PETER: GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE NEWS.  MY NAME IS PETER WELCH AND I’M THE MODERATOR FOR THIS MORNINGS SHOW.  THIS MORNING WE’D LIKE TO VISIT ABOUT THE RETURNING GULF WAR OR WAR ON TERROR VETERANS IN EASTERN IOWA AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THAT THEY MAY ENCOUNTER RETURNING TO EASTERN IOWA.  WITH US THIS MORNING IS MR KIRT SICKELES WHO IS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST AT THE VA HOSPITAL IN IOWA CITY.  NEXT WITH US IS MR JOHN MIKELSON WHO IS THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA VETERANS AFFAIR ADVISOR AND ROUNDING OUT OUR PANEL THIS MORNING IS MR PETE VANERHOEF WHO’S AN IOWA CITY BUSINESSMAN AND ALSO SERVES AS THE EASTERN IOWA CHAIRMAN FOR THE IOWA COMMITTEE FOR THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE.  FIRST OF ALL THIS MORNING GENTLEMEN, WHY SHOULD WE EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT RETURNING VETS AND WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED? 

 

PETE:  THE IOWA NATIONAL GUARD IS COMPRISED OF ABOUT 9700 TROOPS AND VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO THE DESERT OR THE KOSOVO SINCE 9-11.  ACTUALLY THERE HAVE BEEN 10,000 THAT HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, SOME OF THESE SOLDIERS DON’T MAKE IT HOME.  WE’VE HAD 19 OF THE GUARDSMEN KILLED DURING THEIR SERVICE, ACTUALLY 14 WERE KILLED IN ACTION, 13 IN IRAQ AND ONE IN AFGHANISTAN.  ONE DIED OF ILLNESS IN IRAQ AND 2 WERE KILLED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON THE WAY TO CAMP DODGE TO PREPARE FOR IT.  HOWEVER THERE WERE 200 SOLDIERS OF THE 10,000 THAT WERE DEPLOYED THAT RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART WHICH MEANS THEY WERE INJURED IN COMBAT.  SOME OF THEM WERE COMING HOME BROKEN AND AS IN ANY WAR WE FIND THAT SOME OF THEM COME HOME BROKEN AND YOU CAN’T SEE IT.  KIRT KNOWS MORE ABOUT THAT SO I WILL LET HIM PICK THAT UP FROM THERE.

 

KIRT: WELL I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AT THE VA HOSPITAL, MANY SOLDIERS ACCESSING US AND LOOKING FOR SOME MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WE SEE APPROXIMATELY 3500 OF THOSE VETERANS RIGHT NOW AT THE HOSPITAL.  WE ACTUALLY SEE WITHIN OUR RANGE, OUR SERVICE AREA, ABOUT 13,000 OR 14,000 VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN WESTERN ILLINOIS AND IOWA.  THAT’S QUITE A FEW THAT HAVE SERVED AND MANY OF THEM MORE THAN ONCE.  THERE IS A BIG REASON WHY WE’RE HERE AND THAT IS TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THERE ARE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THEM AND WE’RE HERE TO HELP THEM.

 

PETER: NOW KIRT ISN’T ONE OF THE, AND SINCE WE HAVE A MISSION HERE TO INFORM BUT ISN’T ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THESE VETERANS FROM THE CURRENT GULF WAR AND THE WAR ON TERROR AND OTHER FORMER VETERANS, ISN’T IT IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET ENROLLED WITHIN THE SYSTEM?

 

KIRT: MUST BE ENROLLED.   THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT, MUST BE ENROLLED TO GET ANY SERVICES FROM THE VA.  THERE’S A 10-10 FORM THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED OUT AS WELL AS THAT ATTACHED TO A DD-214.  ENROLLMENT IS VERY EASY TO DO.  MANY TIMES THEY JUST AREN’T AWARE THAT YOU NEED THOSE ENROLLMENT FORMS TO GET IN.

 

PETER: AREN’T THERE ALSO SOME PERIODS OF ACTIVE DUTY TIME THAT MINIMUM HAVE TO BE MET SUCH AS, ISN’T THERE SO MUCH ACTIVE DUTY SUCH AS EXCEEDING 60, 90 DAYS?

