(Washington DC- June 17, 2015) U.S. Representative Richard Hanna today called on the Department of Defense to ensure that the needs of American veterans will continue to be met even as it plans to close a highly successful program called “Vets4Warriors.”
The Vets4Warriors program offers peer-to-peer support and outreach assistance to help active-duty personnel cope with and manage the unique stress of military service. The program is operated by veterans, who maintain a 24/7 nationwide hotline for service members and their families, and has been hailed as an overwhelming success.
“This program fills a crucial gap for members of our military who are not comfortable seeking assistance from physicians or civilians,” Rep. Hanna said. “There are times when some feel that only other soldiers could understand what they’re going through. I am concerned about how the sudden and unexpected closure of the Vets4Warriors program may impact these men and women service members.”
Rep. Hanna wrote to Department of Defense Secretary Ash Carter to obtain more information on why it determined to end the program.