"Women and Minority Veterans Roundtable." An event held April 11, 2023 at Patriot Hall in Los Angeles. Organized by Greg Lee, former California Commander of the Jewish War Veterans.
After inducting new military recruits in Los Angeles, and following his speech to more young people, we asked visiting guest speaker, NBC/MSNBC military analyst Col. Jack Jacobs (a US Medal of Honor recipient) how well he feels Vietnam veterans are finally getting their due? Might American security benefit from a national service obligation for young people living here nowadays?
Part 1: "Introducing the Participants" "A Who's Who of Leading Veteran Advocates and Providers.
Greg Lee of the Jewish War Veterans leads the exploration of the current state of collaboration and coordination among veteran groups in Sacramento. While there may be several separate groups working on similar issues, they are not always aligned or coordinated. Mr. Lee believes that collaboration and coordination among experts in different areas can be beneficial and can help move the dial in the right direction. Regarding producer-generated content, the video touches on the topic of social media, specifically short reels on TikTok, which are currently popular among younger audiences.
The hosts also discuss the effects of the pandemic on the industry and the importance of marketing efforts in promoting the important work being done by these organizations. The video welcomes the attendees and acknowledges the challenges they faced getting there.
The next speaker, Dov Cohen, gives a brief invocation on behalf of the National Cemetery Support Foundation, and the deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veteran Affairs discusses the importance of their role in the event. The speakers in this session focus on advocating for veterans and their families, specifically women veterans. They discuss the issue of women veterans not participating in the full range of veteran benefits programs, despite being the fastest-growing cohort. They emphasize the need to help these veterans better understand their eligibility and connect them to these resources, as well as acknowledge the sacrifices made by all veterans, regardless of gender.
The video introduces a group of leaders actively involved with the Rolling Vietnam Mall, including Captain Tasu Battalion EXO for Los Angeles recruiting, Dr. Ali H. Hong, Trojan Success Initiatives Director at USC, and Janine Williams, a USC veteran and center supervisor for the veterans Resource Center. The group also features Cedric Thomas, office administrator for the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Glenn Sheer, past commander of the Hollywood Squadron 43, Jeff D, US Marine Corps Commander, and Chaplain Dove Cohen, US Air Force Vietnam. They discuss their relationships with various veteran organizations and the work they do to provide resources and support for veterans and their families. The video concludes with reflections on the host's experience of interacting with civilians who don't understand the challenges faced by veterans during their transition to civilian life. The host emphasizes the importance of empowering veterans with resources and guidance to achieve success in their career. The video also introduces several veterans who are present in the roundtable and provides insight into their backgrounds, experiences, and achievements.
- 00:00:00 In this section of the Roundtable Pt 1, the speaker discusses the current state of collaboration and coordination among veteran groups in Sacramento. While there may be several separate groups working on similar issues, they are not always aligned or coordinated. However, the speaker believes that collaboration and coordination among experts in different areas can be beneficial and can help move the dial in the right direction. The speaker also emphasizes the need to address the growing number of women veterans and the importance of their contributions. Women veterans in the military currently make up a 50% contingent when all dependent spouses, reserves, guards, and other family members and caregivers are included. This is a significant increase from the 20% of women that previously comprised the military. The speaker acknowledges that addressing the needs of women veterans and minorities will require consistent incremental improvements, but believes that this can lead to significant changes in the future. The speaker then discusses the importance of addressing minority veteran issues, specifically the Jewish War Veterans, the Latino community, and the African-American population. While the latter may have more visibility, the speaker is excited to extend a hand of friendship to the Latino community and acknowledge their contributions to the veteran community.
- 00:05:00 In this section the hosts discuss various topics related to veteran advocacy and provision. They begin by asking everyone to introduce themselves, emphasizing the importance of standing up and being succinct during these introductions. The video then moves on to the topic of social media, specifically short reels on Tik Tok, which are currently popular among younger audiences. The hosts also discuss the effects of the pandemic on the industry and the importance of marketing efforts in promoting the important work being done by these organizations. The video ends with a call to appreciate different opinions and respect the diversity of viewpoints.
- 00:10:00 In this section Greg Lee welcomes the attendees and thanks them for coming to Downtown LA. He acknowledges the challenges of getting there, but expresses gratitude for their presence. The host then gives an introduction of the next speaker, Dove Cohen, who will be giving a brief invocation. Cohen is an Air Force veteran, chaplain, and chairman emeritus of the National Cemetery Support Foundation. The host then acknowledges and thanks the deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Stephanie Stone, for her participation and leadership in the event.
