“The National Association for Black Veterans” (NABVETS), is a nationally recognized and certified Veterans Service Organization established in 1998 by Vietnam combat veterans in the United States. The Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert A. Cocroft (late) was the founder of this organization. The organization was established by seven Vietnam combat veterans who gave their advice, considerations, and proposals to run this organization. The command council advisory board also facilitated the organization in filing the records, fulfilling the project criteria, and establishing the information system for launching the organization. The late BG. Richard Cocroft (the National Commander) of the organization developed the initiative which was called “Day of Honor”. The launching of this organization received mixed responses from the public and government sectors. Therefore, an interview is conducted with one of the members of NABVETS to elucidate the main purpose, information system, limitations, and recommendations for this organization.
This organization was established for honoring black military veterans who face many complications (financial, racial, medical, etc.) after their military service. Furthermore, the organization is dedicated to facilitating veterans with disability benefits, medical, social, and financial services regardless of their race and nationality. The organization is directly serving advocacy in congress to the unmet requirements of minority and low-income military veterans. The prime reason for the establishment of NABVETS is the racial discrimination, physical disability, economic problems, and medical problems faced by black veterans who cannot earn a good living after their military services. The initiation era of the organization was successful, but later on, the organization began to lose efficient implementation of its strategies.
Although, NABVETS is functioning very well nationally and internationally, there are some problems faced by the organization in implementing their information system. The interview conducted with retired Commander Williams enlightened the number of complications the organization is facing because of its outdated paper filing system. According to the information extracted from the interview, the organization was using a paper filing system as their prime information system. As the technology is evolving with time, NABVETS also grew to cause problems in handling the records, information system, and errors/ time consumption in filing data of the veterans. At the initiation of the organization, all goals and strategies were effectively fulfilled for the members and veterans. However, as time passed, the information system and the strategies require alternative strategies, improvement, and revision. Radial steps are being taken by the commander in charge and council board to gain the lost purpose of the organization. New information systems, strategic proposals, and management services are required.
References
Delaware Joining Forces—State of Delaware. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://delaware.gov/djf/veteranProfile.php?aid=124
NABVETS | With Bravery & Strength They Serve. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://nabvets.com/
The National Association for Black Veterans, Inc (NABVETS). (2013, June 17). Military Consumer. https://www.militaryconsumer.gov/content/national-association-black-veterans-inc-nabvets
