1 00:00:00,445 --> 00:00:01,329 (triumphant music) 2 00:00:01,329 --> 00:00:03,900 - [Narrator] "DefenseNews" is proudly sponsored 3 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:06,300 by Navy Federal Credit Union. 4 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:08,850 If you're a member of our nation's Armed Forces, 5 00:00:08,850 --> 00:00:11,760 the Department of Defense, or if your family is, 6 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,373 we'd be proud to serve you too. 7 00:00:15,270 --> 00:00:17,430 - On this episode of "DefenseNews Weekly," 8 00:00:17,430 --> 00:00:20,370 part two of our profile of a Marine wounded in Iraq, 9 00:00:20,370 --> 00:00:22,380 who was given opioids by the military, 10 00:00:22,380 --> 00:00:24,450 and how it changed his life. 11 00:00:24,450 --> 00:00:27,930 Also, an interview with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 12 00:00:27,930 --> 00:00:29,070 Find out what's on his mind 13 00:00:29,070 --> 00:00:31,980 as a new administration prepares to take over. 14 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:34,260 Finally, NATO's Arctic Marines, 15 00:00:34,260 --> 00:00:36,900 learn about the alliance's troops in the far north. 16 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:39,330 It's the latest in news and analysis from the Pentagon 17 00:00:39,330 --> 00:00:41,806 to the platoon, here on "DefenseNews Weekly." 18 00:00:41,806 --> 00:00:44,389 (upbeat music) 19 00:01:01,039 --> 00:01:03,706 (upbeat music) 20 00:01:09,420 --> 00:01:11,160 - Welcome back to "DefenseNews Weekly". 21 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:12,243 I'm Diana Stancy. 22 00:01:13,140 --> 00:01:15,930 When Jonathan Basara came back from Iraq in the late 2000s, 23 00:01:15,930 --> 00:01:18,150 he was suffering from a host of traumas, 24 00:01:18,150 --> 00:01:19,713 both physical and mental. 25 00:01:20,610 --> 00:01:22,620 Sent to a residential program to heal, 26 00:01:22,620 --> 00:01:24,510 he was also prescribed opioids, 27 00:01:24,510 --> 00:01:27,240 which over time, added to his struggles. 28 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,130 We caught up with Basara nearly a decade 29 00:01:29,130 --> 00:01:31,410 after his wounds and found him still reckoning 30 00:01:31,410 --> 00:01:33,453 with both his injuries and his recovery. 31 00:01:34,410 --> 00:01:36,150 As part of our Veteran's Month coverage, 32 00:01:36,150 --> 00:01:38,340 we wanted to bring you some of his story. 33 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:40,350 Here's part two, and the rest can be found 34 00:01:40,350 --> 00:01:43,230 on militarytimes.com and our YouTube page. 35 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:44,063 Have a look. 36 00:01:44,935 --> 00:01:45,768 (tense music) 37 00:01:45,768 --> 00:01:47,940 - Was the suicide VBIED. 38 00:01:47,940 --> 00:01:49,950 He had nine 155 shells in the trunk. 39 00:01:49,950 --> 00:01:52,320 And I looked over, and noticed 40 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,600 that not only did it kill Corporal Letham, 41 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,750 but it killed about 30 kids coming outta the school. 42 00:01:57,750 --> 00:02:00,180 It haunts me, it's like that's what really bothers me is 43 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:01,980 all the innocents that got killed over there, 44 00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:03,740 the little kids that got killed. 45 00:02:03,740 --> 00:02:06,540 (tense music) 46 00:02:06,540 --> 00:02:09,720 So that first one that hit me shattered some 47 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,350 of my teeth and I was bleeding outta my ears, my nose. 48 00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:16,230 They told me on opiates, 49 00:02:16,230 --> 00:02:17,340 you're not allowed to leave the wire. 50 00:02:17,340 --> 00:02:20,853 So nobody wanted to be on opiates, nobody wanted it. 51 00:02:22,903 --> 00:02:25,403 (tense music) 52 00:02:28,380 --> 00:02:30,390 So they transferred me to Wounded Warriors headquarters 53 00:02:30,390 --> 00:02:31,800 in Bethesda, Maryland. 54 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,240 And I want to say 55 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,933 January 2009, December 2008 time period, 56 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,910 I was there for about two and a half years. 57 00:02:44,910 --> 00:02:48,450 The whole time I was there I was on opiates 58 00:02:48,450 --> 00:02:53,450 and anti-anxiety medications, different ones, 59 00:02:55,740 --> 00:02:57,510 all different kind of medications, 60 00:02:57,510 --> 00:02:59,410 every month on a different medication. 