Why Veteran Advocacy Matters to Me...and Should Matter to You

Coming from a strong military family, service has always been part of my identity. Traditional military service was not an option for me even after taking the ASVAB due to medical barriers from a childhood disease. Instead, I found a different path through technology, using it to advocate for veterans and amplify their stories and needs. I began with little expectations. I believe those who have protected our home and freedoms deserve our support; without it, there is no home.

According to the U.S. Department 

of Veterans Affairs, 6,398 veterans were lost to mental health struggles in 2023 about 17.5 per day, with higher rates among younger veterans and women. Among post 9/11 veterans, the VA estimates about 11% to 20% experience post traumatic stress disorder in a given year, with PTSD affecting roughly 1 in 5 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in some studies, along with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain compared to the general population. Over 60% were not in VA care in the year before death. 

Housing instability remains serious. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports about 32,000 veterans experience homelessness on any given night in the U.S. Homelessness has declined by more than 50% since 2010, but gaps remain.

Health impacts often last for years. About 25% to 35% of veterans receiving VA benefits have a service connected disability, and more than 3.5 million receive disability compensation. The PACT Act expanded care eligibility to more than 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic environments.

Transitioning to civilian life is often difficult. About 40% of post 9/11 veterans report early employment challenges, and about 1 in 3 report difficulty accessing consistent healthcare, with isolation and loss of structure commonly cited issues.

Once home, veterans contribute heavily after service. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates about 1.9 million veteran owned businesses in the U.S., generating roughly $1 trillion in annual revenue and supporting more than 5 million jobs. Veterans are also overrepresented in public service, with about 1 in 4 federal employees having prior military service.

The measure of a society is found in what it does after the uniform comes off, and the strength of a nation is not only in how it sends people to serve but in how it brings them back into stability, care, and purpose when the mission changes. Support for veterans is not charity but a commitment that the cost of service is not left to be carried alone in silence, because what they carried for the country does not end when they return, and what the country owes them does not end either.

* If you or a veteran you know needs support, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255 to connect with a trained responder. Additional support is available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at www.va.gov⁠, the Disabled American Veterans at dav.org, and the Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.