Hold, Please

As a service connected disabled veteran this episode absolutely reaches me. Not all VAs are equal. Some are great some are terrible. I have had a few experiences call a number for months on end with no return call and no assistance. Today actually, I had to transfer care after moving states. I called patient enrollment for three months trying to get it moved. A vet told me to go in person to x clinic and get it taken care of there. I was successful. As my wife drove me home we started quoting this episode and had a great laugh. I absolutely appreciate this episode. It is utterly relatable and great at making a good joke and laugh from a very real frustrating experience.

I do not work for the VA, but I am a Veteran; retired Army Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Combat Veteran with 24 years of service. I have never experienced anything from the VA call line or personnel as portrayed in this episode. I believe it to be a terrible misrepresentation of the VA system as a whole and even worse of a representation of the personnel that work there. One aspect that is portrayed correctly, and I'm sure it was not realized, is Veterans that put off any dealing with the VA, or their own medical issues and then when they finally do participate with the VA they expect everything to happen immediately. I do agree that things are not as speedily as in the civilian medical world, but changes have been implemented to improve it. On the realistic side of it all in trying to portray the Army to the civilian world, an Army nurse is a commissioned officer with a minimum of a bachelor degree, and makes pretty descent pay on the officer pay scale. A big issue that could be portrayed, by medical personnel in combat, would be PTSD from the Soldiers being med-evac'ed in with horrendous injuries from IEDs. Also, earning $25-$28 an hour is pretty decent pay that would not result in financial hardship. Over-all, I like the show but I also take the portrayal of Veterans, the Armed forces, and the VA as par with Hollywood and its view of the military world. I will continue to watch as I like the humor and acting of all.