61 00:03:00,331 --> 00:03:03,498 (soft dramatic music) 62 00:03:12,450 --> 00:03:17,450 - Everybody was on Fentanyl, Oxycodone, 63 00:03:18,900 --> 00:03:22,233 Morphine, or not Morphine, yeah, the Morphine pills, 64 00:03:23,910 --> 00:03:27,510 Dilaudid, fucking every painkiller you can think 65 00:03:27,510 --> 00:03:30,180 of you would be able to find at that barracks. 66 00:03:30,180 --> 00:03:33,870 Watch two people overdose while I was in there. 67 00:03:33,870 --> 00:03:36,990 So when I got the Wounded Warriors, my main goal was trying 68 00:03:36,990 --> 00:03:41,100 to focus on not thinking so much and not feeling so guilty, 69 00:03:41,100 --> 00:03:44,700 not having that pain in my heart, in my head 70 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:46,860 of feeling guilty about not going back 71 00:03:46,860 --> 00:03:48,660 and what happened to the people. 72 00:03:48,660 --> 00:03:50,640 Could I have done more in these situations? 73 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:51,810 Could I have saved my buddy 74 00:03:51,810 --> 00:03:54,300 if I maybe just did something else? 75 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:55,470 - When you're at Wounded Warriors, 76 00:03:55,470 --> 00:03:57,523 how many prescriptions are you on at that point? 77 00:03:57,523 --> 00:04:02,523 - I was on Gabapentin, Parcodin, Oxycodone, 78 00:04:02,730 --> 00:04:05,350 Fentanyl for a little while, Motrin. 79 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,570 I started having points to where one wasn't enough 80 00:04:12,570 --> 00:04:13,920 and I was taking two or three 81 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,690 to have that breakthrough the pain, 82 00:04:15,690 --> 00:04:18,300 to break through that sharpness of the pain, 83 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:19,290 and then there was times 84 00:04:19,290 --> 00:04:21,420 where I wouldn't take 'em for a day. 85 00:04:21,420 --> 00:04:24,210 I was doing something like having fun or being out somewhere 86 00:04:24,210 --> 00:04:26,070 and my medication was back in my room 87 00:04:26,070 --> 00:04:29,850 and I started noticing discomfort, stomach aches, 88 00:04:29,850 --> 00:04:31,830 sweats a little bit. 89 00:04:31,830 --> 00:04:34,410 And I realized 90 00:04:34,410 --> 00:04:38,160 after I didn't get my painkillers the day I was supposed to, 91 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:39,273 and it was a weekend, 92 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,600 so I couldn't get 'em until Monday 93 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:43,740 and I was sick the whole weekend. 94 00:04:43,740 --> 00:04:45,750 I was up throwing up. 95 00:04:45,750 --> 00:04:47,940 It was the first time I ever felt like really sick 96 00:04:47,940 --> 00:04:49,680 from not taking medication. 97 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,477 I realized that's what it was. 98 00:04:51,477 --> 00:04:53,220 - And this is while you're still at Wounded Warriors? 99 00:04:53,220 --> 00:04:55,084 - This is while I'm still at Wounded Warriors. 100 00:04:55,084 --> 00:04:58,251 (soft dramatic music) 101 00:05:07,410 --> 00:05:10,950 So I went to street drugs, I went to heroin, 102 00:05:10,950 --> 00:05:12,510 it was the only thing that was cheap enough 103 00:05:12,510 --> 00:05:13,920 to get me through. 104 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,020 I would do like two to four bags a day. 105 00:05:16,020 --> 00:05:18,840 My parents controlled my money and gave it out to me a day. 106 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,510 And that's one of the hardest things to do is have that talk 107 00:05:21,510 --> 00:05:24,480 with your parents and actually tell them that, "Listen, 108 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,390 I need to do this until I can find some help." 109 00:05:27,390 --> 00:05:29,010 And this is 2014. 110 00:05:29,010 --> 00:05:31,440 This is after four years of being on 'em 111 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,980 from the VA and two years or three years 112 00:05:34,980 --> 00:05:36,540 of being on painkillers in the military. 113 00:05:36,540 --> 00:05:39,543 So I've been on him for the better part of a decade now, 114 00:05:40,470 --> 00:05:41,643 going to nothing. 115 00:05:42,496 --> 00:05:44,996 (tense music) 116 00:05:51,570 --> 00:05:54,960 - Every single day I wake up, have my parents gimme my 20 117 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,180 or $40, whatever it was, 118 00:05:57,180 --> 00:05:59,520 and I would go call all my dealers 119 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,476 to find somebody that was awake. 120 00:06:01,476 --> 00:06:05,340 You feel sicker than you've ever felt in your life 121 00:06:05,340 --> 00:06:07,650 and you just push this plunger down one time 122 00:06:07,650 --> 00:06:11,070 and magically goes away like instantly. 