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Recently, the Afghanistan War Commission released their first interim report to Congress. It outlines their progress, priorities, and plans for research into wartime decisions.

Marine Veteran Amputee Ryan Garza crosses snowboarding off his bucket list at the 36th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sport Clinic.

The Independence Line is a call center available for Veterans and Afghans in need of assistance due to the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Across the nation, people are helping to support the resettlement of Afghanistan refugees and allies by sharing information on how to help, opening their homes, donating goods and services, and bringing greater awareness and advocacy for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).

Would you like to support the resettlement of our Afghan allies and other vulnerable Afghan national refugees? Here is how you can help with the Afghanistan response. 

“We as post-9/11 Veterans are very resilient and can make significant and positive contributions to society. But at the same time, our military service and the difficulties we face reintegrating to civilian life make us one of the highest-risk Veteran populations.”

The last part of this series focuses on resources available for PTSD. While this series focused on Afghanistan Veterans, options apply to all Veterans.

Due to Veterans from all eras reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as withdrawal and take over by the Taliban, VA is working quickly to share resources, call center information, peer support and other community services.

The third part of this series focuses on spouses and caregivers, who are often on the front lines of helping a Veteran deal with posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

To America’s Veterans, their families, survivors, and caregivers: I know it is painful to see the images from Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan, especially for the hundreds of thousands of Veterans who have served there since that fateful day in September 2001. When our country was attacked, you and your loved ones made the heroic choice to run towards the fight. That courageous sacrifice matters and has made us safer, no matter what happens today or any other day.

The events in Afghanistan may also trigger reactions among Veterans who fought in other conflicts because it reminds them of their own similar experiences. If your distress is prolonged or you are unable to function well, consider seeking help. There are competent and caring professionals available who can help you with the most common responses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, moral injury, and complicated grief. It is a good idea to try meeting with a mental health professional at least once. The sooner you get help, the sooner you will feel better.

The second part of this series focuses on how those who served in Afghanistan can learn from those who served in Vietnam. While the conflicts are different, there are parallels.