Although the latest news reports that the U.S. is considering a slower exit from Afghanistan than originally planned, it's a fact that most of these military service members are now back in the U.S. – and many of them are dangling on a precipice of unmet needs.
The challenge is stark. Even as the wars recede from the minds of the American public, the needs of the 2.7 million service members who served in the U. S. military since Sept. 11, 2001, at a great personal and professional cost, continue to grow.
Veterans do benefit from substantial federal programs, but a 2012 analysis from the Center for New American Security posits that, regardless of popular support, political concern over the cost of pay, benefits and services for veterans and military personnel may make this assistance unsustainable. The report references the “sea of goodwill” towards veterans, a phrase popularized by Admiral Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and worries that “as the wars fade, the potential exists for this sea to become an ocean of apathy.”
Our country – the military system included – emphasizes Washington, D.C.-based solutions for returning warriors. But without making excuses, there is only so much that government can do. Federal agencies are facing more demands than they can meet. And in this era of fiscal austerity, Congress and the White House are vigilantly seeking any and all ways to reduce the budget deficit.
Unfortunately, corporate America may not be the answer, as veterans are too often an afterthought for many U.S. companies. According to the 2014 Trend Report from the Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals, corporate charitable funding for military/veterans is tied for last with arts and culture and workforce development. Just one percent of corporate charitable budgets support our nation’s veterans and military families, compared to 40 percent that goes to educational causes.
So where does the solution come from? It becomes local issue. Veterans come home to families and communities — so enabling them must be a community undertaking.
The bridge between our veterans and their successful reintegration will mimic how the United States turned the tide of war in Iraq. We only became truly effective when we began reaching out to local leaders in the provinces. We moved the war away from central headquarters in Baghdad and stressed the importance of a local approach.
We need to reimagine “local” for our veterans and military families the way we did it in combat, and this will require corporations across the country to step up at a very local level. In this reimagined model, local leaders and community-based, hands-on organizations play critical roles in helping veterans and military families know where to go and how to get connected.
Some examples of this include Century 21, which provides support for transitioning or retired military and spouses who want to become a Century 21 agent or franchise owner, and ABF Freight, which is partnering with the Teamsters Union to train active duty service members on military installations so they can secure commercial truck driver licenses before transitioning out.
But more companies are required. This local emphasis is augmented by Dixon Center, which leverages its national network of community-based programs, breaks down barriers and connects individuals and organizations with easily accessible solutions veterans and military families need to achieve their goals in meaningful employment, education, and healthcare. It identifies gaps in service and works with partners to fill those unmet needs, such as webinars seen by hundreds of military veteran caregivers through a partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and fellow members of its Hidden Heroes: National Coalition for Military Caregivers.
This is not about charity. It’s about opportunity – the opportunity for veterans and military families to succeed where they live. It’s about highlighting a veteran’s potential and creating life-changing opportunities.
We are in our 14th year of war and can’t wait any longer to prevent our veterans from drifting away. It’s time to do right by reimagining local connections for these great young men and women, who have held up their hand to defend our country.
They’ve done their part. It’s time to do ours.
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