123 00:06:11,070 --> 00:06:14,160 And all your thoughts, you might still have 'em, 124 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,815 but you don't care anymore, it doesn't bother you. 125 00:06:17,815 --> 00:06:22,815 That feeling of knowing that all that pain's gonna go away, 126 00:06:25,050 --> 00:06:28,380 you'll pretty much do anything you have to do to get it. 127 00:06:28,380 --> 00:06:32,520 I've ruined relationships with friends that I borrowed money 128 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,263 off of and couldn't pay back. 129 00:06:36,060 --> 00:06:38,460 I went and stole stuff off my parents 130 00:06:38,460 --> 00:06:41,414 and sold it at pawn shops. 131 00:06:41,414 --> 00:06:42,547 - [Geoff] And at this point the VA's like, 132 00:06:42,547 --> 00:06:44,490 "You failed that drug test." 133 00:06:44,490 --> 00:06:46,350 - Yeah, I just stopped going. - Yeah. 134 00:06:46,350 --> 00:06:48,180 - I cut ties with the VA. 135 00:06:48,180 --> 00:06:49,770 They were still paying me and everything like that, 136 00:06:49,770 --> 00:06:51,030 but I stopped going to them 137 00:06:51,030 --> 00:06:53,183 for any kind of medical treatment. 138 00:06:53,183 --> 00:06:55,683 (tense music) 139 00:07:00,914 --> 00:07:04,590 - He was actually stealing things 140 00:07:04,590 --> 00:07:09,590 from God knows who besides his mother and me. 141 00:07:09,630 --> 00:07:13,680 So it was the typical thing that you go one day 142 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,210 and something's missing in the house. 143 00:07:15,210 --> 00:07:20,210 You wonder where it went and you confront him 144 00:07:20,310 --> 00:07:22,388 and you just get this blank stare. 145 00:07:22,388 --> 00:07:27,090 This isn't my original wedding ring, he sold that. 146 00:07:27,090 --> 00:07:30,030 He sold all sorts of stuff, they would steal things. 147 00:07:30,030 --> 00:07:32,250 He ended up scrapping under the boardwalk 148 00:07:32,250 --> 00:07:34,440 at the Jersey shore for copper wire. 149 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,710 And that's how he was arrested by one of my friends 150 00:07:37,710 --> 00:07:41,520 that I had worked with that caught him so easily. 151 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,490 Here's a kid that was trained as a scout sniper, 152 00:07:44,490 --> 00:07:48,750 caught by a guy that's basically going to Wawa, 153 00:07:48,750 --> 00:07:50,070 get coffee and donuts 154 00:07:50,070 --> 00:07:52,287 and he walks right up to him and locks him up. 155 00:07:52,287 --> 00:07:54,270 (soft dramatic music) 156 00:07:54,270 --> 00:07:57,240 - The first seven days are the worst, 157 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:58,920 'cause you're going through the hard withdrawals, 158 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,200 you're not sleeping at all, you're uncomfortable, 159 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,140 you don't have any clothing except for a jumpsuit on you. 160 00:08:04,140 --> 00:08:05,520 No shoes, no socks. 161 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,230 It's usually freezing in there 162 00:08:07,230 --> 00:08:09,210 and you can't eat any of the food 163 00:08:09,210 --> 00:08:11,310 'cause you're just sick all day long. 164 00:08:11,310 --> 00:08:14,130 So you're just trying to drink as much water as you can. 165 00:08:14,130 --> 00:08:15,540 But you're constantly throwing up 166 00:08:15,540 --> 00:08:18,000 and you have diarrhea the whole time, 167 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,650 but you're sitting there on a toilet that's in front 168 00:08:19,650 --> 00:08:21,390 of everybody and there's 169 00:08:21,390 --> 00:08:23,100 about 20 other people in the holding cell 170 00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:24,534 doing the same thing. 171 00:08:24,534 --> 00:08:27,701 (soft dramatic music) 172 00:08:36,046 --> 00:08:38,496 (soft dramatic music) 173 00:08:38,496 --> 00:08:42,369 - When I got out of jail, I was clean, I went to probation, 174 00:08:42,369 --> 00:08:45,813 but I wasn't mentally clean. 175 00:08:47,250 --> 00:08:51,240 - When you look at him, he's 6'4", 250 pounds. 176 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,030 Why can't this person go out there 177 00:08:54,030 --> 00:08:55,860 and hold a nine to five job 178 00:08:55,860 --> 00:08:57,363 and just go do things? 179 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:00,510 - After me and John got together for a while, 180 00:09:00,510 --> 00:09:04,950 I realized that he was more incapable 181 00:09:04,950 --> 00:09:09,420 of day-to-day daily activities for our needs. 182 00:09:09,420 --> 00:09:11,170 - I get a letter in the mail saying 183 00:09:13,020 --> 00:09:16,560 from the VA saying, "Your benefits have been terminated 184 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:19,561 'cause you have a felony warrant." 