How are soldiers and veterans treated?
Posted by palep_hoot@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 161 comments
How much of a stigma or adoration is there? Does the state treat veterans well/decent?
bruisevwillis@reddit
I'm a 5th generation Army brat, with many other relatives and friends also serving. Americans like to think they treat veterans respectfully by giving military discounts for a few restaurants a couple days a year or 10% off at a department store on Tuesday, but only if they fit their idea of a perfect veteran. If you speak positively about serving the country and don't complain about the aftereffects of serving too much, they love you. If you suffer from ptsd or are homeless, you're treated like trash. A lot of the American people say they appreciate veterans, but will cast them aside when they come home, or vote for people that continuously defund mental health care or VA benefits.
I live in a military town and I'll hear people thanking someone in uniform for their service and the soldier/airman in question will chuckle. One guy even said to my mother after she said that and said "Lady, I just sit behind a desk all day".
maggy_boi_x@reddit
While you're in the military? Great. Shortly after leaving the military? Also great. But as your GI benefits fade, and age catches up to you, it's not that youre actively treated worse, rather that you just aren't cared about anymore. And, depending on how traumatizing your experience in the military was, good luck trying to get the VA to acknowledge your pain and suffering, much less foot the bill for it.
screenaholic@reddit
I get free pancakes and burgers from restaurants once a year on Veteran's Day, which is all the thanks I need. God bless 'murrica.
b0jangles@reddit
My dad was a Korean War vet and died recently. Military honors is an impressive display, but I think it’s also pretty amazing that someone can devote a portion of their life to the service and 70 years later, a small group will show up and say thank you.
MyUsername2459@reddit
My father died in 2020 of COVID-19 and cancer.
He'd retired about a decade earlier from the Army. . .after 40 years of service. He enlisted in the Vietnam era, and retired after a tour in Iraq.
The honors were. . .memorable. His old unit even did a blackhawk flyover in Missing Man Formation, along with the traditional 3-volley salute. As a retired officer he got the riderless horse honors etc.
His funeral flag is in a case on the wall in my house.
Logical-Pound-1065@reddit
My grandpa was a Marine and a WWII and Korean War vet. He didn’t see any combat during WWII, but he did in Korea. He never talked about it. I know he got wounded in a non combat incident and almost froze to death. He was against the Vietnam War and wanted to get back in and go to Vietnam so some young kid wouldn’t have to go. The Marine Corps turned him down due to his age. He was 40 when he tried to reenlist.
Alternative-Law4626@reddit
My mother’s father was career Army WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Before WWII he and his football buddy went out to Hollywood to be movie stars. I have a picture of them and Judy Garland and a few others eating at the Brown Derby. When the war broke out he enlisted and his buddy stayed in Hollywood. His buddy’s name was Forest Tucker. They stayed friends the rest of their lives.
Stressed_C@reddit
My grandpa was a Korean War vet also, and everything with his medical expenses and his funeral were paid for by the VA. And the honors they did on a cold November day was very impressive.
Logical-Pound-1065@reddit
I’m sorry for your loss. My grandpa and four of my great uncles were in Korea. None of them ever talked about it. My grandpa just wanted to forget about it and pretend like it never happened. When those guys came back from Korea, they were treated with indifference. They didn’t get the parades like the WWII vets, and they weren’t called baby killers and spat on like Vietnam vets.
koreanforrabbit@reddit
My mom was nine years old when her family had to flee the north, and she was separated from her parents for three years, with her younger brother left in her care. Because she came from a Christian yangban family and was the child of a college professor, she could speak English, so she could make money running errands for US soldiers. She told me that they were kind to her and her brother because many of them had kids of their own back home - they were dads, caring for kids who needed care.
Please add me and my family to the list of people thanking him and his family.
-Boston-Terrier-@reddit
I'm sorry for your loss.
b0jangles@reddit
Thank you
BrilliantDishevelled@reddit
Grow child of KW vet. He's 95 and fading. Wish we could get the VA to recognize that the flight line trashed his hearing. He was stoic about it for a long time but it's getting bad.
1MrE@reddit
I get a discount on marijuana.
Didn’t see that one coming when I joined in ‘98 lol.
MUL98@reddit
We fawn over vets and soldiers in every way except the ones that matter. They get told "thanks for your service" everytime the topic comes up. They get discounts at some stores. They get to board planes first. But when we're asked to pay them a living wage, provide an adequate pension or give them top shelf health car, suddenly they just aren't that important.
Low-Landscape-4609@reddit
It depends. VA healthcare varies greatly from place to place. VA compensation is generous but often frauded.
I personally served with guys that are rated 100% because they got doctors to write them fake letters for money.
On the flip side, SSDI has the same problems.
Pugilist12@reddit
Superficially excellent. Forgotten or ignored in anything that matters.
Minute_Point_949@reddit
There are reserved parking spots at grocery and hardware stores for veterans around here, discounts at various stores, reduced cell phone plans, etc. You can get a special endorsement on your driver's license to make it easier to get benefits. Active duty military in uniform get priority boarding at airports. It wasn't like that in the 70s and 80s, but there was a culture change around the first Gulf War.
Gaming_with_batman@reddit
Most people treat them with high regard. Except the government
ellen-the-educator@reddit
Socially, and in the abstract, they're treated like sainted martyrs. If they become any of the things America is quite comfortable murdering, such as homeless, or disabled, or mentally ill, we brush them off like dirt from our boots.
As long as they don't ask for anything more than applause and maybe free food, they're the most important people in America
Fats_Tetromino@reddit
The vast majority of Americans don't care either way. Military is 99.99% of the time just like any other job but with little autonomy and you have to wear a uniform.
LeadingAvocado1168@reddit
American people are very respectful and honorable toward veterans. As for the government, they do provide some benefits but most people agree it could be better.
