Therabot: A New Hope for Veteran Mental Health

Posted on July 12, 2025 by mjgranger

The veteran suicide crisis, claiming 17 to 22 lives daily since 9/11, demands innovative solutions. My recent blog post, “Ending 17 Veteran Suicides Per Day,” explored the urgent need for accessible, effective mental health interventions. Today, we turn to a promising development: Therabot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to deliver psychotherapy. In an exclusive email interview, Dr. Michael V. Heinz, a psychiatrist, Dartmouth researcher, and U.S. Army Medical Corps Major, shared insights into how Therabot could transform mental health support for veterans. His vision offers hope—grounded in evidence, compassion, and cutting-edge technology.

What Is Therabot?

Therabot is an expert fine-tuned chatbot crafted to provide evidence-based psychotherapy. Unlike generic AI, it’s built to forge a therapeutic bond, creating a safe, stigma-free space for users. Dr. Heinz explains, “In our trial conducted in 2024, we found that Therabot reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.” This is critical, as uncontrolled mental health symptoms often fuel high-risk behaviors like suicide and self-harm. The trial also revealed users felt a “high degree of therapeutic alliance” with Therabot, a pivotal factor in ensuring engagement and sustained use.

For veterans, this therapeutic bond could be a lifeline. The ability to connect with an AI that feels empathetic and reliable—available 24/7, regardless of location—addresses the logistical barriers that often hinder care, such as limited access to mental health professionals in remote postings or during erratic schedules.

A Lifeline Across the Military Lifecycle

Therabot’s potential extends beyond veterans to recruits and active-duty service members, offering continuity of care throughout a military career. “One thing that can make mental healthcare difficult currently among recruits and active duty is availability and time constraints of mental health professionals when and where help is needed,” Dr. Heinz notes. “Therabot addresses both of those constraints as it is available all the time and can go with users wherever they go.”

This fusion of care is particularly compelling. Large language models like Therabot excel at retaining context and synthesizing vast amounts of personal history. Dr. Heinz envisions, “The memory capabilities and contextual understanding of these technologies… can offer a tremendous amount of personalization.” Imagine an AI that tracks a service member’s mental health from basic training through retirement, adapting to their evolving needs across deployments, relocations, and transitions. This seamless support could bridge gaps in the fragmented military mental health system, providing stability where traditional care often falters.

Addressing the Veteran Suicide Crisis

Despite the Department of Veterans Affairs spending $571 million annually on suicide prevention, the veteran suicide rate remains stubbornly high. Could Therabot offer a more effective path? Dr. Heinz outlines the costs of a meaningful trial targeting the 10% of veterans at risk for suicidal ideation:

Server and Computation Costs: High-performing models often require significant computational power, with expenses tied to the billions or trillions of parameters loaded in memory during use.

Expert Salaries: Trials need mental health professionals to supervise interactions and handle crises, alongside technical experts to maintain the platform.

FDA Approval Process: While exact costs vary, a robust trial at a VA hospital and regional clinics would require substantial funding to meet regulatory standards.

Dr. Heinz emphasizes Therabot’s cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods, noting its scalability within the centralized VA system. “I would emphasize Therabot’s potential for transformative impact on the military lifecycle,” he says, addressing leaders like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and FDA Head Dr. Martin Makary. Its ability to deliver personalized care at scale could redefine how the VA tackles suicide prevention.

The Power of Personalization

Therabot’s effectiveness hinges on its ability to engage users authentically. Dr. Heinz sees potential in customizable avatars that resonate with veterans, such as a “seasoned medic” or “peer mentor” reflecting military culture’s unique language and traditions. “Thoughtfully leveraging trusted, customizable archetypes could effectively support veterans by tapping into familiar cultural touchpoints,” he explains. This approach could foster trust and rapid therapeutic alliance, crucial for veterans hesitant to seek help.

However, Dr. Heinz urges caution: “Simulating deceased loved ones or familiar individuals might disrupt healthy grieving processes or encourage withdrawal from meaningful human interactions.” The balance lies in archetypes that feel familiar without crossing ethical lines, ensuring engagement without dependency.

For older veterans from the Korea or Vietnam eras, accessibility is key. Dr. Heinz suggests a tablet interface, citing “larger screens, clearer visuals, and easier interaction via touch-based navigation.” Features like larger buttons and simplified designs could make Therabot user-friendly for those less comfortable with smaller mobile devices.

Open-Source Collaboration and Safety

Developing Therabot requires diverse perspectives. Dr. Heinz highlights the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in finetuning models with “high quality, representative, expert-curated data” that reflects varied mental health challenges and military experiences. Collaborative evaluation of foundation models (like Meta’s Llama) also accelerates progress by identifying the best base models for mental health applications.

Safety and privacy are non-negotiable. “All data is stored on HIPAA-compliant, encrypted servers,” Dr. Heinz assures, with strict access protocols overseen by an institutional review board. This rigor applied to a military population would ensure veterans’ sensitive information remains secure, addressing concerns about AI in mental health care.

Why Therabot, Why Now?

