Senator Murray's
Washington View
"We
are using our Guard and Reserve in higher numbers -- and for longer
deployments -- than since the Korean War. That's putting tremendous
strains on Guard members, their families, and our ability to care
for them. I'm meeting with Guard members and their families to learn
about the challenges firsthand so our country can provide the help
they deserve. These brave men and women have served our country, and
we need to make their return home as smooth as possible." - Senator
Murray
August 2005
Coming Home From Combat
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Dear Friend:
In this Issue:
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Camp Murray
On August 1st, I joined more than 90 Washington Guard members and
their families at Camp Murray to hear about the challenges they are
facing upon returning home from service in Iraq.
I've been holding forums like this around the state, including:
This session at Camp Murray was a follow-up to a meeting I held back
in January 2004 as Guard
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The Family Program's Staff
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members were preparing to deploy. Back then the focus was on the help
they needed as they prepare to ship out. At the meeting on August 1st,
we focused on the challenges of returning home.
LTC Diane Williams, who directs family services, began the session
with an overview of the services offered to Guard families. "Our
mission is to build strong and ready self-reliant families who can
be independent while their soldiers and airmen are gone," Williams
said.
As Guard members have returned home, the need for services has increased
dramatically. The family program's staff is working hard to reach
out to families. In June 2005, they contacted more than 13,000 families
to let them know what help is available.
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Major General Timothy Lowenberg and General Scoggins
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Services include everything from reintegration assistance, to training,
marriage enrichment, youth programs, and "one-stop" help
with financial, medical and other problems.
Attending the session were Major General Timothy Lowenberg and General
Scoggins.
Some of the concerns raised include:
Healthcare
Many families said they had difficulty navigating through TRICARE,
especially as a spouse was preparing to deploy. Many had trouble getting
TRICARE coverage. Others had trouble finding doctors that accept TRICARE
coverage. Some were kicked out of TRICARE when one set of orders expired
(even though their new orders made them eligible).
Other healthcare concerns mentioned include:
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Guard members deployed for Operation Noble Eagle not being eligible
for TRICARE,
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and the need for pre-deployment dental care to ensure Guard members
are ready to deploy.
Need for Seamless Transition
Some Guard members return home with injuries but are able –
and eager – to get back to work. The Guard won't release them
because they are being treated for their injuries, and they can't
go back to work because they are still under orders.
Other Guard members discussed concerns with medical holds and the
unclear process for Guard members when they return home from Iraq
and Afghanistan injured. I heard several concerns from members transitioning
off of active duty and back into Guard and Reserve status. For example,
upon returning home from service in Iraq, Guard members are often
only eligible for services under Title 10 for just a few days. That
means they lose access to benefits at the time they may need them
most.
Employment
Two participants spoke about ensuring Guard members have adequate
legal protections to get their jobs back when they return from being
deployed (the relevant law has not been updated since 1994, when deployments
were shorter and less frequent). One participant said he was concerned
that some employers may be growing reluctant to hire Guard and Reserve
members because they are frequently deployed.
Family Adjustments
One person noted that returning soldiers have a "6-month honeymoon"
upon return, but then bigger problems can emerge including PTSD. The
family services unit reported growing interest in marriage enrichment
programs.
Children
Children often need help adjusting to a deployed parent. The
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Senior Master Sergeant Laura Clark talks with Senator Murray.
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Washington Guard provides youth programs, and one participant said
they were very helpful.
Need for Consistent Family Support Funding
Many Guard members said the family service programs at Camp Murray
are very helpful as they return home. Unfortunately, many of these
services are funded through deployment funds. When units are back
for several months and need these programs most, there may not be
as much funding available.
A Follow-Up Meeting
The August 1st meeting was a follow-up to a similar meeting
I held in January 2004, as Guard members were preparing
to deploy. Back then, I wanted to know about the challenges they were
facing pre-deployment. Based on what I heard then, I wrote legislation
and passed several important protections for Guard and Reserve members.
More
on what's been accomplished so far.
Thank You Camp Murray
I want to thank everyone who participated in our discussion at Camp
Murray and especially LTC Williams and the staff members who provide
critical help for deployed and returning veterans and their families.