185 00:09:19,561 --> 00:09:22,728 (soft dramatic music) 186 00:09:24,030 --> 00:09:25,950 - When we come back, a conversation 187 00:09:25,950 --> 00:09:28,050 with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 188 00:09:28,050 --> 00:09:30,950 Hear what he has to say about the future of care for vets. 189 00:09:31,788 --> 00:09:34,371 (upbeat music) 190 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,130 Welcome back to "DefenseNews Weekly". 191 00:09:41,130 --> 00:09:43,590 With the election of a new administration, a lot 192 00:09:43,590 --> 00:09:45,990 of top leadership roles change hands in the government 193 00:09:45,990 --> 00:09:48,060 and Pentagon, including the top post 194 00:09:48,060 --> 00:09:50,460 at the Department of Veterans Affairs. 195 00:09:50,460 --> 00:09:52,140 With a few months left in the hot seat, 196 00:09:52,140 --> 00:09:54,540 Secretary of the VA Dennis McDonough sat down 197 00:09:54,540 --> 00:09:56,790 with us to look at what his office has achieved, 198 00:09:56,790 --> 00:09:59,310 what's left to do, and how to continue to improve one 199 00:09:59,310 --> 00:10:01,530 of the nation's biggest bureaucracies. 200 00:10:01,530 --> 00:10:02,910 Here's part of his conversation 201 00:10:02,910 --> 00:10:04,683 with Military Times's Leo Shane, 202 00:10:05,970 --> 00:10:07,587 - Mr. Secretary, thank you again for having us here. 203 00:10:07,587 --> 00:10:09,600 - Yes thank you. - And getting to chat 204 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,130 a little bit about what's happened in the last year 205 00:10:11,130 --> 00:10:15,300 and the last four years under the Biden administration. 206 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:17,910 Your job is to oversee VA 207 00:10:17,910 --> 00:10:19,950 to make sure the benefits are going out to take care of the, 208 00:10:19,950 --> 00:10:22,890 and it's crisis control in a lot of different ways. 209 00:10:22,890 --> 00:10:25,320 My job is to press you on this 210 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,660 and to look at not always the negatives, 211 00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:29,790 but a lot of those shortfalls and things like that. 212 00:10:29,790 --> 00:10:33,090 - Totally. - Do you feel like that we 213 00:10:33,090 --> 00:10:35,850 or we as a country talk enough about the point 214 00:10:35,850 --> 00:10:39,030 that you raised about veterans being community leaders? 215 00:10:39,030 --> 00:10:40,260 You and I have both seen studies 216 00:10:40,260 --> 00:10:42,000 that say veterans are more likely 217 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,880 to be volunteers, they're more likely to be involved 218 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:46,470 in civic service afterwards. 219 00:10:46,470 --> 00:10:47,910 We see all these positives, 220 00:10:47,910 --> 00:10:51,570 but because of the nature of the demands of this job, 221 00:10:51,570 --> 00:10:52,890 you're mostly focusing 222 00:10:52,890 --> 00:10:56,160 on what are the gaps and how do I fill those in? 223 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:57,810 - Yeah. - Do we need more attention 224 00:10:57,810 --> 00:11:00,540 on that positive aspect, 225 00:11:00,540 --> 00:11:02,550 that aspect of what veterans are bringing 226 00:11:02,550 --> 00:11:05,520 to America even after service? 227 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,757 - There is a narrative that is so inaccurate 228 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:14,640 that somehow veterans are broken. 229 00:11:16,290 --> 00:11:19,923 That is not my lived experience, right? 230 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,100 Look at these newly elected members 231 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:25,530 of Congress in the last couple of terms. 232 00:11:25,530 --> 00:11:27,540 Look at business leaders across the country. 233 00:11:27,540 --> 00:11:30,720 Look at who are the coaches for your kids. 234 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:34,410 Who are the the ministers at your, 235 00:11:34,410 --> 00:11:36,450 who are the electors at your parish? 236 00:11:36,450 --> 00:11:37,283 You know what I mean? 237 00:11:37,283 --> 00:11:40,410 Who are the youth ministers at your parish? 238 00:11:40,410 --> 00:11:42,000 It's vets. 239 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:43,920 These people aren't broken. 240 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,400 They're fixing a broken community in many places. 241 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:51,280 They're fixing spots where America is breaking 242 00:11:52,170 --> 00:11:54,960 and they're refusing to let that happen. 