Dr. Heinz’s passion for Therabot stems from a blend of personal and professional drives. “Through my practice, I saw how much this was needed due to the really wide gap between need and availability for mental health services,” he shares. His work at Dartmouth’s AIM HIGH Lab with Dr. Nicholas Jacobson, coupled with advances in generative AI, has fueled his belief in Therabot’s potential to deliver “deeply personalized interventions” to those who might otherwise go untreated.

His boldest hope? “That Therabot makes a lasting and meaningful positive impact on current and retired U.S. servicemembers… ultimately benefiting them, their families, their communities, and society.” By integrating a veteran’s history—trauma, past care, and mission experiences—Therabot could deliver tailored therapy, expanding access and reducing devastating outcomes like suicide.

A Call to Action

Therabot is more than a technological marvel; it’s a beacon of hope for veterans battling mental health challenges. Its 2024 trial demonstrated clinical effectiveness, safety, and user engagement, but further funding is needed for VA-specific trials and FDA approval. Dr. Heinz calls for “targeted funding that allows us to complete additional clinical testing,” urging stakeholders to invest in this life-saving innovation.

As I wrote in “Ending 17 Veteran Suicides Per Day,” the status quo isn’t enough. Therabot offers a path forward—scalable, personalized, and rooted in military culture. To make it a reality, we must advocate for funding, raise awareness, and support research that prioritizes veterans’ lives. Together, we can help Therabot save those who’ve served us so bravely.

For more on veteran mental health and to support initiatives like Therabot, visit www.savinggraceatguantanamobay.com.

Written with the assistance of Grok.

Note: Montgomery J. Granger is a retired US Army Major and educator.

Stop Veteran Suicide Now: VAGrok – The AI Lifeline Veterans Deserve

Posted on March 13, 2025 by mjgranger

By Major Montgomery J. Granger, US Army, Retired (Medical Service)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Three Veterans Statue, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Seventeen veterans kill themselves every day—6,407 in 2022, over 130,000 since 9/11. That is a desecration of heroes, and the Veterans Administration (VA) has failed them.

I’m a former Combat Medic and then Medical Service officer (retired) who served 22 years, including a tour in Iraq, and I’ve seen the VA’s dissonance firsthand—low quality maintenance, unfinished facility projects, blank stares, “Last name? Last four?” It’s a meat grinder of lost MRIs, 90-day claim delays, and bean counters slicing us into percentages.

Vets hurt: helpless + hapless + hopeless = suicidal depression, and the system shrugs. Enough. VAGrok, an AI with the soul of Ray Bradbury’s “Electric Grandma,” can stop this now. It knows us, remembers us, guides us—beta-test it at Northport VA this spring, scale it by July, and aim for zero suicides. This is how we make American veterans great again (MAVGA).

A System That Forgets

Walk into Northport VA on Long Island—my home turf, servicing 112,000 vets—and it’s a time capsule of neglect. Nearly 100 years old, it’s got failing roofs, gaping construction holes, and a “temporary” HVAC unit for the homeless facility that’s been “temporary” since before 2018. A $21 million repair project announced that year drags on, with front entrance and valet parking torn up for years—it looks as if the contractors simply walked off the job. Inside, stained ceiling tiles, grimy corners, urine scent in the bathroom greet you. I spent half my 36-year education career managing school facilities; a job like that parking lot takes 6-8 weeks, not 6-8 years. This isn’t mismanagement—it is apathy.

Northport (Long Island, NY) VA; January 2025; project approved 2018.

Military personnel are trained to notice details—“FRONT TOWARD ENEMY” on a Claymore mine, the difference between “SAFE” and “SEMI” on a weapon. In Basic Training, we scrubbed floors with toothbrushes; drill sergeants measured our underwear folds with rulers. In combat, triage was life or death: this one’s expectant, that one’s savable. Details saved lives. So, when I see potholes and crumbling asphalt, abysmal parking, weeds instead of grass, unsmiling greeters, and the same “Last name? Last four?” every visit—no eye contact, no memory—it screams neglect. Vets notice. We’re wired for it. And it cuts deeper when the care is as fractured as the building. Perceptions precede and predict reality.

The Cost of Disconnection

The VA is a connect-the-dots puzzle with missing and misconnected dots. Continuity’s gone—many visits are a reset. Specialists don’t talk, MRIs vanish, and intake forms ask, “How many blasts? How severe?” as if we kept a tally in the chaos. I gave 100% in Iraq—24/7/365—not 20% for tinnitus, 10% for PTSD. Lincoln’s promise—“to care for him who shall have borne the battle”—didn’t mean to carve us up. Yet civilians, often with no combat scars, decide our fate, slicing us into percentages. We didn’t question our orders to go to war; why are we questioned about what it did to us?

