Working  with  

Veterans  
Jamie Tobin
 Introduction
•  Branches of the Military
o  Department of Defense
•  Department of the Army
•  Department of the Air Force
•  Department of the Navy
o  Includes the Marines
o  Department of Homeland Security
•  US Coast Guard

•  Active Duty - Reserves – National Guard - Merchant

Marines
o  Each branch has a reserve unit
o  Army and Air force have a national guard unit controlled by each State
o  Merchant marines – are government or private ships for trade that can be
called in at times of war
 Conflicts
•  World War II – 1941 – 1945
•  Korean War – 1950 - 1953
•  Vietnam War – 1962 – 1973
•  Persian Gulf War – 1991
•  War in Afghanistan – 2001 – 2014
o  Operation Enduring Freedom

•  War in Iraq – 2003 – 2011

o  Operation Iraqi Freedom
o  Operation New Dawn
 Potential  Medical  
Conditions  Based  on  Tour
•  WWII and Korea
o  Cold Injuries, biological and chemical warfare agents, gunshot wounds,
malaria, burns

•  Vietnam
o  Agent Orange Exposure, Pesticides, Hep C, Cold Injuries, drug and
substance abuse, intestinal issues

•  Cold War Era

o  Nuclear Weapons Testing, Occupational Hazards (asbestos)

•  Conflicts of the the Middle East

o  Burns, TBI/Blast injuries, Mental health, SCI, Vision and hearing issues,
amputations
 Who  are  Today’s  Military  
•  1.9 Million Men and Women Deployed
•  Large number of deployment from the reserves and national guard
•  89 % Men, 11% Women
•  66% White, 16% Black, 10% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 4% other
•  Average Age
•  Active-duty officers: 34.6 years
•  Active-duty enlisted: 27.1 years
•  Reserve officers: 40.6 years
•  Reserve enlisted: 31.2 years
•  Deployment time of 90 days to 15 months, with multiple deployments common

•  ¾ of today’s injuries are due to explosive devices (IEDs)

o  High Survival rate, increased number of amputees, TBIs, PTSD due to
unpredictability.
o  Average gear weighs at least 60lbs, early signs of OA
Who  are  Today’s  Veterans
•  9 million individuals being served each year, 600k in
Michigan
 Department  of  Veterans  
Affairs  
•  Over 1,200 Healthcare Facilities
•  In Michigan: 25 Facilities
o  5 Major Medical Facilities – Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, Iron Mt,
Saginaw

•  Average wait times for PCP 6 – 23 days for new

patients (in this area)
o  No wait to 5 days for returning patients
o  Walk in appointments available at some locations
 How  do  they  receive  
benefits?
•  Serving Prior to 1980, Serving after 1980
•  Full Tour of Active Duty or 24 continuous months of
service
•  Must be of honorable discharge or have a reason for
discharge (hardship or disability)
•  Service Connection: High Priority Stages 1-8, %
o  Private Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid
•  Health Care benefit applications
o  Vision and Dental
•  Other Applications on VA.gov for: Veterans and/or
Survivors
o  Disability Benefits
o  Vocational Training Benefits
o  Education
o  Home Loans
o  Life Insurance
 Establishing  Services  
•  Establishing services. 
o  Private Insurance then to the VA
o  A Veteran may have to learn how to get a doctor, dentist, life insurance,
etc.
o  A Veteran may also need to navigate the paperwork and process of
obtaining benefits and services from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

•  Veterans Benefits 1-877-222-VETS (8387) and

1-800-827-1000
 Programs  for  Veterans  
•  Gerofit (Like silver sneakers)
•  MOVE (Motivating Obese Veterans Everywhere)
o  Telehealth
•  Cardiac Rehab, Pulmonary Group, Pain group,
Movement Disorders Ex Groups
•  Amputation Support group and Paralympic Sport
Opportunities
•  Mental health and Addiction help
•  Homelessness and Vocational assistance

•  Veteran Crisis Line 1-800–237-8255

Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8244 (Press 1)
 Resources  for  Caregivers
•  Applications and Resources available at
caregiver.va.gov
o  VA has two programs for caregivers:
o  The Program of General Caregiver Support Services
o  The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
o  Many Tips and Tools resources (medications logs, what to do when their
veteran is hospitalized, finances)
o  VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 
 Communicating  with  
Veterans
•  Difficult to talk about their experiences or may not
want to at all
•  Protect yourself in a safe but private environment
•  Always ask: would it be ok to talk about your military
experience?
o  Only if related to PT or if you recognize something throughout the
interview

•  Recognize Signs of Depression, SI, and substance

abuse report it to the
o  Call the veterans crisis line.
Questions?