VA Rating - One Key to Camping in Military Campgrounds

[TonyMac]

Originally Posted by McRod

That couldn't be further from the truth. You must suffer from tunnel vision. You should seek treatment for that. Disparaging anyone's service is never a good thing.

No, my vision is fine, thanks for asking. I'm just saying my service as a LtCol in the Guard, flying my Herc from a MOB to various MOBs and FOBs around the theater with a 9mm strapped to my hip, was a lot different from a three striper humping an M4 around Iraq or Afghanistan, kicking in doors and wondering what he might find on the other side. THAT IS THE TRUTH! I never saw the need for knee pads, door kickers have to dive for cover so often and with such urgency that knee pads were essential. I never carried a first aid kit as part of my battle dress, every door kicker has one and know how to use one.

BTW, door kicker is a term of honor, wonder and endearment. I always felt it an honor to burn one with those men.

[BirchyBoy]

It’s worth noting the government is opening up more programs for veterans with any disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, POW’s and certain caregivers and family members. I’m somewhat torn on this but at the same time look forward to some new camping areas:

https://www.military.com/military-re...ess.html?ESRC=

[McRod]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

No, my vision is fine, thanks for asking. I'm just saying my service as a LtCol in the Guard, flying my Herc from a MOB to various MOBs and FOBs around the theater with a 9mm strapped to my hip, was a lot different from a three striper humping an M4 around Iraq or Afghanistan, kicking in doors and wondering what he might find on the other side. THAT IS THE TRUTH! I never saw the need for knee pads, door kickers have to dive for cover so often and with such urgency that knee pads were essential. I never carried a first aid kit as part of my battle dress, every door kicker has one and know how to use one.

BTW, door kicker is a term of honor, wonder and endearment. I always felt it an honor to burn one with those men.

You don't have to explain to me what service members do in combat. I know from first hand experience. Everyone has an equal roll in accomplishing every mission, regardless of MOS or Branch. It's unfortunate that you made it to LTC and don't know that. But being in the guard, you probably weren't as in tune with how us active duty soldiers operated. You should stick to flying cargo planes on the weekends carrying mess hall food to the cooks so they can keep those "door kickers" fed. Would contribute more than your comments here.

Regardless, your comments don't contribute much to the thread.

[ktn1966]

McRod, you could be a National Guard Supply Clerk but you did more for your country than the vast majority of Americans would ever do. We all joined for various reasons, college, health, paycheck or adventure but we all joined. No matter the reason most of these people enlisted during a time of active combat operations and kept reenlisting time and time again. I take my hat off to every one of you that served honorably.

Too many speak ill of the Veterans Affairs. A veterans discontent with the VA system can affect other veterans from accessing the help they need. If you are angry with the system then address it through your elected officials, it is still a governmental agency.

To tell a veteran that you think those that get help and are able to enjoy a quality of life are sucking off the system can cloud there decision on seeking these services. Let's go back to the veteran suicide rate, it is personal to me, let's have no more suck up and carry on. Help your fellow veteran. Make it a positive experience instead so they access the help they need.

TonyMac, I am one of those door kickers, I appreciate every load that came in and out with my mail. I would be happy to burn one with you.

[McRod]

Ktn666.

Reread my comments. Your inferences are incorrect. No one in this thread has disparaged the VA or attempted to disuade veterans that need help from getting it. My comments were to the OP and a few others creating an environment of entitlement.

Too many Americans today, both civilians and vets, think their "entitled". You may be, but save the medical services for those vets who "need" them, rather than those who want a few extra bucks/perks because they think their entitled to them.

If you feel your entitled to some benefit that your not getting, write your damn congressman. Don't weasle your way into a system meant for service members that need them.

Do you get the difference?

Why ya gotta pick on the NG supply guy? ��

[ktn1966]

No McRod, I guess I don't get it. Each time I say "let's lift up the veteran to help him get help", you say they are taking advantage of a benefit that we recieve due to our service. You slyly say that they should get help but backhanded comment that veterans are abusing the system. Pick a side are we abusing the system or are veterans enrolled in benefits they deserve.