 

KIRT: NOT FOR THE OAF OEF OPERATION IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN SOLDIERS.  THEY HAVE FROM THE TIME THEY STAND DOWN THEY HAVE 2 YEARS TO ACCESS THE VA.  THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY GRAND FATHERED IN TO THE SYSTEM BUT THEY MUST ENROLL DURING THAT 2 YEAR PERIOD.  IF THEY DO NOT, THEN THAT CRITERIA COMES INTO PLAY WHERE YOU MUST HAVE SERVED SO MANY MONTHS OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE AND IT’S 24 MONTHS. 

 

PETER: I SEE.  AND JOHN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AT THE U OF I?

 

JOHN: PART OF THE PROBLEM WE SEE WITH THE RETURNING STUDENTS, RETURNING VETERANS IS WE’VE TOLD THEM DURING THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY CAREER THAT THEY’RE SUPERMAN.  SUCK IT UP, PAIN IS JUST FEAR LEAVING THE BODY, YOU CAN DO IT ALL, YOU DON’T NEED ANY HELP.  AND THEY GET HOME AND THEY START TO HAVE TROUBLE AND THEY DON’T WANT HELP.  THERE’S A STIGMA ATTACHED TO PTSD THAT IT’S A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.  NOBODY WANTS TO BE THOUGHT OF AS HAVING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.  WE NEED TO DE STIGMATIZE THE TREATMENT, WE NEED TO TELL THESE GUYS THAT IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP AND THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT THEY’RE FEELING ARE PERFECTLY NORMAL.  RIGHT NOW BASED ON LAST FALLS FIGURES WE HAVE ABOUT 300 VETERAN STUDENTS AT IOWA USING SOME FORM OF GI BILL MONEY.  OF THAT 300 THERE’S AT LEAST 30 THAT ARE USING VOCATIONAL REHAB MONEY BASED ON THEIR DISABILITIES.  THEY’RE AT LEAST 20% DISABLED. THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN’T OTHER DISABLED SOLDIERS IN THE CLASSROOM WHO ARE USING THEIR MORE TRADITIONAL GI BILL BENEFITS.  A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR.  WHAT THEY WERE TOLD WHEN THEY ENLISTED, CHANGED ONCE THEY DEPLOYED. 

 

PETER:   AND IN YOUR POSITION AT THE U OF I, THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT DON’T HAVE THESE, WHETHER THEY BE JUNIOR COLLEGES AND JUST A LOT OF VETERANS WHO DON’T KNOW THE BENEFITS THAT THEY’RE ELIGIBLE FOR? 

 

JOHN: EVERY SCHOOL HAS A VETERAN CERTIFYING OFFICIAL.  SOMEONE IN THE REGISTRAR OR FINANCIAL AID OFFICE WHO SAYS YES THIS INDIVIDUAL IS A VETERAN, YES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO BENEFITS.  THE DEGREE TO WHICH THOSE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND CHANGES TO THE BENEFITS OR PERHAPS A FORMER SOLDIER NEEDS A DIFFERENT BENEFIT WHICH WILL VARY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL.  IOWA HAS SOME VERY GOOD PEOPLE AND THE IOWA MILITARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE SITS DOWN AND TRAINS ALL OF THESE FOLKS EVERY YEAR SO THAT ACROSS THE BOARD IN IOWA WE AT LEAST HAVE THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC.  THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD, THE RESERVE AND THE UNITS.

 

PETER: I SEE.

 

I THINK A KEY COMPONENT TO THIS IS WHEN VETERANS COME BACK THEY RAN THROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE THE 133^RD JUST CAME BACK, THEY RAN THROUGH FT MCCOY AND BENEFITS ARE EXPLAINED TO THEM BUT WHEN YOU’RE BACK ARE YOU LISTENING TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY?  NO YOU’RE NOT.  YOU’RE NOT LISTENING TO ANYTHING THAT’S REALLY.

 

PETER: YOU MEAN THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ON THEIR LOVED ONES?

 

EXACTLY.  THEY WANT TO GET HOME.  THEY WANT TO GET BACK TO SEE THEIR FAMILY AND TO GET BACK TO SOME SORT OF NORMALCY IF YOU WILL AND THEY DON’T REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT’S BEING SAID.  MY EXPERIENCE FROM THE OUTREACH THAT WE DO AT THE HOSPITAL IS THAT THOSE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS ARE JUST, THEY’RE SO IMPORTANT TO KIND OF OUTREACH TO THOSE FOLKS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT KIND OF BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM.  THE FAMILIES WILL LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.  THEY TAKE NOTES AND THEY ARE VERY INTENT ON MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE BENEFITS ARE WHERE THE SOLDIER, NOT AS MUCH SO.