MaterialInevitable83@reddit
I live in a major military city so there’s a degree of respect but nothing crazy because there’s about 120,000 active military members here and who knows how many retired
Stefferdiddle@reddit
How the government treats veterans and active military is all performative. What happens that is of actual use, is far far less.
Affectionate-Lab2557@reddit
The people typically appreciate veterans
The government tries its best to pretend they don't exist.
ca77ywumpus@reddit
"You're a hero! You should be celebrated for your service. But due to budget constraints, we've cut all the benefits you counted on. Also the VA system is impossible to navigate and you will have to fight for everything."
Pickles9878@reddit
I don't even tell people I served anymore.
Sufficient_Cod1948@reddit
Negative stigma, or are you tired of the over the top "Thank you for your service!"?
Pickles9878@reddit
Nobody cares anymore, so why should I?
Elivagara@reddit
Depends on where you are to some extent. And of course the administration. Current administration is purging the armed forces due to sexism, racism, transphobia. Damn Hegseth, that bitch.
For the most part not bad and veterans generally have good benefits like preferential treatment for government jobs, special loans for buying a house, and lots of places have veterans discounts.
OkQuantity4011@reddit
I was beaten in the street by 9 local police officeless. They did not take their oaths a tenth as seriously as I took mine, so I'm likely bringing them to the Supreme Court.
Chickadee831@reddit
They're worshipped
Mailman354@reddit
Sometimes the troop worship can be too much. Like when I stop in a highway rest area for something to eat and everyone just goes WAAAAAAAY to far out there way
Standing at the door and getting ready to hold it open when im a solid like 50 feet(roughly 27 meters) away
The stares
The way they politely try to get out of my way but make such a deliberate and hurried effort like theyre a peasant making way for the pope or king of England
The way theyll Sometimes make their "thank you for your service" remarks like.... how do I explain it. Like they see me coming and they have it all planned out like "okay here he comes, im gonna say it, im gonna be super respectful about it, hes gonna appreciate it and that'll count as my i was a good person today award"
Real quick
I genuinely do appreciate the positivity I get. I always thank and do my best to give some friendly banter back. I always love running into old veterans to who 20-30 years later still have the culture in(im an officer too, prior enlisted so its honestly kinda charming when some grandpa calls me sir, and then he likes me even more when I told him I originally joined as a Private before seeking a commission 5 years into ly service)
But for the love of fucking christ when im just stopping in a gas station or something for two fucking minutes can I just do that? Can I just get some fucking Popeyes at a rest stop and go without the ordeal being awkward? I don't have a combat patch, or combat action badge
13 years in and yeah ive done cool stuff but ive mostly worked it as a regular 9 to 5 job.
Im not some hero. I have tons of sex outside marriage, and I shitpost in voice chat on my online PC games. I buy gundams, godzilla and Tokusatsu figures.
Give your respect to my brother. He deployed 4 times and saw tons of combat as an infantry sniper(hes still alive dont worry he made it home)
Im just some fucking jackaloon working a job and currently working a plan to make the army work for me in the civilian world. Im done with the selfless service stuff and now i want the army to give me something in return(if all works out DLAB->DLI for Japanese->Masters degree in Japan->work a civilian job in Japan while finishing out my last couple years to 20 at the reserves unit in Camp Zama)
JoeMorgue@reddit
We exist as talking points in social and political debates, literally nothing else.
Mayortomatillo@reddit
👆🏽this one. Vets here often end up homeless, have to fight for rights and benefits, and almost never get mental health care needed. The fucked up thing, the lower your ranks, the more trauma you are exposed to, and then have the fewest amount of resources when you get back.
Xistential0ne@reddit
I’m really sick and tired of people saying “thank you for your service” to me. I feel it’s about the same as the ladies bellowing “Welcome” over and over ever time someone calls into StarBucks. Is it just me?
pfcgos@reddit
I have always been deeply uncomfortable with people telling me "thank you for your service", but a while back, I realized that for many it is more about feeling good for having said it. It's more for them than it is for me, so when they do it, I just thank them and move on.
RvstiNiall@reddit
Yep, "altruism" is only self gratitude with a mask on. Always has been. They don't help to help, they help to feel good about themselves.
Xistential0ne@reddit
No, that is not altruism at all. Altruism is putting the person performing the altruistic act in jeopardy to help the other person.
I could say good morning to people all day long and genuinely mean I want them to have a good morning but that’s not altruistic, that does not put me in any jeopardy.
Don’t get me wrong. The person saying thank you for your service smiling to themself because they did a good deed is a schmuck. But I’d be hard pressed to think they’re being altruistic. Although I have seen dumber things.
RvstiNiall@reddit
I definitely agree. But I didn't use the right words and portrayed a different meaning than what I intended. Rereading what I wrote after the previous commenter commented on my comment (say that five times fast lol), I realized my poor word choice. I didn't fix it, or clarify much in my response to them, but I guess I should have.
What I actually meant was, the people who believe they are being "altruistic" by helping people, when their sole motivator is making themselves feel good, are not, in fact altruistic. Which you just said, but you said it much better than I did.
Xistential0ne@reddit
Ahhh, did you ever see Maimonides' Eight Levels of Charitable Giving
(He needs a #9, grivfting-Giving for the public spectacle of making the giver look kind/godly/good)
Enabling Self-Sufficiency: Providing a gift, loan, or employment to prevent someone from needing charity, allowing them to become self-reliant.
Anonymous Giving (Secret): Giving to a recipient, and receiving from a donor, both of whom are unknown to each other (e.g., "charity fund").
Anonymity for the Recipient: The donor knows the recipient, but the recipient does not know the donor.
