Health Care
Women veterans face remarkably different experiences than their male counterparts when they transition out of the military. While VA has made significant advancements in women veterans health care throughout the VA health-care system, there is still room for improvements.
The American Legion wants every woman veteran who walks through the doors of a VA medical facility to feel that it was designed with them in mind and no longer has the looks of a “For Male” only building. As a result of the increase in the number of women veterans, The American Legion National Executive Committee passed Resolution 14, in September 2016, which calls for VA to ensure that all women veterans receive gender-specific quality health care.
Since 2013, The American Legion System Worth Saving Task Force turned its attention to women veterans’ health care and identified a number of challenges women veterans face when receiving VA health care to include:
· Many women veterans do not identify themselves as veterans.
· Many women veterans do not know or understand what benefits they are entitled to receive.
· VA medical facilities across the system do not have adequate baseline plans to close the gender gaps and improve use of facilities and services for women.
· Additional research is needed to determine the purpose, goals, and effectiveness of three VA women models of care on overall outreach, communication and coordination of women veterans health services.
· Many VA facilities do not offer inpatient/residential mental health care programs for women veterans.
· Many VA facilities do not offer child care services for women veterans seeking health care appointments.
· The time it takes for women veterans to receive results from their mammogram screening.
Military Sexual Trauma
The American Legion continues to track and monitor all issues related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Every day, servicewomen and men experience MST, which includes any sexual activity against one’s will, or during a time when one is unable to consent to sexual activities while serving in the military.
The American Legion is deeply concerned with the plight of survivors of MST and continues to work with Congress to find the right treatment for every patient, while urging VA to be flexible to ensure these veterans receive the care they need.
The American Legion will work to ensure those who have become victims are treated, all while encouraging the U.S. Armed Forces to take steps to eradicate MST.
The American Legion Women and Minority Program will continue to urge VA to provide proper resources to all medical centers, Vet Centers and community-based outpatient clinics by employing MST counselors to oversee screening and treatment referral processes and continue researching MST to get a better understanding of services affected veterans need. Additionally, The American Legion will encourage better awareness training in VA for MST sensitivity and develop more comprehensive care options for survivors, including better availability of female therapists, female group therapy and other options to make MST care more accessible.
For more information on MST please visit, https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp
The Legion Riders
About the Riders
American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which
has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals,
schools, veterans homes, severely wounded service members and scholarships.
Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy
Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to
provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11,
2001.
For the latest in Riders apparel and gear, including patches, go to Legion Rider
Merchandise - Emblem Sales .
Legion Riders today
Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in
every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa
have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in
Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military
funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning
home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising
events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars
for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by
their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of
American Legion scholarship programs of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW),
supporting our wounded service members across the nation.
True to the Legion's grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at
the post level, where the best ideas are born. The Riders are part of many
projects and events, including:
Rolling Thunder, the annual POW/MIA rally in Washington on Memorial Day
weekend.
Annual regional rides such as Operation Wounded Warrior, sponsored by
Riders in Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California and other
Western states.
Local charity events in support of The American Legion and local
communities.
Raising money for VA hospitals, women and children centers, children and
youth centers, schools and other facilities.
Sponsoring or participating in motorcycle runs to benefit numerous charities.
Local memorial ceremonies and community parades.
The American Legion Legacy Run, an annual cross-country fundraising ride
from National Headquarters in Indianapolis to the national convention city.
Riding to honor fallen military men and women, and to protect the sanctity of
their funerals from those who would dishonor their memory.
Escorting military units to departure airfields and airports for combat tours
overseas, and welcoming them home upon their return.