My name is Matt Bernard, and my story begins on March 4th, 2006. It would be the day that changed everything for me. On that fateful morning I would be hit by a roadside bomb and severely injured.
I was evacuated from the battle fields of
I spent less than two weeks at a medical hold facility in order to gain an understanding of what my injuries were. After being processed out of the Army, I was supposed to be assigned to a unit and receive treatment at a military clinic or through my local VA hospital. Suffering from PTSD stemming from the attack along with the pain of the injuries I sustained, the drive home was stressful, frightening, and challenging. I was a battle hardened soldier, and yet, I was falling apart mentally and emotionally. My wife ended up driving us all the way home because I could not bring myself to be behind the wheel.
Once home, I contacted my local unit as instructed. I did all the right things and followed through with the paperwork involved to get reintegrated with my state. On April 12th 2006, I would visit my military headquarters and finish all my required paperwork.
And then I waited and waited and waited but NO ONE from the Veterans Administration ever called me. Weeks turned into months, still the VA never called! In fact, the VA never knew I was home, wounded, and waiting!
On August 14th 2006, I called my local VA and I finally met with a counselor. It had been over 5 months since I returned wounded from Iraq, and done all that I was instructed to do. This would be the first meeting to discuss my options.
It took nearly a year before I would be completely evaluated and receive any disability payments and treatment. Some of my wounds that were evaluated would not qualify for compensation due to an old rating system. We send men and women to fight our wars, promising them medical benefits for their sacrifices, and yet injuries that I, and many others, had received in combat where now being deemed ineligible or not within a certain parameter. The rules of evaluation have had little change in over 64 years with the VA. Some wounds don’t even have an actual name and need to be categorized with other types of injuries or not recognized at all.
Reintegration Program
Angry, frustrated and feeling abandoned by the state and VA, I couldn’t blame everyone. However, the people who were responsible to get me the treatment I needed had failed not only me, but countless other vets before me. Until spring 2007, New Hampshire National Guard soldiers returning home from
As a result I would create a state funded reintegration program , originally dubbed ‘Bridging the Gap’, that helps veterans return to civilian life. The program ensures that either an Officer or an NCO from the National Guard contacts returning veterans within a week of their homecoming. It’s intent was to help them navigate through the various doctors, counselors and other resources they needed, and then remain in contact with them for at least 90 days.
Veteran Homelessness
In 2006, approximately 195,827 veterans were homeless on a given night, an increase of 0.8 percent from 194,254 in 2005. More veterans experience homeless over the course of the year. We estimate that 336,627 were homeless in 2006. - The National Alliance to End Homelessness.
These numbers have only grown in recent years and will continue to do so until there is a system that aggressively reaches out and provides a safe haven for these men and women.
Summary
My mission with this documentary is to raise awareness about the current situation facing veterans. From a 24 month backlog for over 400,000 disability evaluations (claims) to chronic veteran homelessness and an increased rate of veterans suicide. The current VA database system is flawed and has no measure in place to track or reach out to help veterans from the past and current wars.
“Veterans’ Affairs“, will also spotlight two solutions: The New Hampshire Reintegration Program that I created, as well as The Buckingham Place Veterans Program and how they can be implemented nationwide.