CAROLINA VETERANS
HELP FOR THE FORGOTTEN
On any given night in North Carolina, 1,659 men and women veterans are homeless!
On any given night in North Carolina, 182 funded beds are available for homeless vets!
On any given night in North Carolina, 1,477 men and women veterans are without a bed!
These numbers will only grow with returnees from Iraq!
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
Source Long March Home
CONSIDER THE VETERANS
Young men and women who joined the military for a variety of reasons:
CVSG
A sense of duty
To follow in the footsteps of their fathers, uncles and siblings
To earn money for college
And often, as a Career Choice!
These young men and women experienced a growing sense of pride as they worked to
gain their initial proficiency in a selected MOS (Military Occupational Specialty.
Equally important, each had grown in maturity and were capable of performing their
duties as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States!
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
How do these professional men and women become someone who lives
under a bridge or a camp in the woods?
Is this your child? Your grandchild? Your niece or nephew?
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
From this
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
To this
CAROLINA VETERANS
Let’s talk about Multiple Deployments!
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Remember in 2008 when the Senate killed an amendment offered by Senator Webb of Virginia (Vietnam
Veteran) to require longer rest periods between deployments? Still another reason for the growing
epidemic of PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder….MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS.
Today, with a “Professional Force” of limited size and with the absence of a draft, Multiple Deployments
have become the norm! Servicemen and Servicewomen have no time to adjust to the return to the
world of the other 97% (who do not serve and have no personal stake in our Police Actions). At the
same time. Preparations begin immediately for the next deployment, the servicemen must worry about
their family and themselves Will you come home this time? Maybe, but you’re going again in 12
months or less!
Time + Multiple Deployments = Stress
No Treatment for stress = PTSD!
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Time Travel!
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
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Returning Veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan all experience Time Travel! Leave from a hilltop
in Vietnam, a desert outpost in Iraq or a lonely platoon outpost in Afghanistan and Poof! You’re home
in 3-4 days! Talk about TIME COMPRESSION! No one can move from a dangerous combat zone to a
family (civilian) setting in three short days!
What do the Veterans return to find? They arrive to a “Peaceful America” where everyone seems busy
with their lives and not overly concerned with the returning members of the World Police Force. The
Veterans have no outward impact on the lives of the average citizen. But in 12 months or less,
Veterans are expected to return to Iraq or Afghanistan with each tour strengthening the dangers of
PTSD and its vicious impact on lives and families.
CAROLINA VETERANS
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
The Great Family Disconnect!
The Great Disconnect begins at the ramp
as the returning Veteran is immediately
enveloped in a Sense of not belonging.
The thrill of seeing loved ones overpowers
the feelings of disconnect, at least for a
few days. Men and women returning
from exposure to heat and cold, to enemy
fire, to roadside bombs, discover they
don’t belong to this world!
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Returning Veterans feel they belong with the
Veterans still experiencing the hazards of
deployment. The Veteran wants to get back to
their unit, but must be concerned with their
families back home. What about the wives and
mothers left behind assuming the role of mother
and father, keeping the family together.
Dependent families share the same disconnect
as their spouses.
Children of these families are known as Military Brats and suffer the same
disconnect as their parents. Brats are shaped by moves, a culture of resilience
loss of friendships, never having a hometown, absence of a parent due to
deployments, strong patriarchal authority, threat of parental loss in war, stresses
associated with the psychological aftermath of war (living with war-affected
returning veteran parents).
CAROLINA VETERANS
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So the Great Disconnect has an impact on the Military Family, not just
the service man or woman.
Time + Multiple Deployments + Family Difficulties = Stress
No Treatment for Stress = PTSD
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
The Final Straw…………..Finding a Job!
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Veterans leave the service and experience one family difficulty after another with no idea
that many of their problems are a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They now
face the last and greatest obstacle to a safe return to a civilian life with their family and
children enjoying their time together. Finding a job!
The first shock comes when the Veteran discovers employers are not impressed by
their duties in the military and have no idea what a MOS means or place a value on
that MOS. The two most important factors in the job market are presently education and
age. Not service education and experience, but college education. AGE? the Veteran
is too young or too old. How can a 50 year old Veteran respond to a supervisor 20 years
his junior? What’s the Veteran going to tell their family? They can take an entry level
position below their abilities (another step towards depression)
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Veterans find themselves unable to find
help for their disassociation!