243 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,870 So that I think collectively, 244 00:11:57,870 --> 00:12:00,363 we owe the country a clearer story on, 245 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,620 and this is why every time I've appeared 246 00:12:04,620 --> 00:12:07,740 before you in the press briefing room, 247 00:12:07,740 --> 00:12:11,730 I've had VA providers talking 248 00:12:11,730 --> 00:12:14,910 about programming that's successful. 249 00:12:14,910 --> 00:12:16,650 Every time I testify before Congress, 250 00:12:16,650 --> 00:12:18,390 I have a story about a VA person, 251 00:12:18,390 --> 00:12:20,403 a VA employee, and a veteran. 252 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:26,070 Because sometimes I think we don't lift up, 253 00:12:26,070 --> 00:12:29,880 or at least I want to lift up those stories 254 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,490 where VA is working well 255 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:35,490 and where veterans are doing awesome work. 256 00:12:35,490 --> 00:12:38,190 What does that mean about the next secretary 257 00:12:38,190 --> 00:12:39,023 or my time here? 258 00:12:39,023 --> 00:12:40,800 I don't know, I don't know. 259 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,710 But what I do know is veterans are kicking ass 260 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:44,883 all over this country. 261 00:12:45,780 --> 00:12:48,030 We gotta do a better job keeping up with them, 262 00:12:48,030 --> 00:12:50,130 making sure they have that what they need 263 00:12:50,130 --> 00:12:51,990 and the country is stronger for them. 264 00:12:51,990 --> 00:12:54,290 And those veterans out there who are wrestling 265 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,443 with crisis, 266 00:12:59,820 --> 00:13:03,390 if they, as too often we hear, 267 00:13:03,390 --> 00:13:05,730 are feeling like they're a burden, 268 00:13:05,730 --> 00:13:07,713 let me just be very clear to them, 269 00:13:10,050 --> 00:13:12,780 you are what this country needs, you're not a burden. 270 00:13:12,780 --> 00:13:15,270 You are the strength of this country. 271 00:13:15,270 --> 00:13:18,060 - Another major priority, not just for your administration, 272 00:13:18,060 --> 00:13:20,340 but for the last several has been suicide prevention 273 00:13:20,340 --> 00:13:23,220 among veterans, which we haven't seen unfortunately, 274 00:13:23,220 --> 00:13:24,900 the same progress on. 275 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:27,060 At this point, what needs to happen? 276 00:13:27,060 --> 00:13:30,000 How does that number start to come down? 277 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,790 - It is stubbornly high. 278 00:13:32,790 --> 00:13:35,110 Maddeningly high 279 00:13:36,390 --> 00:13:40,320 and heartbreakingly high, right? 280 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,503 Especially when you think about what, 281 00:13:46,590 --> 00:13:48,453 in so many cases, 282 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:54,800 we see veterans saying as they're struggling with crisis 283 00:13:56,580 --> 00:14:01,530 and as they're contemplating death by suicide, 284 00:14:01,530 --> 00:14:03,363 they feel like they're a burden. 285 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:09,800 And think about that, about how we're missing the boat here 286 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,300 where people who have given everything 287 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:13,440 to protect this country. 288 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:14,790 And when you go around the country, 289 00:14:14,790 --> 00:14:16,680 you know this as well as I do. 290 00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:18,453 And I say this as a non-veteran. 291 00:14:21,630 --> 00:14:23,490 Every time there's something interesting happening 292 00:14:23,490 --> 00:14:26,520 in a community, city, a state around the country, 293 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,150 inevitably there is a veteran involved, inevitably. 294 00:14:30,150 --> 00:14:34,800 So we need to tell veterans that you are not a burden. 295 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,670 In fact, you are why we're the strength that we're 296 00:14:38,670 --> 00:14:40,020 as strong as we are 297 00:14:40,020 --> 00:14:42,240 and we need you now more than ever. 298 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,490 So what needs to happen beyond that? 299 00:14:44,490 --> 00:14:46,110 One, we have to continue 300 00:14:46,110 --> 00:14:49,570 to underscore what we prove every day 301 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:54,660 here at VA, which suicide is preventable, okay? 302 00:14:54,660 --> 00:14:56,160 And I want veterans to hear that. 303 00:14:56,160 --> 00:15:01,160 In your moment of maximum crisis, suicide is preventable. 