Last year, the VA spent $571 million on suicide prevention. Results? Still 17 a day. Posters scream, “Veterans in crisis, call 988, press 1.” In uniform we weren’t built or trained to have a “crisis,” we were trained to stay cool under fire, no matter the circumstance – we hurt. “Hurting? Call 988,” would hit closer. Or even: “Thinking of hurting yourself? Call 988.” On the battlefield, we yell, “Medic!” or “Corpsman!” Walking into a VA is the same as that – it’s a call for help. But the system is hard-of-hearing. It doesn’t know us. Trust is on life support—the proof is in the body count. Young vets (18-35) kill themselves at triple the civilian rate; female vets, 2.5 times higher. Older vet suicides are climbing, too. If 17 Tesla customers died daily over car frustration, Elon Musk would stop the line, fix it, and then roll out a solution – immediately. Why hasn’t the VA done that?

Vietnam Women’s Memorial, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

VAGrok: The Electric Grandma We Need

Imagine this: I walk into Northport VA. An app—a greeter or a large message screen—lights up: “Welcome Major Granger, your neurology appointment is in the basement. Need a map?” A map-app opens in my or a loaner device I carry with me wherever I go there. Biometrics, like facial recognition, spot me, pull my record—tours, TBI, meds, burn pit exposure, every specialist’s note. If I say “coffee,” it guides me to the kiosk, then nudges me to my appointment with a 15-minute heads-up. The doctor’s ready—no lost files, no guesswork—just a plan built from every detail of my care. VAGrok remembers me. It won’t forget. It cares, just like . . . .

Ray Bradbury’s “Electric Grandma,” from I Sing the Body Electric, who was an AI marvel—a tireless companion, healing a grieving family with memory, intuition and love. VAGrok would be that for vets. It would be an AI Medic/Corpsman with a soul, triaging suicide risk in real time—reading my face for pain or anguish. It’s not cold tech; it’s a wingman. The know-how exists—xAI could build it, hooking into VA systems with a linear, cumulative memory. No more silos, no more “prove it.” It sees us whole, restoring trust one vet at a time. And trust is a key to breaking at least one of the three H’s of suicidal depression (helpless, hapless, hopeless).

Eliminate the Waste and Abuse of the Disability Compensation Verification Process

Vast amounts of time, money and veteran lives to suicide are tied up in the process of verifying “service related” injuries and illnesses. I’m surprised they bury us whole.

If a veteran’s status is verified with a DD-214, then CARE for him/her. No one said, “Hey, Sarge, I only want to give 20% on this mission, OK?” We gave 100%, every time, 24/7/365. We didn’t question our orders to go to war, so why are we being questioned about what it did to us? The good parts are connected to the injured parts.

We made an ALL-IN bet for everything up to and including our lives. Those who lost that bet are in the ground. The rest of us are still fighting, still struggling, and 17 PER DAY are still DYING.

Continuity of care with VAGrok can prevent that – stop it cold.

Why VAGrok Works—And Who Can Make It Happen

This isn’t just about care—it’s survival. Helplessness fades when VAGrok knows your fight; haplessness lifts when it greets you with respect; hopelessness dies when it shows a path. The VA has Disney-5 star-level hospitality potential—treat us like guests, not numbers. Assume eligibility: verify my DD-214 and then care for me, no hoops, speed bumps or red tape. Upgrade facilities into welcoming hubs—fitness centers, support groups, green lawns (I don’t even care if it’s artificial turf as long as it’s clean and green), a community—not a venue of despair. Use military Guard and Reserve medics, specialists, nurses and docs who get us to fill or supplement civilian VA staff. Shift the narrative: seeking help isn’t weakness; it’s strength.

Combat Medic Memorial, US Army Medical Department and School, Ft. Sam Houston, TX.

Donald Trump could champion this—bold, fast, “Make American Veterans Great Again.” JD Vance (Marine) brings Semper Fi trust; Pete Hegseth (Army) nails mission-first details; Doug Collins (Navy) demands efficiency. Elon Musk and xAI? Disruptive, scalable tech—this is a trip to the moon! My congressman, Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-1), sees VA Northport’s challenges. Beta-test VAGrok there—112,000 vets, ground zero. Launch April 2025, scale by July. Cost? Pennies next to 17 lives daily. Result? Zero suicides, a VA we trust and a promise kept.

Restore trust in the VA and myriad benefits emerge: low or no suicides, improved retention, positive recruiting point (we will care for you if and when you need us).

A Cry From the Battlefield

I retired in 2008 after 22 years—three deployments, Iraq in ‘04-’05. Now I’ve got hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, heart attack in 2013, PTSD, TBI(?) and a burn pit registry entry. My first claim’s in, but why should I have to prove it? A third of my life was service; I had none of this before. The VA’s budget can’t flex—new claims, deaths, suicides shift yearly, beyond a 10-20% buffer. Assume my hurt’s from service, just like the justice system assumes I am innocent, stop treating me like I’m guilty before a trial, my trial was combat—treat me whole, not parts. Honor Lincoln’s words, not bureaucratic labyrinths.

17 vets PER DAY can’t wait. Power brief now—Northport VA, Trump Tower, Pentagon, D.C., Mar-a-Lago, let’s go!

VAGrok is the Medic/Corpsman we’d call in combat. Deploy it now. Stop the dying.

