By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com
In honor of their service, the United States provides a range of benefits to veterans and active-duty military personnel. However, not all of these benefits are as accessible as they may appear on paper.
Darien Carter wants to see more educational programs and trainings created to help veterans and active military members properly utilize their benefits. CREDIT:Photo courtesy of Darien Carter
From healthcare and education to housing assistance, veterans and active-duty military are promised a variety of benefits. Still, there seems to be a limit on which ones they can realistically utilize.
It was reported by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in 2021 that approximately 52 percent of veterans used at least one VA benefit or service. The same report shared that health care was the most used benefit, with 6.2 million veterans utilizing the program.
“Sometimes it does take a long time to use your benefits and it feels even longer if you don’t have that time to spare and you need it at that moment. I know that’s very frustrating for our veterans,” said Darien Carter, an interior communications electrician in the U.S. Navy. “I also know that sometimes it can be a task for people to even get access to their benefits and I wish that would change.”
Carter went on to explain how crucial it is for our veterans to have access to their benefits seeing as it can sometimes be a matter of life and death. He also noted that benefits outside of healthcare, such as the veterans affairs (VA) loan, should be a priority.
“The VA loan is crucial for military members and veterans. For some military members– that’s their life. They need that and their families need that,” he said. “I’m not sure if we have to send more people to help or what but we have to put more awareness to this. Some people never get the chance to cash in their benefits because of how complicated and drawn out the process can be and that’s a problem.”
Although material benefits are hard to obtain at times, the personal benefits gained from serving in the military seem to be unmatched. Often credited with providing people with structure, leadership and service based skill sets there’s much to be said about what serving in the armed forces truly brings to peoples lives.
“One of the most rewarding benefits of serving in the military was meeting and working with a diverse population of individuals and building lifelong relationships. It also provided me with discipline and determination throughout my adult life,” said Jovanda Curry, a U.S. Army veteran. “Serving provides the opportunity to continue your education and to help enhance your professional development as well. Moreover, you are provided the opportunity to be a leader and mentor to others along the way.”
The opportunity to become a better version of yourself was one that U.S. sailor, Xavier Foster considered when he enlisted in the Navy in 2019. Having joined fresh out of high school, he noted that he seeked discipline and principle development as he began to maneuver the adult world on his own for the first time.
“Discipline and principle development was the only thing I was searching for at a young age. I understood that in order to be a man those two factors needed to be developed and what better way to learn than in the military,” said Foster. “Having gone as far as I have now, I never imagined it because I always figured as long as I had somewhere to sleep, eat and shower– I was good. But to make E-5 in three and a half years and to work and lead with some of the people I’ve served with has been a true blessing.”
Foster’s time in the military has been good to him. He shared how much he enjoys being able to further his education for free and being covered by a health care system that doesn’t require him to pay out of pocket. However he also recognizes that these same benefits are harder to access when you’re not an active duty personnel and he wants to see more done to change that.
“Take care of the people you already have versus trying to get new people. If they took the same money that they’re giving to people to join the military and put it towards active personnel and veterans, I’m sure that new troops will follow because they will see what we’ve been able to build for ourselves from the ground up,” he said.
Carter and Foster agreed that more can be done from within the military to take care of members of the armed forces, however it was also noted that advocacy from loved ones and supporters and education for active and veteran military members is extremely important as well.
“There’s more to be done both internally and externally, by military members and the general public,” said Carter. “Both parties need to be more aware. We need more education as military members so that we can understand how these benefits can change our lives significantly. You see a lot of veterans, reserves and even active members, not living the life they should be after serving this country.”
Foster shared similar sentiments noting that veterans and active duty members should educate themselves on all they’re entitled to as members of the military.
“Do your research. A lot of people forget to read and we don’t look at all the benefits we actually have,” he said.
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