By Dr. W. A. Merritt
Dr. W. A. Merritt as the coordinator for the Veterans Project through the TimeBanks USA program has been working with various veteran organizations in Washington D.C. and Miami, FL. We at TimeBanks USA feel that the veterans who are returning from various conflicts throughout the world have not fulfilled in their mission.
We believe there is a commitment from these individuals to continue to give service as it relates to their community and each other.
Many veterans have been subjected to a variety of conditions, both in the military and back home. A number of the Vietnam era veterans make up the homeless population and a considerable amount of individuals with substance abuse problems.
The forgotten veterans of present and past wars are subjected to an application backlog for compensation of their injuries – both mentally and physically.
The TimeBanks Program is working in conjunction with the University of Miami School of Law and University of the District of Columbia – David A. Clarke School of Law to provide assistance with filing and processing claims of veterans that are part of our TimeBank. TimeBanks USA is spearheading a number of initiatives that relates to veterans. The veteran population is made up of veterans in transition from homelessness to alumni veterans who have completed such programs, as well as, VFWs throughout the country.
This is an enormous task, but both veterans with their military background and TimeBanks with its extensive history are well equipped to create the models for implementation in communities throughout the nation. Veterans on the Rise (http://www.veteransontherise.org/) in Washington D.C was recently awarded a $300,000 for mentoring veterans who were returning from prison. This is a monumental initiative due to the number of incarcerated veterans that may have suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or prior social maladjustments prior to their military.
Many of our veterans were not diagnosed and/or their needs were not addressed prior to their discharge from their military obligation. There are Vietnam era veterans whom were sent to Vietnam in lieu of incarceration. Their return back to the states left them with drug addiction from their time in combat, as well as, a knowledge of how to use weapons. The combination of lack of education and no real processes to reintegrate said population is a main cause of the number of incarceration by this segment.
TimeBanks USA is further committed to creating employment opportunities through entrepreneurships. We are working with various organizations to design a private employment agency for veterans and an individual company to provide home repair for seniors. This is part of the TimeBanks premise of reciprocity for its participants.
This is an ever evolving process that will take on the characteristics of the veterans involved, the communities that they impact, and the future of the Veteran’s Administration’s support and other funding sources that will help veterans regain their rightful position as productive citizens in our society.