NOTE: Major Granger is a three-times mobilized, retired US Army officer, trained and served as a Combat Medic/Medical Specialist for five years, and then 17 years as a Medical Service officer (70B), who, on deployments to Gitmo and Iraq with Military Police Enemy Prisoner of War units, was responsible for coordinating medical, preventive medical and environmental services for detention operations. On the civilian side, he earned a BS Ed. From the University of Alabama in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, an MA degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College – Columbia University, and School District Administrator certification through the State University of New York at Stony Brook. While at Columbia University, he taught “Sport” at the Buckley School for Boys on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where “Donnie” Trump, Jr. was one of his students. He taught health and physical education, was a coach and Dean of Students in the New York City public high schools for 8 ½ years, moved to Long Island and then began a career as a school district administrator. Interrupted on 9/11/2001, he served on three subsequent deployments that saw him separated from three young boys, his wife and career for 2 ½ out of the next five years. When he returned, he had two more children, and worked in Suffolk County public school districts, serving as district administrator for Health, Physical Education, Athletics, Health Services, Security and Facilities. He and his wife of 31 years retired in 2022, when he began to manifest multiple health issues and started exploring the VA and its services. PS – In the 1990’s he was a staff officer with the 4220^th US Army Hospital Reserve Unit that performed weekend drills at the Northport VA. PPS – He was a Disneyland (California) Davey Crockett (war) Canoe Host in 1986-87, and attended Disney University (orientation), and knows the Disney business model and hospitality secrets. PPPS – Major Granger is author of “Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay: A Memoir of a Citizen Warrior,” about his time as the ranking US Army Medical Department officer with the Joint Detainee Operations Group, Joint Task Force 160, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from FEB-JUN 2002, and narrator of the YouTube short documentary film, “Heroes of GITMO,” based on his book.

Maj. Granger and family, Flag Day, 2008.

Fix Veterans’ Care Now – It’s Life or Death

Posted on February 19, 2025 by mjgranger

We didn’t question the order to go to war, so why are we questioned about what the war did to us?

We wrote a blank check and pledged our sacred honor for our country, but the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) isn’t helping enough. Since September 11, 2001, over 130,000 veterans have ended their own lives.

One suicide is a tragedy. What do you call one hundred and thirty THOUSAND?

We need to fix the VA now because our lives depend on it.

In 2024, the VA spent $571 million to stop suicides. But where did the money go? Did it save anyone? I don’t see enough proof that it’s working. Worse, when we ask for help, the VA makes us tell our war stories over and over again. It hurts, and it’s not fair. The people deciding if I get help often never saw a battlefield. This messed-up system might be why so many of us feel lost, hopeless, helpless and then give up.

The numbers make me sick. Younger veterans, aged 18-35, are almost three times more likely to die by suicide than people who didn’t serve. For women veterans, it’s 2.5 times higher than other women. Even older veterans like me are hurting more than ever. If this happened at a company—where people were so miserable they hurt themselves—everyone would yell for change. I’m yelling for change now!

Here’s How I’d Start to Fix It:

Trust Me First: When I prove I served (verified DD-214), the VA should help me right away. I shouldn’t have to fight to show my pain came from war. I earned more respect than that.

Learn the Disney Way: Disney makes people happy with the attitude of second-to-none guest service and fun. The VA could train its administrators and staff through the Disney Institute to learn to treat me in a way that makes me feel like I matter and makes me smile.

Use Cool Tech: Things like facial recognition could say my name when I walk in and get me help faster in a personalized (and secure) way. Now, it’s “Last name? Last four social?” Without even looking up.

Make the VA Appealing: Turn VA facilities into welcoming experiences that project care: clean and green, curb appeal, emphasis on maintenance, warm/cool and comfortable, like coming home—like a resort. I’d want to go there, and it might sooth my stress.

Help All of Me: Don’t just fix my body—fix my mind, too! Focus on holistic wellness, not just medical treatment. Add gyms, pools, courts, fields, recreation, activities and groups where I can talk with other veterans. It could make me stronger, more fit and happier.

Be Honest and Quick: The VA needs to show where my money goes and stop making me wait years for help, or taking years to fix things. Waiting has left me and others with nothing—sometimes not even a home.

Bring in Military Helpers: Doctors, nurses, medical specialists, Corpsmen and medics from the Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves could work at the VA. They get what I’ve been through because they’ve been there too. Rotating in military medical personnel could also help retention and recruitment. If they see quality care up close and personal, they know what they are getting themselves into.

Make Asking for Help Normal: Don’t call the suicide hot line a “crisis line.” Just say, “Hurting? Call 988.” I’m not weak for needing help—I’m brave for asking. On the battlefield, one can hear a cry for help: “Medic!” “Corpsman!” That’s what we’re saying when we finally gather the courage to walk in through the front door.

We honor those who never came home by caring for those who did.

We can’t wait anymore. The VA promised to take care of every veteran with respect, dignity and urgency. Lincoln said, “Care for those who bore the battle,” not “Oh, only those parts the soldier can prove were affected by the battle, and oh, by the way, take a number.”

