5 Myths about Veterans and Military Families
This week we celebrate 22 million living veterans who span generations, conflicts and all U.S. states and territories. Veterans Day seems the right time to educate and inform about who we are by refuting the myths about what veterans and military families are not.
1. Myth: Enlisted vets are less skilled.
All men and women, especially our military’s non-commissioned officers (NCOs), have the capacity for greatness. NCOs know how to problem-solve, operate under deadlines (often in the throes of crises) and manage large teams of varying ages and skills. Military skills come not from large lecture halls or specific degrees but from practical application. I’d stake my reputation on the opinion that enlisted soldiers are better educated and more skilled than the U.S. civilians they protect.
2. Myth: Military spouses don’t need to work.
Rising cost of living, low service member pay, and the rising cost of benefits have led to a resurgence in military spouses seeking work. The Military Officers Association of America estimates that 90 percent of female military spouses are underemployed, meaning they possess more education and experience than needed for their jobs. By short-selling military spouses, employers overlook the assets that they bring to the table.
3. Myth: The job market for veterans remains bright.
Corporate America and the White House have pledged more than one million jobs for veterans – about two pledged jobs for every unemployed service member of any generation. So why were 573,000 veterans unemployed in 2014? If the job market for veterans were truly bright, those numbers would be very different.
4. Myth: Vets and their families have access to free healthcare.
Like their civilian counterparts, many veterans and their families struggle to secure affordable healthcare. Only 40 percent of veterans qualify to receive healthcare through the Veterans Administration (VA) system – a system that does not serve family members or families of the fallen. Even with Tricare, Medicaid and Medicare, one in 10 veterans under age 65 is uninsured. It’s simply unfair for someone brave enough to have worn a uniform for this country.
5. Myth: The end of the wars equates to diminishing needs.
Even as the United States draws down its presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 150,000 troops are deployed in nearly 150 countries around the world. These numbers will not be going down. The needs of this population are evolving, not disappearing. For example, the 5.5 million caregivers of veterans in the United States will serve this support role for 50-plus years – and both veteran and caregiver will need assistance. The tails on any wars are very long. We simply cannot afford to allow the sea of goodwill for our veterans turn into an ocean of apathy.
Watch Easter Seals Word Association: Veterans Edition, with JR Martinez and Travis Mills
Tips for hiring veterans from the pros.
See how Easter Seals is supporting veterans and military families.