- 00:15:00 In this section, the speakers discuss their focus on advocating for veterans and their families, specifically women veterans. They highlight the issue of women veterans not participating in the full range of veteran benefits programs, despite being the fastest growing cohort. They also mention the need to help these veterans better understand their eligibility and connect them to these resources, as well as to acknowledge the sacrifices made by all veterans, regardless of gender. The speakers include Bob Lee, retired from the US Navy, who served in the First Gulf War and now serves as vice commander of American Legion Post 138; Ronnie Guy, who served in the US Army and has been involved with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and a recovered Cuyahoga County Veteran Service Officer who has focused on advocating for veterans since leaving the Air Force. Along with Shad Metcalf, president and founder of the National Veterans Foundation, and Dr. R. Shad Macon, they emphasize the importance of supporting and connecting with all veterans and providing them with resources they are entitled to.
- 00:20:00 In this section, a group of leaders actively involved with the Rolling Vietnam Mall are introduced. The National Cemetery at the Rolling Vietnam Mall is going to host the largest Vietnam Wall display that travels, and it is expected to attract a record audience. Captain Tasu Battalion EXO for Los Angeles recruiting is also present. Dr. Ali H. Hong, Trojan Success Initiatives Director at USC, discusses his focus on serving historically marginalized populations and addressing equity issues. Janine Williams, a USC veteran and center supervisor for the veterans Resource Center, speaks about her work with community engagement and programming for veteran and military students. Cedric Thomas, office administrator for the Los Angeles National Cemetery, shares information about benefits extended to veterans, spouses, and children. Glenn Sheer, past commander of the Hollywood Squadron 43, shares information about the National Cemetery Support Foundation. Jeff D, US Marine Corps Commander, discusses the American Legion and his work with the national level podcast Tango Alpha Lima. Chaplain Dove Cohen, US Air Force Vietnam, shares a message of hope and wisdom for the audience. Finally, the Pink Lady, an actress and producer, and her partner, introduce their TV show and talk about their work with the senior and veteran military committee.
- 00:25:00 In this section, several leaders from veteran organizations discuss their relationships with the Marine Corps and their activities related to providing knitted goods for veterans and recruiting young veterans. Dr. Jerry Silver, a Flight Surgeon in the Marine Corps, talks about his relationship with the Department Commander for their state and their work with the hospital and various branches of the Marines. He also mentions their success in providing wool for a group of ladies who make lap blankets and other items for veterans. Jerick Lindz, the incoming president of the Veterans Association of USC, talks about his experiences mentoring young veterans and helping them transition from the military to civilian life. Leo Trinos, the Program Manager for Veteran Pure Access Network District 1, also discusses his work with JVS Soel and their Veteran and Perer Access Network team, as well as his collaboration with the Supervisor District 1. Joe Le, an Army veteran and advocate, talks about his experiences mentoring young veterans and helping them understand the challenges of transitioning from the military to civilian life.
- 00:30:00 In this section, the host, a veteran himself, shares his experience of interacting with civilians who don't understand the challenges faced by veterans during their transition to civilian life. The host speaks about the importance of empowering veterans with resources and guidance to achieve success in their career. The video also introduces several veterans who are present in the roundtable and provides insight into their backgrounds, experiences, and achievements. The video highlights the importance of advocacy for veterans in achieving their goals and building a better future.
- 00:35:00 In this section, we meet five individuals who are leaders in the veteran community. Sam Uden is a sergeant major in the US Army and post commander in Jewish war vets. Dave Smith is a retired Air Force officer who served as a test pilot and now works as a civilian supporting the Air National Guard. Jack Jacobs is a retired US Army major general who worked as a test pilot at the Skunk Works. Scott Abrams is the district director for Congressman Brad Sherman, who helps veterans with their benefits through his office's casework system. Nelson Mellitz is the national commander for the Jewish War Veterans and has served for 32 years.
- 00:40:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of education and how it is a key to moving forward in today's world. They highlight the contributions of two individuals, Colonel Jack Jacobs of West Point and their alma mater, the University of Southern California. The speaker talks about how Colonel Jack Jacobs teaches firsties at West Point, preparing them for leadership roles. They also express the value of learning from past experiences and how time seems to go by quickly when we get older.
