January 2017 will mark a new U.S. Presidency. President-elect Donald Trump was backed by veterans during election period because of his platform; which involves reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Veterans Mental Health Issue Is A Key Part In Trump's Platform
In October, Trump addressed issues veterans face when returning from war zones, including mental health concerns and PTSD. "We're gonna have a very, very robust - very, very robust - level of performance having to do with mental health. We are losing so many great people that can be taken care of if they had proper care... the whole mental health issue is going to be a very important issue when I take over, and the VA is going to be fixed in so many ways, but that's gonna be one of the ways we're gonna help, and that's in many respects going to be the No. 1 thing we have to do because I think it's really been left behind," he said.
Trump's plans include modernizing the Department of Veterans Affairs and bring it into the 21st century with a ten point plan that will ensure veterans receive medical care and available resources whenever necessary. A statement on Trump's website says: "No more long drives. No more waiting backlogs. No more excessive red tape. Just the care and support they earned with their service to our country."
Some Veterans Are Not Very Hopeful With Trump Keeping His Word
"I do not think he is going to do it. I do not think he said anything about that during the campaign other than he knows more than the admirals and generals," said Marine veteran Jerry Troxler.
Similar policies about veteran welfare have been implemented before which only sprung more leaks in the system. However, a lot still believe that Trump will keep his word. Janice Willis-Johnson, a veteran of the Navy Nurse Corps during Vietnam said: "I heard him speak and we can always have hope. He is a different sort and maybe he will do a better job than some have in the past."
