Veterans face significant challenges adjusting to civilian life after military service. Many struggle with mental health issues like PTSD, with over 12,000 veterans attempting suicide each year through the VA healthcare system. Financially, many veterans also struggle, with high unemployment rates and over 25% earning less than $21,500 annually. Homelessness is also a major issue for veterans, who make up about 26% of the homeless population in the U.S. despite being only 11% of the overall population. The transitions from military service to civilian life can be extremely difficult for many veterans.

1. Issues affecting Vets

2. “ You can't send soldiers to hell and expect them to come home and automatically snap back to watching football and drinking beer.” Soldier’s perspective I

3. 12,000 veterans under VA care attempt suicide each year, an average of 34 attempts a day …

4. Every 40 minutes a Veteran ATTEMPTS suicide.

5. Every 80 minutes a Veteran COMMITS suicide.

6. Suicide rates for Vets age 20-24 are how much greater than their civilian counterparts?

7. 400%

8. How many Vets know someone who was seriously injured or killed?

9. 86%

10. How many Vets have shot at or directed fire at the enemy?

11. 77%

12. How many Vets have seen dead or seriously injured Americans?

13. 68%

14. What is the percentage of eligible Vets that are NOT getting any help?

15. 66%

16. There will be an estimated 700,000+ patients and claims resulting from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, with a total cost to $700 billion over the next 40 years.

17. PTSD claims have increased for Vietnam Vets by what percentage?

18. 50%

19. How many Vets have been responsible for the death of a enemy combatant?

20. 48%

21. Iraq / Afghanistan war’s are seeing the highest percentage of amputees since what War?

22. AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

23. Why do Veterans have a difficult time finding work? Veterans express difficulty transferring their military skills into the civilian workforce.

24. Why do Veterans have a difficult time finding work? Guard/Reserve troops often find that their jobs no longer exist, or their employers have folded, down-sized, merged or relocated.

25. What kind of financial difficulties do Veterans and their families face? 18% of Vets recently separated from service are unemployed.

26. What kind of financial difficulties do Veterans and their families face? 25% earn less than $21,500 a year.

27. What kind of financial difficulties do Veterans and their families face? 25% of military families carry loans that are 400% higher.

28. How many Veterans are homeless? Veterans comprise only 11% of the civilian population but Vets represent 26% of the homeless.

29. How many Veterans are homeless? Nearly 500,000 Vets experience homelessness over the course of a year.

30. Family impact? In 2007 alone, 700,000+ children have had at least one parent deployed to a combat zone.

31. What kind of help is available to families? There are limited resources for spouses, children, and parents.

32. “ When a loved one asks, ‘What was it like?’ and you look into eyes that have not seen what yours have, you suddenly realize that home is farther away than you ever imagined.” Soldier’s perspective II