The VA cuts us up with a percentage of “disability” compensation and care. Imagine that? A percentage. Is that what we should have said prior to taking the hill? “Hey, Sarge, I only want to risk 10%, is that OK?”

It’s amazing that they bury the whole person, and not just the percentage they say died because of the war.

My question isn’t going away—I am raising my voice to hopefully make things happen!

We made an all-in bet for everything up to and including our lives. It’s time the VA made good on that bet.

Our dead comrades can’t tell you how they hurt, but we can. Please listen to us now.

What the Veterans Administration Should Be: An Open Letter to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Pete Hegseth, and Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-1)

Posted on December 27, 2024 by mjgranger

Gentlemen,

Our justice system operates on the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty. Why, then, does the Veterans Administration (VA) seem to operate under the opposite assumption when it comes to veterans’ care and disability ratings?

Upon verifying service through documents like the DD-214 and issuing an ID card, the VA should immediately assume veterans are entitled to care as promised by the very ethos of our military service: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.” This statement by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address at the end of the Civil War, carries no qualifiers; it’s a promise to care for all veterans, regardless of where they served or what they endured.

However, the current system is fundamentally flawed. Veterans are forced to spend considerable time and effort proving their ailments are service-related, which contradicts the unconditional service and sacrifices we’ve made. Veterans took an oath without caveats; we committed to follow orders, defend the Constitution, and potentially give our lives. In return, we should receive care without the burden of proof.

The administration of the VA by civilians lacking military or combat experience has been problematic. With Pete Hegseth potentially becoming the new Secretary of Defense, there’s hope for change. This matter should also resonate with President Trump, and I believe the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the influence of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, could address these inefficiencies with common sense and innovation.

A New Philosophy for the VA:

Prioritization: The veteran should be the priority. Upon entering a VA facility, instead of the impersonal request for “Last Name and Last Four,” why not use modern technology like facial recognition and/or other biometrics for both security and personalized greetings? This would not only enhance security but also personalize and streamline the care process.

Efficiency and Technology: Implement integrated, high-tech systems to improve efficiency. Veterans should feel welcomed and valued, much like guests at a Disney resort where the business model is simple: treat every customer as a cherished guest.

Perception and Recruitment: The negative perception of the VA could deter potential recruits. If the VA were seen as a place where veterans are genuinely cared for, it might attract and keep more individuals to military service.

Facility Management and Care:

At Northport VA on Long Island, NY, the ongoing disrepair and delays in basic maintenance projects like HVAC systems or parking areas reflect a deeper issue of neglect. A 3-year, $21 million project, started in 2018, is still unfinished. These conditions not only degrade the quality of care but also demoralize veterans who must navigate an environment that seems to have forgotten them. Part of my 36-year career in education and education leadership involved public school facilities management. Some of the jobs in the capital projects plan for the Northport VA could have been completed in 6-8 weeks, rather than the current 6-8 years!

My personal health experience, after 22 years of military service including combat deployments, involves dealing with issues like hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and PTSD, yet the process to receive care or compensation feels like an additional battle.

Rethinking VA Budgeting and Care:

The VA’s budgeting must be adaptive to the fluctuating needs of veterans, not constrained by typical government fiscal policies. The number of new claimants cannot be accurately predicted from year-to-year. It’s been over 16 years since I retired, and I am only now applying for a disability rating for the first time. Imagine the savings and improved care if we assumed veterans’ health issues were service-related unless proven otherwise? This shift could redefine the VA from an adversarial entity to one that truly supports and heals those who served.

I understand the current disability application system results in compensation, but what if I don’t need the money, just the care? Because the process is so arduous, complex and full of bureaucratic red tape, it could take months for approval, disapproval, appeals and other delays. Many veterans needlessly pay others to help them through the application process.

Conclusion:

I urge you to consider these changes, to let loose the capabilities of DOGE and the leadership of Pete Hegseth on this broken system. We should treat the whole person, not just the ailments deemed service-connected. A wholistic approach to healthcare is the most effective. Veterans have given much; it’s time the VA reflects this nation’s gratitude and commitment to our well-being by honoring Lincoln’s compassionate vision for veteran care.

Kamala Harris in the eyes of a military combat veteran

Posted on October 5, 2024 by mjgranger

The current Vice President, a CIVILIAN, has assumed the role of President of the United States, or, the Commander in Chief. In a way, this is STOLEN VALOR.

She is consciously saluting military personnel, as if she were in their chain of command. She is not. Civilians do not salute unless they are veterans and it is during an appropriate ceremony or event where saluting the flag or National Anthem are pro forma.

The goal is to promote the illusion that Ms. Harris is already Madame President. She is not. In fact, if Ms. Harris were in the military she would have been fired long ago, if not just from her appointed roles, i.e. Border Czar, then from the position of Vice President.

Recently, while describing gifts she plans to give people if she becomes the next President, she said, “I’m gonna give,” (blank amount) to the people. “I’m gonna give?” As if the money were coming from her personal bank account.

