Veteran Service Providers Ask Americans to Go Beyond Saying ‘Thank You for Your Service’

Military veterans still find numerous challenges when leaving service, whether it be psychological challenges, employers discounting their experience, or having to manage physical disabilities. In response, several non-governmental organizations beyond the Veterans Administration (VA) have been developing programs to assist in veteran reacclimatization, providing services ranging from psychological counseling to community networking, and combating a suicide rate that continues to grow. Those organizations are also in agreement that military veterans, after deployment, need much more than a “Thank you for your service” message when trying to re-engage in civilian life. “What bothers me about the ‘thank you for your service’ message is that it just feels empty,” said Damon Friedman, CEO of SOF Missions and a former Marine lieutenant colonel who retired after 20 years serving as a special operations and mission commander in Afghanistan. “It feels like it’s a comment made as an ice breaker and a random statement that sounds disingenuous. If you’re really grateful for my service, my question is, ‘Where is your support?'”...