 

PETER: WOULD YOU SEE THAT THERE’S A MARKED DIFFERENCE AND MAYBE MORE SO PETE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A VIET NAM VETERAN, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE ATTITUDE OR THE PROUD OR THE PRIDE IN THESE SOLDIERS VERSUS THE RETURNING VIET NAM VETERANS DO YOU THINK?

 

PETE: OH YES.  THESE SOLDIERS ARE WELCOMED HOME.  THE 2 BIG CHANGES MADE AS A RESULT OF VIET NAM WAR THAT WERE POSITIVE, ONE IS THAT THEY DID AWAY WITH THE DRAFT.  THESE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS.  THE OTHER ONE IS NOW WHEN WE GO TO WAR, HALF OF THE TROOPS COME FROM THE GUARD AND RESERVE WHICH MEANS THOSE GUYS, WHEN THEY GET DEPLOYED, THEIR FAMILIES ARE ESSENTIALLY IN THE DEPLOYMENT MODE AND THEIR EMPLOYERS ARE IN THE DEPLOYMENT MODE.  EMPLOYERS HAVE TO HOLD THEIR JOB FOR THEM AND WHEN THEY COME BACK THEY’VE GOT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THEM AND PUT THEM BACK IN ROUGHLY RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THEY LEFT AND ALSO ESCALATE THEM WITH THEIR SENIORITY AND STATUS AS IF THEY’D NEVER LEFT.  THAT’S A BURDEN ON THE EMPLOYERS AND SMALL EMPLOYERS, THIS IS A VERY LARGE BURDEN.  I THINK WE JUST HAD ONE EMPLOYER WITH 2 EMPLOYEES.  IT WAS A FARM FAMILY THAT WON A NATIONAL AWARD.  HE’S HAD ONE OF HIS TWO EMPLOYEES DEPLOYED TWICE.  TO SAY THAT’S A BURDEN, THAT’S A HEAVY BURDEN SO THERE’S AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE CARRYING THIS.  THESE PEOPLE NEED SUPPORT TOO.  OUR ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH THE EMPLOYERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE FAMILIES HAVE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS, YOU MENTIONED THAT KIRT, THEY ARE HIGHLY MOBILIZED AND VERY EFFECTIVE AND VERY HUNGRY FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET BACK TO NORMAL ONCE THEIR SOLDIER RETURNS. 

 

PETER: KIRT YOU BROUGHT THAT UP ABOUT DE PROGRAMMING.  WE TRAIN THESE PEOPLE TO GO OVER TO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVEN THE MOST INNOCENT OF OBJECTS CAN TAKE A LEG OR AN ARM OR A LIFE AND THEN WHEN WE BRING THEM BACK, ARE YOU AWARE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN HOUSE THAT HELPS THESE PEOPLE ON SOME OF THE PTSD AND OTHERS?

 

KIRT: SURE WE’VE GOT LOTS OF SUPPORT THERE AT THE HOSPITAL.  WE’VE BROUGHT ON 30 SOME POSITIONS HERE IN ABOUT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO HELP ADDRESS THESE THINGS, PEER TO PEER COUNSELING, YOU KNOW A LOT OF OUTREACH, A LOT MORE PSYCHOLOGISTS ON BOARD THAT PUT TOGETHER A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY UNIT.  A LOT OF THOSE TYPE OF MEDICAL INITIATIVES THAT WE PUT TOGETHER TO HELP WITH THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS.  IT’S STILL A TOUGH SITUATION BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THE GUARD AND RESERVE, AS YOU W ELL KNOW MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED MORE THAN ONCE SO IT’S HARD TO TURN THAT SWITCH ON AND THEN TURN IT OFF KNOWING THAT YOU MIGHT BE CALLED UP AGAIN SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT EDGE WITH YOU SO TO SPEAK AND THAT HAS CREATED PROBLEMS. 

