Jackson Free Press

In the view of Anthony McIntyre, a 35-year-old veterans advocate, soldiers can receive excellent benefits while serving and once their service ends from a solid network of government agencies and nonprofits. McIntyre also believes that the military's culture can be a deterrent from taking advantage of those benefits.

"You're so ready to come home, you miss out on services that are available," McIntyre explains.

McIntyre served eight years in the U.S. Army, from 1997 to 2005 as an operations sergeant during tours in South Korea, Iraq and Kuwait. A native of Las Vegas who currently resides in Pearl, McIntyre also works with Mississippi's Latin American Business Association and nonprofit group Mississippi M.O.V.E. to register veterans to vote and link them with local veterans services.

In his experience working with veterans around the state, McIntyre said soldiers eager to leave the service often fear that admitting to having lingering physical and psychological issues might delay their going home so they remain silent.

The truth is that veterans often grapple with mental illness, homelessness as well as other problems. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that about 62,619 veterans are homeless on any given night and that veterans consist of nearly 13 percent of the homeless adult population.

Approximately 1.4 million more veterans are at risk of becoming homeless due to "lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing," HUD information shows.

"You're a tough cookie; you're trained to kill," McIntyre said of soldiers, adding that the toughness the military ingrains in service members discourages some former soldiers from seeking help.

McIntyre travels with a VA benefits book just in case he comes across a fellow former service member who is unaware of the benefits to which they are entitled.

In addition to thanking veterans for their service, McIntyre said we should pay close attention to the servicemembers in our lives and encourage them to get help if they need it. Like veterans themselves, people assume that servicemembers can handle whatever life throws at them.

Despite the fact that the parades and pageantry takes an emotional toll on him, McIntyre said Veterans Day is his favorite holiday.

"I love and respect that this country comes together and unites for our veterans," McIntyre said.