Before America deepens Iran war involvement, fix how we care for veterans
As the U.S. increases its military engagement with Iran, the article emphasizes the urgent need to improve care for veterans returning from combat. Many service members suffer from invisible wounds like traumatic brain injuries and PTSD, yet face a fragmented and ineffective support system. The author, a former Navy SEAL and father of a fallen SEAL, calls for integrated health records and stronger mental health support as essential components of national readiness.
- ▪Over 3 million Americans served in Iraq and Afghanistan, many returning with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.
- ▪The Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs have failed to implement a seamless electronic health record system, leading to lost medical data during transitions.
- ▪Veteran suicide rates remain high, with isolation and lack of coordinated brain-health care identified as key contributing factors.
- ▪The article highlights Warrior Call as a program designed to combat veteran isolation by maintaining military community connections.
- ▪The author argues that brain health is foundational to military readiness and must be prioritized alongside strategic military objectives.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
As the United States becomes more deeply engaged in a growing conflict with Iran — through direct military strikes, naval operations, and an expanded regional posture — Washington is understandably focused on force readiness, deterrence, and strategic objectives. Those are essential goals. But there is a question Congress and the administration should be asking at the same time: Are we prepared to care for the Americans who are fighting these wars once they return home? Recommended Stories Three branches agree: The CTA needs to go How the Faster Labor Contracts Act could hurt workers First victory in First Choice: The fight for pregnancy center rights moves onward If the past two decades have taught us anything, it is that the answer is no.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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