A message to the Commander in Chief:
Before this country expands the military again, someone in power needs to look hard at what happened to the last generation we sent to war.
We praise veterans in public.
We thank them at ballgames.
We fly flags over them.
We tell them their service mattered.
But when combat trauma follows them home as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, addiction, anger, homelessness, or criminal justice involvement, too many are treated as disposable.
About one-third of veterans report having been arrested at some point in their lives. Male veterans in state prison serve an average sentence of about 22 years, compared with about 15 years for male non-veterans. Veterans are also almost twice as likely to be serving life or death sentences.
So yes, Mr. President, take a break from the photo ops, the rallies, or even one round of golf, and look at this pipeline.
If America wants a larger military, America must also accept responsibility for what happens when those service members come home damaged.
The troops do not need another salute.
They need a justice system that does not criminalize the wounds this country helped create.