304 00:15:01,230 --> 00:15:05,700 Second, we have to continue to dedicate the resources. 305 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:08,040 So many of our veterans who die 306 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,800 by a suicide have not been diagnosed 307 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,200 with mental health disorder, 308 00:15:13,620 --> 00:15:15,693 are not in relationship with VA. 309 00:15:16,890 --> 00:15:21,000 So we have to make sure that we are getting them 310 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,950 into relationship with us. 311 00:15:22,950 --> 00:15:24,450 For example, we established 312 00:15:24,450 --> 00:15:26,610 the last year's suicide prevention annual report, 313 00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:31,610 a correlation between veterans who get their VA benefits, 314 00:15:33,090 --> 00:15:36,123 that $187 billion I talked about a minute ago, 315 00:15:37,230 --> 00:15:41,310 are correlated to lower suicidality. 316 00:15:41,310 --> 00:15:42,780 So if you're in a relationship with a VBA, 317 00:15:42,780 --> 00:15:46,080 with Veterans Benefits Administration, you're less likely 318 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,470 to die by suicide, so resourcing is important. 319 00:15:49,470 --> 00:15:52,143 Third is engaging the entire community. 320 00:15:53,010 --> 00:15:54,780 I think we've made good progress. 321 00:15:54,780 --> 00:15:58,950 And hats off to Jon Tester and John Bozeman, 322 00:15:58,950 --> 00:16:01,443 Mike Bost, Mark Takano, 323 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,900 Phil Rowe, whom I called about this just 324 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:08,820 about six weeks ago, 325 00:16:08,820 --> 00:16:11,100 who put together the Fox Grants, 326 00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:14,793 the Sergeant Gordon Parker Fox. 327 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,120 Fox grants to local organizations 328 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,880 who are supporting veterans in their communities. 329 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,700 That's based on the simple knowledge that, 330 00:16:26,700 --> 00:16:29,820 the simple fact that we don't possess all knowledge here 331 00:16:29,820 --> 00:16:31,350 in the nation's capital. 332 00:16:31,350 --> 00:16:32,820 Our local communities 333 00:16:32,820 --> 00:16:35,580 who know their veterans are best positioned 334 00:16:35,580 --> 00:16:37,080 to know what our veterans are struggling with. 335 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:38,700 So let's invest in them. 336 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:41,700 So intentionality, resourcing, 337 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:44,760 strengthening the entire ecosystem 338 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,310 and then making sure that veterans understand 339 00:16:47,310 --> 00:16:49,620 suicide is preventable. 340 00:16:49,620 --> 00:16:51,620 And we prove this every day at the VA. 341 00:16:51,620 --> 00:16:53,120 We just have to keep doing it. 342 00:16:54,180 --> 00:16:56,850 - When we come back, our personal finance expert returns 343 00:16:56,850 --> 00:16:59,610 with tips on how you can prepare now for your retirement. 344 00:16:59,610 --> 00:17:00,443 Stay tuned. 345 00:17:01,351 --> 00:17:03,934 (upbeat music) 346 00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:10,560 Welcome back to "DefenseNews Weekly". 347 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,050 Are you saving enough for retirement there airmen? 348 00:17:13,050 --> 00:17:14,550 On this week's edition of Money Minute, 349 00:17:14,550 --> 00:17:16,830 Jeanette Mack from Navy Federal Credit Union is back 350 00:17:16,830 --> 00:17:17,730 with tips on preparing 351 00:17:17,730 --> 00:17:19,680 for your retirement years after service. 352 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:20,513 Have a look. 353 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:22,890 - When it comes to retirement, 354 00:17:22,890 --> 00:17:25,290 whether you're approaching the end of your military career 355 00:17:25,290 --> 00:17:27,240 or just considering your future, 356 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,460 starting early makes all the difference 357 00:17:29,460 --> 00:17:31,110 because time is money. 358 00:17:31,110 --> 00:17:33,180 Most people put off planning for retirement 359 00:17:33,180 --> 00:17:35,670 because they don't know when or where to start. 