Anonymity for the Donor: The recipient knows the donor, but the donor does not know the recipient.
Proactive Giving: Giving before being asked, anticipating the need.
Responsive Giving: Giving only after being asked.
Adequate Giving: Giving less than one should, but doing so with a pleasant, encouraging manner.
Grudging Giving: Giving unwillingly or out of guilt (often referred to as "giving in sadness").
These principles emphasize that the highest forms of charity involve anonymity to prevent shame and empowering the recipient so they no longer need assistance.
RvstiNiall@reddit
I will look into that. Thank you for this.
pfcgos@reddit
I mean, there's definitely altruism without ulterior motives or self interest. Plenty of people do good for the sake of doing good, but I agree that public displays like that tend to be more about being seen to do or say something or about feeling good for having done it.
RvstiNiall@reddit
My apologies. I only meant the public displays like that. I agree, the real thing exists. Sparingly.
PossumJenkinsSoles@reddit
You get sick and tired of people saying “Welcome” in Starbucks?
dontforgettowriteme@reddit
I'm not a veteran but yes, I find it fundamentally strange/off-putting to be shout-greeted when I walk into an establishment. If I wanted the room to know that I'd arrived, I'd start yelling myself. Let's just say hello when we're face to face.
PossumJenkinsSoles@reddit
I mean they’re just overworked people trying to greet customers in a noisy environment. Has never bothered me, but I’m not easily bothered when I can tell people are trying to be polite
dontforgettowriteme@reddit
I'm not sure what them being overworked or trying to be polite has to do with my personal feeling that I find the practice off-putting. I hate that it's a policy/expectation in some stores. Knowing their intentions or their experience doesn't change that personal feeling. I can feel that way/find that annoying at the same time someone's overworked.
CandidateHefty329@reddit
Did you know you did priority in HUD housing?
Mayortomatillo@reddit
Is this supposed to be a gotcha?
CandidateHefty329@reddit
Who would think that? I asked if you you knew about it?
Prowindowlicker@reddit
There’s actually a lot of resources. The problem is that nobody in the military tells you about them.
Then when out it’s hard to find until usually another veteran helps ya.
Homeless veterans can get free healthcare from the VA, can get housing from the VA via HUDVASH, and they’re almost certainly able to get VA disability which can help them get stable.
Then you have the GI Bill and VR&E both of which are education benefits. And finally the VA home loan.
If ya know where to look there’s actually a lot of support.
beenoc@reddit
Don't forget the 10% discount at Lowes! That makes it all worth it.
bloodectomy@reddit
ngl I do love my discount and increased rewards points, as well as the rockstar parking. >.>
WorthConfusion9786@reddit
That is fantastic.
-Boston-Terrier-@reddit
That's not true.
I make a lot of crayon jokes at the expense of my BIL the former Marine.
redditburner_5000@reddit
There is a basic level of respect given to veterans, especially veterans that were obviously wounded. They also receive preferential treatment when it comes to government contracting ("veteran owned business" designation) and from some businesses (military discounts). They get very favorable home mortgage financing as well. That's just the baseline societal behavior. That's in addition to the official benefits like healthcare and college tuition coverage coverage.
I'd say that being a veteran carried more weight 20 years ago though, and I think there's been some "veteran fatigue" over the last few decades. Our supply of veterans is much higher now than before the Middle East wars and, as with anything, the supply-demand concept applies. It also matters in which conflict the person served. WW2 veterans, for example, are highly respected and have been for decades.
I wouldn't call the respect "adoration" but there is a level of default respect that veterans enjoy above and beyond a normal person. It's almost superficial though, and it can be lost with poor behavior or a bad attitude. Nobody likes a jerk.
Finally, they did a job I chose not to do. They gave up a good chunk of their lives to serve the United States and gave up opportunities to start careers that would have paid better, and gave up stability that a private sector life would have provided. I did have the opportunity to attend our Navy and Air Force academies but did not go because I wanted the QOL and career progression that America provides private sector workers, so I do respect anyone who made the decision to spend time in the military. Our quality of life in the US is a direct result of our military superiority so those who serve in the armed forces are critical to our collective well-being.
Two stark, recent examples of how I benefit from the work of our military are Venezuela and Iran. These are massive strategic wins for America (and the west in general) to the detriment of our enemies. You can see real time ship tracking of VLCCs ferrying Venezuelan oil to America now. That wasn't happening 3mo ago. You'll see the same from Iran shortly. Our military gives us the ability to enforce American (and western) interests all over the planet including in our enemy's own sphere, and I think the combination of diplomatic, intelligence, and military power we have has reshaped the world order from what we had only 6mo ago. It is because of our military that we do not need to rely on a "rules based" world order. At the end of the day, a carrier strike group, network of refueling jets, and airlift capability ARE the rules, and they're OUR rules.
A powerful military is vital to our well being and continued prosperity. Those who serve and contribute to that deserve a baseline respect (until they give you a reason to withdraw it).
No_Button_1750@reddit
I am a veteran and my husband is active duty military. We are not American but we live in the US and my husband works with US military members.
I have been so overwhelmed with how well active duty and veterans are treated in the US. Publicly people will genuinely say “thank you for your service” to members in uniform (even my husband in a different country’s cam) or if they find out they are, or have served. Military members are honoured at national level sporting events, and the national anthem is sung with people putting their hands on their chest (I get that’s national pride and not related to the military but it is something to be celebrated).
Military personnel also receive discounts in some stores and public places like museums etc. Those gestures I think are nice and I wish that there was more recognition in general for the sacrifice that servicemen and women make on behalf of their countries. (Incidentally I saw a travel post where someone asked about whether there was any military discount available (I think it was an American travelling in the UK) and a really rude (and clearly ignorant) British guy said “why would there be a military discount?” Well dipshit because in countries in other than yours that is sometimes offered to people who have served their country 🤦🏻♀️
The thing that blew me away was allowing military members to board early on flights. I guarantee they are never sitting at the front of the aircraft but again it’s a really nice gesture (especially because flying in the US can be hectic!).
