Fascinating Votevets.org survey of Afghanistan and Iraq war vets

[TayTay]

This is a new story about a commissioned survey today (10/4/06) This is a very sad story that among other things finds:

When these soldiers returned home, many encountered emotional and physical health problems as well as economic hardship resulting from their service.

• One in four veterans has experienced nightmares since returning, including 33 percent of Army and Marines veterans and 36 percent of combat veterans.
  
• A fifth of all veterans (21 percent) and a quarter of Army and Marines(26 percent) and ground combat veterans (27 percent) say they have felt more stress now then before they left for war.
  
• Among National Guard or Reserve veterans, 32 percent said their families experienced economic hardship; 25 percent feel more stress now than before the war; 32 percent experienced more extreme highs and lows; and 30 percent experienced nightmares.
  
• Twenty six percent of all veterans have sought some service from the VA or a VA Hospital, including 33 percent of Reservists and National Guard respondents.
  

Despite similar military experiences, Reservists do not have access to the same health care as active duty personnel. Given how many veterans have sought some sort of care or assistance, it is no surprise that veterans across the board believe National Guard and Reservists deserve access to TriCare, the medical coverage provided to active duty personnel.

• Seventy nine percent of all veterans agree that National Guard and Reserve veterans ought to have the same access to Tri-Care as active duty men and women, including 80 percent of Army or Marines respondents, 81 percent of combat veterans, and 83 percent of Reservists and National Guard veterans.
  

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061004/dcw014.html?.v=76

[Blaukraut]

1. Sadly, this was to be expected

With every rethug administration, the military members - be they active duty or reserves - get shafted. Sure, defense spending hits all time highs, but if one follows the money, one will find Halliburton et al making out like bandits, and such assinine things as a space fence (I kid you not!) getting funding. The soldiers and their families don't even get a measly pay raise.
Oh, and heavens help them once they get out of the service.
As veterans, they have near zero support. Tricare, as it stands today, is but a mere shadow of its former incarnation; CHAMPUS. Bush the elder can be thanked for the demise of good military medical care. He had it all privatized.
The coverage is pathetic- extremely prevention-oriented, and thus of little value to those needing care after coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, it's better than no coverage at all.