vice chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
