Who is a Veteran?
• A VETERAN is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; or who died in active service, not as the result of willful misconduct.
• The length of service, and type of discharge, may make a difference as to the type/level of benefits the veteran has earned, but that is for the service providers to decide – you are here to help ALL veterans find answers!
• Discharge information can be found on a veteran’s Department of
Defense form DD-214.

The DD-214

How do I get a copy of my
DD-214?
• Online: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/militaryservice-records/
• Paper/Mail: Form SF-180 (from above site, or have printed copies available at library)
• In Person: with assistance from the nearest
County Veteran Service Office or a Veteran
Services Organization (VFW, Amer. Legion, DAV, etc.)

California Veterans Demographics
• Of the 21.9 million living veterans, 1.8 million reside in California*
• 90% are male veterans*
• 10% are female veterans*
• Of the nearly 2 million California veterans, over 270,000 (over 13%) have a service connected disability. (Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment
Situations for Veterans 03/20/2010)
• 200,000 service members leave Active
Duty every year, and over 30,000 (15% of the Nation’s new veterans) return to/settle in CA*
*Source: VetPop 2011
Challenges that the Veteran Faces
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Employment, especially 18-24 year olds
Housing
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Substance Abuse
Behavioral Health – PTSD/TBI
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Straining the Resources to Help
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Difficult to identify the majority of California veterans
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Most not aware of the benefits and services available to them
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Navigating the benefits and service networks can be overwhelming
Sometimes, lack of a coordinated effort between agencies
Those with behavioral health issues don’t know where to seek help
WHERE TO START ??
Libraries – A great, highly-proliferated, easy-access outpost for initial INFO

Understanding the Vet
• Over 2 million people are serving in the Active or Selected Reserve components of the United States military, around the country and around the world. This most recent group has amassed over 2 million deployments since 2001, with many having served in Iraq and/or providing a continued presence in Afghanistan. This group isn’t the only one that “turns into veterans”. Many have come from conflicts of past decades.
• Acquiring knowledge regarding military culture can result in improved abilities to understand, communicate, and effectively interact with service members and their families. Having basic knowledge regarding the values, structure, policies, and expectations of the military can promote a stronger benefits connection with the veteran

Military Culture Objectives
• Explain the military rank structure and organization
• Describe differences and similarities between
Active and Reserve Components
• Discuss demographic characteristics of service members, and note some unique stressors
• Recognize general and deployment related military terms

Military Rank Structure
• Enlisted
– Junior Enlisted
– Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs)/Petty Officers
• (Warrant Officers – a blend of specialist traits)
• Commissioned Officers
– Company Grade Officers
– Field Grade Officers
– General Officers

Enlisted Members
• Account for 84% of military personnel (Active Component)
• Enlisted personnel typically perform specific job functions much like a rank-and-file employee at a company
• As enlisted personnel progress up the ranks, their leadership responsibilities increase significantly. This responsibility is recognized formally by the use of the terms
NonCommissioned Officer (NCO) or Petty Officer (Navy)
• An Army sergeant, an Air Force staff sergeant, and a Marine corporal and above are considered NCO ranks
• You may also hear enlisted members referred to by their pay grade such as “E-1” or “E-6”. These pay grades are the same across services although the corresponding rank might have a different name.

Officers
• Commissioned Officers are similar to managers or leaders in a company.
• The commissioned ranks are the highest in the military.
• They hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate.
• Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Officers are called
Company Grade Officers in the pay grades of O-1 to
O-3, Field Grade Officers in pay grades O-4 to O-6 and General Officers in pay grades O-7 and higher.
• The equivalent groupings in the Navy are junior grade, mid-grade and flag.

Officers
• Commissioned Officers generally do not specialize as much as enlisted personnel and Warrant Officers. As an Officer moves up rank he or she gains more experience in different areas with the ultimate goal of taking command over more and more troops.
• In general, Commissioned Officers have a minimum of a four-year bachelor’s degree and additional advanced degrees (e.g., a masters) are encouraged to continue to be promoted.
• Commissioned Officers make up approximately 14% of military personnel

Branches
– Army
– Navy
– Marine Corps
– Air Force
– Coast Guard (Homeland Security)

USA
• The Army is the oldest and largest of the military services and represents the main ground force for the United States.
• The Continental Army was formed on June 14 th 1775 to meet the demands of the Revolutionary War and was subsequently replaced by the United States Army which was created by
Congress on June 14, 1784.
• The Army is comprised of an Active component and two
Reserve components, the Army National Guard and the Army
Reserves.

USN
• Second largest branch of service; U.S. Navy was founded on 13 October
1775, and the Department of the Navy was established on 30 April 1798.
• Administratively, the Marine Corps is a component of the Department of the Navy.
• The Navy is comprised of an Active and Reserve component but does not have a National Guard.
• In addition to their primary mission, the Navy also plays an essential role in augmenting air power and transporting Marines to areas of conflict

USAF
• The Air Force is the youngest of all the military services and represents the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces
• The USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on
18 Sept 1947 and was known prior to that as the Army Air
Corps
• The USAF is comprised of an Active Component and two
Reserve Components, the Air Force Reserve and the Air
National Guard

USMC
• Originally organized as the continental marines on November 10,
1775 and served as Naval Infantry
• Disbanded by the end of the Revolutionary War; re-established as the United States Marine Corps by Congress in 1798
• Historically, primary purpose was to conduct amphibious warfare or the use of firepower, logistics and strategy to project military ashore
• The Marine Corps is the smallest of the Armed Forces in the
Department of Defense with just over 190,000 Active Component forces and 40,000 Reserve Component forces.
• Similar to the Navy, the Marine Corps is comprised of an Active and
Reserve Component, but no National Guard.

