National Veterans Awareness Week
VA Reports Strain on Veteran's Services
By Sharon Anderson, 11.11.04
From the sandy banks of Normandy to the cobble streets of Fallujah, American soldiers have lost their lives for the safety of United States. To honor soldiers this year, President Bush has designated this week as National Veterans Awareness week.
In the days before Veteran’s Day American and Iraqi forces are engaged in deadly combat in the rebel Iraqi city of Fallujah. U.S. forces now number 138,000 in Iraq and 20,000 in Afghanistan according to USA Today.
Since fighting began last March, more than 1,100 U.S. troops have died in Iraq both on and off the battlefield, according to CNN.
Veterans Proclamation Signed
This week President Bush personally honored wounded veterans Tuesday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Many Iraq military casualties are treated at Walter Reed, according to the Associated Press.
“It's such an honor to meet the troops who have been wounded, and it's so uplifting to see their spirit, their drive to become rehabilitated, their love of their country, their support of the mission,” Bush said.
Veterans’ Services Strained by War in Iraq
Of the 25 million veterans currently living, almost three out of four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the nation's population, approximately 70 million people, are potentially eligible for veterans’ benefits and services.
Although the number of U.S. military personnel engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan is far smaller than in earlier major conflicts, their effect on the Veterans Affairs Department is straining department resources, said VA Secretary Anthony Principi in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The agency has treated a fifth of the veterans of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts. This includes wounds that probably would have proved fatal in previous wars Principi said.
Rapidly escalating costs for health care and increasing demands for veterans’ services has placed considerable pressure on the Veteran’s Affairs.
New Veterans Benefits Act Signed
In response to the crisis, Bush signed the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act on Oct. 28.
The $420.6 billion act increases medical and education benefits. It allows more flexibility in awarding bonuses, which are considered key quality-of-life improvements targeting National Guard and Reserve service members.
During a Nov. 4 interview with the American Forces Press Service, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas Hall explained many changes contained in the authorization act were vital to bring reserve component benefits more in line with active duty benefits. This is particularly important because troops from both components are serving side by side in combat zones, he said.
“We had a much different benefit structure for the Guard and Reserve and active duty members,” Hall said. “But when you are … serving … in the foxhole alongside your active duty brethren, we have to ask, 'Are the benefits the very same?' And they haven't been.”
One significant change is the various types of bonuses and proficiency pay. The act generally doubles or triples reserve component bonuses, bringing them closer to active duty amounts. It allows re-enlistment bonuses to be paid more than once and to be paid in a lump sum.
The 2005 National Defense Authorization Act also has new medical benefits for activated reservists and National Guardsmen and extends some other benefits that had been enacted temporarily.