After our formal discussion, I had a chance to meet and take pictures
with many Guard members and their families. If you would like more
information on the Washington Guard's family support group, please
visit: http://familysupport.washingtonguard.com/
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Pasco – Meeting with Returning Veterans
On Tuesday, August 2nd, I met with returning veterans at the Pasco
Armory. Here are some of the major concerns I heard:
Difficulty Finding a TRICARE Doctor in Rural Areas
Guard and Reserve members told me that there are very few service
providers who accept TRICARE in central Washington. For example, one
Guard member said that there were only two pediatricians who take
TRICARE between Walla Walla and Yakima. This guardsman said it would
be "hit or miss" for him and his wife if they will have
the birth of their first child covered by TRICARE.
When Guard members can't find a local TRICARE provider, they may
be forced to go to the emergency room.
TRICARE Not Paying
Guard members told me that TRICARE frequently turns down requests
for payment. As a result, soldiers need to push TRICARE several times
to get those bills paid. Soldiers who have experience with TRICARE
might already know to do this, but less experienced soldiers become
fed up and just pay medical bills out of their own pockets.
Need for Better PTSD Screening
Guard members said that better follow-up is needed to screen Iraq
War veterans for PTSD. When service members come home, they are often
ready to leave the service so they don't focus on symptoms of PTSD.
Later, however, if symptoms emerge, they may shy away from addressing
it because of the stigma or because they fear it will hurt their careers.
In addition, Guard members in rural communities may not know where
to turn to get PTSD screening.
A Troubling Transition
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Senator Murray shakes hands with MSG Gary Fletcher. |
As with other meetings I had this week with Guard and Reserve members,
the participants in the Pasco roundtable discussed the confusion that
face going back and forth between being a part of the Army during
active duty and part of the Guard and Reserve upon their return. The
lack of clear guidelines and services leaves many service members
falling through the cracks and not getting the services they need.
Getting the Word Out
Several veterans' advocates and service providers spoke
at our roundtable. They noted that it was sometimes hard for them
to connect with returning soldiers, leaving many unaware of help that
is available.
Increase in Disability Claims
Steve Prince, VSO for Vietnam Veterans of America, said he's experienced
a huge influx of new disability claims. In a normal month, he receives
about 30 requests. Last month, he received 166.
Long Deployments
Several participants commented on the impact long deployments have
on families. The transition back to home life can be very difficult,
as soldiers feel like guests in their own homes. If unaddressed, these
growing family tensions can lead to divorce.
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“Coming home from Combat: Are Veterans Getting
the Help They Need?” - Official Hearing of the Senate Veterans’
Affairs Committee
On August 3rd, I chaired an official field hearing of the Senate
Veterans’ Affairs Committee at the Seattle Armory. I am grateful
to all the witnesses who helped me build an official record of the
true needs facing our returning veterans.
In my opening remarks, I noted that:
- I decided to hold the hearing in Washington state because sometimes
I can't get straight answers in Washington, D.C.
- Hearings like this one can make a difference. Our hearing at the
Walla Walla VA helped save that hospital.
- We have an obligation to meet the needs of those who have served
our country.
Read my full
opening comments
From the hearing, four main themes emerged:
Help with Transition
First, the officials and Guard members addressed the need to address
the transition of our service members between the Department of Defense
and the VA. Too many service members are getting caught in medical
hold and need changes to the processing system so that they are treated
fairly and given the services they need. We heard from witnesses about
how they had spent months in limbo waiting to get medical services
and financial assistance.
Help for Small Business Owners & Self-Employed
Second, Guard and Reserve members who run small businesses or are
self-employed often end up losing their businesses since there are
no services or benefits available to help them through their deployment.
One Guardsman shared that the Small Business Administrations program
did not work for Guard members and had too many requirements that
did not reflect the current nature of our military. He ultimately
lost his business due to his deployment.
