n general, the rate of suicide among male Veterans Administration clients connected to care with the El Paso Veteran Affairs Health Care System has remained stable, according to Dr. Donna Nesbit-Veltri. (Camilo Jimenez/Borderzine.com)

More younger military veterans are committing suicide despite available VA programs

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EL PASO — As he sits at a faded-black dining room table, a man in his mid-twenties stares at the front door, his reflection visible from the dirty tabletop where a brown paper bag holding his lunch rests. His eyes dart focusing from one end of the room to the other as if he’s never been there before, sitting upright, inspecting the room. He specifically chose the seat with the best view of the front door, which he never stops looking at for more than a moment, because he says he is hardwired that way. He seems uneasy even though he has been here hundreds, if not, thousands of times, only four doors down from his childhood home. Esteban, 26, served four years in the United States Marine Corps and did two tours in Iraq.

New VA Education Program Causes Backlog

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EL PASO — The Post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 33), is a new education program from the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides education and housing assistance to individuals with at least 90 days of active duty service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. But with so many applicants, it caused a backlog that stalled education benefits to active duty members, veterans and dependents. The bill provides full tuition to an institution of higher learning, a housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend, not just to those with 90 days of service but also to those discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. When the Post 9/11 GI Bill became effective on Aug.