In the military, which used to be a meritocracy, if you don’t perform, you’re fired from your position. Or, you get demoted, or you get kicked out, or you go to jail. Ms. Harris would be in the running for all of these if her record were totally scrutinized by authorities over her (where are the CHECKS and BALANCES I learned about in high school government class?).

As one progresses in one’s military career there are opportunities for promotion, which are mostly based on the quality of one’s periodic professional evaluations. Good evaluations and positive results in one’s endeavors and responsibilities could lead to promotion. Performance and achievement are usually rewarded in the military.

In the case of Ms. Harris, who can tell us what her OER support form would look like? This Officer Evaluation Report support form is completed by the officer seeking promotion, for the superior officer who has the authority to grant or recommend promotion. In it, the promotion candidate details accomplishments and achievements.

Isn’t she up for a public referendum (election) on her performance? After all, she is asking to be promoted, and not just from second lieutenant to first lieutenant, but from the second highest office in the land to the very tip top position – where leadership equals influence and setting the example is paramount. She is asking We the People for this promotion. We are the promoting authority. We need to see the OER support form.

On her support form, we need to see examples of her demonstrated leadership skills, evidence of her professional competence, effective communication skills, demonstrated personal integrity and ethics; examples of teamwork and collaboration; proof of her ability to problem solve, of her adaptability, resilience and resolve; we need to see evidence of her commitment to serve as loyal commander in chief. We need to know whether or not she has been a mentor and is able to develop others. We need to understand the facts pertaining to her ability to form and maintain positive relationships and demonstrated networking skills. And, finally, we need evidence of her accomplishments and performance.

Military officers must show and demonstrate and be able to document their claims, or guess what? No promotion.

If you were to write Ms. Harris’s OER support form, what positive things could you put in it?

The bottom line is that if one wishes to be promoted in a professional environment, military or civilian, one must show demonstrated skill, competence and acumen for the job they are seeking. Kamala Harris has not shown any shred of competence in her current job. Any CEO, HR professional or shop keeper would immediately put her resume in the circular file.

She is not exceptional.

Exceptionalism is the driving force behind achievement, behind progress, behind leadership.

If we elect someone who is not exceptional, we are cheating ourselves out of a brighter future, and we are letting down those who depend on us for good decision making for their future – our children and grandchildren, who, if Ms. Harris is elected, would certainly suffer a far worse future than if another candidate were chosen.

Montgomery Granger is a retired educator and veteran, and can be found in social media under the @mjgranger1 tag.

Veterans Day Assembly Speech

Posted on November 15, 2021 by mjgranger

Rocky Point High School, 12 November 2021

Rocky Point High School, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY, is a very patriotic place in a very patriotic community. Military veterans, volunteer firefighters, first responders, neighbors, and leaders of all kinds have contributed to myriad memorials and honors there since 9/11/2001.

The school boasts annual Veterans Day assemblies featuring veterans, high school band and small group music, multi-media presentations and rapt students.

The school has a 9/11 memorial outside it main entrance in honor of the sacrifice of community member on that day.

High School social studies teacher, coach and student leadership mentor, Mr. Rich Acritelli has spearheaded the school’s military honor wall, which highlight’s the school’s graduates who have joined the military service. This is in the main hallway and covers 50′ of surface on one side, and on the other facing wall is a similar tribute display for school staff members who have served. The picture plaques features color photos of the person in uniform along with their name and place in an are identified with their branch of service. There is also a small section dedicated to Navy LT Michael Murphy, a local deceased medal of honor winner from the War on Terror.

I have known Rich Acritelli for over 20 years, through high school athletics and then the military. Rich is a great friend and generous soul. I have been invited to speak at the annual Veterans Day Assembly a few times and am always impressed and amazed at the complete respect and sincerity of the students, staff and administration. The principal, Mr. Jonathan Hart was present for the entire ceremony and was engaged and supportive of Mr. Acritelli and the school participants and audience.

Mr. Acritelli told me I had 7-8 minutes for a speech to the audience of over 100 11th grade US History students. Rich has always been supportive of my service and a great fan of my book, “Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay.” Here is my speech:

VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY

ROCKY POINT HIGH SCHOOL

November 12, 2021

Good morning!

Thank you, Mr. Acritelli, and Principal Hart for inviting me here today to speak with you on the occasion of Veterans Day.

I am a three-times mobilized retired Army Major and served 22 years, starting out as a combat medic for five years, then Officer Candidate School, and then as a Medical Service Corps officer.

The last nine years of my service were spent in Military Police Enemy Prisoner of War liaison units, as the Field Medical Assistant, in charge of medical, preventive medical and environmental services for Enemy Prisoner of War operations.

After 9/11, I was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the ranking US Army Medical Department officer with the Joint Detainee Operations Group, Joint Task Force 160. In short, I helped take care of bad guys.

After my retirement from the Army in 2008, I became very disappointed in the media coverage about Gitmo. I felt the media unfairly portrayed the operation as less than humane, which I knew was simply not true.

My colleagues and I, from all branches of the US military, Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and the Coast Guard, were dedicated, well trained, and served with honor and integrity.

