'What they will remember is the Legion was there'

Whether it’s a student veteran pursuing educational goals, a veteran seeking a civilian career or a veteran addressing their mental health concerns, there’s a common source of assistance available — The American Legion.

That was a point of emphasis made by separate panels before the Veterans Employment & Education Commission Saturday at The American Legion National Convention in New Orleans.

“My ask is that we finally decide that The American Legion is the biggest and the best support group ever for our veterans in our community, and their families, because you’re going to use those rooms (in your posts) for more than karaoke,” said mental health coach Suzi Landolphi, LMFT.

Landolphi moderated a mental health panel which included Be the One chairman Waco Hoover; Duval Tyson, CEO of Global One Solutions; and Andy Kaufmann, director of military and first responders programs at Reigning Hope Ranch. All three are veterans who discussed their issues with mental health, all of which stemmed from before their service.

Landolphi noted those childhood experiences influence later issues, and noted that The American Legion can be a source of support for veterans dealing with mental health challenges from their service and before.

“Why am I going to do therapy to people that know how to train?” Landolphi said, noting veterans’ experience with training. “So we’re going to do mental health coaching, and you’re going to be able to do those daily, and you’re going to have a training team. …

“What if we had peer-to-peer support groups every week at every (Legion) post? What if you had an Andy and a Duval and a Waco at your place … (Those who need help) know every week, every week they can go. People will be there. Their peer group will be there,” Landolphi said.

In similar fashion, those on a student veterans panel discussed ways Legion posts near colleges and universities can be of help.

“One of the ways I would recommend (getting involved) is a lot of universities and college campuses have veteran resource fairs, or student resource fairs, at the beginning of each semester,” said Gretchen Klingler, a member of Post 1 in Columbus, Ohio, and a graduate of Ohio State University. “Why not put a table at the student resource fair? What’s it going to hurt? There may not be a single student that approaches that table, but what they will see and what they will remember is that the Legion was there, and they were available if there’s an opportunity to ask questions.”

Klingler also suggested making space available in posts for student veterans looking for a quiet study space. “And they can study around people that aren’t constantly talking about going out and partying and getting their fake IDs.”

And posts can’t go wrong offering food to student veterans, the panelists agreed.

“If part of what the Legion can do is save space for people to get what they need, at the most basic level being food, that can bring people in the doors,” said Gabby Kubinyi, former co-chair of the Gold Star Wives of America government relations committee.

Klingler added that, with Legion posts being nonprofit organizations, there’s an opportunity for student veterans to add to their resumes by serving in leadership positions at their local post.