I don't know who those people who you talk about that are abusing the system, maybe I associated with a more professional group of military members and upon retirement honorable veterans. I am neither a professional medical doctor who makes the recommendation nor the Veteran Affairs claims specialist who complies all the documentation and makes a decision based on certain criteria. I am just another veteran who cares that all veterans receive the assistance they deserve. It is not my decision on who deserves what, I just support the veterans.

Who disparages the VA? You and others like you who say the veterans who access the VA are looking for entitlements adding to an entitlement mentality. To many veterans won't access services because they don't want to be looked down upon by other veterans. By whose standard do you decide who is an entitlement seeker and not a disabled vet, yours? . By my standard, if you served and you believe you are a disabled vet, who am I to disagree.

Let me put some statistics down.

There are only 3.5 million veterans recieving compensation. There are roughly 22 million veterans (VA demographic study). There are 327 million US citizens, so around 1 percent of the population are injured vets. Out of all those numbers only 60,000 collect all three benefits (Retirement, VA Comp, and SSDI) (Heritage Foundation Study). I do have a belief that there can be some slackers in the system, there always is that 10% of trouble makes no matter where you go, but let's not toss the baby out with the bathwater, as my grandma used to say. Fort Bragg's entire population, military and civilian is around 40,000 for a reference.

I do not pick on the NG Supply, I raise him up to every veteran's level. The same as a fly boy LTC. I thank them for all there service. We are a disappering populace in the United States. We need to stand together, I didn't like all my soldiers but i would still help and support them no matter how much headache they gave me, even you Johnson, if you read this.

I am sorry that this post to help direct veterans to services they are entitled, buy serving, has been hijacked. I love famcamps, I use them when I go see my son and his family. I got stay in Key West for 17.50 a day. I couldn't afford Key West even on my extravagant Military and VA compensation.

The slight in changing my screen name was not overlooked. If you noticed I am proud of all our service, yours included, and would not disrespect you in such a manner.

[woodbender]

As I read on the DAV website, when we joined the military, we signed a blank check offering to give up everything we have - up to and including our lives - in service to our Country.

VA programs are one small way for our Country to say Thank You to those of us who served - especially those of us who got shot at.

I started this thread to try to reach Vets, especially from my era (Viet Nam). We never received the briefings about the VA that many here have mentioned.

Many if not most of these older Vets remain unaware of these programs.

Please, let's refrain from using terms of language in a pejorative way. It only serves to sidetrack the purpose of the thread -- which is to simply educate Vets about VA programs they may be unaware of.

[McRod]

Woodbender, if you had started the thread stating you got 100% DAV status and now you are getting the treatment/care you have been fighting for "X" medical problem, you would have received a better response.

But you chose to start the discussion by stating you got 100% to get an ID card and now you got your camping "rights". And then followed it up with "you earned them rights, don't you think you should take advantage of them?". And now your mission in life is to get every other vet their (camping?) rights.

Here's a news flash for you, since you didn't get the debriefing on discharge...Vets don't need a service connected disability rating to be eligible for VA healthcare. You don't even have to be injured or wounded in service to be eligible for VA healthcare. If you want to help someone medically, then get them the help they need the right way. They don't need help with their "camping rights."

"You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." You ain't fool'n me, buddy!

Ktn1966, If you don't get what I am saying, then just keep quiet. No point in waving Old Glory around like your fighting for someone's rights, when in fact, you'll end up getting them taken away by advocating for people to abuse the system...and you don't even realize it. Sad. ☹️

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by McRod

Woodbender, if you had started the thread stating you got 100% DAV status and now you are getting the treatment/care you have been fighting for "X" medical problem, you would have received a better response.

But you chose to start the discussion by stating you got 100% to get an ID card and now you got your camping "rights". And then followed it up with "you earned them rights, don't you think you should take advantage of them?". And now your mission in life is to get every other vet their (camping?) rights.

