Veterans consist of some of the greatest men and women in our country, with each giving a portion of their lives in order to protect the United States. Some see active duty, others don’t, and regardless of this, veterans often struggle to transition back to civilian life. They might have a hard time finding a job, or perhaps they were injured during their service and are struggling with that. Others struggle with mental health problems. The treatment of veterans is something we’re constantly looking at and trying to solve, and there have been some great TED Talks that also discuss problems facing veterans. Let’s take a look.
A New Mission For Veterans: Disaster Relief – Jake Wood
According to a survey, over 90% of US veterans want to continue serving their country once they’re discharged. At the same time, natural disasters constantly affect the world and change people’s lives. In response to this, Jake Wood, the CEO of the nonprofit organization Team Rubicon, talks about how veterans can help with the response to disasters. He also talked about the importance of having a sense of community and self-worth, something many veterans tend to seek once returning to civilian life.
Deaf In The Military – Keith Nolan
For Keith Nolan, the goal of becoming a US military member was always at the top of his list. Unfortunately, due to being deaf, he was automatically disqualified from the military. In this talk, he talks about his experiences finding ways to fight for his country when his country wouldn’t let him. His experience includes two years of ROTC, becoming a teacher and guiding other like-minded students, and founding the Maryland School for the Dead Cadet Corps.
The Military Case For Sharing Knowledge – Stanley McChrystal
During his time leading the US military’s efforts against al Qaeda in 2003, General Stanley McChrystal was able to rely on information and secrets to make his decisions. However, after the unconventional battle that he was involved in, he started to believe that the culture of keeping classified information was counterproductive. In his talk, McChrystal discussed the importance of actively sharing knowledge.
How To Talk To Veterans About War – Wes Moore
When Wes Moore joined the US Army, he initially did it in order to pay for college. However, his experience became so important to him that he decided to write his book “The Other Wes Moore.” In this talk, he discusses the shock of returning home from Afghanistan and how it affected him. He also talks about the importance of asking other veterans to share their stories.