I will caveat all the above by saying I’m not sure how this all translates to life for veteran post-service and coverage by VA but the parts I’ve seen made me very proud to even be associated with how the majority of American treat their military members.
Signal-View4754@reddit
Better than in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. My Dad served from 1959 to 1989, and had a lot of stories. We all saw him as a hero and treated him as such.
Being a Cold War and Vietnam vet, he was spit at, called a baby killer, and worse. Dad would turn the other cheek and be the bigger man. He didn't experience parades or homecomings on the scale some get.
Living_Act2886@reddit
We say thank you for your service and politicians always say “support our troops!” but then cut their medical and mental health funding.
ShesGotaChicken2Ride@reddit
The general public has great respect and appreciation for veterans, especially those who saw combat.
Our government unfortunately treats them like shit.
cryptoengineer@reddit
After the Vietnam War, many veterans got treated very badly, and completely unfairly, as most were conscripts.
Since then the US has switched to a professional all-volunteer force, and treatment was greatly improved, to the point where 'Thankyou for your service' has become annoying.
langstonfleury@reddit
Now veterans are mostly treated very well. However, the old hippies attending no kings are the same people who spit on and harassed the traumatized kids who were drafted during Vietnam. They are despicable people.
hemibearcuda@reddit
We are treated totally different after 9/11.
I got out in 99, and no one cared about my service. After 9/11 and troops started dying in Afghanistan, it totally changed.
I appreciate it, but it makes me uncomfortable when civilians thank me for my service.
devilscabinet@reddit
The political party that makes the biggest show of "honoring Veterans" is also the one that fights the hardest to strip and limit their benefits, including medical ones. Nevertheless, an inordinate amount of veterans vote for that party, despite it being against their own best interests to do so.
West-Improvement2449@reddit
Badly. Veterans have to terrible under trump
Zealousideal_Top20@reddit
Socially and culturally I think Americans give veterans a considerable degree of respect and gratitude. Whether this translates into actual benefits and improvements in their lives is a whole other story, though.
Texan2116@reddit
Vets get a form of healthcare for life. Not saying its as good as euro nations, but my neighbor did 3 yrs in the army in the 80s, got discharged out early for a dwi, and goes to the Va all the time. Never saw a war or action of any sort. Yet gets bennies to this day.
AS far as homeless vets go...losers come frorm all backgrounds. And there are a couple of local vet groups that do care boxes for the homeless vets on occasion.
RvstiNiall@reddit
Unfortunately, most homeless vets aren't losers, they're mentally ficked up from serving. There definitely are some that have normal brain function but ARE losers, but from what I've seen they're the minority. Of course it's hard to tell the difference when they're homeless unless you actually spend enough time to get to know them. And quite frankly it's dangerous too, so no thanks.
LtKavaleriya@reddit
True, but there are plenty of homeless veterans who didn’t get mentally fucked by the service. Many were simply already broken and/or had no support network when they joined, and quickly fell into addiction once they got out and lost the stability & best friends they had while in. Also not to mention the overlooked problem that someone going in at 17/18 is basically going to spend the next however many years not really learning how to function independently in the civilian world. Most figure it out, some don’t.
Then of course, just… shit happens. I knew a guy who was a water purification specialist on the Gulf War. Didn’t see any combat, wasn’t mentally fucked at all, but ended up homeless in his late ‘50s due to other circumstances. Someone could also easily fall into addiction for reasons completely unrelated to their service.
RvstiNiall@reddit
Very true. Especially the whole joining at 17/18 and not knowing how to function independently thing. Yes there are dozens of causes for homelessness, and the VA should help them ALL, even the ones that have nothing to do with their military service. Everyone deserves help.
slightlyobtrusivemom@reddit
No, they don't. Source: am vet, do not get free care from the VA
MyUsername2459@reddit
Only some veterans get health care for life.
I served for years on active duty and got an honorable discharge, and do not have VA Healthcare because of the technicalities in our system.
RvstiNiall@reddit
As a Veteran I feel like there are pockets of America that I feel special because of it, and pockets where I feel looked down upon because of it. But I do take advantage of every single % off deal that is publicly advertised. I never ask places if they have it though. I feel that's tacky. And once a year on Veterans Day I make a whole day out of it, getting free breakfast meals for myself, then eating lunch by myself for free at one restaurant, and another restaurant for dinner, but with my wife so my meal is free but not hers. But I always tip extra at these places because it's not fair to the workers otherwise. However, I don't use the Veteran parking up front at Lowes because there are a lot of older disabled vets where I live, and I'm not disabled. I feel like those spots were meant for them, not random veterans who are physically perfectly fine.
Then there are people who assume you're a MAGAt just because you served, and it kinda hurts when people judge you negatively before they even meet you. Prejudice sucks.
Ozone220@reddit
Some grocery stores have veteran-only parking spaces. It's decently common to say something like "thank you for your service" if someone's wearing like, a veteran hat or something.
AppropriateDark5189@reddit
Depends on the area sometimes. I grew up close to a military base and I had extended family members in the military. Utmost respect. Several of my coworkers are either past military or military reserve.
I have also lived in areas around the country where there are self entitled people that don’t appreciate the contributions of our service members. I guess you can guess where I stand on the topic.
I don’t necessarily agree with how our government utilizes the military but I do appreciate the members of the military.
Meilingcrusader@reddit
A lot of people really admire them
iowaman79@reddit
As with nearly everything in America, it depends, but overall I feel the population at least has a respect for the individuals who made the choice, even if they are opposed to the thing they chose to join.
