Mother nature to help heal returning veterans

OLYMPIA – Returning veterans would be able to reintegrate more smoothly back into society through a training program connecting veterans to volunteer natural resource restoration projects through a proposed bill by Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle.

“These returning veterans are used to being outside for much of their day. This training program would be a more natural transition by being in an ‘outside’ situation, rather than being confined in a classroom,” said Jacobsen. “Many of these veterans will have a high degree of energy from being in a combat situation, and that energy can be channeled by doing physical work and training.”

Jacobsen is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5164, which would expand the Washington Veterans Conservation Corps program. The existing program connects veterans to volunteer, natural resource restoration and stewardship projects. The expanded program would provide corps enrollees with training, skills, certification and job placement assistance in the field of natural resource restoration. Veterans could work on projects that help protect and restore Washington’s rivers, streams, lakes, marine waters and open lands.

“These veterans can be trained to be a force for emergency response when environmental- or weather-related disasters hit our state. This is a win-win situation because our environment benefits, as well as our veterans,” said Jacobsen.

SB 5164 awaits a hearing before the Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee.

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