Introduction
As the US Government transitions to new leadership, the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) is uniquely positioned to move in a new direction that discharges America’s obligation to one of its most important group of citizens: Veterans. This document endeavors to identify a national philosophy for guiding Veterans’ benefits, clarify the historical context for Veterans’ programs, critique the current application of benefits against that philosophy, and outline a path to achieving an ideal future where VBA delivers world-class benefits and services to those who ensured America’s continued position as the greatest nation in the world.
A National Philosophy
VBA is responsible for helping discharge the US Government’s obligation to …show more content…
Veterans’ benefits serve the basic purpose of alleviating to some extent the sacrifices made by those who fight the Nation’s battle and by their families. These programs are a means of distributing the burdens of war more evenly, and in this respect they serve an important function in our society. The role of veterans’ benefits needs to be reconsidered from time to time as conditions change In order to find better way of discharging our national obligation to those who have been handicapped by war …show more content…
The first extended from the Revolutionary War to World War I. During this period, service-connected disability and death benefits were combined with limited readjustment provisions, such as land grants and mustering out pay. Additionally, as service members fought America’s wars, the ramifications of war time service compelled the United States to institute Veterans pensions for elderly and needy veterans.
The second period began with World War I until 1940. Previous service-connected benefits were improved to better accommodate lost wages and the unique challenges of Veterans surviving injuries that were once fatal or went unrecognized. Vocational rehabilitation and life insurance programs for veterans were also introduced. Significantly, this period raised Veterans benefits as an important political and social issue, as exemplified by the Bonus Army March of 1932 . While benefits similar to previous pensions and muster pay were provided, the introduction of programs like vocational rehabilitation program began laying the groundwork for more comprehensive efforts to return veterans to a place of normalcy in society, efforts which would be promoted and emphasized during the third
As the US Government transitions to new leadership, the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) is uniquely positioned to move in a new direction that discharges America’s obligation to one of its most important group of citizens: Veterans. This document endeavors to identify a national philosophy for guiding Veterans’ benefits, clarify the historical context for Veterans’ programs, critique the current application of benefits against that philosophy, and outline a path to achieving an ideal future where VBA delivers world-class benefits and services to those who ensured America’s continued position as the greatest nation in the world.
A National Philosophy
VBA is responsible for helping discharge the US Government’s obligation to …show more content…
Veterans’ benefits serve the basic purpose of alleviating to some extent the sacrifices made by those who fight the Nation’s battle and by their families. These programs are a means of distributing the burdens of war more evenly, and in this respect they serve an important function in our society. The role of veterans’ benefits needs to be reconsidered from time to time as conditions change In order to find better way of discharging our national obligation to those who have been handicapped by war …show more content…
The first extended from the Revolutionary War to World War I. During this period, service-connected disability and death benefits were combined with limited readjustment provisions, such as land grants and mustering out pay. Additionally, as service members fought America’s wars, the ramifications of war time service compelled the United States to institute Veterans pensions for elderly and needy veterans.
The second period began with World War I until 1940. Previous service-connected benefits were improved to better accommodate lost wages and the unique challenges of Veterans surviving injuries that were once fatal or went unrecognized. Vocational rehabilitation and life insurance programs for veterans were also introduced. Significantly, this period raised Veterans benefits as an important political and social issue, as exemplified by the Bonus Army March of 1932 . While benefits similar to previous pensions and muster pay were provided, the introduction of programs like vocational rehabilitation program began laying the groundwork for more comprehensive efforts to return veterans to a place of normalcy in society, efforts which would be promoted and emphasized during the third