Brotherhood is a relationship between people who are united by mutual respect and common ideals, sharing a common purpose and working together for mutual benefit. In the military, you are taught to be a brotherhood. You take care of each other, watch out for each other and fight together.
And that’s what makes us stronger as a unit. The brotherhood of the military is a sacred thing. It’s something that you take with you for life, and it’s something that binds you together forever. Brotherhood shouldn’t end when we take off the uniform. As veterans, many need the relationship of brotherhood even more than they did as military personnel.
According to the Disabled American Veterans, one of the chief contributing factors to veteran suicide is the loss of mission, purpose and community.
Veterans are driven by the mission, and when they are connected to a community of fellow veterans, research shows that it helps with depression, grief and other psychological conditions. Peer support and motivation are also key to helping veterans and civilians succeed, and they have been proven to reduce costs for mental and physical health services.
If the majority of veterans spent more time building each other up and helping each other out, you wouldn’t see half of the problems you see our fellow veterans struggling with.
When a veteran is discharged from the service, he usually goes back to his hometown, where he will look for home, job and family. Unfortunately, many do not find what they need and end up in the street or worse.
They do not realize that there is a veteran organization near wherever they are that can help them. The veteran organizations were formed to give the veterans an opportunity to replace the brotherhood they had on active duty. Their missions are to help other veterans returning to civilian life and help and build their communities.
As a member of the Suffolk County American Legion post, (Arthur H. Clune, 1533) in Mastic Beach, I know that brotherhood does exist in the posts. But more importantly, the posts get information every week from the county, giving updates on the VA changes and listing of employment opportunities.
The employment information includes civil service and local employment. This information is a great help to the veterans just returning to civilian life. It also includes updates on the G.I. bill and housing.
The returning veteran needs to realize that the veterans in the various organizations have been through what they are facing and can be of great help. So please do not hesitate to allow your brothers to work with you and your problems.
Help is available to you by calling the local VA hospital in Northport, 631.261.4400 or Veterans Crisis Line 1.800.273.8255. Press 1 to talk to a veteran or have a confidential chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net or text to 838255.
If you have any question relating to veteran problems please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to answer it. Contact us at Drfred72@Gmail.com
Rev. Frederick Miller, Ph.D.