- 00:45:00 In this section, the speaker reflects on their experience as a cadet and the impact they had on their cadets. They highlight examples of cadets who grew up to become successful leaders, including Ray Odno, who became Chief of Staff of the Army, Marty Dempsey, who became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Bob C, who became the Superintendent of West Point. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of education in passing on the lessons learned and sacrifices made by previous generations. They encourage everyone to make a commitment every day to teach everything they know to succeeding generations in order to remain free.
Roundtable Part 2: "Dr. Alejandra Hong, USC, Janine Williams, USC, Dr. Steve Braverman, VA Director, Hon. Virginia Wimmer, CAL VET DEP SEC, Dr. Shad Meshad, NVA, GEN Dave Smith, CAL GUARD, Joe Leal, LA County Commissioner, CSM Samuel Yudin, CAL GUARD, Jeff Daley, American Legion"
The speakers emphasize the importance of connecting with diverse groups of veterans and speaking in a unified voice. They also encourage utilizing platforms like Voter Voice to engage with elected officials and address legislative issues. The speaker expresses frustration with internal drama and politics within the organization and expresses a desire to grow the membership. Towards the end, they pose questions about the situation for the Jewish population in Los Angeles and the anti-Semitism fighting mission of the Jewish War Veterans.
- 00:00:00 In this section, Alejandra Hong from the USC Student Success initiative discusses the challenges faced by student veterans in their transition to higher education. She highlights the struggle experienced by these students in translating their prior military experience into the language of academia and career advancement. Janine Williams, the director of the student veteran Resource Center at USC, adds that many students are unaware of the benefits and resources available to them, particularly those with disabilities. She mentions the vocational Readiness and Employment Program (VR) as one example and emphasizes the importance of spreading awareness about disability accommodations and support services at universities like USC.
- 00:05:00 In this section the topic of challenges faced by women and minority veterans when transitioning out of the military into local community colleges or higher-level institutions is discussed. The respondent, speaking from personal experience, emphasizes the importance of available resources in facilitating the transition process, citing caniones’ support to visit the office of student accessibility programs at USC as a helpful initiative. They mention that at their school, finding people to connect with is easy, as the veterans community is active, and resources are readily available at community colleges. The respondent continues by expressing interest in knowing the percentage of veterans that use the GI Bill, as well as the veteran population of USC. The speaker, Miss Suki, then responds by providing information on the number of military-affiliated students at USC, which is over 2,500. Finally, when asked about her one wish for the veteran center at USC, Miss Suki selects building a more inclusive community for veteran students and dependents, stating that this is a personal goal.
- 00:10:00 In this section the speaker discusses the issues and challenges faced by women veterans in accessing resources and services at the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. They mention that one of the critical issues is the lack of respect and harassment faced by women veterans when they enter the hospital, where they are often outnumbered by men who may ask them out or make advances. The speaker calls on Dr. Stephen Braverman, who runs the VA facility, to discuss the steps taken by the VA to address these issues and make the experience more pleasant for women veterans. Dr. Braverman responds by explaining that the VA takes care of about 9,000 women veterans, which is about 10% of their population, growing along the way. He discusses the VA's efforts to build women's health clinics within each facility, including the new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Center in Inventura, which has its own Women's Health clinic and entrance for women. He also mentions the anti-harassment campaign and signs throughout the facility that promote respect for women veterans. The speaker suggests that the VA should focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and highlights the importance of embracing the minority concept and bringing people in with unique and different ideas to make the military great.
- 00:15:00 This section highlights the progress made towards promoting gender equality in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and emphasizes the need for continued work to fully realize this goal. VA leaders and staff, including Don Dunlop and Virginia Wimer, have made significant efforts to increase women's participation and representation within the organization, but they acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. The shift away from an exclusive focus on supporting veterans, widows, and orphans to a more inclusive mission statement is a positive step towards change, but it will take continued effort and participation from women veterans to truly make a difference. Overall, the speakers express optimism about the future of women's rights within the VA and encourage women veterans to participate in the ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable environment.
- 00:20:00 In this section of the Roundtable discussion, Dr. Madeline, the director of the National Veterans Foundation, shares her experiences working with women veterans. She reflects on the differences in psychology between men and women, and how the military was not initially ready to integrate women. She has testified in Congress multiple times about the issue and believes that strong women veterans organized for Vietnam Vets in the early 1970s can serve as a model for women veterans today. Additionally, she suggests that there should be a separate entrance for women at every VA hospital, and that an on-budsman should be present to welcome veterans and make the transition process easier.