International Committee of the Red Cross physicians I worked with there told me, “No one does detention operations better than the US.” We were the best, and I knew it.

My frustration over the inaccurate reports about Gitmo led me to write a memoir about my time there called “Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay.” It isn’t the whole story, but I like to think of it as a small piece to the big puzzle of the enigma we call Gitmo.

When last I spoke here I brought a few hard cover first edition copies of my book with me and donated them to the students and the school. I am here to do the same with the second edition, soft cover; one copy for Principal Hart as a dedication to your school library, and one to Mr. Acritelli to hold a raffle for interested students who might want a copy.

Not too long ago, a short documentary film was made about my experience at Gitmo, called “Heroes of Gitmo,” which is available on YouTube. Please check it out. Heroes of Gitmo.

I remember my service there as some of the most challenging times of my life, and I called it an emotional train wreck. In early 2002, at the beginning of the mission at Gitmo, we were told by then Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, that even though the detainees, who were all at least unlawful combatants, were not entitled to the protections and privileges of the Geneva Conventions, we would treat them however, he said, “within the spirit of Geneva.” That’s all we needed to hear. We only trained one way, the right way. And even though we may have hated the detainees for taking us away from our families, friends and careers, we were duty bound to treat them with dignity and respect.

Detainees are given FREE, Qurans, prayer rugs and beads, white robes, beards, directions to Mecca, halal and Muslim holy holiday meals including lamb and baklava, services of US military Muslim chaplains, world class health, dental and vision care, recreation, books, TV, DVDs, correspondence, sports and more.

741 detainees have been released, about 39 remain and none have been executed or brutalized the way our enemies have treated US or allied prisoners. There is no moral comparison between Gitmo and how our enemies treat their captives.

With all this said, there was Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, or EIT performed on a handful of detainees at Gitmo in order to obtain valuable information that saved many lives. Those techniques have been labeled torture after the fact, and did not meet the internationally accepted definition of torture at the time. The techniques were not performed by Army personnel nor any Department of Defense personnel, but by CIA operatives trained in the techniques.

Torture is wrong, but at the time, the techniques used were legal and approved. Since then, the techniques have been outlawed and even though one technique, waterboarding, has been singled out as particularly cruel, it was used in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training for US personnel scheduled to deploy overseas who might be at risk of kidnapping by our enemies. The training was to help prepare US personnel for potential waterboarding by our enemies. It is not lethal unless performed by poorly trained individuals.

My advice to you though is to not take my word for it, but research for yourself about the US operation at Guantanamo Bay, which is still ongoing. There is plenty to read, but mostly from former detainees, trained to lie about their treatment in captivity. I know some of these men through social media, have read their books and shared mine with them. To this day, we agree to disagree about certain facts surrounding their participation in the Global War on Terror and their detention.

Veterans Day is a special day when we, as a society turn to say “thank you” to our veterans, who wrote a blank check to all of us for everything up to and including their lives. It’s been said that, greater love hath no one than this: that a person lay down their life for their friends.

Thank you for taking the time to honor me and the other veterans here today. I appreciate your kind attention and loyal support very much.

When you see a veteran, thank them for their service, welcome them home and ask them about their service. What job did they have? How was the food? Do you remember a funny story? Would you do it all over again?

Some veterans would jump at the chance to talk with a young person about their service, and some might not. But you never know unless you ask.

In closing, always remember to think for yourselves. Don’t let anyone discount your thoughts or feelings about things that are important to you. But be gracious in your conversations and seek to truly understand what the other person is trying to communicate. This takes patience, consideration and thoughtfulness. But don’t ever mistake kindness for weakness. It is the strongest among us who are also the most kind.

Thank you and God bless.

Montgomery J. Granger

Major, US Army, Retired

It was great to be a part of something so special with people who care so deeply about the sacrifice and dedication of veterans. Michael Murphy’s father, Dan was present and spoke before I did at the assembly. It was humbling to see a man so full of pride for his son, lost in the service of his country, taking up the standard of selfless service, honor and integrity – which his son displayed and demonstrated while in uniform in the service of his country.

God bless America!

Never Volunteer? One Horse Cavalryman’s Tale

Posted on November 8, 2019 by mjgranger

SGT George Grassman, 5^th Infantry Division, 4^th Squadron, 12^th Cavalry, Ft. Carson, Colorado, did what every soldier is told NOT to do: volunteer. Yet there he was, a draftee mortarman (11C20) in 1965, in formation, listening to his infantry Platoon Sergeant lament about there not being enough horsemen to fill the saddles in an elite group of soldiers who would eat, sleep, live and breathe with one of the last cavalry outfits in the United States Army.

Little did George know at the time, he would be part of an original group of volunteers of the Ft. Carson Mounted Color Guard, whose motto, Semper Paratus means, “Always Ready.” The MCG celebrated its 50^th anniversary in December 2015. The group’s founder Hugh Trabandt, was driven to reproduce the glory days of the horse soldier, after having been a member of the US Cavalry Horse Platoon in Berlin, Germany in 1954.