360 00:17:35,670 --> 00:17:37,020 Retirement takes planning 361 00:17:37,020 --> 00:17:40,770 and in this case, knowledge truly is power, so take note. 362 00:17:40,770 --> 00:17:42,930 As a retiring service member, a good rule 363 00:17:42,930 --> 00:17:44,250 of thumb is to start planning 364 00:17:44,250 --> 00:17:46,860 for retirement at least two years in advance 365 00:17:46,860 --> 00:17:47,880 Before you separate, 366 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,810 be sure to attend assistance program or tap workshops 367 00:17:51,810 --> 00:17:53,940 and schedule counseling sessions. 368 00:17:53,940 --> 00:17:55,800 At this stage, it's highly recommended 369 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,990 to work with a trusted financial advisor 370 00:17:57,990 --> 00:18:00,660 before making any major financial decisions. 371 00:18:00,660 --> 00:18:02,820 When it comes to housing, remember, you're entitled 372 00:18:02,820 --> 00:18:04,500 to a government paid move. 373 00:18:04,500 --> 00:18:06,450 If you plan to work post-military, 374 00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:09,000 start your job search early, attend job fairs, 375 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,000 work your connections, and search veteran job boards. 376 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:13,740 Once you're employed, take advantage 377 00:18:13,740 --> 00:18:15,930 of employer-funded retirement plans 378 00:18:15,930 --> 00:18:18,180 and keep saving up for your golden years. 379 00:18:18,180 --> 00:18:20,430 The best way to accomplish your retirement mission is 380 00:18:20,430 --> 00:18:22,530 to prepare, plan, and execute. 381 00:18:22,530 --> 00:18:23,970 That way you'll set yourself up 382 00:18:23,970 --> 00:18:27,183 for continued success in the next chapter of your life. 383 00:18:28,530 --> 00:18:30,870 - Thanks Jeanette, we'll see you next week. 384 00:18:30,870 --> 00:18:33,510 To get more coverage of military and defense topics, 385 00:18:33,510 --> 00:18:36,270 point the lens on your spy plane at militarytimes.com 386 00:18:36,270 --> 00:18:38,940 and defensenews.com for more headlines. 387 00:18:38,940 --> 00:18:41,910 And to be the most up-to-date info officer in the skiff, 388 00:18:41,910 --> 00:18:44,370 sign up for our Early Bird Brief, compiled each morning 389 00:18:44,370 --> 00:18:46,800 to bring you the most recent headlines. 390 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,240 Lastly, if social media is 391 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,100 where you collect open source intelligence, 392 00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:53,400 follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X, 393 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:54,990 formerly known as Twitter. 394 00:18:54,990 --> 00:18:57,090 And just like most junior troops we're on TikTok, 395 00:18:57,090 --> 00:18:59,040 so go find us there as well. 396 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,010 When we come back, a look at Native's Arctic Marines. 397 00:19:02,010 --> 00:19:05,222 Check out how the alliance operates in the far north. 398 00:19:05,222 --> 00:19:07,805 (upbeat music) 399 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,540 Welcome back to "DefenseNews Weekly", I'm Diana Stancy. 400 00:19:15,540 --> 00:19:17,490 NATO is comprised of a bristling array 401 00:19:17,490 --> 00:19:20,160 of military capabilities with interests in a number 402 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,600 of climate zones. 403 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,270 With conditions rapidly changing in the Arctic regions, 404 00:19:24,270 --> 00:19:26,460 it's looking to keep pace and assert itself, 405 00:19:26,460 --> 00:19:28,710 which is where the Arctic Marines come in. 406 00:19:28,710 --> 00:19:31,530 Here's a look at some of the alliance's cold weather forces 407 00:19:31,530 --> 00:19:34,343 and how they work to be ready to fight in the high North. 408 00:19:35,378 --> 00:19:40,378 (soft music) (marines chattering) 409 00:19:40,836 --> 00:19:44,010 (guns clicking) 410 00:19:44,010 --> 00:19:45,300 - We have a large number of Marines 411 00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:48,180 who have never been in the snow in their life before. 412 00:19:48,180 --> 00:19:51,150 So as Marines, we have a hallmark of being able 413 00:19:51,150 --> 00:19:53,430 to fight in any climb and place. 414 00:19:53,430 --> 00:19:56,550 And in order to do that, it just takes practice 415 00:19:56,550 --> 00:19:59,673 and just grow in that proficiency through the repetition. 416 00:20:00,635 --> 00:20:03,040 (skis gliding) 417 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,873 (marine grunting) 418 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,030 - The falling's all part of it. 419 00:20:09,030 --> 00:20:10,770 Just learning the right ways to fall 420 00:20:10,770 --> 00:20:12,330 and then the best ways to get back up 421 00:20:12,330 --> 00:20:14,790 after you fall is very important. 