The Department of Veterans Affairs is the second largest government agency. The Secretary of the VA has an operational responsibility to support our Veterans and a moral obligation to ensure that those who defend and protect American interests are returned from service as contributing members of society. 

To explore what it takes to transform one of America’s biggest bureaucracies, Fran Racioppi sat down with the Secretary of the VA, Doug Collins. As a former US and Georgia Congressman, and a Chaplain having served in both the Air Force and Navy, Secretary Collins knows what a Veteran needs and how to navigate Washington to get it done. 

The Secretary and Fran broke down the pillars of VA support: including the VA Health Care System, the Disability and Pension process, education support programs like the GI Bill and Vocational Rehab, the importance of Veteran-Owned Businesses, and the no down payment VA mortgages. 

Most importantly the Secretary shared his vision to stop Veteran suicide and why despite spending billions to reduce it over the years, we must forge a path that actually works. 

Fran has personally leveraged almost every single pillar of support the VA has to offer. And although it hasn’t always been perfect, Secretary Collins explains why the VA leads industry in many domains and how under his leadership the VA will be held to a defined standard of excellence. 

This episode is about bridging the gap between military service and civilian life, the responsibility the VA has in supporting our nation’s most important asset, and why Veterans are critical to American strength. 

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:48 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 7:06 Leading the VA
• 11:09 VA Healthcare
• 15:12 Reducing wait times
• 18:20 Partnering with institutions
• 20:20 Addressing Veteran suicide
• 29:45 Disability Benefit Claims Process
• 39:17 Education Benefits
• 43:10 VA Home Loans
• 43:57 VA Reduction in size
• 49:41 Is Veteran Capitalized?

Quotes

• “Everybody’s going to have a problem. I’m committed to fixing those problems.” 
• “We’re the largest physical department in the government.”
• “Defense and VA are fraternal twins.”
• “60% of every time the phone rings at a Congressman’s office it’s about a VA issue.”
• “The VA’s not gonna be a whipping post for anybody anymore.”
• “There’s some things that the VA does better than private healthcare.”
• “No other hospital system in the world judges wait time. They judge on quality and how they get it.”
• “We’re the largest trainer of doctors in the country.”
• “The shorter the service time, the higher the risk for suicide.”
• “Are we getting them out of the DoD system in a way that we can help them?” 
• “I don’t want a day to go by that a Veteran that needs help doesn’t feel like they have it.”
• “If you’ve just transitioned out, DON’T QUIT.”
• “The standard is we’re going to be excellent.”
• “I learn every day here and if you quit learning, you’re really in trouble.”
• “If you’ve been to one VA, you’ve been to them all. That’s the biggest lie that’s ever been out there.”
• “Is the word Veteran capitalized?”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world-class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs.

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The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.

The opinions presented on The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of my guests and myself. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does the Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.