In this lecture “A new mission for veterans”, Jake Wood explains to his audience how the feeling of hopeless arouses when veterans return to their normal lifes as city dwellers. This video was recorded on December 2010 in California by the company TEDTALKS.

Jake starts off the lecture by reporting his own experience. Two years ago, he went to help on a place that nobody wants to go. There, he discovers that veteran has a flair for reacting in these ghastly situations when disasters strike. He claims that there are two aims, the inadequate disaster response and the inadequate veteran reintegration. In fact, he believes that these two problems together can be a solution.

He peppers his presentation with the mention of an acquaintance that lost so much of his life in the war that he kill herself when he returns to real life.

The lecturer pointed out that the solution is a program which gives them the opportunity to return to their comfort zone. He exemplifies the view with the case of one boy who finish his studies and immediately join the army. Consequently, he is sent to Irak. This boy doesn’t develop the sense of purpose. When he takes the uniform off, he is not a citizenship anymore.

Jake ends the presentation supporting the view that the project helps them to reintegrate into the society.