Ok_Coconut4898@reddit
These days they are treated with honor in many ways . Many businesses offer veterans discounts. Many states offer special license plates recognizing their service and in some places there are special parking spots set aside for them Many people, if they see someone with veteran regalia, will say “thank you for your service. They get special consideration for government jobs and also some corporate jobs.
That’s not to say it’s all unicorns and rainbows…. many have issues from their time in service and suffer a threat deal, but all in all, our society definitely cares about them.
witchy12@reddit
Depends on the person. Also depends on the state. A lot of veterans complain about not getting enough benefits and then shoot themselves in the foot by voting red.
Duck_Diddler@reddit
I was a sailor, but same gay things done on deployment.
It varies on who you ask. Some see us as war criminals, some see us as heroes. I like the middle way. We were just normal people, serving our country becoming pawns for the government. I've been called some nasty things online only though, most will not say it to your face.
It's odd because most of my career was spent doing Pediatrics and Humanitarian work. I literally dragged bodies out from the wreckage of the Great Tohoku Tsunami. I never shot at anyone. Never killed a man.
I think we're taken care of but there's always room for improvement. The biggest issue is mental health. The VA still doesn't take it seriously.
acorpcop@reddit
VA takes it very seriously, unfortunately mental health is a shit show in the US and getting providers is the biggest hurdle.
If you think behavioral/mental healthcare is fucked at the VA, take a look at the private sector.
I work at a VAMC that is pretty much primary care and psych. In patient and out patient, we're the primary psych facility for the VISN. Most of the providers have a case load of hundreds of at-risk or acute Veterans that they are providers for and many hundreds of "regular" patients each.
tesseractjane@reddit
My husband went to the VA first for emotional instability, impulsivity and anger. His therapist absolutely refused to discuss his service as a possible pain point and gave him a lot of "anger control" worksheets and sent him on his way. Two years later after a full, call the police mental breakdown, a private therapist diagnosed PTSD.
My husband was in the straits during operation Iraqi Freedom and dumped 8k tons of ordinance off the Kitty. He helped clean up after the boxing day tsunami. He was born prematurely, and lactose intolerant at Camp Lejune but the VA for sure said his problems had nothing to do with his service or his Marine father's post in Jacksonville until we had private providers come back with diagnoses. Not everyone Vet has that option.
A lot of people at the VA are devoted to helping veterans. But some are devoted to cost control. Tom Kenny, the therapist at the Golden, CO VA facility who refused any discussion of PTSD, was an accountant at heart.
acorpcop@reddit
Out of curiosity, did you or he ever try to change providers? Talk to the patient advocate/VEO?
It's no different than outside. There are good providers and bad ones. I damn near lost my nose to a cyst in my face that a family practice doctor refused to lance and who refused to make a referral back in the HMO days. Paid out of pocket to see ENT doctor who lanced that MF post haste.
Don't get me started on the contract Army doctor that gave me Benadryl for a brown recluse bite because he heard the word "spider bite" and understood "insect" in his limited English. Damn near lost the ligaments in my knee to necrosis.
Also, VHA has nothing to do with VBA. The money is already spent, two years in advance because the VHA has advanced appropriations. VBA is the compensation and disability claim people. VHA didn't and doesn't count beans. That is VBA.
reallymoreish20@reddit
Most veterans don't announce that they are. It's usually the medically disqualified person who served for 4 months that insists they're "veterans "
Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit
Generally very well. It’s hilarious how Redditors lecture about people who join the military. They think most of them are doing it for jingoistic reasons… really most are there to get in and out and get benefits
New-Process-52@reddit
Free pancakes
Great_Chipmunk4357@reddit
There’s a video on YouTube by an English lady who has moved to the US. She had noticed how much Americans express their support and thanks. When Americans see men and women in a restaurant or bar, they almost always offer to pay for their food and drinks.
seancbo@reddit
By the state, pretty shitty aside from the GI bill.
By the people, pretty well, it's rare to see people being hostile to vets these days.
Prowindowlicker@reddit
There’s a lot more than just the GI Bill.
You have the VA Home Loan, VA disability, VR&E (which is a program that pays you while you try to get a job), HUDVASH, tax exemptions out the ass, free healthcare, free state college, etc.
There’s actually quite a lot that you can do with assistance from the government.
lisasimpsonfan@reddit
VA disability is not always easy to get. My husband lost part of his hearing due to faulty ear plugs made by a company 3M owns. 3M admitted fault and had to pay but it took my husband years to get a very small percent disability from the VA.
seancbo@reddit
For sure, you just have to be responsible enough to go use them. And I've heard some crazy horror stories about VA disability and healthcare, but I'm sure it works for some people.
SeaGurl@reddit
I used to take my grandfather to the VA hospital. The number of vets who clearly need assistance and weren't getting it was always astounding.
muphasta@reddit
There is one party who hypes them up as true patriots and wants to send them to the front lines. Once at the front line, this party stops caring about them.
There is another party that seems more reluctant to send them to the front lines, but once they come home, they try to make sure they are supported.
The party that tries to avoid military conflict is looked down on by the other party and tries to claim that they don't support America or the troops.
But it is the gung ho send'em to war party who doesn't give a shit about the ones who come home. They cut funding for veterans' benefits.
I am a navy veteran and work as a navy civilian. I got lucky with my job in the navy in that I sat in rooms with no windows in pretty cool locations. I only spent 9 days on a ship in 9 years of service. That and I was able to use my navy job to transition to the civilian workforce.
The VA gets criticized, but they do a good job in some aspects, and not so good in other areas. Much of it is bureaucracy, much of it is lack of funding.