The Veteran is suddenly homeless and has few
choices of residence:
• A transitional shelter Available from 5:30 PM
until 8:30 AM with little or no security for personal
belongings. The remainder of the time, the
Homeless Veteran must remain on the street
• Under a bridge Available 24/7. No security
beyond the hidden location or a partner to watch
over belongings!
• In a camp in the woods This is the preferred
shelter because the Veteran can protect their
personal belongings by grouping together…but still
all camps are temporary and usually unsuitable for
Female Veterans or Veterans with children..
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
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CAROLINA VETERANS
At least it’s warm and dry for a while anyway!
How can a transitional shelter
provide assistance to a Homeless
Veteran when shelter rules only
permit overnight “Emergency
Shelter”?
There are often “dormitories”
providing 6 month programs to
Veterans willing to participate in a
program intended to lead a
Veteran to self sufficiency. How
can anyone lead a Veteran
suffering from PTSD to self
sufficiency in only 6 months?
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
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Homeless shelters have high
sounding mission statements.
Programs are intended to
rekindle a desire to return to a
meaningful and productive life.
Yet the only mention of a
Homeless Veteran is to
comment that about 20% of the
shelter population are Veterans.
There doesn’t seem to be any
programs intended to address
the specific difficulties faced by
the Homeless Veteran. A
Homeless Veteran is simply one
of many!
CAROLINA VETERANS
Many want to help….for a while or on a special occassion!
Homeless Vet Stand Down
Sadly, this help doesn’t last long and
it usually is simply a “feel good
action.”
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
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CAROLINA VETERANS
The Only Way!
The only way to move Homeless Veterans out from
under bridges and out of the woods is to invite these
Veterans to live in an area that offers (1) attractive
permanent housing (two years), (2) adequate food
and clothing, (3) security from personal invasion, (4)
respect for their service, (5) advocate their needs with
outside agencies of the government, and (6) reawaken their sense of responsibility to themselves
and the community.
Meeting these needs gives the Homeless Veteran a
sense of Shared Responsibilities between the
Veteran and the Pride in Self Program.
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
Let’s return to the unit structure of WWII. Each
company had its own company (Unit) area,
barracks, mess hall, orderly room and
supply/armory. Rather than 4 barracks with open
bays, 4 dormitories. Two 50 bed dormitories for
men, one 50 bed dormitory for single women with
a shared bath between each room for 4 ladies
and one dormitory for women with children.
Each apartment will contain 2 bedrooms, bath
and kitchenette. Fronting the dormitories will be a
dining hall as well as office areas.
CAROLINA VETERANS
Our Vision
Our vision is to develop a network of “Pride in Self” campus
designed to recover one of our greatest assets and that is the
US Veteran! Consider:
• Many Veterans are more mature and responsible at
the age of 25 than the average citizen at the age of 50.
• The average Veteran has learned to “Make a Decision”
while the average citizen learns to avoid a decision.
• A Veteran understands the importance of “Team Work”
to accomplish a goal while the average citizen believes in
“every man for himself”, a trait exhibited throughout our
society today.
We intend to reclaim these valuable resources for themselves,
their families, our society and country. Our Veterans will leave
one of our campus having accomplished two major goals.
Pride in themselves
&
A commitment to Shared
Responsibilities
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Our Mission
The Mission of CVSG is to translate our vision into a reality! Safe haven
facilities with committed advocates to facilitate continuing education,
vocational training, and employment opportunities.
Working with
homeless Veterans, those suffering from the turmoil of PTSD, and
unemployed to develop and execute a “Life Transition Plan” to become a
productive, sustaining Veteran who is a proud, participating member of
society.
CVSG shall instill and reinforce personal values to include:
• Integrity in all facets of our lives
• Pride in ourselves and our position as a Veteran.
• Responsibility for our actions
• Respect for others and for ourselves
• Innovation in our approach to life, our families, and our fellow
Veterans
• Excellence in every facet of our life
• Sustainability ensuring the continuing improvement of the
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• Perseverance to overcome any and every difficulty as a Team
• Veteran Centered ready to lead other veterans in the CVSG
path
“Empowerment to Achieve - Failure is not an option”
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
The CVSG Central North Carolina Pride in Self Campus!