422 00:20:14,790 --> 00:20:16,110 Hard part about being in the Marine Corps 423 00:20:16,110 --> 00:20:17,310 and skiing is you have to ski 424 00:20:17,310 --> 00:20:19,260 with the main pack and your weapon. 425 00:20:19,260 --> 00:20:22,350 So teaching the guys now the basics without all that 426 00:20:22,350 --> 00:20:24,453 helps just the building block approach. 427 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:26,880 They're picking up very fast 428 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,283 and I'm really happy with what I'm seeing. 429 00:20:30,944 --> 00:20:33,861 (radio chattering) 430 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:41,830 - So what's the distinguished Swedish Marine is that 431 00:20:41,830 --> 00:20:44,910 since we operate so dispersed, we can operate by ourselves 432 00:20:44,910 --> 00:20:47,759 for a long period of time in pretty harsh environments. 433 00:20:47,759 --> 00:20:50,426 (boat rumbling) 434 00:20:51,570 --> 00:20:53,820 - It's way harder to navigate than I thought. 435 00:20:56,550 --> 00:20:57,650 - It's pretty cramped. 436 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,760 The first impressions, we have too much stuff. 437 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,010 - Well, you have to be resilient 438 00:21:05,010 --> 00:21:09,450 and you have to have a strong will, a will to push yourself 439 00:21:09,450 --> 00:21:11,513 to the extreme and a bit further. 440 00:21:11,513 --> 00:21:13,050 (guns firing) 441 00:21:13,050 --> 00:21:15,990 - You must be innovative to solve different tasks 442 00:21:15,990 --> 00:21:18,933 and when problems occur, 'cause they will. 443 00:21:20,535 --> 00:21:22,890 (fire crackling) 444 00:21:22,890 --> 00:21:23,723 - [Interviewer] In the Marine Corps, 445 00:21:23,723 --> 00:21:25,433 have you ever done anything this hard? 446 00:21:26,430 --> 00:21:28,050 - No, not really. 447 00:21:28,050 --> 00:21:29,880 I personally think this is my hardest training op 448 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,470 I've ever done. 449 00:21:31,470 --> 00:21:32,730 - The difference between us a month ago 450 00:21:32,730 --> 00:21:34,230 and now is night and day. 451 00:21:34,230 --> 00:21:35,790 People know how to take care of themselves better. 452 00:21:35,790 --> 00:21:38,700 They understand their daily day-to-day routines. 453 00:21:38,700 --> 00:21:40,770 They understand the basics of what they need to get 454 00:21:40,770 --> 00:21:42,210 through day to day, which means 455 00:21:42,210 --> 00:21:45,150 that the battalion can focus more on being enemy-oriented 456 00:21:45,150 --> 00:21:47,576 rather than focusing on sustaining ourselves internally. 457 00:21:47,576 --> 00:21:52,576 (marine chattering) (tense music) 458 00:21:57,690 --> 00:21:59,490 - Shoulda been out here an hour ago. 459 00:22:00,828 --> 00:22:03,661 (skis clattering) 460 00:22:07,860 --> 00:22:10,410 - The thing about fins is we all more 461 00:22:10,410 --> 00:22:12,090 or less grew up on skis. 462 00:22:12,090 --> 00:22:15,360 But yeah, I'm a bit scared 463 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:17,190 to climb the biggest hills here 464 00:22:17,190 --> 00:22:19,800 'cause it's quite different from Finland. 465 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,393 Finland is very flat, so. 466 00:22:22,435 --> 00:22:23,940 (indistinct) 467 00:22:23,940 --> 00:22:26,580 - Our brigade is founded by a Swedish king. 468 00:22:26,580 --> 00:22:28,410 A Swedish company can come to Finland, 469 00:22:28,410 --> 00:22:31,350 report into the battalion commander and three hours 470 00:22:31,350 --> 00:22:35,400 from that, they can do a combined mission already. 471 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,360 - Say for instance, in a future conflict, being able 472 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:41,250 to fight with the different countries, 473 00:22:41,250 --> 00:22:44,580 just the one that is on station in that area at that time, 474 00:22:44,580 --> 00:22:49,580 is making us 100 times more dangerous for a possible enemy. 475 00:22:50,790 --> 00:22:53,310 It's always nice to hear different countries' 476 00:22:53,310 --> 00:22:55,800 voices on the radio and knowing that you do 477 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,450 basically the same thing already. 478 00:22:58,350 --> 00:23:01,050 So don't need any pre-train, just get right into it. 479 00:23:01,050 --> 00:23:02,250 - Like you? - This one. 480 00:23:05,290 --> 00:23:07,590 - Well, that's all we have time for in this episode. 481 00:23:07,590 --> 00:23:10,406 Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next week. 482 00:23:10,406 --> 00:23:12,989 (upbeat music) 483 00:23:30,007 --> 00:23:32,590 (upbeat music)