WHY VETERANS NEED OUR HELP
& HOW WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A George Washington quote that really resonates with this issue is this:
“THE WILLINGNESS WITH WHICH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO SERVE IN ANY WAR, NO MATTER HOW JUSTIFIED, SHALL BE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO HOW THEY PERCEIVE THE VETERANS OF EARLIER WARS WERE TREATED AND APPRECIATED BY THEIR NATION.”
A striking statement such as this should be met with action, but it seems little has been done for our Veterans, even in recent years.
For any man or woman who has served in a military and at war for more than a decade, reintegrating into civilian life can be challenging to say the least. This begs the question: Are we doing enough to ease the transition for those who have served and sacrificed so much for our freedoms?
While there have been a few initiatives that have improved this transition a little bit, the scale has hardly moved. There is so much more that we should be doing. There are many needs that Veterans have, aside from the obvious, being housing and job opportunities. Cultural needs are just as important.
These include:
– Camaraderie With Both Veterans and Civilians
– Social & Business Networking
– Veteran Peer Connections
– Volunteer Opportunities
– Life Counseling
– Mental Health Therapy
The transition from active duty to civilian status is not just a simple career change, it’s a change in responsibilities, jobs, homes, communities, lifestyle, health care, training and so much more.
It is important to note, since 2009, there have been a few improvements to Veterans’ affairs, including help with medical costs, reducing Veterans’ homelessness by one-third and extending disability benefits to 800,000 Veterans with any conditions that are related to post-traumatic stress disorder, Agent Orange, and Gulf War Syndrome.
However, with all of this improvement, many Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans still aren’t receiving enough aide. We know this because suicide rates in post-9/11 Veterans, which comprise the 18-34 age group, have more than doubled from 2006-2016. We constantly hear people saying that they support Veterans, but actions speak louder than words, and we need to go forth and make a difference by doing something.
If you would like to show gratitude for the sacrifices made and support Veterans, there are many ways to make it happen. Our Undersea Warriors SCUBA diving program is just one way to help. SCUBA diving, or “underwater therapy” as it’s called by many, has been shown to make great improvements in the overall well-being and mental state of Veterans.
We’re doing our part to use this incredible sport to help heal those who have been of service to our country.
IF YOU ARE A VETERAN OR KNOW A VETERAN THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD, TBI, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND/OR SEXUAL TRAUMA (MST) AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF SCUBA DIVING IS FOR YOU OR A VETERAN, CLICK HERE: JOIN UNDERSEAS WARRIORS
Not a SCUBA diver, but want to support Veterans who are? Your gifts, both large and small, will help us to achieve our mission of helping those Veterans suffering and want SCUBA therapy.
To donate to the Undersea Warriors program, a specific chapter or sponsor a specific diver, equipment for a diver, or event, please visit our DONATE PAGE
Thank you in advance for your generous support that allows us to make a difference in the lives of Veterans and their families each year!