USCG
• The United States Coast Guard is an armed force but differs from the rest as it is not a part of the Department of Defense but instead falls within the Department of Homeland Security.
• Its fundamental roles include maritime safety, maritime security, maritime mobility, national defense, and protection of natural resources.

• Service members in the Active Component (AC) essentially works
“full-time” for the military.
• Being on active status means working the hours required of a position and also receiving the benefits offered as a full-time employee.
• Although Active Duty members are essentially on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week most work a normal 40-50 hour work week when not deployed.
• Individuals in the Active component make up the permanent force of the military that is maintained during peacetime as well as wartime. The end strength of the Active Component (including enlisted, Warrant Officers, Commissioned Officers and
Cadets/Midshipmen) for FY 2006 was slightly over 1.38 Million

Serving in the Active Component military means members enjoy many benefits like:
1. Competitive salaries and bonuses
2. Free health care for both the member and their family,
3. Days of annual leave (or vacation),
4. Access to base privileges which include recreational, social, and support services on base (like employment assistance for spouses, childcare centers, fitness facilities, base or post exchanges and commissaries).
5. Retirement compensation, medical care and base/post privileges at 20+ years time in service remains a very valued benefit for many service members.

• Reserve component service members perform part-time duties as opposed to active component members.
• They are obligated to perform service and/or train one weekend a month and for two weeks a year. This equals to 39 days/year minimum.
• In addition, the Reserve component can be called up or activated to augment the Active component when necessary.
• In recent years this has happened often and many members of the Reserve component have been deployed to Iraq and
Afghanistan.
• The Reserve components are comprised of the National
Guard and Reserves

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– Army Reserve
– Army National Guard
– Air Force Reserve
– Air National Guard
– Navy Reserve
– Marine Corps Reserve
– Coast Guard Reserve

• In many respects, the National Guard is similar in function to the Reserves.
• The primary difference between the two is that while the
Reserves are “owned” by the federal government, each individual state “owns” its National Guard.
• However, the National Guard may also be activated into
Federal military service during times of need like the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• In this sense, the National Guard essentially has a dual mission to serve its state as well as the federal government.
• Regardless of Reserve or Guard status, when a RC unit gets activated or mobilized they are essentially being called into active duty status and serve as such

• Joining the National Guard or Reserves is appealing to many individuals due to the flexibility it provides in serving ones country while maintaining employment or educational goals.
• One of the benefits RC members receive includes compensation during drill weekends and annual training.
Pay is based on member’s current rank and time in service.
– For example, an E3 would make approximately $212 for a weekend drill; a Captain (O-3)would make around $450.
• If a RC member is activated, they receive pay the same as any full-time AC member.

• Currently, many bonuses are being offered to reservists in specific jobs or occupations.
– In terms of healthcare, RC members may be entitled to purchase a new healthcare plan called Tricare Reserve
Select which provides healthcare to RC members and their families for a fee depending on rank and other factors.
– If a RC member is activated, they and their family receive the same free healthcare as an AC member.
• RC members may take advantage of all the same base privileges as AC members.
• Members of the RC will also receive pro-rated retirement pay at age 60 after completing at least 20 years of part-time service (39 days a year).

In general, both the Active Duty and Reserve Component members of the military show a more youthful composition than that of the civilian work force.
Age
Range
17 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 29 years
30 - 34 years
35 - 39 years
40 - 44 years
45 - 49 years
50 + years
Active
Component
8.86%
38.28%
22.24%
12.77%
10.58%
5.5%
1.52%
.25%
Reserve
Component
7.69%
24.61%
17.29%
11.94%
14.09%
11.73%
6.69%
5.97%
Civilian Labor
Force
3.93%
10.01%
11.12%
10.56%
11.57%
12.23%
12.48%
28.10%
Data abstracted from: Population Representation in the Military Services FY06 Report

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– It has a utilitarian function that makes communicating to other service members easier and more efficient.
– It helps create an identity and sense of belonging for military members (an “us” and “them” so to speak).

• Down Range – Deployed
• CO – Commanding Officer
• FOB – Forward Operating Base; a secured forward area that is used to support tactical operations
• Leave – Off Duty (Usually vacation)
• MOB/DEMOB – Mobilization/Demobilization
• MOS – Military Operational Specialty (AFSC in USAF)
• OIF/OEF – Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation
Enduring Freedom
• OPTEMPO – Operations Tempo

Military Culture Summary
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– Military Rank Structure
– Branches of Service
– Active vs. Reserve Components and Unique
Stressors
– Demographic Characteristics
– General and Deployment Related Terms
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Military Culture Quiz
• What qualifies somebody to be a “veteran?”
• What are the two main ways a person can serve in the military?
• What is the document called that identifies someone as a veteran?
• T/F? The active military population is generally younger than the civilian workforce?