An Uncertain Future

More than 1,500,000 GIs have served in Iraq

They've Been Living in Hell for Years

They Will Leave The War
Will The War Leave Them?

The Troops

The Army has added 3 months to the standard 12 month tour in Iraq and Afghanistan with ever-shorter periods of rest and retraining. 

'Longer Tours, Shorter R & R'

A number of brigades have been sent to Iraq before completing one year at home.

'We cannot underestimate the negative impact this will have on Army families'

The goal is to return to 12 months as the standard of tour in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'Last time they said 9 months, it was 14'

The Marines are trying to stick to their standard 7/7: 7 month tours and 7 months home.

Broken Lives, Broken Dreams

National Guard brigades are in line to deploy for a second time.

Health Care

The Armed Forces were ordered into a larger, longer war with more casualties than anticipated. The VA's network of 1,400 clinics and treatment facilities provide care and rehabilitation to 5.8 million veterans.

The Army's new acting surgeon general is concerned about morale because the military lacks money to hire enough nurses and mental health specialists to treat the returning troops.

Benefits

Each of the Armed Services assign ratings to injured soldiers.  Ratings determine disability benefits.

'The VA cares only about Vets.  The Pentagon has its eye on the bottom line.'

The VA operates a separate system for veterans. The Army has been rating its injured soldiers at a lower level to save on disability payments. 

'We are deeply disturbed the Army is lowballing GIs in disability ratings'

Veterans groups urged the VA to make changes so soldiers aren't underpaid disability benefits.