2017 NLADA Annual Conference

We are in the midst of the longest period of war in our nation's history. Many of the men and women who volunteer to bear the brunt of this burden do so for the robust benefits they earn through their service. However, a veteran's access to benefits such as VA healthcare and the GI Bill depends upon how his or her exit from the military was characterized by the Department of Defense (DOD). More than 300,000 post-9/11 veterans were assigned a less than honorable discharge -- a rate higher than any previous generation. Racial minorities, sexual assault survivors, LGBTQ veterans, and service members with mental health disabilities are disproportionately less than honorably discharged. Without expert legal help, few veterans prevail in their Discharge Upgrade (DU) applications and remain stripped of the benefits they earned. Swords to Plowshares and Connecticut Veterans Legal Center are working to meet the needs of both the veterans and the legal aid and pro bono communities searching for ways to help. Presenters will discuss why this issue affects our clients and how social justice organizations can address it in their communities. Learn about the most recent advances in the field, what resources exist for new programs, and best practices for new practices, including identifying and screening veterans. The program will conclude with a look into the future of this practice and the status of law reform efforts, including a new joint effort by Swords and CVLC and funded by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, to increase and improve capacity to address less than honorable discharges.