“To care for him who shall have borne the battle…”

My post-military life’s work has centered around Agape, support, and advocacy work on behalf of veterans and their families.

Part of that work is reflected in the work of Changing Hearts and Mind Program, or CHAMP, the veteran nonprofit my wife Kayla and I started nearly 10 years ago.

Post-9/11 America has witnessed a plethora of veteran support organizations (VSOs) that is unparalleled in U.S. history. With so many of these organizations supporting current military veteran families (MVF), why are so many veteran’s families struggling? Let’s look at what my research and experience tell us.

Each war America has fought is unique. Iraq and Afghanistan, or post-9/11 conflicts, are no different.  Post-9/11 veterans survived injuries that in past wars would have been fatal. Also, post-9/11 veterans are dealing with higher numbers of invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury . More reserve components have experienced combat in higher proportions than past wars.  The military is now all volunteer, unlike the last major prolonged conflict, the Vietnam War. Lastly, post-9/11 is now America’s longest conflict, one whose 20th anniversary occurs this year, with many combat veterans completing multiple tours during their enlistment. All these factors play a role in current MVF well-being.

As families transition out of the military, usually they are very young, and data shows a lack of congruency in what the MVF need and what VSOs provide. In other words, often well-meaning VSOs are simply missing the mark, especially since each MVF has unique needs, desires and goals. Some improvement has been made in this area with better translating MVF service experience into language employers can understand. Giving transitioning military members credit for their military training in the form of civilian certifications and education has helped.

Still, more work is needed, especially in reducing the stigma placed on veterans with PTSD and other behavioral health concerns. Companies struggle with weighing the desire to support MVF with the concern that they are taking on a liability by hiring someone who is potentially “broken.” Also, since  many MVF live in rural areas, away from populations geared to support them, support from VSOs and Veterans Affairs (VA) is inadequate. 

The solution includes three areas that CHAMP uses to provide hope and wellness for MVF. One is support. Support is unique to each MVF and may include, for example, assistance with childcare or transportation. Next is mentoring by certified peer support providers who have been down the path the MVF is traveling. Last is a changed mindset. A changed mindset is required for the MVF to fully embrace any and all opportunities provided. Without a changed mindset, both support and mentoring are ineffective.

As we move forward, I believe good can come out of the current struggle faced by MVF. If society did not know about it, MVF would struggle in silence, or fall through the cracks without garnering support, mentoring, or a changed mindset. It truly is a sign of courage for a warrior to ask for help.

Sam Alix is a co-founder of CHAMP, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing wellness activities to veterans and their families. Learn more at www.champ.vet.