Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has this to say about Shinseki:
"IAVA applauds President-elect Obama and the transition team for making this historic selection. General Shinseki has a record of courage and honesty, and is a bold choice to lead the VA into the future. The President-elect has demonstrated an understanding of the urgency of the issues facing America's veterans by making this announcement early. General Shinseki is widely-respected, honest and experienced. He is a man that has always put patriotism ahead of politics, and is held in high regard by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. IAVA looks forward to supporting him to implement the historic change that is needed at the VA.And here is the rest of it.
As a wounded, decorated, combat veteran, and the first Asian American in US History to be a four-star general, General Shinseki, has the potential to be an effective and dedicated advocate for veterans of all generations.
This is a critical time for veterans. One in five veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are facing serious mental health injuries like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or depression. Wounded veterans are waiting months, sometimes years, to receive disability benefits. The struggling U.S. economy is hitting new veterans especially hard. And the new GI Bill, which will make college affordable to every veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, must be implemented by August 2009.
General Shinseki has a monumental task before him. To address these issues will require real leadership that encourages active VA outreach and transparency. We encourage General Shinseki to move quickly to add Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to key positions in his senior staff.
President-elect Obama made veterans' issues a priority in his campaign, and Michelle Obama has called military families one of the issues she cares most about. We look forward to working closely with General Shinseki and the new Administration to ensure every veteran in this country gets the care and support they have earned."
5 comments:
Hate to be a wet blanket on your hater info
&
Hate to break it to you...
Honesty never left the V.A.--Period!
The so called "struggling U.S. economy" is having NO! effect on returning vets.
As the VA has already been funded and there has been NO changes in the record level of increases to funding (by the way record level increases). The largest increases in history!
The VA is in the middle of changing the way it does business and working on making things more efficient. It will take a great deal of focus and I look forward to Gen Shinseki's leadership. Change is always welcome.
Its nice to sit back and criticize until you have to make the decisions. Then the problems become a little more realistic.
Instead of being part of the problem become part of the solution.
Take part in the healing process and discard the hating process.
Honesty never left the V.A.--Period!
That's a weak ass argument... How about missing or shredded claim documents and dates changed on Veterans paperwork, just to begin with! Anything not to supply medical treatment or pay disability claims to hurting Veterans.
And Anonymous, it's been like this since my Father was refused treatment for wounds suffered in WWII and my Cousin tried to get his benefits from the Vietnam Era. I went through the same bureaucratic fights in the early 90's.
As the VA has already been funded and there has been NO changes in the record level of increases to funding (by the way record level increases). The largest increases in history!
Sure it would have... if no wars or injured Veterans returned to society. The increases would have been perfect.
It in no way compensated for the huge numbers of injured Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Supply some links if you're so positive.
Its nice to sit back and criticize until you have to make the decisions.
I can criticize... I've been in the VA system for 16 years!!
Instead of being part of the problem become part of the solution.
The VA almost put me in bankruptcy for not honoring my medical claims... I had to pay over 10K in debts and late charges because the VA did not honor my claims! I've earned that right.
How about the VA believing the returning soldier instead of trying to confuse, make more complex, and obfuscate the application process and availablitity of VA Hospitals.
Take part in the healing process and discard the hating process.
As soon as the VA begins to be honest brokers with the returning soldier they will have my full support. Until then... it will be a continuous fight against the VA to treat the Veteran fairly.
The VA is in NO way the same institution it was during WWII or Vietnam. NOT EVEN CLOSE!
It is a completely different organization from then, as well as what it offers to VETS now.
I did NOT say it was perfect or that every person at the VA was perfect. Hence the problems with info and claims.
It is a huge bureaucracy and I agree it needs to be streamlined there is No doubt!
At the same time making claims that it is the same org as it always has been or that it is no different than the WWII or Vietnam VA is just straight up silly! and a bit ignorant to the facts.
Because you don't get something you feel you deserve. Does not necessarily mean a WHOLE ORG is terrible and out to hurt you rather than help you.
There are many who ARE helped everyday! And I suspect they are the majority.
Again, can it be better--you BET! and it will be!
Anonymous, Well you quickly backtracked on your original statement:
The so called "struggling U.S. economy" is having NO! effect on returning vets.
Now on to your latest comment:
At the same time making claims that it is the same org as it always has been or that it is no different than the WWII or Vietnam VA is just straight up silly! and a bit ignorant to the facts.
Let me give you a pattern of transgressions that the VA has never gotten away from.
It really has been clear that the US Goverment has not wanted to pay claims it rightfully owed Veteran's since the 60's.
From Vietnam Vets dying of exposure to Agent Organge to Veteran's from WWII who lost their medical records in the St. Louis fire of 1973. Then the mysterious Gulf War Illness that they are just recently started to treat and Depleted Uranium Claims that are currently not taken serious.
Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers are waiting up to 6 - 18 months on their claims and that is if they are fast tracked. Some get turned down on their first attempt and have to go to appeal, another possible 12 month wait. Don't forget that while all these new incoming soldiers are getting fast tracked, the older soldier's are told to wait in line, so their claims wait up to 18 months as well.
While Veteran's wait for their claims to be approved... they suffer the highest unemployment rate, homeless rates, substance abuse rates and suicide rates.
Shit, they could open one of these closed down bases (nest to a VA hospital) and house, feed, clothe, treat them medically, while they try to get on their financial feet. Or at least a transition base for returning troubled soldiers.
Because you don't get something you feel you deserve. Does not necessarily mean a WHOLE ORG is terrible and out to hurt you rather than help you.
How do you know? Have you ever been sick with PTSD, crying out for help, yet, denied again and again.
The way I feel about it is that not one returning soldier deserves to wait, PERIOD! Or denied benefits that will help feed his family, subsidize his mortagage (rent) or send him to school. Certainly never refused Psychological help that will stop him from committing suicide.
There are many who ARE helped everyday! And I suspect they are the majority.
Yes, there are plenty of success stories. I gaurantee you that the more complicated the case is the more it gets ignored. Say a case that a man doesn't have all the witnesses lined up because he cannot contact them or they are dead. The onus is on the veteran to present his case, the VA doesn't just believe you. Now who has the resources to investigate easier, the claimant or the VA?
The easy cases get fast tracked. Soldiers just asking for minimum benefits and medical treatment are the success stories and increase the VA positive numbers.
Like battle, it's easy for the soldier to show more progress than failure.
There in lies the rub, the returing soldier shouldn't have to come back and fight anything anymore... they've done their job!
That's the insult most Veterans who are denied benefits and medical treatment feel... having given your all for the Military, only to realize that when you come home injured your country is not doing their all for you. Most signed up for that trade off... it's a simple request.
Holy shit "Anonymous" - no wonder you would not leave your fucking name, I would not leave my name either with all of that nonsense that you typed.
You instantly started tearing into SoS about his "hater" post - did you even fucking read it. I had to read through 3 times to try to see what the fuck you were talking about before I realized that my first thought was correct - you are clueless. Totally fucking clueless.
The post was simply stating that Shinseki was a good choice and that IAVA approves the appointment and likes it.
Where is the "hater" in that.
I do not know about you but when I love something I want it to improve and be the very best that it can be. How is wanting something to improve "hating it"?
You are disturbed, Anonymous. Truly.
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