15 Things Veterans Want You to Know

This is the cornerstone course for PsychArmor and was created to educate anyone who works with, lives with, or cares for our military Veterans. PsychArmor asked hundreds of Veterans what they wanted civilians, employers, educators, healthcare providers, and therapists to know about them. These comments were used to create the topics of this course including 5 Questions You Should Always Ask Veterans, 1 Question You Should Never Ask Veterans, and 15 Facts that promote greater understanding of our Veterans.

About PsychArmor:
PsychArmor is a nonprofit that offers FREE online training courses and resources for Americans so they can effectively engage with and support military service members, Veterans, and their families.

Because fewer than 7% of Americans serve or have served in uniform, most civilians are unfamiliar with military culture. As a result, members of the military and Veteran community often feel misunderstood and reluctant to seek support. Our mission is to bridge that civilian-military gap by educating a nation.

[RootinNRuttin]

There’s a lot who weren’t on the frontlines that have PTSD too. Just because you weren’t boots on the ground doesn’t mean you’re safe from a traumatic experience to happen. I worked on the flight deck of a carrier and there were many many times a close call happened. There was a mass casualty i went thru and it was a nightmare I’ll never forget and i still think about to this day. My family on the other hand don’t give me and the rest of the navy the respect we deserve and earned simply because i wasn’t “boots on the ground” so in all honesty when they have the audacity to SOMETIMES tell me happy Veterans Day, i don’t say anything to them. They treated my service as if i had it easy, knowing full well i was up on the flight deck right up on the foul line the entire flight ops. No breaks cuz we had no reliefs. We just did it and sucked it up cuz that was the only choice we had. Thru the extreme incomparable heat in the Persian gulf to horrid weather in the Atlantic. And Having a pride contest with Russian and Iranian vessels too. When i came home from deployment my family wasn’t there until i flew home on a commercial plane. So yeah I’m bitter so i 1000% agree with “it’s for the person to your left and to your right.” I served for my family and for my country but it did feel like a giant slap in the face to my service and sacrifices i made. Having to go thru so much it made my emotions cold but also wired tight. If they ask me about anything from then i keep it short for the most part and don’t talk about it much around them. If a stranger asks me about it, I’ll proudly answer them on what they want to know. I’m very proud of my role in the navy and know that it is the most honorable thing i could’ve done in my life.

[dtbailey]

I'm late to the show here but I will post anyway. This is a good informational video (G2). I served 28 years in the US Army. When I left the team for retirement I entered a nation that is torn apart by stupid ideology. It was and still is soul crushing.

[airbrushken]

I was stationed on a compassionate reassignment after I was wounded (burnt) and needed several operations stateside. As a Sgt I was assigned to a massive warehouse, almost twice the size of a Lowe's home improvement store.
The Air force base was the only base in the USA that had every military unit represented, Coast Guard. Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, we even serviced both the FBI and CIA vehicles and equipment as we were the place where the ICBM's were maintained... I had a secondary MOS of 76-Y (Supply), while my primary MOS was 11 B-P. Most commanders I dealt with were "West Point desk jockey's" which was a sore point on both sides. I was lucky as the DOD personal were WWII Veterans and they gave such respect ... Jump Wings, CIB, Bronze Star or that Screaming Eagle Patch on my sleeve of my "dress greens", I don't know which one. After 9 years Army I didn't re-enlist, instead was offered a job in Australia as an Art Teacher. To this day at 75 years of age I paint every day... it keeps me sane. The Australian doctor I used to have, just retired ... he once said that both the Australian and US VA medical teams had tried over 71 different mood stabilizers and NONE were ever a permanent answer for PTSD. I'm pretty sure most of my "Strike Team" had permanent issues later in their civilian lives. What we gave for our country only to be hated/distrusted by most Americans just shocked me. I hope you missed out on. Keeping in mind that less than 8% were actual combat arms, which includes mortar, artillery and Track Vehicles. We spent our whole tour in the A Shaw Valley area and the Laos Boarder. I never saw a village or villager, just NVA regulars ... I've told none of my family, from sons the uncles about the war ... they wouldn't understand ... even my father was afraid of me and I didn't see him for over a
month after I hit the states... the base was 43 miles from his home? I so loved my sons and did everything I could to not poison their minds ... I left the Army at work.

[jamesstaley]

As Vietnam era veteran my biggest problem was re-adapting to civilian life. It was easier to adapt to the military than to adapt back to being a civilian. The army tells you how to wear the uniform but does not tell you how to take it off.

[MarkVanRyneveld-mtsk]

I find this to be a really helpful video clip. I am not American military vet, but a South African military vet of 14 years service. 1975, the year of the fall of Saigon in Vietnam (in many ways the "end" of the Vietnam War) was also the year that South Africa invaded Angola (in many ways the "start" of the Angolan War), which continued for another 13 years until 1988 (I think), when South Africa withdrew from Namibia etc, and Namibia became independent. It was, in many ways, the last battle of the Cold War, fought on African soil. . . . . I think ALL of your 15 points apply equally to us South African military vets. . . Thank you for taking the trouble to make this video clip. It is much appreciated, even by a non-American.

[dariust]

USMC Vet here. Just started a job as a Veterans Benefits Advisor and saw this video as part of training. Really well done. Will be sharing this link with friends and family! Thank you!

