BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Tanya Bradsher was sworn in as the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs making her the highest-ranking woman in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
She’s using her platform to educate veterans all over including Southern University’s student veterans on the many benefits the VA has to offer.
“Hearing from another veteran that, hey, I applied, I got my benefits or I’m using my GI Bill, I’m going to school. Veterans really trust other veterans,” said Bradsher.
Bradsher says they were able to hound in on economic, financial, and mental health issue that veterans face in silence.
“Through the Compact Act, that a veteran can go to any E.R. and be able to be seen if they’re in suicide crisis. Second, 988 press one,” said Bradsher.
That number immediately connects veterans to the VA’s healthcare line where they’ll be provided professional counseling. Bradsher says there is one false narrative she’s aiming to change.
“If I didn’t go to war then the VA is not for me, and it’s one of the reasons why it was so important for us to modify our mission statement,” said Bradsher.