SGT George Grassman, center

George had always liked horses. Growing up, his uncle had horses and would take George riding, so volunteering for the cavalry came naturally.

The 4^th of the 12^th was assigned parade and ceremony duty from time-to-time, but 24/7/365, they cared for and fed Army (and some civilian) horses, and loved every minute of it!

George told me tales of dress-right-dress in a trot for this ceremony or that; very disciplined, very serious, with every detail, from the straps to the spurs, looking perfect.

The horse cavalrymen had to make most of what they used for ceremonies, including piecing together uniforms, scarves, trim, and dyeing Army green wool blankets navy blue for the horse covers. When all was said and done, no one could tell that the trimmings and tack were homemade – the Army simply did not procure or supply cavalry fittings anymore.

George told me about some of the more relaxed times, like one day, while out haying for the horses, the men of the unit, in civilian clothes outside the base in the hay fields, took turns to see how high they could stack the hay bales in the back of a pick-up truck to take back to the stables.

They got the hay so high that it caught the attention of a state police officer, who pulled the men over.

George says, initially the officer told them he was going to write them a ticket, and they would have to go back and get rid of some of the hay because there was an overpass down the road that would surely not accommodate their towering stack.

The driver of the truck, lower in rank than George, quickly pointed out that George was in charge and should get the ticket instead of himself!

The officer demurred when George told the officer it wouldn’t be a problem to lower the height of the stack. The officer put away the summons and told the men to be careful.

Such antics were unique to the Horse Soldiers. Proud of their mounts and of their special status as favored ceremonial troops, George said he really enjoyed the duty.

I would not be telling you about George and his service had it not been for his habit of volunteering for things.

Not too long ago, when my third Eagle Scout son, Theodore (17) was planning his project, George jumped up figuratively, and volunteered not just to help Theodore, but also to lend him his garage, tools, scrap wood, patio and barbecue!

George’s generosity and selfless service are second-to-none. George lives on Long Island, New York, and is married to Roberta, and they have three grown children; two boys and a girl who have given them four grandchildren.

We believe that George’s kindness had a halo effect around my son. The three of us, Eagle Scout project supply list in hand, went off to a local Home Depot to obtain what we needed for the project.

Theodore asked for the manager, Sue, who told him, “No problem,” when he asked for a donation or discount from the store for his project. Sue told him to get what he needed and then ask for her at the check-out.

Not long into the shopping, a tall, strapping gentleman, wearing a blue baseball cap with an eagle head on it, approached my son, who was in full Class “A” Boy Scout uniform, and asked him if he was shopping for his Eagle Scout project. Why, yes he was!

The gentleman, who introduced himself as Mike, asked Theodore what his project was about (banner hangers in our church – the First United Methodist Church of Port Jefferson, NY – for an abundance of church banners!), and when he found out it was for Theodore’s church (George and I are both Trustees of the church), Mike said, “Follow me.”

We followed him to the checkout, where he promptly purchased a $100 gift card for Theodore, handed it to him and said, “Someday, pay it forward.” We thanked Mike for his generosity and promised to invite him to Theodore’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor. A self-employed contractor, Mike admitted to being an Eagle Scout himself, and choosing an Eagle for his company’s logo.

But George’s good luck hadn’t yet worn off!

When we were finished shopping and then called for Sue at the check-out, prepared to pay partially with the gift card, Sue refused, saying, “It’s all on us.”

Needless to say, we were all blown away at Sue’s and Home Depot’s generosity. Sue told Theodore she wanted only one promise. Theodore had to swear to bring her photos of the finished project. Not a problem!

For the next two days we and about eight other Scouts (including Theodore’s younger brother, Hamilton (13), four more adults and Theodore’s two older brother Eagle Scouts, Benjamin (23) and Harrison (20), cut, sanded, nailed, glued and stained wooden banner hangers, ten of them, which would hold two banners each. George could still fit into his vintage Boy Scout shirt, and wore it during the project construction.

Theodore, second from left; George, second from right; Harrison, right; Hamilton, center (red).

Theodore and George

We went from George’s hand built stand-alone garage – looking good as new at some thirty-plus years old – to the back of the church’s choir room and then Theodore and George installed the hangers on the back wall.

Mounted banner holders!

Author, back, left; Theodore, back second from left; George, center; Benjamin, back center; Hamilton, front, second from right.

This wasn’t George’s first rodeo. Several years earlier, George had helped my second son, Harrison with his Eagle Scout project, installing energy efficient light fixtures in the church Community Room. George just can’t help volunteering for things!

This Veterans Day, seek out those veterans and their stories who might be right under your nose (maybe members of your own church or civic group), but are maybe too humble to mention their glorious past. You might be very surprised at what and whom you find.

“Always Ready”

It took mentioning an old magazine cover I spotted in George’s garage during Theodore’s Eagle Scout project to get him to talk about his heyday. I’m very glad I spoke up. Moreover, I am glad that George volunteered to be one of the original Ft. Carson Mounted Color Guard horse soldiers.

Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay

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