Governor O'Malley, Senator Mikulski Host Veteran Reintegration Roundtable
Examines Challenges for Reintegration of Returning Guardsmen
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 27, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley joined U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski and hosted a roundtable discussion with members of the National Guard and their families on the challenges of reintegration after combat at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore. With approximately 1,500 members of the Maryland National Guard returning from overseas deployments in the next six months, Maryland faces a significant funding shortfall for the state-run program.
“The State of Maryland has almost a half million veterans in the nation’s armed forces,” said Governor O’Malley. “Long deployments away from home are tough enough for our armed forces and their families to deal with. As they return home from the war, these veterans and their families deserve the support, opportunities, and services necessary to make their transitions from military to civilian life as smooth and successful as possible.”
Last year, Maryland deployed over 1,300 Army National Guard and 350 Air National Guard personnel in support of the Global War on Terror. These brave young men and women have already begun to return and the remainder will return by mid-Summer. Ninety-two Marylanders have died in the latest conflicts with Iraq and Afghanistan. It was reported earlier this week that the national death toll has risen to 4,000.
“I understand the burdens placed on military families, especially during times of war,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “We have an obligation to serve those who serve us, whether they are in the combat zone or transitioning back to their community following deployment.”
“As thousands of Marylanders return home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must never lose sight of the great sacrifices made by them and their families,” Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Adkins said.
This year, Governor O’Malley has introduced several initiatives to provide the support that Maryland’s veterans deserve, such as:
- Committing $3.5 million in the budget and introducing the Maryland Veterans Behavioral Health Bill, that would:
- establish the State Veterans Behavioral Health Advisory Board, to identify gaps in services and make recommendations for further steps to ensure that all Maryland veterans and their families receive the support and services they require and deserve;
- Provide short-term direct care services in rural areas where existing federal and state services may be inadequate or inaccessible; and
- Offer crisis services for severe problems that could become emergencies until longer-term services can be obtained.
- Committing $800,000 to support reintegration of members of the National Guard as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Committing $373,000 for a major expansion of the Veterans Service Program to assist veterans in filing their benefits and compensation claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Creating the Iraq and Afghanistan Scholarship Program.
- Creating the Gold Star Family license plate to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of those Maryland families who have been awarded the Gold Star pin by the U.S. Department of Defense.
