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Written by Steve Sanson
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Wednesday, 25 April 2007 |
When a service member's contract for military service has expired they should join a veteran organization that would help them return back to civilian life and to keep a sense of brotherhood.
A military service member is highly trained and has a lot of leadership ability. This training and leadership should not go to waste it should be enhanced to help others that have served.
There are several organizations that a veteran can join. I encourage all veterans to join an organization that will be a good fit for you.
Here are several veteran organizations:
Veteran of Foreign Wars: The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has a rich tradition in enhancing the lives of millions through its community service programs and special projects. From providing free phone cards to our nation's active-duty military personnel to raising money for the World War II memorial, the VFW is there, "honoring the dead by helping the living."
Disabled American Veterans: The beginning of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) followed the wake of World War I, when thousands of American doughboys came home to an America that was not prepared to care for the carnage of war. More than 4.7 million Americans served, 53,500 were lost in combat. Accidents and illnesses (mostly from the deadly Spanish flu pandemic) took the lives of 63,000. More than 200,000 servicemen were wounded during the war. This group helps pass legislation for the disabled and also assist the disabled with their medical needs.
Jewish War Veterans Of the USA: At its 111th Annual National Convention, Norman Rosenshein of New Jersey was elected National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, the oldest active veterans association in the United States, founded by Civil War Veterans in 1896. Today, the Jewish War Veterans of the USA is dedicated to those programs that support the needs of our veterans' community, combats anti-Semitism and bigotry, supports American youth through scouting, scholarships and anti-drug programs, and assists oppressed Jews worldwide. The Jewish War Veterans (JWV) represents a proud tradition of patriotism and service to America and is known as the "Patriotic Voice of American Jewry."
Vietnam Veterans Of America: Founded in 1978, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the only national Vietnam veteran's organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. Vietnam Veterans Of America is organized as a not-for-profit corporation and is tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (19) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
American Legion: The American Legion (AL) was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, wartime veteran's organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in Washington, DC. In addition to thousands of volunteers serving in leadership and program implementation capacities in local communities to the Legion's standing national commissions and committees, the national organization has a regular full-time staff of about 300 employees.
Marine Corps League/Leather Neck Club: The Marine Corps League (MCL) was founded by Major General Commandant, John A. Lejeune, in 1923 and chartered by an Act of Congress on August 4, 1937. Its membership of nearly 56,000 is comprised of honorably discharged, active duty and Reserve Marines with 90 days of service or more and retired Marines. It includes officer, enlisted, male, and female members. All the groups include both men and woman yet the Marine Corps has a woman's only association.
Veterans In Politics International: The Veterans In Politics (VIP) was founded in 1992 by Castle P. Anderson this organization is made up by veterans from other veteran organizations. To teach, educate, organize, and awaken our veterans and their families to select, support and vote intelligently for a better world and to protect ourselves from our own government(s) in a culture of corruption. This group is used to be the political voice for those in other Veteran groups that do not have one. This is the only group that is not chartered by Congress therefore can indorse candidates to elected seats. www.VeteransInPolitics.com.
Military Order of the Purple Heart: This group fosters an environment of good will and camaraderie among combat and wounded veterans, support necessary legislative initiatives and most important provide services for all veterans and their families.
Woman Marine Association: Since 1918, women have answered the call to serve proudly in the United States Marines and the role of women in the Marines has evolved and expanded. All Women Marines can look forward to the future proudly, while never forgetting the women who made this future possible.
Air Force Association: The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian education organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA publishes Air Force Magazine, conducts national symposia and disseminates information through outreach programs. It sponsors professional development seminars and recognizes excellencies in the education and aerospace fields through national awards programs. AFA presents scholarships and grants to Air Force active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members and their dependents; and awards educator grants to promote science and math education at the elementary and secondary school level. Additionally, AFA publishes a wide range of materials on www.afa.org.
US Army Rangers Association: The history of the American Ranger is a long and colorful saga of courage, daring, and outstanding leadership. It is a story of men whose skills in the art of fighting have seldom been surpassed. This group is a support mechanism to continue the brotherhood between rangers.
Iraqi War Veteran Organization: The Iraq War Veterans Organization provides information and support for: Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, Global War on Terror Veterans, Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans, active military personnel and family members related to pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment issues, as well as service member and family Operation Iraqi Freedom Deployment Readiness problems, information about PTSD, Health issues and Veterans Benefits. The Iraq War Veterans Organization website has links to information about Veterans Administration health care, readjustment after deployment, education, employment, military discounts, PTSD issues, support-chat forums, family support and deployment information see www.iraqwarveterans.org/index.html.
I hope that all veterans join an organization that serves their purpose to continue supporting your community, state, and country. It is important to note that all of these organization do the following: support veterans, assist families of the falling, assist those who need medical care, assist families with burial needs, assist in changing state and federal laws, support our active military, encourage our young in joining the military, support our veterans, and assist in the camaraderie for our military brothers and sisters.
Let us pray for all of our fallen troops. Despite what US Senator Harry Reid-Nevada Democrat said: "the War is Lost" , our troops need a positive outlook. The Senator never wore a uniform therefore he must not realize that his words affect the brave men and woman that are fighting and dying for our freedoms today. What we need now is to build moral amongst our troops not knock it down; they are the ones out there fighting for us.
E-mail: SteveWSanson@cs.com phone 702 283 8088
Website: www.VeteransInPolitics.com.
Listen to Steve Sanson weekly every Saturday LIVE at our PERMANENT NEW TIME at 2 PM Pacific time on "Face the Tribune" at www.AllTalkRadio.net.
On April 28th my guest will be Clark County Republican Chairman John Hambrick.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 April 2007 )
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