fromthepresident
Doing Our Part
Your association is committed to helping all veterans live
valuable, productive lives — but our nation is a long way from
reaching this goal. MOAA members can help.
W
hether you’ve served ment protection for returning
for a few years or Guard and Reserve veterans.
a full career, leaving We also explain benefi ts to
the supportive world of veterans and retirees at retir-
military service for civil- ee appreciation days nation-
ian life is a big step. Some veterans adapt wide, provide publications
easily; others need more help. Service in to help veterans understand
Iraq and Afghanistan has been particularly their benefi ts and how to pre-
diffi cult, subjecting servicemembers (in- pare their survivors for the
cluding guardmembers and reservists) to future, help servicemembers
multiple deployments and family stress, as fi nd civilian jobs through our
well as physical and mental challenges due career-transition programs,
to the nature of this confl ict’s combat. Now give briefi ngs at wounded-
those leaving service face the additional warrior and spouse forums,
challenge of hard economic times. and host major events like our
Today, many veterans, thanks to excel- upcoming third annual De-
lent battlefi eld health care, have survived fense Forum Washington, in
combat but face ongoing challenges such as September, which for the sec-
missing limbs and traumatic brain injury. ond year will focus on wounded warriors.
We need to care for them and their families MOAA councils and chapters also play
— but the capability to care has not caught a major part: greeting returning veterans
up with the need. Veterans’ unemployment at the airport, helping out at VA hospitals,
rates are higher than the 9-percent national volunteering at shelters serving homeless
average, and several hundred thousand veterans, and — at the state council level —
veterans from all confl icts are homeless — working to streamline the delivery of VA
some with substance-abuse problems. We services to veterans.
cannot ignore these issues. We encourage all members to have the
Educating association members and same commitment, whether by offering
the American public and advocating on a job, contributing fi nancial or other re-
Capitol Hill about veterans’ needs — par- sources, or getting involved personally with
ticularly the needs of wounded warriors veterans and their families. Visit www.vol
and their families — is a top MOAA prior-
unteer.va.gov to learn how you can help.
ity. Our efforts include testifying in favor
of upgraded employment services for vet-
erans, coordinating a legislative strategy
to prevent homelessness among veterans,
and testifying in favor of stronger employ- — Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.
12 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2009 PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
JJul_presidents.indd
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