- 00:25:00 In this section of the video, the speaker discusses the need for the VA to make it more comfortable and welcoming for women veterans. They suggest hiring a woman or someone knowledgeable to guide women veterans through the system and help them get started. The speaker also talks about their experience advocating for Vietnam veterans and the challenges they faced in accessing VA services. They emphasize the importance of making the process easier for veterans to receive their benefits and urges for leadership and action to address these issues. The conversation then transitions to discussing homelessness among veterans, with the common theme being the lack of affordable housing as the main cause. The speaker stresses the need to cut through red tape and advocate for veterans to ensure they have access to the VA and other necessary resources.
- 00:30:00 In this section, the speaker discusses some of the obstacles that women and minority veterans face in accessing resources, including housing. They note that veteran Praxis members who are female or of color often encounter discrimination or a lack of resources asr veterans in uniform are perceived as local residents rather than national veterans. An example is given of a female veteran with a child who was turned away from housing despite being homeless because she was not eligible for certain benefits due to her status as a reserve veteran. The speaker also notes that, even when reserves do qualify for resources, they may not have access to the same level of support as active-duty veterans. The military does not provide adequate resources for its reservists, as they are expected to maintain the same standards as active-duty veterans but are not given access to the same resources. The speaker also notes that some nonprofit organizations that support veteran homelessness are struggling financially, highlighting the need for a more creative and collaborative approach to address the problem.
- 00:35:00 Patrick, a homeless veteran that the group met during a bike ride from East LA to DC, is discussed. Patrick's wife had thought he was dead, which led to him being disconnected from resources. However, when the group found him and informed his wife, they were able to connect him back to Hawaii. The panelists discuss the issue of homelessness among veterans and the stigma attached to it, by challenging negative stereotypes related to veterans being viewed as alcoholics or crazy. The information shared is that existing institutions also play a role in addressing the issue, such as Command Sergeant Major Sam Uden, who deals with guard people and acknowledges that issues arise because of disconnection, collaboration, and participation. Thus, it is crucial to break down red tape and educate people on available resources and integrate them into the system to take full advantage of their benefits for a healthier, happier, and more productive life.
- 00:40:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the challenges that young veterans face when trying to transition from the military to the civilian world. They mention that even simple tasks like writing a resume can be difficult for veterans who lack transferable skills. The speaker also talks about the importance of collaboration and participation in helping veterans integrate into society. The speaker then goes on to discuss the role of veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion, in helping veterans. They mention that the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood is one of the most active in the nation and has a unique story of growth. Commander Jeff Daly from the American Legion Post 43 discusses how the post has evolved from a cap of 500 members to a much larger organization by focusing on being visible and reaching out to people. Commander Daly emphasizes the importance of action, and how the DNA of veterans and military people drives them to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Overall, the section highlights the importance of collaboration, participation, and integration in helping veterans transition to the civilian world. Veteran service organizations like the American Legion play a crucial role in this process by providing resources, support, and opportunities for veterans to be a part of something bigger.
- 00:45:00 In this section, the speaker is discussing the importance of connecting with diverse groups of veterans and the need to speak in a unified voice. They also encourage the use of platforms like Voter Voice to engage with elected officials and get legislative issues addressed. The speaker expresses frustration with the internal drama and politics within the organization and their desire to grow the membership. Towards the end of the excerpt, the speaker poses two questions: the first is about the situation for the Jewish population in Los Angeles, and the second is about the anti-Semitism fighting mission of the Jewish War Veterans and the ways in which they work to combat bigotry of all kinds.
Roundtable Part 3 & 4 "Minority and Women Veterans Roundtable"
JWV Commander Nelson Mellitz emphasizes the importance of treating reserves, National Guard, and active-duty members equally in terms of benefits, especially considering their high combat deployment rates. They also highlight the need to address homelessness and suicide prevention among veterans from the very beginning of their military career, suggesting early education by recruiters and ongoing discussions with leadership to ensure a smooth transition out of service and adequate support for veterans. They stress the urgency of taking proactive measures to prevent veteran homelessness and suicides, citing a lack of progress in this area over the past several decades.
Roundtable Pt 4- Veterans Advocacy- Jewish War Vets Nat'l Commander Nelson Mellitz; SAG/AFTRA union representative, "The Pink Lady"
Col. Jack Jacobs: Do today's youth have a national service obligation?
After inducting new recruits in Los Angeles, and following his speech to more young people, we asked Col. Jack Jacobs, would America benefit from a national service obligation for America's young people?
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