Call to Action: Making California the Most Military and Veteran Friendly State

Abstract: California has a unique opportunity to improve the state of the American veteran and, in so doing, move to the top of the list of America’s most veteran-friendly states. To be “military-” and “veteran-friendly” means military families, in service and after, are both welcomed and valued in California communities, recognizing the need for tailored events, coordinated efforts, benefit programs, services and policy measures that ensure communities are culturally prepared to support them as they transition to civilian life. California is home to almost 2 million veterans and more than 57,000 service members currently serving in the National Guard and Reserve components. Although it has the largest veteran population in the nation and a long history of supporting men and women in service, California still falls in the middle of the pack across multiple military- and veteran-friendly state benchmarks (e.g., employment rate, income and affordability, tax laws, housing, mental health access, and access to the VA). Recent studies have shown that post-9/11 veterans experience greater difficulty transitioning to civilian life, reporting higher rates of health and mental health disabilities than previous generations of veterans (Castro, Kintzle & Hassan, 2015; Kemp & Bossarte, 2012). With more veterans, active duty and reservists than any other state, California bears the responsibility to lead this challenge.