Vets’ Benefits In the News – Again
It seems that, according to this article linked below, women are either not signing up for the VA benefits upon discharge, or else they don’t know that they have them.
Per the article: Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan admits she never even looked into her veterans benefits until she ran for Congress. “I just never thought that I should.”
Now the former Air Force captain wants to make sure other women veterans don’t wait that long. She’s pushing officials from the Army and Navy implement a successful Air Force program to increase awareness of gender-specific health care programs for service members, linking them with resources during a critical transition time.
First of all, when I left the Navy the first time, the PN1 told me to go right to the local VA office and register with the VA for my GI Bill and other benefits. At the time, the bennies weren’t quite what they are now. Things have changed considerably since then, and the VA does offer a lot more services than it used to, but I do have some difficulty understanding why anyone thinks the way Ms. Houlahan does – that she shouldn’t sign up. I have no idea where such silliness originates. And I’m not aware of any women who think they don’t have such benefits at the end of their service.
I guess it’s nice to have a Congress critter promoting this, but I’m more concerned when I read about vets committing suicide on VA health care facility campuses as a protest against the VA’s slacker attitude toward them. I thought that problem was being solved. Perhaps not.
Category: "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Veteran Health Care, Veterans in politics, Veterans Issues
Having served after Vietnam Era and before 9/11, I always presumed my benefits were pretty much nonexistent.
I doubt that’s far from the truth.
My mom dragged me into the Huntington Ave. VA office within a week of DEROS.
I am forever thankful.
I shouldn’t be one to preach, the only benefit I ever used was my GI Bill for education. Took electronics courses at the trade school and some night classes at the local State Junior College. That being said, all Veterans need to go down to the local VA and let ’em know we’re here. Like you, Ex, I have no idea what I may be qualified for, but feel that the limited resources that VA has should go to the ones that really need it. Never used any VA Med Cen. My Brother (career AF 27.5 yrs) keeps telling me to go sign up, ain’t made it yet. Stopped by one time, it was packed to the roof, and I felt overwhelmed by the multitude of greensniperberetsealairbornereconforcedelta hats and t shirts. Got back in the truck and went to work. Now that I’m to medically retired from the phone factory, I may drop back by. Maybe???
Just break out your best military themed ball cap, t-shirt, and/or jacket and sit back to watch the cast of characters in the VAMC waiting room. Some of these cats give Oscar worthy performances. One dude at the Albany NY VAMC always wore a USMC Retired jacket. One day a VA employee who was also a former Marine, told the usurper to take the jacket off because he’d spent less than a month in basic training before getting booted and was not a retiree. Bring your sense of humor and patience – the performances are often priceless. And best of all, it’s free entertainment!
When I de-mobed last year, we had to attend at two day class on VA benefits. Not just for us, but ALL ETS or Retiring Soldiers.
This was new to me as my last de-mob was in 2013. It was interesting but very little applied to me or my Soldiers.
Am I missing something? Did I misread what Houlahan said in an interview with Military.com?
In the Military.com article sited above, Chrissy Houlahan is quoted as saying:
“It’s not a coincidence that you see a lot more women veterans in Congress right now than you have before. I was at the earlier edge of that, I’m one of the oldest new members who have a military background. I’m the only (female) veteran that I’m aware of who is a pre-9/11 veteran.”
Repeat: “I’m the only (female) veteran that I’m aware of who is a pre-9/11 veteran.”
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/04/10/air-force-vets-next-push-in-congress-getting-women-to-sign-up-for-va-benefits/
Gee Whiz…does she NOT have a clue who the following women are:
* Joni Ernest, US Army Iowa National Guard, 1993-2015, most likely first Female combat veran elected to the United States Senate from any state.
* Tammy Duckworth, starting serving in the Army Reserves in 1992.
* Martha McSally, 1988 Air Force Academy Graduate
* Mikie Sherrill, 1994 US Navy Academy Graduate
* Elaine Luria, 1997 US Navy Academy Graduate
Martha Raye
Good one, 26 Limabeans.
