What Veterans Organizations Provides Servicemen

By Michael Watson


Organizations can be set up for servicemen who fought in wars that have been fought by the United States all over the world. They have a lot of goals or objectives, philosophies, affiliations, advocacies and needs. Standard or established groups automatically include all qualified vets, and most associate with these because of their non sectarian or special goals and requirements.

Some established or standard groups for ex servicemen are the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Vietnam veterans organizations are large in number since many have served in that conflict and are still alive. Because of the many factors that were active during that time, lots of these groups have social, focused or political agendas that date back to that time.

Those orgs that can be considered physically healthy are those reservists for Army, Navy and the like. There may be reserve groups for air squadrons, divisions or naval units these people used to be members of. It means that people here are of fighting age and fitness, but there may be less of these for Vietnam due to its unpopularity.

This unpopularity gave impetus to the making of more organizations for Vietnam vets, groups that might even have an underground agenda. They can sometimes be so marginalized because they are after a form of justice that can only be served by violence. Many if not all of these are not mentioned or even listed in official or recognized lists.

Federal, state or local governments all need to acknowledge groups of former servicemen, because they have helped defend the country. Also, authorities are beholden to maintain ties with these because they cannot alienate what many consider to be the backbone supporting American freedom. Thus, the most sterling organizations can be financially, materially and morally supported by government.

Some veterans organizations can be those serving people of a certain race, and are fighting for equal treatment and nonprejudicial military practice. Other outfits of this kind include those affiliated to religions or a fraternal order. For those who were in Vietnam, these groups may be a comfort after all the political fractiousness associated with more militant protest groups.

Then, it is interesting to note that Vietnam is just one war, and there are so many orders that were created before it came around. Veterans are wont to form into military sodalities, too, like professional groups in armor, artillery, signals and even war journalists, generally specialties that have also fought their battles. Many will have the most sterling or exemplary causes and goals.

These outfits will often have programs for helping out any kind of veteran. But with the multiple issues involved, many focus on specific problems like certain disabilities, trauma, psychological support or even financial grants to help vets reintegrate as normal citizens. The war in Vietnam was the first one where PTSD was acknowledged, and it has since been applied to other wars.

A good organization is Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. Which is probably the largest of groups formed because of the war. So members have often come from the Vietnamese battlefield, but it will not be confined to helping out the vets in that war alone. In fact, most if not all groups will help out any veteran, whatever war he or she may have come from.




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