Articles & Multimedia
Showing 1-20 of 21 Publications
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The deafening silence of veteran service organizations on Black Lives Matter
There is a myth in the U.S. military that once you put on the uniform, “We all bleed green.” That is to say, no matter where you’re from or what your background is, as long as...
By Kayla M. Williams & Lindsay Church
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VA hospitals still an excellent choice for veterans
Commentary
As the first anniversary of MISSION Act implementation approaches, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in an entirely unexpected position. While the MISSION Act of 2018...
By Kayla M. Williams
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VA must improve access to high-quality care for transgender veterans
Commentary
Nearly two years ago, I argued that then-incoming VA Secretary Robert Wilkie should expand care to transgender veterans, removing the exclusion of gender confirmation surgery ...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Coronavirus pandemic illustrates the need to maintain a strong VA
Commentary
Schools, offices, and other businesses are shutting down nationwide as the United States ramps up its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we read about the extreme strain pl...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Boosting VA funding is not enough to support veterans
Commentary
Trump’s proposed 2021 budget includes another significant increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs: a 13 percent increase to $90 billion for medical services, another $...
By Kayla M. Williams
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The VA has some serious problems with how it handles claims of military sexual trauma
Commentary
Imagine going to your doctor’s office for care. You walk in and go to the front desk to check in. But the front desk staff tells you that you can’t get care there. You’re not ...
By Kayla M. Williams & Samantha Kubek
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DOD should not allow promotion of religion on branded dog tags
Commentary
The headline immediately caught my eye: “Anti-religion group seeks to deny troops inspirational dog tags.” It’s a shocking claim and seemed unbelievable — open religiosity was...
By Kayla M. Williams
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VA leader must demonstrate commitment to ending harassment
Commentary
Last week, news outlets reported Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie sent a letter to Rep. Mark Takano (D. Calif.), Chairman of the House Committee on ...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Mental health care isn’t one-and-done — like any journey, you have to commit
Commentary
The "suck it up and drive on" mentality permeated our years in the U.S. military and often led us to delay getting both physical and mental health care. As veterans, we now un...
By Kayla M. Williams & Kyleanne Hunter
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End harassment at VA hospitals
Commentary
When I ran the VA’s Center for Women Veterans, one of my highest priorities was changing the culture throughout the organization to be more welcoming of women veterans, who ma...
By Kayla M. Williams
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VA treatment should be based on evidence, not political pressure
Commentary
Last week, lawmakers introduced legislation that would require the VA to make hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) available to any veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PT...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Perceptions of the Military Community
Commentary
Sharpening America’s strategic edge and sustaining the U.S. military advantage is about more than technology and budgets. Crucially, it is also about people: the soldiers, sai...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Veterans shouldn't have to shoulder VA errors: VA debt collection must be improved
Commentary
If your monthly income suddenly dropped by $1,500 — or even more — would you be able to weather the sudden change? For how long? For many Americans, a single unexpected financ...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Congress Should Vigorously Oversee Implementation of the Mission Act
Commentary
By Kayla M. Williams: Congress should rigorously oversee implementation of the Mission Act to ensure that quality of care and fiscal responsibility are not sacrificed to the i...
By Kayla M. Williams
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VA continues to fail male victims of military sexual trauma
Commentary
The problem of sexual harassment and assault in the United States military has been widely reported, often — though not always — framed as predominantly women’s issue. However...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Health, Healing, and Hope: A Review of Suzanne Gordon’s ‘Wounds of War’
I’ve long been bewildered by the extensive negative news coverage of the Department of Veterans Affairs, where I formerly worked and continue to get all my medical care. My co...
By Kayla M. Williams
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There Really Is No Place For Hazing In A Professional Military
Commentary
The vigorous Twitter response to the recent piece “There’s A Reason For All That Hazing And Ass-Chewing, And We Shouldn’t Ignore It” highlighted a need to disentangle a few ty...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Congress should enhance reproductive health care for women veterans
Commentary
The incoming 116th Congress will contain not only the highest ever number of women, but also a record number of women veterans. As they consider what issues to take on, expand...
By Kayla M. Williams
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What should be done with report on military sexual harassment and assault?
Commentary
After multiple delays, the Pentagon finally authorized RAND to release its report with estimates of installation- and command-level risk of military sexual assault and harassm...
By Kayla M. Williams
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Veterans: Answering the call to serve
In August, the veteran unemployment rate was 3.8 percent – the same as that for non-veterans – continuing a multi-year positive trend. The same month, Google announced that it...
By Kayla M. Williams