However, Martha Raye never served in Congress (that is why I cut & paste Houlahan’s statement so it would not be taken out of context)…and in reality, Martha Raye never served IN the Military (Veteran) even though she was given an Honorary Rank of LTC by the US Army.
Rest In Peace, Martha. Thank You for taking care of our Troops.
This is hogwash: “I’m the only (female) veteran that I’m aware of who is a pre-9/11 veteran.”
There are thousands of pre-9/11 women veterans. I”m one of them. Is she intentionally uninformed, or just playing a word game here? But yes, she just insulted an entire population group of veterans with that one sentence, including women who served during World War II and Korea.
She is full of crap.
An Air Force Captain was unaware of VA benefits upon separating?
Was she actually present for outprocessing or did she accidentally go AWOL due to being “unaware” as well so she just up and left?
Before I looked her up on the link I was fairly certain she is a D-rat elected swamp critter. Was not surprised. She is just engaging in the principal activity of her new profession, lying. It is highly improbable that any O-3 would not have known he or she would be entitled to VA benefits. If true (which I doubt), she is the stupidest bint to ever wear a U.S. uniform.
Another parasite turning my state blue. PA is getting consumed by those who don’t have the connections to be swamp [D]rats in neighboring NJ, MD or NY.
You sound skeptical. Obviously you have a higher opinion of officers than I do.
Biggest problem to overcome for a lot that try is the cap they have on income, unless you might be a democrap politician
One of the links that Ex-PH2 privided has the following statement:
“Houlahan is well-versed in the defense world, as she grew up in a military family. Her father and one of her grandfathers flew P-3 Orion antisubmarine reconnaissance planes in the same Navy squadron. She chose to stick with the family business, attending Stanford on an Air Force ROTC scholarship.”
IMHO, she knew about VA benefits. Me thinks she is using this as a future political marketing tool to obtain more female votes.
Besides, just because she procrastinated on seeking VA benefits does not mean other Females who served in the Air Force do the same. IMO, she is a bit insulting their intelligence.
like I said, she is simply lying. It is the principal activity of our current crop of D-rat politicians in the District of Criminals. I would also suspect that many females marry after they leave the service and have health insurance through their or their husbands employment. Many never sign up for VA benefits, other than perhaps the GI bill education benefits, because we don’t need them. Also, most of us who have been continuously gainfully employed since we left AD don’t qualify for free VA medical care or other benefits that are means tested.
Great minds think alike, rgr769…looks as if you and I are on the same sheet of music when we both posted our thoughts at the same time.
Makes me wonder about her thought process, not only coming up with her idea, but to also make the comment “Im the only (female) veteran that I’m aware of who is a pre-9/11 veteran” when speaking of women veterans who serve or have served in Congress.
in addition, the VA benefits briefing has been part of the mandatory TAP class since 1994 or so.
Just another person who thought that someone, somewhere was going to do something on her behalf and is not happy that it turns out that she is the someone, somewhere who must do something.
My heart pumps purple piss for this type of person.
The bottom line is the same reason that women receive less Purple Hearts: they aren’t in the jobs that beat you up and get you hurt. On the flip side, I saw a lot more females getting “medically retired” for bullshit. Take a walk over to the WTU and see for yourself.
“Houlahan is well-versed in the defense world, as she grew up in a military family.”
Since when does being a military brat make you an expert on all things military? So stupid.
Chrissy is either lying or stupid. If she failed to look in to her VA benefits, it was laziness. Nobody, male, female, or whatever gender is preferred, is leaving the military without getting a thorough briefing on VA benefits, usually given by a VA rep.
Off topic I really like the statue in the picture honoring Army Nurses (and all females that served during that war). But accuracy wasn’t important here I guess, as one of the nurses supposedly is looking skyward for the inbound Dustoff as the wounded grunt is being comforted by another. Now I served after ‘Nam, but were wounded grunts held in the open by Nurses waiting for MEDEVAC? I know, it’s symbolic, Im nic-picking and doesn’t diminish from the message of honoring women that served.
I’ve actually seen the “I shouldn’t sign up” mindset among a lot of veterans. Including my own father (US Army 1961-1981, Vietnam 1966-67, 1970-72).
