The G.I. Bill: Taking Care of Our Heroes
RADM Thomas Lynch shares the lessons he’s learned in his long career. As Chairman of NewDay USA, the Admiral is devoted to helping veterans get the financial security they deserve.
In my career in the Navy and my following years in the private sector, I’ve come across a common misconception. Well-intentioned friends, relatives, and strangers have often expressed some version of the same idea: that military service is tough duty when compared to civilian life. All we have to do is to get through the hard part, finish our tours of duty, and then receive the rewards of civilian comfort. I respectfully disagree.
Separating from the armed forces and returning to civilian life can actually be one of the more challenging phases of a servicemember’s career. The transition from service presents its own set of unique challenges. It’s not that service is hard and civilian life is easy. It’s that the two are just different.
Awakening each morning on a ship is different than awakening in a house. Bunking on an operating base is different than renting an apartment. Seeing a medic is different than driving to the doctor’s office. Service and civilian life are different, and adjusting to that difference takes time.
Too often I’ve seen young men and women who feel lost, confused, or abandoned when they leave the military. I’ve seen men and women who served honorably become homeless, or struggle to pay the rent, to keep a roof over their children’s heads. It’s a difficult transition to make, especially without a roadmap. Returning to civilian life means adjusting to a new home in a new locale with a new job; all present unique demands with accompanying stress levels.
The G.I. Bill when first enacted by Congress in the forties, was designed to help with this transition. It was a groundbreaking idea because it focused on the life of servicemembers after they leave the service. It represented a powerful pledge from our nation’s government to its servicemembers: “we respect your service and we care for you.”
When our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and coast guardsmen separate from the service, they deserve the best support our country can provide. This support to the veteran means a good education, quality healthcare, and an opportunity for home ownership. The G.I. Bill strives to achieve these goals.
As I reflect on my career and the progress we’ve made since the bill was introduced decades ago, I wish to thank my fellow Americans and our lawmakers who have responded to support all servicemembers who have served us with honor.
As chairman of NewDay USA, it has always been my goal to help as many active duty servicemembers and veterans realize the dream of home ownership and the financial security that comes with it. Without the G.I. Bill, the VA loan program would not exist, and the American dream would be out of reach for many veterans. Please join me in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the G.I. Bill.
About the Admiral
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch (USN, Ret.) is Executive Chairman of the Board of Advisors at NewDay USA, a mortgage lender in Fulton, Md., that specializes in VA-guaranteed loans. As Chairman, the Admiral instills military values in every member of his team.
To learn more about NewDay USA and see the Admiral’s leadership in action, call us today. It is our mission to help you get the financial security you deserve.