VFA News Analysis: November 8, 2007

A story in today’s New York Times highlights an issue that is going to impact the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan for years to come: homelessness. Groups that work with homeless veterans are already seeing members of this generation seek help, which would be much sooner than veterans from previous wars. A significant factor in the rate of homelessness is the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Fully one-third of servicemembers who experience high levels of combat in Iraq will develop a mental health issue and at least one-third of soldiers treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are diagnosed with TBI. VFA has seen these conditions go undiagnosed and untreated too many times. Unless the military steps up to its responsibilities, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will suffer beyond the wounds they’ve already endured for their country.

With the strain on the military continuing, the Army is trying more and more ways to keep the soldiers it desperately needs, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) is worried that a draft will be necessary, like it or not, and the military is trying to figure out how to draw down troops in Iraq. The Pentagon says it can start bringing troops home because things are going so well. This may well be true, if the rate of servicemembers killed continues on its downward path. However, it would be naive to think that the sheer magnitude of the burden the military has been experiencing is not playing a role in their efforts.

For the rest of today’s news, please visit the Our Troops Newsladder.

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