[peteparadissis]

Thank You Vets, and may God Bless You and Yours!

[Ultra_Fine_Point]

2nd Lt. Jeffers signing in, here. WOW!! What a great video for beginners and empathic understanding.

Hits a lot of points Home.

This was a brave video to publish!! THANK YOU to, PsychArmor for rattling the Battle-Rattle, Ringing the Bell, and Blowing the Horn.... all of which I have been DOCUMENTED doing for Years. God Bless You, ALL, Brothers und Sisters! UNTO VALHALLA!

NO MORE SU1C!DES at VA PARKING LOTS. Jesus....

😇😇😇

[elk]

Excellent. Personnel Specialist during Vietnam. Never fired a shot in anger. Learned a lot about "getting along" with my fellow
brothers in arms.

[amyglisson]

Thanks for the veterans that served our country 💟💟💟💟💟🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🙏🙏🙏🙏

[heatherchapman]

This opened up my mind about everything that was taught in this video. Thank you for making it, but most importantly, thank you ALL for your service.

[williamrobbins]

May I add a couple of follow on questions to ask any military/veteran:
What did you like best about your time in service?
If a positive response - ask > If you were 20 years old again, knowing what you know now, would you serve again?
If a positive response to that, then ask > What changes would you make in yourself if serving again?
After 28 years in military service, both active duty and reserve, and now a member of some of the military social organizations, I find these questions work quite well in opening a positive conversation.
Much thanks for your 15 observations for starting, and continuing, the conversations for a military member.

[Babysteps]

As a vet, this is very accurate and helpful to those who'd like to engage Veterans more meaningfully.
Recap: 15 things to consider/understand or ask to move your conversation along....

Prep: Did you serve in the military? If yes, proceed to #1:

1. Which branch did you serve in? (shows you know there is a difference between the 5 branches)
2. Did you serve in active or reserve duty? (shows you know that their is a difference)
3. What did you do while you served? (shows you understand there are many things the Vet may have done)
4. What rank did you get to? (shows you know understand that their is a leadership structure)
5. How did you handle on call duty? (shows you understand that there is "no break", even when on "vacation")
6. What was your uniform like? (shows you understand the importance of our appearance, conduct and ethics which is most often represented in our uniforms AND that each branch has it's own unique set of uniforms for both work and special occassions)
7. DO NOT ASK "Did you kill someone?". It's not a question that should be asked - ever
8.DO NOT ASK "DO you have PTSD?" See #7. just don't ask.
9. DO NOT ASK ABOUT Invisible wounds: like PTSD, TBI (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY), DEPRESSION/ANXIETY? those with invisible wounds of war may be injured but are not violent.
10. Be at ease with the following: IT'S hard for us to ask for help. Reaching out is difficult and requires trust. Please have patience.
11. Understand that Military Service changes us. It's permanent and we are ok with it. Maybe ask "What was one way the service changed you for the better?"
12. We differ how we acclimate to the military post military life. Recommend asking, "How has your military service shaped you?"
13. Our Families serve with us. Military families have very unique challenges.
14. We would die for each and for our country. Most of us - we understood that we would serve those to the left and right of us politically.
15. We made this sacrifice to serve something more than ourselves. We made this choice. This runs through the military culture fabric of service.

[frankbublitz]

This is the third such presentation I have listened to on the subject of understanding veterans. Each one of them is consistent and that is helpful to those of us who in the mental health field work occasionally with veterans and not frequently. It helps to have the constant reminder on how we should treat people who have served to the best of our ability. I thank you. BTW my Dad, uncles, and three cousins served where I could not, dur in part to a life-long disability.

[rossykhongsai]

I respect and appreciate your service for the country.God bless all the veterans (Lungset)

[nicolebutterflies]

As female Veteran honestly we are the most invisible. Then the sub group known as MST survivors actually being asked if we served can be Triggering if we've experienced SA. Especially if questioned about why we have pstd, etc. I also think this is why the military is struggling to recruit right now because now that people know we are being failed they dont want their kids to join. The reason why we have 22 Veterans making permanent choices from the divide we all experience in the civilian world on top of the lack of real care and being rated like cattle at the VA. I also think that alot of these are a stereotype like how we should act or look. You wouldn't believe how many of us hear that you don't seem like a Veteran. What I want Civilians to understand and change is change the laws and get SA out of hands of military commands and actually make our VA Care better and held to higher standards. I mean If we are going to be a political debate or you want to thank us learn how these systems work and help us change it.

[doylebrockman]

One of the 1st things, I want them know I could f them up yet be professional and civil. Active duty is the best way to go, full Army. Live it everyday with awesome people.

[dennis]

Never ask a veteran that served in combat about what happen. Most do not want to remember it. My Grandmother gave me wise consul about not talking to my uncle about his service in WW2.

[TranceCore]

I think you should have put that it doesn't even take combat to develop PTSD. Leadership can be really bad at times in the military and cause some pretty stupid psychological damage, because it's bullying, but with authority. That's not everyone in the leadership positions though, it's just that some really really ruin the experience for the rest.

[michaelrosatisr.]

That was an excellent explanation, and presentation.
Mike USMC 1970 - 73