From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Veteran
Veteran
The Hôpital des Invalides in Paris is a hospital and retirement
home for French war veterans
.
A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning "old")[1] is a
person who has had long service or experience in a par-
ticular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..." .[2] This page
refers to military veterans, i.e., a person who has served
or is serving in the armed forces, and has direct expo-
sure to acts of military conflict, commonly known as war
veterans (although not all military conflicts, or areas in
which armed combat takes place, are necessarily referred
to as "wars").
Book given to U.S. veterans in 1919 to help them readjust to
Public attitude towards veter- civilian life
ans ten forgotten (even though the casualty rate in Korea was
Military veterans often receive special treatment in their higher than that experienced in the Vietnam War) when
respective countries due to the sacrifices they made dur- compared with those who fought in the World Wars. In
ing wars. Different countries handle this differently, some countries with strong anti-military traditions (e.g.,
some openly support veterans through government pro- Germany after 1945) veterans are neither honored in any
grams and others ignoring them. Veterans are also sub- special way by the general public, nor have their dedi-
ject to illnesses directly related to their military service cated Veterans Day, although events are sometimes or-
such as PTSD. War veterans are generally treated with chestrated by Neo-Nazism and other minority right-wing
great respect and honor for their contribution to the groups
world and country by their own nationals. Conversely Many countries have longstanding traditions, cere-
there are often negative feelings towards the veterans of monies, and holidays to honor their veterans. In the UK
alien nations held long after the war is over, for example "Remembrance Day" is held on November the 11th and is
towards the German Nazi soldiers, but they are no less focused mostly on the veterans who died in service to the
veterans of war than those of the winning side. There are monarch and country. A red or white poppy is worn on
exceptions. Veterans of unpopular conflicts, such as the the lapel (for remembrance or for peace, respectively) in
Vietnam War, have been discriminated against. Others, the weeks up to the date, and wreaths and flowers laid at
such as veterans of conflicts like the Korean War, are of- memorials to the dead.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Veteran
In Russia, a tradition was established after the Second World War. In the years following, discontented veterans
World War, where newly married couples would on their became a source of instability. They could quickly orga-
wedding day visit a military cemetery. In France, for in- nize, had links to the army, and often had arms them-
stance, those wounded in war are given the first claim on selves. Veterans played a central role in the post-World
any seat on public transit. Most countries have a holiday War I instability of Germany, while in the United States,
such as Veterans Day to honor their veterans, along with the Bonus Army of unemployed veterans was one of the
the war dead. most important protest movements of the Great Depres-
sion, marching on Washington, DC, to get a claimed
Veterans’ experiences around bonus that Congress had promised them.
Each state of the United States sets specific criteria
the world for state-specific veterans’ benefits. For federal medical
benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The Congo hospitals, prior to 7 September 1980 the veteran must
have served at least 180 days of active duty, after the
Main article: Belgian Congo in WWII
above-mentioned date, the veteran must have served at
Some veterans from the Belgian commitment of the Con-
least 24 months. However, if the veteran was medically
golese to WWII live in communities throughout the Con-
discharged and receives a VA service-connected disabili-
go.[3] Though they received compensation from the gov-
ty stipend, the time limits are not applicable.
ernment during the rule of the dictator Mobutu Sese
Seko, after his overthrow they no longer receive pen- American veteran experience after World War
sions.[3] II
After the Second World War, in part due to the experi-
United States ence of the First World War, most of the participating
states set up elaborate veterans’ administrations. Within
the United States, it was veterans groups, like the Amer-
ican Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars organization,
that pushed for and got the G.I. Bill enacted. These gave
veterans access to free or subsidized education and
health care. The newly educated GIs created a significant
economic impact, and with the aid of VA loans were able
to buy housing and establish themselves as part of a
growing American middle class. The explosion of the sub-
urbs created sufficient housing for veterans and their
families.
Veterans who served on the battleship Missouri shortly after a Female veterans in the U.S.
ceremony marking the anniversary of the end of World War II. See also: History of women in the military
Women have served in the United States military for over
The most common usage is for former armed services two hundred years, often having had to disguise them-
personnel. A veteran is one who has served in the armed selves as men. Female veterans have often been discrim-
forces, especially one who has served in combat. It is es- inated against by their male counterparts and, as such,
pecially applied to those who served for an entire ca- women who have served in the armed forces have some-
reer, usually of 20 years or more, but may be applied for times been known as "the invisible veterans".[4] Women
someone who has only served one tour of duty. A com- were not fully recognized as veterans until after WWII,
mon misconception is that only those who have served in and prior to this they were not eligible for VA benefits.
combat or those who have retired from active duty can The VA estimates that by the year 2010 women will make
be called military veterans. up 40% of the veteran population. A tri-state (Washing-
ton, Idaho, Oregon) women veterans conference in
Veterans’ benefits in the United States Pendleton, Oregon, in April 2008, attracted 362 women
President Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural ad- veterans, according to the East Oregonian newspaper.
dress, in 1865 towards the end of the US Civil War, fa-
mously called for good treatment of veterans: "to care for African American veterans in the U.S.
him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, See also: Military history of African Americans
and his orphan". The American Civil War produced veter- African Americans have participated in every war fought
ans’ organizations, such as the Grand Army of the Repub- by or within the United States. Black veterans from
lic. The treatment of veterans changed after the First World War I experienced racial persecution on returning
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Veteran
to the U.S. from overseas, particularly in Southern therapist interaction have also proven effective in treat-
cities.[5] Black veterans from World War II continued to ing mental health problems among veterans. Eye Move-
be denied equality at home despite President Harry S. ment Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is also
Truman’s desegregation of the military after World War an effective and non invasive, drug free treatment for
II. Black veterans went on to play a central role in the PTSD, although it has not been tested against specific
Civil Rights movement. The National Association for military traumatic exposure for efficacy.Neuro-Linguis-
Black Veterans is an organization that provides advocacy tic Programming (NLP) also has applications in this field.
and support for African American and other minority
veterans.