I don't like being thanked for my service. I joined for purely selfish reasons; to better my life. I'm one of the lucky ones with very few problems related to active duty. I do enjoy my discounts.
lisasimpsonfan@reddit
It's not just one party. Both parties have no problem sending soldiers to the front line then taking away money from veteran services when they get back. My husband has 24 years in and we have seen it happen over and over again no matter who is in charge.
Derwin0@reddit
None, Military and Veterans are treated great.
I get “thank you for your service” all the time because of my Desert Storm license plates.
vrctsl@reddit
Well the president calls them “suckers and losers” so…
Dulceetdecorum13@reddit
America kind of goes through cycles. WW2 and Korean vets were treated pretty well, a lot of social benefits popped up after the war giving them access to education and homes. Vietnam vets were treated horribly, it was an unpopular war so people
KJHagen@reddit
It goes in cycles. I joined in the late 1970s and the benefits were bad, and there was still some stigma after Vietnam. It gradually got better, and the current benefits are very good.
I'm proud to be a veteran, but mostly just talk about military things with fellow veterans. Being thanked for my service feels awkward. There's a lot of other ways to serve your country and community besides the military. Everyone deserves thanks.
sean8877@reddit
My father's a Vietnam vet and when he uses his USAA credit card I've heard a lot of people say "Thank you for your service" which is nice. As a family member I also have a USAA card and people thank me for my service even though I'm not a vet but I tell them it's my Father who served I just get to use the family plan and they usually say thank you for your family's service which is also nice.
GreenBeanTM@reddit
Depends on where they live, who they’re talking to and who they are.
Gen Z by and large has a low opinion of how our military functions, but a lot of us hold nothing against the actual members. Some of us however are also very aware of all of the negative statistics associated with the actual members (for example having extremely high rates of domestic violence, cheating, or how female members are more likely to be raped by another member than shot in combat) that takes them off of the pedestals previous generations sometimes put service members on.
Pitiful_Lion7082@reddit
The public tends to view combat vets in a positive light. The government treats them like crap, especially concerning physical and mental health care.
Lugbor@reddit
Depends on the person, the veteran, and the war. WWII gets a lot more respect than Vietnam, front line infantry gets more respect than a reserve who never saw combat, and someone who listened in class is going to be more respectful than the kid who slept through history.
Humdrum_Blues@reddit
It depends. The free movie tickets and such are nice, but there's also a very vocal minority that can be pretty awful because they don't understand shit about shit.
atomfullerene@reddit
They usually go to the VA.
AAA515@reddit
Varies, you could have PFC Floor Sweeper who did their time and got out and now is either a regular Joe who no one would ever know they served or they make it their entire personality and still eat mres in civilian life.
You could have Major Casualty who served with distinction until "it" happened and now is either paraded around as a hero to boost enlistment or is fighting tooth and nail to get the VA to return their phone calls.
And of course you got the most obvious soldiers traveling on the bus or plane in full uniform, neve seen anyone give them any problems, everyone knows their lives suck enough without going Rambo Sheriff on them.
Aggravating-Key-8867@reddit
I live in an area with a lot of military - both active duty and retired. There is a respect for the job they do and the role they serve in our society. Generally speaking, people here support the troops. But when over half your population is associated with the military, it's hard to think of any individual person as special because they've served.
redditplaceiscool@reddit
Veterans are usually treated with subpar care here, at least in regards to Healthcare. I watched my grandpa get a bunch of botched surgeries from the VA and the wait list for services is long. They're not really revered except for by really conservative people from what I've noticed. Sometimes they can get discounts at restaurants and car washes and stuff. Thats about it.
Phillyfan10@reddit
It’s truthfully one of those things that is quite the black eye for America. Not really any sugar coating it. It’s one of those “actions don’t match the words” kind of things.
We love to thump our chests and peacock around saying thank you for your service, and we support our troops, etc. In reality, veterans face medical, mental health, homelessness, suicide and similar such tribulations at alarming rates, and we do little to nothing at a cohesive, organized level to address it.
monkmullen@reddit
I think there's been a gradual shift from 'thank you for your service/sacrifice' to 'you're nothing/nobody special'. Rather than Iraq/Afghanistan/Vietnam/etc, a lot of vets get deployed to places like South Korea where the greatest threat is contracting an STD from a prostitute whose toilet is the Tupperware container in the corner of the room.
Some of that has to do with politics and the media. The current administration is very pro military pro war pro conflict, and the forced patriotism is obvious and tiring.
MessoGesso@reddit
They are spoken about as if they are on a pedestal and deserve the best of everything.
They are spoken about as though no veterans should be without supportive people, treatment for whatever they need, top consideration for entry into the civilian workforce, rapid response in healthcare, and the best in everything.
In reality, we dont't know how to offer effective support. Veteran's get healthcare, but their system has had big problems which I don't think the public can help fix. There are benefits to employers if you fill out the optional form where it says "veteran". It's similar to the benefits they get from my checkiing F and by not checking white.
It's not a personal boost. I have a condition more common for combat vets to have. When I was working and had symptoms at the office, I wasn't allowed to leave, or given time or space to calm down. Maybe it's different with vets, or vets with a support dog.
We get news that a number of people who entered the military were doing so poorly before and were on their way to homelessness, addiction, and didn't have a support system going in. So the numbers of struggling vets doesn't completely reflect the effects of service and poor treatment after service. News like that wouldn't inspire many people to be more helpful to the homeless and addicted vets.
patricide1st@reddit
It depends on the area. I am a disabled veteran and people's reaction to me varies wildly.
Believe it or not, conservative areas tend to either not care at all or there is outright contempt. I have a Disabled Veteran license plate that allows me to park in handicap spots and here in East Tennessee I get harassed or stared at hard (because I'm young).
