Within the film one of the workers state they recant the words of the veteran to maintain that connection to them. They don't make "I" statements such as I understand or I have been you, but, there is an accepted practice of maintaining the words of the veteran to relay the clear understanding they are connected with their feelings.
This film is rather incredible. The agency has no limits to make a connection to a veteran at risk to take his own life. They do make a difference.
February 23, 2015
By David Wood
...McDonald, (click here) a retired corporate executive who took over the VA last June as the agency was sinking in scandal, made the claim in late January as he was touring a rundown Los Angeles neighborhood during a nationwide count of homeless veterans. He was accompanied by a CBS-TV news crew, which recorded an exchange between McDonald and a homeless man who told McDonald he had served in special forces....
The Secretary carries his cell phone with him to allow veterans to reach him. It sounds as though he did try to connect with the veteran on the phone especially with a news crew accompanying him.
I think Secretary McDonald is genuine and sincere about his dedication to the veterans he is trying to serve. His attention to detail was probably off in his willingness to connect with a veteran. He is also new to this agency. I think he needs to be better practiced with the emergency call center in order to be the best person to connect with by our military personnel.
There is currently an average of 22 veterans dying of self-inflicted wounds everyday. There are more deaths in the Homeland than the war. I can understand how Secretary McDonald felt a need to be of service to the people he serves. I think he wanted to make a difference and it went awkwardly. The question I have is how is the veteran, did he get his problem solved?
One of the reasons any leader would take such a role is to be sure his work is translating into a difference for the end user. That has been the one plague the Veteran's Administration can claim as their own. The end user of the VA is not being saved or satisfied. I think Secretary McDonald wanted to know from the end user of his department that it was working for them.
This film is rather incredible. The agency has no limits to make a connection to a veteran at risk to take his own life. They do make a difference.
February 23, 2015
By David Wood
...McDonald, (click here) a retired corporate executive who took over the VA last June as the agency was sinking in scandal, made the claim in late January as he was touring a rundown Los Angeles neighborhood during a nationwide count of homeless veterans. He was accompanied by a CBS-TV news crew, which recorded an exchange between McDonald and a homeless man who told McDonald he had served in special forces....
The Secretary carries his cell phone with him to allow veterans to reach him. It sounds as though he did try to connect with the veteran on the phone especially with a news crew accompanying him.
I think Secretary McDonald is genuine and sincere about his dedication to the veterans he is trying to serve. His attention to detail was probably off in his willingness to connect with a veteran. He is also new to this agency. I think he needs to be better practiced with the emergency call center in order to be the best person to connect with by our military personnel.
There is currently an average of 22 veterans dying of self-inflicted wounds everyday. There are more deaths in the Homeland than the war. I can understand how Secretary McDonald felt a need to be of service to the people he serves. I think he wanted to make a difference and it went awkwardly. The question I have is how is the veteran, did he get his problem solved?
One of the reasons any leader would take such a role is to be sure his work is translating into a difference for the end user. That has been the one plague the Veteran's Administration can claim as their own. The end user of the VA is not being saved or satisfied. I think Secretary McDonald wanted to know from the end user of his department that it was working for them.