Help for veterans
Necessity has resulted in a number of sources of help be-
Health effects of military ser- ing made available for veterans. Many of these are in-
vice and treatment for veter- dependent, charitable organisations, and in some coun-
tries the aftercare and rehabilitation services provided
ans by Governments have been inadequate.[9] This may be
The effect of active military service can be profound and because they do not wish to give attention to the nega-
lasting, and some veterans have found it difficult to ad- tive effects of military service and the difficulties of read-
just to normal life again. An article in the London Metro justment to civilian life for it may have an adverse im-
on 28 January 2010 was titled "Veterans prone to suicide" pact upon recruitment for their armed forces. Neverthe-
and cited a report by the Mental Health Foundation [1] less, help is available and veterans should feel able to
which said that not enough was being done to care for make contact and ask for assistance or advice without
the Afghanistan war veterans, and many "plunged into feeling that this is a weakness. Military service can be
alcohol problems, crime and suicide" upon their return. a profoundly unnatural experience and it is likely that
Support services were found to be patchy from area to some help may be needed in debriefing and rehabilita-
area. Figures from 2009 showed that twice as many vet- tion into the community, whether it be medical, psycho-
erans were in prison than there were British troops cur- logical, practical or financial.
rently in Afghanistan. Homelessness, street-sleeping and
relationship breakdown are also commonly reported. Re- Social organisations for veter-
search done by he UK homelessness charity CRISIS (1994)
and the Ex-Services Action Group (1997) both found that ans
a quarter of homeless people had previously served in • Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’
the armed forces.[6] The Times newspaper reported on 25 Association (New Zealand’s largest veterans’
September 2009 that in England and Wales the number organization)
of "military veterans in jail has more than doubled in six • The Royal British Legion (The United Kingdom’s
years".[7] Another Times article of the same date quoted veterans society, formed in 1921)
the veterans mental health charity Combat Stress[8] re-
porting a 53% increase in referrals from doctors
See also
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treat- • Demobilization
ment among veterans • Filipino Veterans Fairness Act
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Further information: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Iraq War Veterans Organization
Further information: Benefits for US Veterans with PTSD
• List of veterans’ organizations
New treatment programs are emerging to assist veterans
• National Association for Black Veterans
suffering from post-combat mental health problems such
• Returned and Services League of Australia
as depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Royal Canadian Legion (Canada’s organization
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is becoming an im-
supporting veterans worldwide)
portant method for the treatment of mental health issues
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs
among veterans, and is currently considered the stan-
• Veterans Affairs Canada
dard of care for depression and PTSD by the United States
• Veterans Agency, an executive agency of the United
Department of Defense. CBT is a psychotherapeutic ap-
Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence
proach that aims to change the patterns of thinking or
• Veterans Day, an American holiday celebrating
behavior that responsible for patient’s negative emotions
veterans
and in doing so change the way they feel. It has been
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, A U.S. Veterans
proven to be an effective treatment for PTSD among war
Organization.
veterans. Recently, online programs that pair CBT with
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Veteran
• Veterans’ Bill of Rights • Vets in Prison (UK)
• Veteran’s pension • Veterans Help Network (USA)
• Vietnam veteran • National Veterans Foundation (USA)
• When I Came Home Documentary about the • Swords to Plowshares (USA)
experiences of American Veterans upon returning
home.
• Zimbabwe War Veterans
References
[1] Veteran Merriam Webster Dictionary Accessed
March 25, 2008.
External links [2] Dictionary definition 1
• At.Ease.dva.gov.au [3] ^ McCrummen, Stephanie (4 August 2009). "Nearly
• Marine Corps Veteran Resources Forgotten Forces of WWII". Washington Post.
• Grand Valley State University Veteran’s History Washington Post Foreign Service.
Project digital collection [4] Willenz, June A. (1994): "Invisible Veterans"
Educational Record, v75 n4 p40-46, American Council
Help organizations on Education
A list of organisations offering help or advice follows. [5] Maxine D. Rogers, et al., Documented History of
• At Ease (AU) AT-ease.dva.gov.au Rosewood, Florida in January 1923, op.cit., pp.4-6,
• Combat Stress (UK) Combatstress.org.uk accessed March 28, 2008; Clarence Lusane (2003),
• Help-for-Veterans.com Hitler’s Black Victims, p. 89.
• British Legion Advice Line (UK) [6] Veterans-uk.info
• Combat Veterans Community (US) [7] Times article on increase in veterans in jail 9/09
• Ministry of Defence Veterans Help Pages (UK) [8] Combatstress.org.uk
• Scottish Veterans [9] Durboraw, Al (2010). Combat veterans rights : to the
• Veterans UK (UK) Department of Veterans Affairs, benefits, medical
• Veterans Aid (UK) services, compensation, appeals, etc.. Pittsburgh, PA:
• Veterans in Prison Association (UK) Dorrance Publishing Co.. ISBN 9781434904096.
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Categories: Military personnel, Military veterans' affairs
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