When I visited my friend in Oregon (he also is a disabled veteran with a DV license plate) he was approached multiple times a day while I was with him by people just wanting to shake his hand and thank him for his service. We were in a VERY liberal pocket of Oregon, too.
This isn't meant to be a blanket statement, just my personal experience.
RvstiNiall@reddit
I have similar experiences in upstate South Carolina, and when I was up in NJ, it was like your experiences in Oregon! Wild, right? I'm not disabled though, so I don't park in the Veteran Parking at Lowes due to several DVs in the area that love going to Lowes on a daily lol.
Prowindowlicker@reddit
Trust me if you were older you wouldn’t have gotten stares.
It’s because we’re young guys not veterans.
The people in the conservative areas you mentioned have a preconceived idea of a disabled veteran and a young guy isn’t that.
I’ve gotten stares from just parking in the veteran parking (the non-handicapped) at Lowe’s. And it’s because I’m a young dude. I bet you if I was 70 or 60 i wouldn’t have had people staring at me.
At least I don’t have people wondering if I can use the handicap parking cause I walk with a very visible limp
sikkerhet@reddit
When the state is done chewing they're spit out in a homelesss encampment.
Prowindowlicker@reddit
Except that’s not remotely accurate. I’ve said it before in this thread but there’s multiple resources for homeless veterans. The thing is finding those
PleaseDontBanMe82@reddit
There are tons of benefits and organizations that help veterans. You can lead a horse to water. If they don't want to drink, that's on them.
No_Report_4781@reddit
Yes, that’s why we helped a disabled veteran petition for 6 years to get medical help. He died two months before it was approved.
PleaseDontBanMe82@reddit
Was he rated by the VA? If so, why not?
No_Report_4781@reddit
Yes. No clue. We stopped being involved when he died from the qualifying condition
sharpshooter999@reddit
Yeah, the government treats them like a burden. The actual people tend to treat soldiers with a lot more sympathy or at the very least, indifference. Support the troops but not the war is something I've heard since 2003 around here
sikkerhet@reddit
Yeah there's very little you can say as an american that's more unpopular than "the troops signed up for the war knowingly and on purpose"
Ceorl_Lounge@reddit
I'm pretty far lefty, but have family who served in the past and some are still active. That's 100% my take on it. I want to see our military used to good ends, but it's not like service members are the ones who decide that. Maybe dial back the spending a little too... just on $13 billion carriers, not the VA.
John-Dune-Awakening@reddit
Depends on where you are. When I was stationed in AZ, I swear to God half the time I went out to lunch during work someone else would pick up my tab and thank me for my service. It's awkward at first but eventually you just thank them for their support and that's that.
No-Profession422@reddit
We are used as political pawns, more than anything else.
zoppaTheDim@reddit
Currently the highest benefit and pay package in US history.
PleaseDontBanMe82@reddit
Pretty good, imo. Veterans gets paid to go to college or a trade school. We have the VA Home Loan. If you can deal with the paperwork, getting disability is pretty easy. Those 3 things alone are pretty amazing.
tangowhiskeyyy@reddit
It's absolutely not "pretty easy" to get disability.
Prowindowlicker@reddit
Then you also have state property exemptions. I recently bought a new vehicle a paid $0 in taxes because of those exemptions.
PleaseDontBanMe82@reddit
I'm in VA. Need a 90% rating for that.
Prowindowlicker@reddit
In GA, it’s 100% or ya lost the use of your legs.
RhymenoserousRex@reddit
Better than any civilian, even if the VA sucks (and it does) it’s still miles better than the jack shit a lot of Americans have available.
If you put in 20 years you get a pension which if you get employed afterwards gives you a level of financial freedom that is basically unheard of amongst generational peers.
In fact it may be the last remaining bastion of pensions in general.
lendmeflight@reddit
In anyway that matters they get treated like shit but most people are keen on showing how righteous they are by saying “thank you for your service”.
silverbatwing@reddit
Depends. Mostly not well, especially if you need a VA. That being said, too many veterans support this current Admin.
The current gov admin views the survivors of war as “losers”.
If you sign up to fill ranks, you’re pretty much either desperate for change in your life (money, college, escape), gaslit/guilted into it, or follow a family expectation/tradition.
Culturally? I’m Indigenous, so the military fulfills the Warrior cultural needs as well as offering out of bad circumstances (idk how much you know about Reservations and general Native American history). Most Indigenous people I know view it as serving/fighting for the land and our community rather than the government (but that’s getting increasingly difficult to justify). We do always honor Veterans, active military, and all emergency personnel, especially at powwows.
pfcgos@reddit
As a veteran, I've never been mistreated by anyone for my service, but politically, we're more often used as a talking point that they pay lip service to or we are used to shutdown arguments/ discussions that a certain party doesn't want to have.
304libco@reddit
I’m sure like many other countries they get fantastic lip service, but impractical terms that means nothing. The same people who thank them for their service vote against programs that will benefit veterans.
petitecrivain@reddit
Generally people show a lot of respect for veterans personally even if they don't agree with the wars they fought in. The government gives them benefits like health insurance too.
Texan2116@reddit
They are literally worshipped here. It is unreal.
Mother_World_5093@reddit
Well they get discounts, holidays, free food, and stuff. Sometimes I get jealous but then I go, "well... they could have died fighting for me so...Heres some free food!!"
Well they also can get scholarships, free college, a stable career (in the military, not really after) and other sweet stuff.
Although they get all of that (and the holidays and stuff are sometimes only certain times of the year), and I get jealous, the thing is I don't think they can really ever get enough attention. Some have PTSD, some have injuries, some lost they're families (from prioritizing the military) and much more so I feel it is only right they get all those things. Some people join the military for the benefits. So what? That's what they are there for.
