This comment showed up over at LeftFace, and is worth being shared.
Says Kristy:
“Since the article ran, I’ve been in contact with the White House, the Secretary of the Army, the office of the Sec. of Defense, Army family program directors and some congressmen and senators. It’s taken me 8 years and an op-ed to get in the room and I’m doing everything I possibly can use this “voice” to inject some urgency and reality into these conversations. I am completely unaffiliated and my only agenda is to speak for the many who have no voice and hold our leaders (civilian and military) accountable for doing what they say they are going to do (and doing it effectively).
We (military families) need smart people like you at the ground level who are unafraid to speak honestly and help provide solutions. I wouldn’t have taken the risk to write the article if I didn’t think it could affect significant change, but I’m just one person. I need to hear from others that are “in the trenches”; ours is the voice that has been missing from the conversations where decisions are being made. I have a direct line to the top right now, let’s use this opportunity!”
She has some questions that those she is working with are asking, and she would like YOUR input. Please read these over, and if you can help, you can send her your responses to kkaufmanncool@gmail.com. Or, you can mail them to me at brittany@myarmywifelife.com and I will collect them and forward them to her. All responses will be kept anonymous. Please note that she uses “soldier” synonymously for all branches of the armed services, so even if you’re not Army, please feel free to answer:
1. What are the biggest problems facing soldiers (and their families) returning from deployment?
2. What could be done to address these problems?
3. Does the current military family support system work? If not, why?
4. How can veteran’s service organizations help military families?
5. If you had all the power in the world, what would you do to support soldiers and military families?