Vietnam veterans at a non VA Vet center in Arizona with a “Nah, I don’t need it, let somebody who really needs it get it. I don’t want to waste the money.”
Sorry buddy, you did your service, you went to Vietnam. It caused various issues down the road for you and the government made a promise to take care of it. So get your ass to the VA, you earned it.
There is however, a special place in hell for scammers, shammers and phonies who rip off the VA. And I am more than willing to volunteer to curb stomp them in the parking lot of the VA clinic.
There has been a rather significant attitude change in this country during my lifetime on such things. My career Army father saw no reason to sign up for the benefits he earned until my mother needed cost prohibitive medical treatment that her doc had checked and would be given to her, as his dependent, at a military medical facility about an hour from their house. He signed the paperwork then, about 20 years after his retirement.
He did take the college education bennie after he retired, but he paid for family medical care. It’s just what people did in those days. Take care of your own unless there was a good reason to let others pay for something.
To me, this shift is sad. Yes, I absolutely expect service related injuries to be taken care of by the rest of us. No question. But, I, for instance, have no service connected issues and see no reason why any of you should pay for my health care.
Of course, I also just don’t see why anyone should subsidize my health care through Medicare either. I very grudgingly signed up for that simply because I don’t have enough $$ to pay for major stuff out of pocket, but I tried to make it work somehow without signing up for it. Most of us simply must. Grrrr.
Must be a generational thing. Although, like your father, some problems don’t get bad enough for a few decades. Plus, while I agree with Comm Center Rat, I don’t need the entertainment that badly. And I hate lines.
Word^^^^
My own spouse has never gone to VA. She knows she should, but it is never done.
I don’t know why, except that as a retiree’s dependent, perhaps she doesn’t see the need.
In my mind, an 8 year vet who did the time should get the benefits application done whether they need it or not. Those injuries that we had at 20 become life altering at 50.
I retired from USN so I never needed anything from VA. When you leave active service there is a mandatory 2 day “TAPS” seminar you must attend so a VA guy gives you the brief. Sort of “you are a hero..you gave all..the country owes you..etc” Some people thought there was a bag of money waiting for them, likely courtesy of all the Red Bull that was being consumed. But nevertheless the VA info is given to all who exit, so the Congresswoman’s claims are not likely true. Most all of us are were focused on civilian jobs waiting and figured they’d use the VA if they needed to. The one time I did go to a Vet Ctr yrs later, I found them very helpful and attentive to my request(s).They worked by appointment so black ops “Rambo” and other yahoos were not accumulating in the lobby.
I was one who felt I didnt need the VA and no one owed me squat when I got out of the Marine Corps in 93.No out briefing about VA benies either. Jump ahead to 2010 when I retired (I’m another retread courtesy of 9/11) and things are totally different.
I get great healthcare at a brand spanking new VA clinic 22 miles from my farm (just got a brand new pair of glasses) and in 2 weeks I graduate with a bachelors degree courtesy of the post 9/11 GI Bill.
The reason I delved so far into my GI Bill benefits the second time around was because of the excellent service centers put on by the State of Missouri… seriously. My out processing at Fort Richardson was good and all but the VA in Alaska was a bunch of bumblefucks at the time and that part of the out-processing was a waste.
I see so many people using the VA system that just bitch and act entitled but I know for me, I am extremely grateful for what I have through the VA.
Maybe we are being to harsh with this former CPT? More info about VA bennies for those who have earned them is not a bad thing and believe it or not, not all out processing is the same.
Somehow, with this generation, we have gotten to the point where a 4-year enlistment = lifetime benefits. These asshat kids think their entitled to the sun and everything it shines on. I blame helicopter moms and participation trophies.
Which generation are you referring to. AS to there are several generations that are starting to go to the VA for help.
Previous generations are not immune to the call of “free stuff”. I know one guy who was outraged when the VA started charging him copays for his annual physical and other medical costs, all for non-service-related stuff.
That Budedig I guess I spell his name wrong, but I’m sick of hearing about being gay and a 2x combat officer and threatening The VP and calling him a homophobe bigot.