 

PETER: WHEN I VISITED WITH YOU EARLIER IN PREPARATION FOR THIS PROGRAM AND I SAID DID THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA AS A TRAINING HOSPITAL ASSIST YOU AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREED ON THAT BUT YOU GAVE ME A STATISTIC ON HOW THE VA SYSTEM HAD TRAINED A LOT OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

APPROXIMATELY 65% OF ALL THE PHYSICIANS  THAT ARE PRACTICING NOW HAVE SOME SORT OF TRAINING TOO, WHETHER IT WAS IN THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM OR SOME KIND OF SPECIALTY TRAINING OR SOME KIND OF EDUCATIONAL ROTATION THROUGH THE VA AND TRAINED THROUGH THE VA’S ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 

 

PETER: AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN TIME MAGAZINE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR ABOUT THE VA HEALTH CARE ACTUALLY BEING ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THE COUNTRY SO WE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT AND YOU’RE ONE OF THE FEW HOSPITALS THAT CAN DO TRANSPLANTS, ISN’T THAT CORRECT?

 

KIRT:  WE’VE GOT A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROGRAM AT OUR HOSPITAL, ONE OF 4 WITHIN THE VA SYSTEM, THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. 

 

PETER: I SEE.  WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU JOHN, AT THE U OF I OFFER OR A VETERAN LOOKING TO GET IF THEY’RE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL OR AN EDUCATIONAL.

 

JOHN: WELL WE’RE SEEING SOME OF THESE KIDS, PARTICULARLY THIS LAST GROUP AMONG THE 133^RD WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE LESS THAN 30 DAYS TO COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. THEY’RE GENERALLY OLDER STUDENTS, NON TRADITIONAL STUDENTS, THEY’VE GOT FAMILIES OR THEY’VE BEEN ON THEIR OWN FOR A WHILE AND NOW THEY’RE IN CLASSROOMS WITH 18 AND 20 YEAR OLDS.  THEIR WORLDS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.  THE U OF I VETERANS CENTER DOES OFFER A PLACE TO CONGREGATE, WE HAVE STUDY FACILITIES, THE STAFF AT THE VA HAS OFFERED TO RUN ANY SUPPORT GROUPS WE WANT TO RUN AT NIGHT FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO TALK AMONG THEMSELVES.  ANY TIME YOU’RE IN A TRAUMATIC SITUATION BE IT A CAR ACCIDENT A TORNADO OR COMBAT ZONE YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME KIND OF STRESS RELATED TO THAT.  SOME HANDLE IT DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS.  GETTING INTO A CLASSROOM WHERE NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT IS ADDITIONALLY STRESSFUL SO PUTTING THEM IN TOUCH WITH THEIR PEERS, YOU KNOW YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.  MAYBE YOU’VE SEEN SOME OF THE SAME REALISTIC, MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN SOME OF THE SAME PLACES, IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO RELAX, GET BACK IN THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND WORK WITH PEERS. 

 

PETER: ARE YOU ABLE SOMETIMES TO EVEN SPEAK WITH THE U OF I STAFF OR INSTRUCTORS TO MAKE THEM EVEN MORE AWARE OF THE SENSITIVITIES, IS THAT HELPFUL SOMETIMES?

 

JOHN: WE HAVE THE FOLKS IN THE REGISTRARS OFFICE HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY SUPPORTIVE AS A SYSTEM PROVOST AND TRYING TO SMOOTH OVER SITUATIONS.  LITTLE THINGS LIKE A STUDENT BEING TOLD THEY HAVE TO MAKE A SATURDAY PERFORMANCE IN THE THEATER DEPARTMENT WHEN THE RESERVES EXPECTS HIM TO BE IN NCO SCHOOL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE, CONVINCING THAT PROFESSOR THAT IT’S OK FOR THE STUDENT TO MATCH UP WITH OTHER STUDENTS ON A DIFFERENT TYPE.  THEY DON’T ALWAYS SEE THE RELEVANCE TO THAT.

 

PETER: PETE, YOU STARTED TOUCHING ON ONE OF YOUR HATS THAT YOU WEAR AS THE ESGR.  CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THAT ROLE IS AND WHAT ASSISTANCE IT PUTS OUT THERE AND WHAT THEIR INTEREST IS IN PARTICIPATING?

