A panel of local veterans talked at Hood College about their experiences in and out of the U.S. Military, detailing the unique issues people face coming out of the armed forces.
Hosted by the Hood College Republicans, the panel was held on Mar. 21 from 7:30-9 p.m. A total of six representatives spoke, including a former Army paratrooper and the executive director for a military charity called Building Veterans. All donations to the charity at the event were matched by the Republicans.
Four main questions were broached by Hood College Republicans: “Is it different being treated as a veteran?” “Does the transition to civilian life raise any difficulties?” “Are portrayals of veterans in the media accurate?” and “What can we do to treat our veterans better?”
Post-traumatic stress disorder, and the stigma surrounding it, came up frequently during the second question’s discussion. At the panel, the veterans typically referred to PTS to ease away from the negativity of the “disorder” label.
Kyle Kauzlarich, a Marine veteran who graduated from Hood in 2016, said he has stopped telling people about his status as a veteran, noting that is “too awkward” to bring it up now. “People need to stop looking at vets with PTS as damaged goods, and start looking at them as people,” Kauzlarich said.
Terry Richardson, a veteran who served in both the Army and Marines, suggested the culture shock from exiting the military and re-entering civilian life can cause issues. The values between the two sides, especially on violence, conflict heavily with each other.
“All vets I know have a lot of pride,” Adam Wyatt, the executive director of Building Veterans, said. “They joined up because they wanted to serve the community. The bond and camaraderie between vets is incredible.”
However, Wyatt also noted this pride can hinder success in their post-military lives. Pride can hold veterans back from seeking help with employment or health issues, especially when coping with issues like post-traumatic stress.
Suicide among veterans was also a key issue brought up by the panel. Compared to the rest of the population, veterans commit suicide at an alarmingly disproportionate rate. Nearly 20 commit suicide per day, and while 8,000 lives were lost in the War on Terror, 124,000 veterans killed themselves in that same time frame.
When asked about how society could treat veterans better, answers from the panel varied from volunteering at nonprofits to enlisting in the military itself. Danny Farrar, a former Army paratrooper and .50 caliber gunner, offered a different solution: ending the hero worship of veterans.
“They were people with jobs,” Farrar said. “The reality is, if you went in looking for something for your service, you missed the point of service.”
The atmosphere of the panel remained supportive and understanding from start to finish. Grateful for their attendance and attentiveness, the representatives thanked students present for their interest in veteran-related issues. Kauzlarich thanked everyone who came out to the event. “I see you all, and I see mountains of potential,” he said.
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