Our nation’s best are being wronged in the moment of their greatest need.
Because of a brand-new opaque government bureaucracy, active duty warfighters who become ill or wounded are now in many cases being improperly medically separated, and having much-needed benefits denied.
Creation of a monster
It’s been said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. When Congress signed the annual National Defense Authorization Act in the early 2010’s , thereby authorizing the creation of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in 2018, the intention was to streamline the care of wounded warriors.
However, the results have shown that DHA immediately became a vehicle for warfighters to be treated as numbers.
Falling through the gap
Ever since the battle of Valley Forge, General George Washington instituted what is called the “Open Door” policy in the chain of command, which means that any warfighter, if they are being mistreated, can climb the chain of command for redress and due process. Once DHA came online in 2018, a gap was created in this sacred chain of command that was previously unbroken for 243 years.
Wounded warriors who try to climb the chain of command for help are met with a closed door, because legally there is nothing their Armed Services’ Commanders can do for them. The responsibility now lies with DHA.
But when they go to DHA, this brand-new government bureaucracy denies that they have the power, pointing the finger of blame back at the Armed Services’ Branch. This creates the gap that wounded warriors have been falling through ever since.
They’re not just a number.
Our nation’s best are the men and women who answered the call of duty: they have put their heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into serving our nation in a time of protracted war. Their commanding officers know them by name and have first-hand knowledge of who they are and how they have served.
But with DHA, now they are entered as a number into a system, to be treated as a line item by a civilian bureaucrat who has never met them.
Due to DHA mismanagement and failures of leadership, they are often denied much-needed benefits, resulting in untold suffering by the wounded warrior, and tragic collateral damage to their family and support network.
The crisis:
22 veterans commit suicide every day, and this issue isn’t helping.
Warfighters are wrongfully denied benefits and pension.
Innumerable caregivers and family suffer.
The solution:
All it takes to fix this is a simple piece of legislation that puts the responsibility for the care of a wounded warrior back in the hands of their Armed Services’ Commanders, where it belongs. We have written and introduced legislation to Congress, and now we just need a groundswell of support in order to get it passed.
We also advocate for and provide pro bono legal services for active-duty wounded warriors who have been harmed or mistreated by DHA. If that is you, click here to contact us so that we can explore what we can do for you.
Watch the news segment on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream
How to take action:
1: Donate
Getting this issue resolved takes skilled people working. That means paying our staff so that we can see this through to mission complete, as well as represent wounded warriors pro bono. Even at our limited capacity, we're incredibly effective for our size, and at the moment, we’re the ones spearheading this legislation in partnership with many allies on Capitol Hill.
Or mail a check to:
Arc Of Justice
851 Hwy 378, Suite 100
PMB 75
Lexington SC 29072
We are a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax-exempt. We provide all donors year-end summaries.
2: Demand change
This will probably take you about 90 seconds if you are fast at typing. You’d be surprised at how easy it is.