 

PETE: SURE.  THEY EMPLOYERS SUPPORT OF GUARD AND RESERVE WAS STARTED FOLLOWING THE VIET NAM WAR WHEN WE WENT TO AN ALL VOLUNTEER SERVICE.  THE GOVERNMENT MADE A VERY WISE MOVE, THEY PUT IN OMBUDSMEN WHICH ARE BUSINESS PEOPLE, NOT MILITARY, NOT LAWYERS, JUST PEERS ESSENTIALLY TO TALK TO OTHER BUSINESS PEOPLE TO DISCUSS WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION THAT THEY ARE MANDATED TO GIVE TO THE SOLDIERS THAT THEY HAVE HIRED, THE PART TIME SOLDIERS.  THIS WHOLE THING DOESN’T WORK UNLESS THE SOLDIERS HAVE A CIVILIAN LIFE WHEN THEY GET DONE BEING DEPLOYED.  THEY MAY SPEND THEIR ENTIRE TIME TRAINING AND NEVER GET SENT TO WAR WHICH WOULD BE MARVELOUS, JOHN YOU ALMOST MADE IT BUT.  BUT SOMETIMES THE EMPLOYERS HAVE TO BE TOLD REALLY IN A GENTLE MANNER, IN A CONVERSATIONAL TONE WHAT THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE AND BASICALLY WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE USERA LAW, IT PROTECTS THE SOLDIER.  WHEN THEIR ON ORDERS WHETHER IT BE FOR TRAINING OR BEING DEPLOYED, THEY HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS RE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND THEY ARE PROTECTED AND THEIR JOB IS PROTECTED.  THE EMPLOYERS HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS.  WE TALK TO EMPLOYERS JUST LIKE WE’RE TALKING HERE.  WE DON’T BRING UP LAW.  WE ARE GENERALLY NOT LAWYERS.  HOWEVER, IF THEY WANT TO TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WE HAVE A PERSON IN DES MOINES THAT WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO THEM.  MOST EMPLOYERS DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HOWEVER I HAVE FOUND THAT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY WOULD TALK TO, A FELLOW NAMED TONY SMITHARD IS MARVELOUS.  HE IS NOT OUT TO GET ANYBODY, HE WILL BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO TELL THEM THIS IS WHAT THE LAW IS AND HERE’S HOW WE CAN COMPLY AND IF THE EMPLOYER WANTS TO GIVE US TIFF ABOUT IT, THEY’LL PROBABLY COME OUT SECOND BEST.   REALLY WHAT WE ARE IS JUST A VOICE OF REASON AND A LOT OF TIMES WE WILL GET THE SOLDIER AND THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE SITUATION IS.  THE JOB REQUIRES THEM TO BE AT A PLACE BUT THEY’RE CALLED AWAY TO TRAINING AND IT’S KIND OF LIKE FOOTBALL PRACTICE.  IF YOU’RE GOING TO PRACTICE WITHOUT YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE IT’S NOT GOING TO BE A VERY EFFECTIVE PRACTICE IF YOU TAKE THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF IT.  THE MILITARY IS VERY MUCH LIKE THAT.  ALL THE PIECES HAVE TO BE PRESENT WHEN THE TRAINING HAPPENS. SOMETIMES WE CAN ADJUST THE MILITARY SIDE OF IT, SOMETIMES THEY CAN ADJUST THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF IT.  ALL WE’RE CONCERNED WITH, AS FAR AS ESGR IS IS THAT BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE WORK THROUGH IT AND HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THAT’S A TERRIBLY IMPORTANT THING FOR US.  ONE OF THE BENEFITS, I’M DOING A COMMERCIAL NOW, ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A GUARD AND RESERVE FORCE IS THAT THESE SOLDIERS ONLY COST THE TAXPAYERS A THIRD OF WHAT A FULL TIME SOLDIER COSTS WHEN THEY’RE NOT DEPLOYED.  IF THEY’RE NOT DEPLOYED FOR 3 OR 4 OR 5 YEARS, THEY’RE ONLY COSTING THE TAXPAYERS A THIRD OF WHAT THEY WOULD COST IF THEY WERE A FULL TIME IN THE SERVICE.  WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, LIKE IT DID IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND THEY GET CALLED AWAY, THEY CAN BE TRAINED UP SOLDIERS AND READY TO GO.  IT’S A VERY EFFICIENT WAY OF DOING IT AND AS AN EMPLOYER, A MINIMAL ADDITION, GENERALLY THE TROOPS IN THEIR CIVILIAN LIFE ARE A NOTCH OR TWO ABOVE THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, EQUAL AGE, EQUAL STATUS.  THEY’RE TRAINED TO LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THAT’S WHERE RANK COMES FROM.  WITH RANK COMES RESPONSIBILITY.  THEY ARE PHYSICALLY TESTED EVERY YEAR, SOMETHING WE CAN’T DO AS AN EMPLOYER.  THEY ARE DRUG TESTED EVERY YEAR, THAT’S SOMETHING WE CAN’T DO AS AN EMPLOYER.  BASICALLY YOU GET A REALLY GOOD PRODUCT BUT, THEY’RE JUST PEOPLE TOO. 

