Boot camp is like obedience school for humans! It helps them transition into the military.
But what helps them transition OUT of the military?
Many veterans find it challenging to make the leap from the service to civilian life.
They’re leaving highly-structured environments in which they know where they need to
be and when, they have reliable pay and benefits, 100% health care coverage, a roof
over their head, food on their table…they’re even told what to wear!
But when they get out, all that disappears in a wag of the tail.
To compound their difficulties, some spent their time in the service as infantry, artillery,
tanks, etc. Career fields that are hard to translate into civilian resumes. And for those
enlisted members who came from challenging socio-economic backgrounds? The
obstacles can seem insurmountable.
This is where a public-private partnership comes in, a concept you’ve heard me talk
about before regarding the performing arts. Except in this case, it’s “public” in that the
service branch (let’s say the Army) would notify the Veterans Administration and state
equivalent (here in California that’s CalVet) that John or Jane Doe is leaving the service
and settling in California. The VA would ensure they’re connected to VA health and
education benefits while the state would tap into a partnership involving both local
government (like the County of Los Angeles) and private industry to help those new
veterans find new employment.
You know what else might help veterans transition? The loyal companionship only
canines can provide. Like PETS FOR VETS (https://petsforvets.com/). Just sayin…
