Saturday's snapshot covered Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's Ryan Kaufman appearance before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. We noted some of his prepared remarks (and all of him from the round of questioning). A friend asked if I would include his prepared statement in full and here it is:
Statement of Ryan Kaufman
of
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Of America
before the
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
for the hearing on
A Review of VA’s VetSuccess on Campus Program
October 22, 2015
Chairman Wenstrup, Ranking Member Takano and Distinguished Members of
the Subcommittee, on behalf of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America (IAVA) and our more than 425,000 members and supporters, we
would like to extend our gratitude for the opportunity to share our
views of VA’s VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program.
I served in the U.S. Army from 2000-2003. I was deployed with the
First Brigade Combat Team in October 2001 to Kuwait and Afghanistan as a
Signal Support Systems Specialist. Upon my return, the proper
procedures were not in place to catch what I was dealing with. At
19-years-old, I came home and was afraid of the dark; couldn’t sleep;
and had a hard time eating. If the task was not mission critical, I
could not find the motivation within myself to complete the task. Two
months after I returned home, I caused an accident, almost killing
myself and a friend. I was charged with driving under the influence.
Everyone, including myself, thought I just had a problem with alcohol.
But then I tested positive for marijuana. The Army left me no choice; I
was discharged with a General under Honorable Conditions.
During this same time period, my mother was diagnosed with stage four
cancer of the throat and lungs. She was given six months to live and
made it to December 2003. Six months after my discharge, I was homeless.
A year prior I was part of the world’s greatest machine, the United
States Army. But by December 2003, I found myself walking into a
homeless shelter, unable to feed or house myself. I could not comprehend
how this had happened. Shortly thereafter, I was granted a couch in a
friend’s basement. I wish I had straightened my life out then, but this
would not be my last experience with homelessness.
In September 2004 I enrolled in college for the first time. My
discharge left me without the GI Bill, so I took out Stafford Loans like
the rest of the civilian population. I attempted college two more times
following this 2004 attempt. I failed out in the first semester each
time. Juggling work, relationships, family, and an addiction is not
conducive to a learning experience. I would repeat the homeless cycle
and enroll in college two more times, in 2008 and 2010.
By 2011 I finally found permanent sobriety. After four years of
documented VA therapy, and appeal after appeal, I was granted a service
connected disability in October 2012. With school constantly on my mind,
I immediately applied for the Vocational Rehabilitation/VetSuccess
Program, was interviewed, approved, and enrolled in another college,
after paying the back balances on my student loans.
Jennifer Singer was the VA social worker who interviewed me for VA
Vocational Rehabilitation and was then assigned to my case. The
interview was tough. She asked some very personal questions. She also
asked me what it is I wanted to do. I told her as a chronically homeless
veteran with mental health and substance abuse issues, I wanted to make
a living as a social worker. I wanted to help other veterans like
myself. She said that was an admirable goal, but with my background, my
life’s baggage, and my new family, being on the front lines wouldn’t be
the best choice for me. I vehemently disagreed, but she challenged me
and asked me to look at the salaries of social workers across the
country. I found that a social worker makes $40,000 per year on average.
She asked me if I could raise a new family, give them the opportunities
I was never granted, and still live comfortably on $40,000. We agreed
probably not.
Ms. Singer told me she was investing in me. She was going to spend
around $100,000 on my education, with her time invested, my education
cost, and supply cost. She stated it was not a great investment for her
to throw that kind of money towards an education that would only burn
out two years after employment. And she was correct. I asked her how
could I make a difference then. She told me I could make a difference
from the flank. We all don’t need to be on the front lines to make an
impact.
Ms. Singer understood my background. I come from a single parent
household. My parents did not attend college. My father barely graduated
high school. My mother, my primary caregiver, never made over $30,000
in her lifetime. In a place without mass transit, we did not own a
vehicle until I was 15-years-old. Because of the VetSuccess program, my
children, both under the age of two, will understand the importance of
an education. Not because I say so, but because I did so. I am currently
an Organizational Communications major at Doane College in Grand
Island, Nebraska. And at the community college I attended, I was part of
the Honors Society. We all know the statistics of children whose
parents did not attend or graduate from college. The challenges they
face multiply immensely. Because of VetSuccess, not only will the
barriers to my success be broken down, but so will my children’s. And
they have not even enrolled in a learning system yet.
Ms. Singer was also concerned about my mental health, my sobriety,
and my living situation. Her job was not just to make sure I attended
and passed classes. We made an agreement. She would hold me accountable,
and I would give all of my effort during my vocational rehabilitation
assignment. Since late January of 2013, I have accumulated over 60
credits, transferred from a community college to a four-year school, and
have kept a 3.75 cumulative GPA.
After I complete my Bachelor Program, I will move on to a Master’s
Degree in Management with an emphasis in Leadership. Few chronically
homeless individuals in this country receive Master’s Degrees. Fewer get
Doctoral Degrees, but that is where I am headed. Without VetSuccess,
this would NOT have been possible.
My VA social worker, Jennifer Singer, is a guardian angel. Ms. Singer
and I check in with one another each month. I am accountable to my VA
Mental Health and Physical Health appointments. I report to her monthly
on my sobriety, coping skills (both positive and negative), my current
employment situation, and my family situation. Ms. Singer holds me
responsible; as a student, as an employee, as a sober member of society,
as a father, and as a husband. She keeps the goals that I set on the
forefront of my mind. Is it hard work? Hell yes it is. But someone
invested in me, so I owe effort and results. She reminds me I am an
example to other veterans in my community. Believe me, other veterans
are watching. I can offer them something no one else in the community
can: PROOF. Proof the VA works. Proof accountability is positive. Proof
we can turn lives around if we are willing to work with someone for it.
I cannot say it enough, without Jennifer Singer, and the VetSuccess program, my family and I would not be where we are today.
Thank you for your time and attention. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Biography of Ryan Kaufman
Nebraska Veteran Team Leader, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
As a Nebraska Veteran Team Leader, Mr. Kaufman travels all over rural
Nebraska to connect veterans with needed resources and one another. He
also coordinates events, VetTogethers and peer support programs. He is
currently a Junior at Doane College in Grand Island, NE majoring in
Organizational Communications. Mr. Kaufman is a former Army Specialist
who was deployed in 2001 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
Statement on Receipt of Grants or Contract Funds
Neither Mr. Kaufman, nor the organization he represents, Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America, has received federal grants or contract
funds relevant to the subject matter of this testimony during the
current or past two fiscal years.
veterans
