I am going to first of all thank you for the opportunity.
I would like to say that I've been at this job for about 10 years, and in those 10 years I've noticed two things.
I've noticed, as I've probably mentioned, that the conditions that are being presented to us are shifting as the clientele has shifted. In the past, we had a majority of World War II and Korean veterans. They were veterans for whom the war was a calling. They put down their picks and their shovels, they went off to war, and after the war, they went back to their picks and shovels and were grateful for whatever services the government would offer.
Many of today's veterans no doubt see it as a calling, but it's also a career for them. They are much more aware of their rights and are much more willing to pursue those rights. That's changed the nature of the clientele we deal with.
Again, psychiatric conditions, although still not at the top of the list, are gaining momentum, and not necessarily because there are more of them. I think it's because the science behind it has brought it more to the fore and it's being recognized more and more as a condition.
Again, thank you for your time. I appreciate it.
