VFW Hears From Marine Commandant

The VFW Washington Office attended a luncheon yesterday afternoon at the National Press Club to hear Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos speak on a number of issues important to the Corps. Leading the list was the continuing success of combat operations in Afghanistan and the transfer of responsibilities over to Afghan national security forces, as well as the ongoing concern over recent "green on blue" attacks.

To view C-SPAN’s coverage of the luncheon in its entirety, click here.

Twelve American service members have been killed by members of the Afghan National Army in the last month alone. Amos said that on a recent trip to Afghanistan, he spoke about the incidents with his field commanders and his Afghan military counterparts.

Both American and Afghan commanders acknowledged to Amos that as the ranks of the Afghan National Army grew, so did incidents of “green on blue” attacks. However, the Marine commanders responsible for those serving alongside Afghan troops reassured Amos that despite the incidents, they continued to have confidence in the capabilities of their fledgling Afghan allies.

Following his remarks, Amos fielded questions from the audience on a variety of military quality-of-life and force readiness issues ranging from fiscal responsibility and budget constraints on the Marines Corps, to women serving in combat, suicide, and sexual assault.

When asked about potential across-the-board cuts to the Defense budget, Amos said he believed the Marine Corps would be hit disproportionately hard, considering the size of the force and the value it delivers to the U.S. military. Amos also said that the greatest challenge for the Corps moving forward would be ensuring the force remains balanced through a period of fiscal austerity.

When discussing women serving in combat roles, Amos clarified that the Marine Corps’ plans to integrate certain military occupations, but unit leaders must set the conditions allowing women to meet the Marine Corps standards, and that any planned integration demanded facts; rather than “hyperbole, intuition and instinct.”

Amos also took the time to address the issue of military suicide, pointing out that Marine Corps initiatives implemented by non-commissioned officers at the ground level had a positive impact, but more work needed to be done.

Amos is the 35th Commandant of Marines and the first aviator to hold the post. He commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-2004, and served as Assistant Commandant prior to becoming Commandant in October 2010.

(Image: Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos speaks at the National Press Club during yesterday's luncheon. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

VFW Joins Volunteers of America to Discuss Veterans' Transition

On Tuesday the VFW joined the Volunteers of America, or VOA, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. for a panel discussion on transitional issues faced by today's veterans. VOA brought together distinguished guests from across the military, media and veterans' advocacy in an effort to advance discussions in Washington on how to best serve the nation's newest generation of combat veterans.

David Gregory, the host of NBC's Meet the Press, moderated the discussion, which featured Lee Woodruff, author and wife of severely wounded war correspondent Bob Woodruff; Barbara Banaszynski, senior vice president for VOA; retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey; and Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, associate director of VA's Center for Women Veterans.

Much of the discussion centered on the unique issues veterans of the current conflicts will face for years after the wars have ended, as a result of the kinds of injuries sustained on the modern battlefield. Woodruff, whose husband survived a severe brain injury from an improvised explosive device, pointed out that many wounded service members who experience injuries like the one sustained by her husband would not have survived in past conflicts. She went on to say that while advances in technology have saved lives, the rehabilitation process can be long and difficult for both the wounded warrior and his or her loved ones.

Panelists said that VA was making a concerted effort to improve its services for today's veterans, but acknowledged that the job was entirely too daunting for the agency to handle alone. Banaszynski called for improved public/private partnerships between VA and non-profit organizations in communities across the country that have competencies to fill gaps in veterans' services. McCaffrey went so far as to suggest that VA restructure itself from a direct care provider to more of a care manager, allowing veterans to seek out resources in their communities.

Brown highlighted VA's efforts to change the ways in which they reach out to veterans, acknowledging that today's veterans will not stand for long wait times on toll-free phone numbers. She said today's veterans expect immediate access to the goods and services they use in their every day lives, and they expect no less from VA.

At one point, McCaffrey unintentionally highlighted an issue with which many veterans express continued skepticism -- misunderstandings about mental health issues and the negative stigma associated with those who seek treatment. While discussing long-term recovery processes and combination injuries many wounded warriors face today, McCaffrey said that PTSD was usually "cured within a year" after returning. Veterans in the audience balked at the comment. One attendee, Iraq War veteran and PTSD blogger Max Harris, later wrote on his blog, www.combatveteranswithptsd.com, that he would be writing to McCaffrey directly, seeking an explanation of the comment.

As the panel drew to a close, Gregory pointed out that national media would need to play a critical role in ensuring that veterans' issues remain at the forefront of the public conscience once the wars end. The VFW has long echoed these concerns, pointing to historical examples of how Americans can quickly forget that the cost of caring for veterans is a true cost of war.

Overall, attendees said the discussion was productive and that the discourse will give high-level decision-makers the kinds of input they will need to affect positive change as the current wars draw to a close. VOA has already scheduled a follow-up panel for next spring at the National Press Club, and your VFW plans to once again join in the discussion.

(Image: NBC's David Gregory introduces the panel assembled by Volunteers of America to discuss veterans' transition issues yesterday at the National Press Club. Panelists, left to right, included Lee Woodruff, Barbara Banaszynski, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, and Dr. Betty Moseley Brown. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

VFW Takes the Hill: An Advocate's Point of View by retired Navy Corpsman Joe Lumsden

Our third advocate submission leading up to the 2012 VFW National Legislative Conference comes from Department of Vermont Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee Chairman and retired Navy Corpsman Joe Lumsden. Be on the look-out for another story tomorrow from a VFW advocate who will be coming to Washington on March 3 to meet with leaders in Congress leading up to VFW Commander-in-Chief Richard L. DeNoyer’s testimony before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees on March 7:

What really matters when you come to Washington, D.C., are issues concerning veterans. Your rank, political affiliation, sex, or the color of your skin play no role. What makes a statement, however, is unity. In a time where many different organizations form to represent a single conflict, the Veterans of Foreign Wars remains focused on fighting for all.

This March will be no different as generations of combat veterans "Storm the Hill" to address issues like healthcare, education, retirement and budget cuts. This is my second visit to our Nation's Capitol representing the state of Vermont as their Iraq and Afghanistan chairman.

I spent the last year traveling around my state listening to hundreds of veterans and their families while doing my [college] senior internship promoting the VFW. The conversations started out with [Voice of Democracy] and the Patriot's Pen essay contest, or teacher awards and college scholarships. Then conversations shifted to stories of the VA and the backlog of claims, or unemployment; and what shocked me more were the tears of frustration.

I made a promise that I would continue to be their voice and continue to fight for what's right. Some said they had no fight left in them, some wanted direction and leadership to continue the fight.

"What's in it for me?" -- a question asked many times about joining the VFW. This was asked of my state commander during a Yellow Ribbon ceremony by a young returning veteran. He turned him around to face the VA hospital and said, "That's for you, but it takes fighters like us to keep it."

Joe Lumsden is a retired Navy hospital corpsman who deployed during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and returned to serve in Iraq again in 2003. In 2011, Lumsden served as a national co-chairman of the VFW Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee. He continues to serve today as Vermont's Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee chairman and membership chairman. Lumsden was also recently appointed as Vermont VFW National Deputy Chief of Staff by the department commander. Lumsden will also graduate this spring with Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Vermont College with a minor in history and politics. 

(Images: Top: Joe Lumsden during the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee meeting at the 2011 VFW National Convention in San Antonio. Official VFW photo. Bottom: Lumsden, far right, and his fellow chairmen of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Committee speak with Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry during the 2011 VFW National Convention. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)