Here's a news flash for you, since you didn't get the debriefing on discharge...Vets don't need a service connected disability rating to be eligible for VA healthcare. You don't even have to be injured or wounded in service to be eligible for VA healthcare. If you want to help someone medically, then get them the help they need the right way. They don't need help with their "camping rights."

"You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." You ain't fool'n me, buddy!

Ktn1966, If you don't get what I am saying, then just keep quiet. No point in waving Old Glory around like your fighting for someone's rights, when in fact, you'll end up getting them taken away by advocating for people to abuse the system...and you don't even realize it. Sad. ☹️

You have done a fine job of side tracking/hijacking this thread.
Sad!

[TajMahal]

Originally Posted by woodbender

I started this thread to try to reach Vets, especially from my era (Viet Nam). We never received the briefings about the VA that many here have mentioned.

Many if not most of these older Vets remain unaware of these programs.

Please, let's refrain from using terms of language in a pejorative way. It only serves to sidetrack the purpose of the thread -- which is to simply educate Vets about VA programs they may be unaware of.

Part of the problem with you older Vets not knowing what's out there is that you were so frustrated with the system and just wanted to get the heck out of the service after Nam that you didn't care if you were eligible for Bennies or not. Also blame your Officers and E's that were appointed over you for their failure to ensure you were briefed on bennies. YES, that means that some of you here need to look in the mirror and see your failures as leaders while serving!

[TonyDi]

THREAD WARNING ⚠️

Our community rules state: make a statement then move on.

Some members are bickering and have changed the thread.

Let’s get back topic and move on.

Thank you to those that posted within the guidelines.

[woodbender]

Taj, I'll certainly agree that when I got out, I didn't look back.

Someone please correct my memory if it's off, but I don't think getting briefed on VA stuff was a requirement back in those days. (I was in from 1967 to 1971)

One of the reasons this topic is important to me is the number of older Vets I speak with who don't even know about the list of Presumptive Illnesses associated with Agent Orange contact.

In fairness to the higher-ups who might have been responsible for briefing me, this list did not exist when I got out in 1971. It was enacted 20 years later.

I was out for over 40 years before I learned anything about VA benefits.

No one has reached out to me before or since a chance encounter with a fellow Vet in a gas station in 2012.

Many, especially older Vets, have no idea what a VA rating is.

They have no idea the incredible positive effect a successful claim could have for their families.

I know for younger Vets, it's hard to imagine, but humor me -

Walk up to some old geezer wearing a Vietnam Vet cap as I often do.

Ask him if he knows what a VA rating is.

I'll bet a cup of coffee you get a blank stare and maybe a, "What the H%** are you talking about?"

They simply don't know what they don't know.

[USMCRET]

Woodbender, I served from 1977-2006. It wasn’t until the latter half of my service that a formal transition program was established as I recall. I can easily believe that VN era vets were sent out the door with little more than a pat on the head by their platoon leader, if that.

Bless all of you VN vets. I wasn’t there with you, but I was trained and led by those who were. You’re special people.

[Rollin101]

Originally Posted by woodbender

Taj, I'll certainly agree that when I got out, I didn't look back.

Someone please correct my memory if it's off, but I don't think getting briefed on VA stuff was a requirement back in those days. (I was in from 1967 to 1971)

One of the reasons this topic is important to me is the number of older Vets I speak with who don't even know about the list of Presumptive Illnesses associated with Agent Orange contact.

In fairness to the higher-ups who might have been responsible for briefing me, this list did not exist when I got out in 1971. It was enacted 20 years later.

I was out for over 40 years before I learned anything about VA benefits.

No one has reached out to me before or since a chance encounter with a fellow Vet in a gas station in 2012.

Many, especially older Vets, have no idea what a VA rating is.

They have no idea the incredible positive effect a successful claim could have for their families.

I know for younger Vets, it's hard to imagine, but humor me -

Walk up to some old geezer wearing a Vietnam Vet cap as I often do.

Ask him if he knows what a VA rating is.

I'll bet a cup of coffee you get a blank stare and maybe a, "What the H%** are you talking about?"

They simply don't know what they don't know.

You’ll lose your cup of coffee if they ask me.