By Natalie Fertig — 2021
The VA continues to deny cannabis recommendations to veterans in 36 states that allow medical marijuana.
Read on www.politico.com
CLEAR ALL
It’s an uphill battle for returning veterans as they look for support from their church and their community.
The chaplain’s calling remains even after our service members return to civilian life, where community can be challenging for veterans to find.
Chris Díaz, Deputy Chief of Staff and White House Liaison at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a U.S. Navy veteran himself, spoke with four appointees about their motivations to serve in the U.S.
No matter where you move after the military, even if you’re returning to where you grew up, it takes time and effort to find your sense of belonging. Your civilian job likely won’t provide that as easily as the military did—or at all.
Reading about the challenges of war presented in literature―and having the chance to talk through them with other combat veterans―has made these Monday night meetings feel sacred for many who attend.
Sebastian Junger’s book Tribe looks at soldiers returning home from war. He tells NPR’s Scott Simon that veterans often don’t feel like they belong to the society they fought for.
When it comes to transitioning, you have to ask for help. This applies to mental health, fitness, and most importantly, to career transition.
The aim of these ecotherapy programs and services is to connect veterans back to nature in a way that will conjure positive emotions and elicit a sense of confidence when reintegrating into the civilian world.
“Being...out in nature, it’s just good for the soul. It’s cleansing...it gets you outside of yourself. It’s my...way to decompress.” —Edye Joyner, U.S. Marine Corps and Desert Storm veteran
Military Outdoors (SCMO) is at the forefront of a national movement to ensure every veteran in America has an opportunity to get outdoors when they return home after service.