Because these facilities are attractive
and well planned, all Veterans must be
free from alcohol and/or drug addiction.
Carolina Veterans Support Group
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Pride in Self
The first step is to re-introduce the Veteran to
Pride in themselves. This begins by placing the
Veteran in an environment reminiscent of their
military experiences.
• Familiar surroundings;
• All residents are military Veterans;
• All residents must subscribe to certain practices
for living;
• All residents are supplied with fresh clothing,
bedding, etc. and are expected to renew these
supplies as appropriate.
• All residents are to be familiar with and observe all
standard operating procedures of the Pride in Self
Campus.
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
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The second step is to re-introduce the Veteran
to Personal Responsibility
• To themselves;
• To fellow residents;
• To their families;
• To the community and general public
Veterans are required to participate in the
management and maintenance of the Pride in Self
Facility to include all buildings and grounds.
CAROLINA VETERANS
Begin the process of Giving Back!
Each Veteran will serve as advocates to
program participants and will develop training
guides to each advocate position. Veterans
serving as advocates will assist program
participants with any state or federal agency tasked
with providing services to Veterans both homeless
as well as other veterans.
Why inaction to now?
Any sensible person would raise the question. Why wasn’t
this addressed by the Military Service while the Veteran was
still on active duty? There seem to be many reasons:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
Lack of funds
Lack of adequate services by the VA and other
government agencies
Lack of leadership
Lack of commitment to the Homeless Veteran and
Veterans in general
No recognition of the enormity of the problems, and
Inability to relate, many of our leaders have never served.
Out of Sight…..Out of Mind!
CAROLINA VETERANS
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Whenever possible all Pride in Self Campus
(Units) will be supervised by retired and/or
veteran Non Commissioned Officers of all
services.
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Headquarters Organization
S-1 Personnel
S-2 Intelligence
S-3 Operations
All Pride in Self Unit Personnel operate
under the guidance of Headquarters
Personnel
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
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S-4 Supply
CAROLINA VETERANS
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The Functions of the Carolina Veterans Support Group is organized as three divisions:
Team A -
Fundraising Efforts
Team B - Supervision of all Pride in Self Unit Construction Projects
Team C - Providing Service Delivery to all Resident Veterans
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Board of Directors
Founder/Chairman
Emeritus
Pat Lloyd
USA Vietnam Veteran
Member
Larry Reid Roberts
President Roberts
Business Group, USN
Secretary
Jan Jacobson
Retired
Member
Jack Geelen
Facilities Consultant
Acting Vice Chairman,
Roger Lush
1st Sergeant USA Retired
Treasurer
Richard H. Lane
President, Lane
Financial Services
Member
Marilyn Kille
Carrboro, NC
Advisory
Committee
Bob Suber
NC National Guard
Raleigh, NC
Richard Chiasson
USN Vietnam Veteran
Jamestown, NC
Sam Adams
USAF Veteran
Siler City, NC
William Harwell
Director of Asset
Management
Diversified Realty
Ventures
Raleigh, NC
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
CAROLINA VETERANS
Carolina Veterans Support Group ©
2nd Bn, 1st Calvary
Division (Airmobile)
1967-1968
I am a Vietnam era combat Veteran suffering from PTSD. Having lived for a time in
my car, an in an abandoned building --- without heat, lights, toilet, et cetera; as a
result, I understand the pitfalls of PTSD! I was a military brat whose father suffered
from PTSD (unrecognized) from WWII and Korea, and so have perhaps a wider
appreciation of the difficulties that a Service Man or Woman and their Families face.
So many wonderful groups and individuals work to help those of us suffering from
PTSD. Yet we continue to suffer from neglect! The mission of the Carolina
Veteran Support Group is to bring Veterans suffering from PTSD together in a campus
environment where each Veteran will have the time and the support to adjust to the
impact of PTSD on themselves and their families. Most importantly, this group aims
to assist each with how to regain their pride and their lives!
I hope you will consider the Homeless Veteran and the statements depicted in
this presentation. Together we can make a difference in so many lives.
Together we can address both the problems and the solutions needed to help
these Servicemen and Servicewomen to thrive again.
Thank you and God Bless
Pat Lloyd
Roger Lush, First Sargent USA Retired
pat@cvsgnc.org
roger@cvsgnc.org
919-424-6346
919-424-6346