 

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO WITH THE STUDENTS IS AS THEY’RE GRADUATING, WE HELP THEM WRITE THEIR RESUMES TO TRANSLATE FROM MILITARY TO ENGLISH SO THAT THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYER CAN SEE THAN AN INFANTRY SQUAD LEADER REALLY DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING IF YOU’RE GOING INTO A BUSINESS FIELD BUT WHEN YOU CAN SHOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN AT THE SUPERVISORY LEVEL FOR A HALF A DOZEN OR A DOZEN PEOPLE AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR EVERY DAY EVERYTHING, THAT WOULD SHOW THEM WHERE THE BENEFIT IS.  SOME OF OUR MEDICAL PEOPLE FUNCTION AT OR ABOVE THE LPN LEVEL AS FIELD MEDICS SHOWING THAT TO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER THAT THEY’VE ALREADY GOT THESE SKILLS AND ARE USING THEM.  IT’S JUST MAKING THINGS NICE.

 

PETER: KIRT, HAVE THE RETURNING VETERANS MAYBE BEEN PUT AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF HOW SUCCESSFUL OUR MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE IN THE FIELD AND WE’RE SEEING PEOPLE RETURN WITH A HIGHER SURVIVABILITY RATE FOR INJURIES THAT 10. 15, 20 YEARS AGO MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER SURVIVED SO YOU’RE DEALING WITH A MORE TRAUMATIC DISABILITY, ISN’T THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE’RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH?

 

KIRT: THAT’S SOMETHING THAT YES, THAT WE HAVE SEEN.  THERE’S MORE OF A LIFETIME SCOPE FOR HEALTHCARE WITH SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.  THEY COME BACK AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DISABILITY OR BECAUSE OF THEIR INJURY CAN REQUIRE CONSTANT HEALTH CARE OR CONSTANT FOLKS WATCHING THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ENCOMPASS THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING IS TAKEN CARE OF SO IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, IT’S SOMETHING WHERE IT’S A CONSTANT NEED FOR THAT MEDICAL ATTENTION.

 

PETER: AND THERE’S A BETTER DIAGNOSIS, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHILD THE GRANDPARENTS, EVERYBODY WOULD SAY OH, THEY’RE SENILE.  NOW THERE’S ALZHEIMER AND 40 DIFFERENT NAMES OF DEMENTIA BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO DIAGNOSIS AND SAY THAT’S THE ISSUE HERE AND PART OF THAT HAS CARRIED ON HASN’T IT? 

 

KIRT: THAT IS.  THAT’S CORRECT.  IT’S INTERESTING THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT VETERANS THAT ARE OFOF SOLDIERS THAT ARE COMING BACK THAT SPARK OUR VIET NAM VETS TO SEEK CARE WITH US AS WELL AS THEY SEE ALL THE TRAUMA AND WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE NEWS AND STUFF IS BROUGHT BACK, SOME MEMORIES FOR THEM AND SO THEY’VE SOUGHT CARE THROUGH US BECAUSE OF THAT.  WE’VE SEEN A SPIKE OF THAT AS WELL. 

 

PETER: IF SOMEBODY IS WATCHING US THIS MORNING OR IF A FAMILY MEMBER IS WATCHING US THIS MORNING THE FORM THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THAT 10-10 IS A VA FORM, NOW IS THAT AVAILABLE, I KNOW THAT’S IT’S AVAILABLE ON THE VETERANS COMMISSION WEBSITE FOR THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, I BELIEVE IT’S AT THE VETERANS OFFICE ON 42^ND ST HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND ALSO AT THE HOSPITAL?

 

KIRT: IT’S AT THE HOSPITAL.  CALL OUR HOSPITAL, WE CAN WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THERE ARE COUNTY SERVICE OFFICES IN EVERY COUNTY THAT HAS THE 10-10, CAN GET IT ON LINE THROUGH THE VA, WWW.VA.GOV  AND GET THE 10-10 FORM RIGHT THERE, DOWNLOAD IT. 

 

PETER: OUR COUNTY SERVICE OFFICE HERE IN LINN COUNTY IS DON TYNE AND WHO’S THE JOHNSON COUNTY?

 

KIRT: LEO **

 

PETER: AND HE’S OFFICED IN THE COUNTY BUILDING.