Support Programs Need to Be Updated
Third, many said that virtually all of the services for families
and our veterans were created to work for Cold War Veterans and do
not work in an era when our military draws heavily on our Guard and
Reserve. This includes TRICARE, the Transition Assistance Program
and other programs needed now more than ever to help the veterans
from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Knowing What Help is Available
Finally, a general lack of awareness of the services and benefits
offered by the VA was outlined and the need for the VA to work more
closely with active duty to increase awareness. One Guard member shared
that after six years of service in the Army she had no idea what services
and benefits the VA offered. In addition she discussed how she was
trained in the Army to work on helicopters. She discussed the need
for better employment services and although she is very proud of the
skills she acquired in the Army, she made it clear that working on
helicopters would not be a career she will pursue as a civilian.
At the hearing, I heard from three panels of witnesses.
Panel I: State & Federal Officials
The first panel of witnesses included officials from the Washington
State Guard, the federal VA, and the state Department of Veterans
Affairs. They provided a birds-eye view of what's happening throughout
the state as veterans return home. Panelists included: Major General
Timothy Lowenberg (Adjutant General of the State of Washington), Max
Lewis (Acting Network Director, VISN 20, Veterans Health Administration),
Kristine Arnold (Acting Network Director, VISN 20, Veterans Health
Administration), and John King (Director, Washington State Department
of Veterans Affairs).
Panel 2 – Returning Veterans
The second panel included four witnesses who have served our country
and recently returned home. They spoke about some of the financial,
familial, medical, and other challenges of reintegration. Witnesses
included: Specialist Blaine Hall (Washington Army National Guard)
of Moses Lake, Staff Sergeant Kevin Romanelli (Army, retired) of East
Wenatchee, Crystal Hampton (Army veteran) of Vancouver, WA, and former
Sergeant Robert Kauder (Washington Army National Guard) from Spokane.
Panel 3 – Veterans Advocates and Medical Staff
The third panel of the hearing included people who work directly
with veterans as they return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, including:
Dr. Stephen Hunt (Director Deployment Clinic, Puget Sound Healthcare
System), Ronald Boxmeyer (Seattle Vet Center), Linda Holt (Human Services
Director and Tribal Council Secretary, Suquamish Tribe), and Colonel
Mary Forbes (Human Resources Director, Washington Army National Guard).
I am grateful to all of the witnesses for their testimony and will
use that as the Senate returns to session next month.
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Longview Guard and Reserve Meeting
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Specialist Jason Degroot shakes hands with Senator Murray. |
On Thursday, August 4, I held a roundtable meeting with veterans
and veterans' advocates at the Longview Armory. I want to thank everyone
who came and shared their experiences.
Joining me as panelists at this roundtable were:
- The Commander of the Charlie Company,
- A National Guard Lieutenant who served in Iraq and received a
Purple Heart,
- A representative of the Kelso VFW,
- A National Guard veteran who served in Iraq and has been forced
to go on food stamps since his return,
- A National Guard member who has faced medical problems since serving
in Iraq and is finding it very difficult to get service rated and
get the care he needs,
- A Navy Reservist who has been ill since being deployed to Kuwait
and is also having difficulty getting the care he needs,
- A WorkSource representative and veterans employment coordinator
who is himself a former veteran and understands the challenges our
veterans face.
The panelists were so helpful and forthcoming in sharing their stories
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Longview Guard & Reserve Reintegration Roundtable |
and their expertise. They discussed the major impact the war has had
upon them mentally and physically. One reservist discussed the huge
psychological impact his service had upon him, telling us that the VA
has been unable to treat him in a timely fashion. When VA doctors either
would not see him or could not figure out what was wrong, he went back
to see his own doctor and paid out of his pocket to see them. Unfortunately,
this is a concern I've heard in several communities.
One Guard member in Longview discussed his frustration with the lack
of communication between medical staffs in the Army, within the VA
and the civilian doctors that the VA contracts with for care.
Another Guard member said his medical claims had not been worked
through the system. He explained that he has not been able to work,
and now his family is getting food stamps to pay for food. A father
of three, he has returned home after serving his country honorably
– only to find himself unable to work and struggling to make
ends meet, with no income, no ability to get unemployment, and no
health care.
We cannot tolerate situations like this. Our veterans deserve so
much better than that. I'm going to use the information I gathered
at this roundtable – and all my roundtables – to fight
for the health care and benefits our veterans deserve, and that they've
earned through their service to our nation.
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