Veterans'
Bill of Rights
THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY our military
has provided for the national defense and preserved our way of life. The
American military is not a faceless body but a collection of individuals —
patriots united by a legacy of selfless service and sacrifice. America's
veterans know the cost of freedom and have never looked to others to pay that
price.
THAT SPIRIT POWERS this rallying cry to
veterans. Now is the time to find your brothers and sisters, those who also once
bore the nation's burden. Look not solely to government agencies but to each
other, as well. As ten percent of the American population, you have the ability
to inform, to employ, to mentor, to heal — to change the lives of other
veterans.
Now is the time.
Rights associated with a veteran's standing
are manifest in the following articles:
Article I
The Right to Understand Benefits
Veterans have the
right to comprehensive and accurate information about pay, benefits, and health
care that is easily understood. This right is assured regardless of what
organization is providing the benefits — federal, state, or local.
Article II
The Right to Use Benefits
Veterans have the right of
ready access to all of the benefits for which they are entitled. Veterans with
physical or mental disabilities or those who simply don't understand "the red
tape" surrounding benefits must be provided assistance that will allow them
ready access.
Article III
The Right to a Good Job
Veterans have the right to
jobs commensurate with the skills and experiences gained in the military.
Veterans must have access to tools that will allow them to create resumes that
properly translate their military skills into civilian skills and language. They
also have the right to understand all of their options surrounding federal
employment and veteran preference. At the same time, employers, especially
veteran employers, have the responsibility of understanding the advantages that
veteran employees bring to the marketplace.
Article IV
The Right to Keep That Job
Veterans have the right to
serve in the nation's National Guard and Reserve forces with the confidence that
if they must leave their civilian jobs for extended periods they will be
protected. Both veterans and their employers should understand USERRA and what
the law requires in terms of veteran employment and re-employment rights.
Article V
The Right to Treatment For Service-Related
Illness
Veterans have the right to health care for any service-related
illnesses, be they physical or mental. Further, veterans have the right to the
best medical care the government can provide.
Article VI
The Right to Respect and Nondiscrimination
As a
result of demonstrated patriotism and the selfless desire to protect our way of
life, veterans have the right to respect and nondiscriminatory treatment from
all Americans and organizations both public and private.
Article VII
The Right to Identity Protection
Veterans have the
right to trust that government organizations that possess personal data will
safeguard that data.
Article VIII
The Right to Education
Veterans have earned the right
to pursue dreams through education. Organizations charged with facilitating a
veteran's use of GI Bill benefits must be responsive. Places of higher education
must also give veterans appropriate consideration and treatment.
Article IX
The Right to Community
Veterans have earned their
place among veterans and can depend on the veteran community to keep them
informed, empowered, and enabled with respect to the issues articulated in
Articles I through VIII. For its part, Military.com pledges to continue as the
forum for these activities.