 

ACTUALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE COUNTY BUILDING NEXT TO THE AMBULANCE BARN.

 

PETER: AND THAT’S IN IOWA CITY?

 

YES.  ON SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET.

 

PETER: OK.  AND BOTH OF THOSE PEOPLE, SO THERE’S A WEALTH OF PLACES WITH THIS INFORMATION.

 

EVERY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE OR ORGANIZATION LIKE THE VFW, THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE ALL HAVE SERVICE OFFICERS WHO CAN SIT DOWN WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND HELP THEM FILL OUT THE FORM. 

 

PETER: AND IN FACT THERE’S A ** WHO’S CHAPTERED HERE IN CEDAR RAPIDS WHO ALSO DOES THAT.

 

SURE AND ANY OF THE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.

 

WE HAVE ** OUR HOSPITAL IF YOU COME IN THE ENTRANCE THERE’S A SERVICE OFFICE THERE.  THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE VIET NAM VETS, VFW, THEY’RE ALL THERE TO HELP.

 

PETER:   AND ISN’T THERE ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT A POTENTIAL VETERAN THAT MIGHT HAVE WHAT WE’D CALL A DISABILITY CLAIM, DON’T THESE SERVICE OFFICERS ALSO ASSIST THEM IN HANDLING THEIR CLAIM ON A NO COMPENSATION BASIS? 

 

THAT’S CORRECT.  I’D ADVISE ANY VETERAN THAT’S SEEKING THE SERVICE CONNECTION TO USE THE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.  DON’T TRY TO DO IT BY THEMSELVES.  LET THEM REPRESENT THEM AND PURSUE THIS.  THEY HAVE MUCH BETTER WAYS TO DO THIS, THEY DO IT EVERY DAY, THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON. *************

 

PETER: ONE OF THE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS THAT I’VE SEEN WITH VETERANS IS THAT THEY LEAVE THE ACTIVE DUTY AND THEY SAY I FEEL FINE AND THEY WALK AROUND FOR A COUPLE YEARS, MAYBE 5 MAYBE 8 AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING CROPS UP.  ISN’T IT TRUE THAT IF IT RELATES BACK TO THAT ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE TIME THAT THEY CAN STILL ALSO PROCESS THAT PAPERWORK AND REQUEST A DISABILITY DETERMINATION? 

 

THAT’S CORRECT.  THEY CAN, ANY INJURY, ANY ILLNESS THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM DURING THEIR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE TIME CAN BE SERVICE CONNECTED AND A SERVICE OFFICER WOULD BE THE ONE WHO WOULD HELP THEM PURSUE THAT.  THERE’S A PROCESS IN WHICH THE SERVICE OFFICER MAKES THE CLAIM, THEY SEND IT TO DES MOINES OR TO CHICAGO, TO THE REGIONAL CENTERS AND FROM THERE THEY TRY TO COMPILE ALL THE MEDICAL RECORDS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHILE THEY WERE IN THE SERVICE OR ANY OTHER KIND OF RECORDS PERTAINING TO THAT INJURY OR ILLNESS AND THEN AN APPOINTMENT IS ASSIGNED BY THE VA HOSPITAL AND THEY LOOK AT THEM, CORRELATE THAT INFORMATION AND SEND IT BACK AND IT GOES THROUGH THE VERIFICATION PROCESS.

 

PETER: WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS, IT’S NOT QUICK.

 

IT’S NOT QUICK.

 

PETER: WE’VE GOT JUST A SHORT MINUTE LEFT.  PETE OR JOHN ANY FINAL COMMENTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE WRAP THIS UP THIS MORNING? 

PETE:  I’D LIKE TO ASK KIRT, YOU SAID THE VA IS SEEING HOW MANY THOUSAND PER YEAR?

 

KIRT: WE SEE JUST OVER 45,000 AT OUR MEDICAL CENTER.

 

PETE:  AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE VETERANS SINCE 9-11 OR PEOPLE FROM 9-11 FORWARD PROBLEMS DO YOU THINK?

 

KIRT: THAT WOULD BE TOUGH TO SAY PETE.  I WOULD SAY MANY OF THE VETERANS WE SEE ARE WORLD WAR II VETERANS BUT THEY DO HAVE FROM DESERT STORM.

 

PETER: OK.  WE’VE GOT TO GO.  THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AND I’D LIKE TO THANK OUR AUDIENCE VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.  TAKE SOME TIME TODAY AND GO OUT AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.