In light of National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Day, Townhall got a first look at one veteran’s assessment of the traditional paradigm of veteran reintegration.
Chad Grills, an Army Infantry Veteran who has served in Iraq and Egypt, says that the recent headlines of tragedy and corruption at the Department of Veterans Affairs are only the beginning symptoms of larger systemic problems. He believes that America needs our veterans to become the leaders, entrepreneurs, and politicians of the future.
Grills explains that the VA often gives outdated, irrelevant information on how to deal with post-traumatic stress. In his book project Veterans: Don’t Reintegrate, Rebuild America, he creates the roadmap veterans should receive when they return to the states.
Townhall asked Chad Grills to describe the strategies leaders can use to address the veteran suicide rate:
Addressing The Veteran Suicide Rate
The veteran suicide epidemic will only slow down when we remove barriers to talking about these issues. Real suicide prevention training in the military begins when leaders get up and share their own stories of battling depression. Many military leaders fear that they’ll lose their jobs should they display vulnerability. The sad part is, these fears are well founded. But, speaking openly and candidly about depression carries a huge opportunity. This display of vulnerability has the potential to ignite camaraderie amongst units. All leaders have to do is tell a simple story that showcases their own vulnerability.
This display will allow future conversations about the subject to happen more naturally.
• When it's appropriate or comes up in conversation, tell a story about battling your own depression.
• Sit with the feelings of awkwardness that might arise, from both your subordinates, and yourself.
• Fight that cringe, push past it, and acknowledge verbally how ridiculous it is that something so important is so hard to talk about, and move on.
• The next display of vulnerability is easier, and a sense of camaraderie is inevitable after a unit is allowed to have honest conversations.
How leaders can effectively address veteran unemployment:
Real, public displays of speaking without shame about topics like depression are a must to build the trust that can save lives later.
Employment Strategies
It’s important that veterans ignore every traditional channel of getting hired. This includes avoiding sending unsolicited resumes and most career fairs. Instead, veterans should connect directly with the highest-level person at any company they may be interested in working for. Ideally, find the email addresses of three upper level folks (C level executives are fine) and reach out directly. Keep your email short, to the point, and ask a thoughtful question at the end. Don’t ask for a job, but include a signal that you’ve studied the company and are curious what tips that executive might offer for an aspiring person in their field. The goal is to start a meaningful dialogue. These are the decision makers who can eventually contact HR and expedite the interview process. When hiring managers are handed a resume by their bosses, they tend to study it more closely then those that come in unsolicited.In order to publish his book, Chad Grills has set up a Kickstarter campaign that expires July 11. You can click here to donate.
I got a chance to listen to today's program and do believe that Diane has just about had enough of the inaction of those in change. I'm not sure any amount of money could make Diane like Obama. Usually people have a breaking point, but I'm not so sure about Diane. She might become Obama's press secretary for 100 million dollars or more, but that amount would have to be asked up front to find out if she would take it. If the NSA is listening, that would be where I would start the bribe amount. Anything less she would laugh in your face and tell you to go to hell!
ReplyDeleteAs I listen to Diane on the radio, I believe she either wants Obama impeached or put behind bars. Craig was ripping new a-holes and Diane was ripping new a-holes (in a metaphorical sense.) I think if Diane were somehow placed in front of Obama, she would claw his eyes out and do a body slam.
Actually...all kidding aside...the radio program today was great! I am sorry the man didn't get to say more. I don't understand what happened. Some shit always happens there; that is why I never call in. How do I know the NSA is not tapping their f'ing phones lines and checking out who is calling in? I don't want them after my ass. Hell, I hate Obama just as much or more than Craig and Diane (but I DO admit a 100 million dollar bribe to like Obama might make my knees go a little wobbly.)
Oh yeah...Craig mentioned something about half the population of Detroit not being able to pay their water bill (until the water was cut off and the money suddenly materialized, magine dat!)
I might suggest Craig look at the blog called "stuff black people don't like." Some may say it is radical, but I have not found that to be the case.
This is a site where the blog owner tells the true story behind Detroit's demise. Some may find this shocking, but the main problem with Detroit is that it is 83% black. The people who frequent that site are very respectful of blacks, but do understand that 90% of the problems in America is caused in some way by somebody who is black. I enjoy reading the editorials on that blog, but mostly I enjoy reading the letters from his concerned readership.
They had a lot to say about the two white motorists who had the shit beat out of them by some local Africanized Americans. Africanized Americans are like Africanized bees: if you disturb the hive, you might get stung. So…I hope Diane passes along the reason Detroit is in the mess it is in is due to blacks; or at least tells him about the blog (SBPDL).