Practically what I'm trying to say is that they get treated well but it could be better.
Prize_Consequence568@reddit
Depends.
BoSKnight87@reddit
Pretty decent. I retired after 20, I get a pretty nice pension and I work for the gov so I have a 2nd one cooking. My kids are covered till they’re about 21 on my health insurance and can use my to gi bill to go school, we also go to Disney world a lot. I get about 30-40% off hotel rooms depending on the time and resort, and get heavily discounted tickets as well. I don’t regret any of it
kbmoregirl@reddit
Speaking as a child of a veteran, I wish there were more services available for veterans after they get back from seeing the horrors of war, and more accountability to get them to utilize those services.
BaconConnoisseur@reddit
It’s the standard human condition. Most people will support veterans as long as they don’t have to put in any effort, consideration, or tax dollars that could be used to line politician pockets. They get tons of supportive lip service and are allowed to board airplanes first.
MyCorgiAnna@reddit
Sometimes you are recognized at events ("will all veterans stand?"), sometimes there are discounts (especially veterans day, but my local grocery store chain does 10% off on military pay days).
Typically people will say "thank you for your service" if they know/find out you served. I work at a large insurance company now and we get to pick a gift of about $10 to $20 around veterans days and they recognize us by name (and branch of service) in a meeting usually. And higher ups send me a thank you for your service email near veterans day too.
Im a woman and rarely if ever bring up being prior service unless im explaining why we moved to where we are now.
Responsible-Care-388@reddit
Poorly given social and mental issues that are prevalent in many of them.
Many benefits are great and yeah most people would at least say "thank you for your service!" But actions speak louder than words, and for the most part, it doesn't match up.
CoachedEgg@reddit
Veterans get a fraction of the benefits and care they deserve
Drslappybags@reddit
People and the government say they care, but their actions and policies say different.
steelfork@reddit
I get tired of being told what I think about politics because I'm a veteran.
PantsDontHaveAnswers@reddit
We pretend to venerate them and let them die from treatable diseases while homeless.
sageamericanidiot@reddit
The people mostly show respect. Thank them for their service, offer them discounts at businesses, support them even though they don't support the war. That's my experience.
Veterans get some support through various nonprofit and government organizations and programs, but it's not enough.
gravely_serious@reddit
Aside from the benefits, you get to hear everyone's stories about how they thought about joining.
yourlittlebirdie@reddit
Tons and tons of lip service. Politicians usually fall all over themselves to talk about how much they love soldiers and veterans (Trump being a notable example who called them “losers and suckers” yet not losing any loyalty from them anyway). But they typically then turn around and happily vote to cut their benefits and fire staff from the agencies that serve them.
Roam1985@reddit
Societally without any element of fiscal nature - Extremely well. We pause at all sporting events to honor veterans in the stands. It looks great on a resume and will generally open a door to any job in the trades (granted, those jobs hire ex-cons... but they're still more likely to promote the veterans). Even when we massively disagree with wars we convince ourselves to "support the troops" and thank them for their service.
Societally with a fiscal nature attached - Meh. You get Health care while you're in the service and technically the VA is there afterwards.... but VA hospitals (especially the further away from richer neighborhoods) are poorly maintained and funded. The idea of housing assistance or Levittown style suburbs being built for returning troops to have affordable housing ended shortly after Levittown. Almost no VA care will continue to care about psychological care after service, even to a point where mental issues degrade the lives of some of these men until they are fully destitute on the street. And any aide they'd receive for having veteran status at that level of poverty will be fought tooth and nail to deny (just like all medical services, regardless of if it's VA or insurance provided. American health care is about denial).
There is no stigma for being a veteran, and there's a lot more stigma for anyone who tried to make it so there was (people who called the vietnam vets baby killers).
There's definitely adoration. There's a set of men and women in the US that specifically will never show respect to anyone... unless that person has served. This group is hilarious because whether or not they served is like a 50/50 shot.
Mikethemechanic00@reddit
Pre 9/11 vet here. Veterans get treated much better these days in General. It depends where you live. When served in the 90s. Only old people said thank you. After 9/11. Vets got handshakes and handclaps at the airport. I got very upset when this happened. I never got that treatment. Got really pissed off when 9/11 vets would get handshakes and a free coffee and told thank you. They would complain when the person left and how tired they were of hearing thank you for your service. I get thanks almost weekly now. My cars have Vet plates on them. My work attire we have Veteran shirts, jackets etc. I live in Oregon. Most people hate the military. I used to live in Arizona. If you are a cops or veteran. They treat you very well.
ChocolatePain@reddit
During the early days of the Iraq War I feel there was more adoration for military members amongst the general public due to nationalism. Nowadays, especially with anti-war sentiments having increasingly gone up since then, it's more neutral. I don't think anyone has distain for an individual soldier, but most people wouldn't really care.
TheOwlMarble@reddit
I've never encountered anyone who had a stigma against vets, even absolute pacifists. I'm sure there are some out there, but people are generally neutral-positive toward vets from my outside perspective.
Sabertooth767@reddit
I'm a Guardsman. A little while ago we got stuck at a gas station because our bus broke down (classic Army). People honked their horns and a few even yelled slurs as they drove by. Conversely, some people will thank you for your service, maybe even try to pay for your food or something.
Personally, I try to avoid being in public in uniform as much as possible.
Asparagus9000@reddit
You get discounts at certain stores.
LHCThor@reddit
I enjoy the discounts at many stores. I think that veterans are treated much better now than in the past.
GSilky@reddit
Fine if they weren't likely to be damaged goods to begin with
Trialbyfuego@reddit
There's a mix. It depends. But many people join the military for the benefits and on veterans day people often say thanks for your service or happy Veterans day to any veteran they know.