For Mike Johnson, a U.S. Army veteran, the path to stability was anything but straight. Five years ago, Johnson marked a turning point: he got sober. As of November 11, 2025, he’s celebrating half a decade without alcohol—a milestone that, for much of his life, might’ve seemed as distant as the moon. His journey, marked by homelessness, incarceration, and relentless struggle, is now a story of resilience and hope. And as the nation pauses to honor its veterans, Johnson’s experience stands as both a cautionary tale and a beacon for others navigating the rocky terrain of post-military life.
Johnson’s early years were shaped by hardship. He grew up poor, finished high school ahead of schedule, and enlisted in the Army at just 17. “During my first year of service, I was always the youngest one in any room,” Johnson recalls. Determined to fit in with his older peers, he found himself using his military ID to access bars—a decision that would cast a long shadow over his future. Over the next two decades, Johnson’s life unraveled. He bounced from couch to couch, sometimes living in his car, and—at his lowest point—spent years behind bars. For a time, he admitted, the most stable years of his life were in prison.
But Johnson’s story doesn’t end there. Today, he’s channeling his hard-won wisdom into helping others, counseling fellow veterans who are fighting their own battles with addiction, homelessness, and despair. “Paying it forward” has become his mission, and he’s determined to ensure that no one else has to walk the same lonely road he did. His work comes at a critical moment, as the nation grapples with how to best serve the more than 17 million veterans who call the United States home.
This Veterans Day, the spotlight isn’t just on individual stories like Johnson’s. It’s also on sweeping changes at the institutional level. According to KCRA 3, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins appeared on air on November 10, 2025, to outline a series of reforms that, he says, mark a “new era of accountability and service” at the VA. These reforms, launched in 2025, aim to strengthen benefits, improve access to care, and expand support for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
“We’ve had a whole new attitude change at the VA. We’re about the veteran first. We’re not about our bureaucracy or what we’re doing. It’s about why do we show up for work every day. And that’s only one reason. That’s the veterans,” Collins said during the interview. He emphasized that the VA’s mission is now laser-focused on serving those who served, rather than getting bogged down in red tape.
And the numbers, at least for now, seem to back up his optimism. Since January 2025, the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits has dropped by 45%. That’s a reduction of 150,000 claims that had languished for more than 125 days. In fiscal year 2025, the VA processed a record 3 million disability claims—the highest in its history. “That’s just getting veterans answers quicker so that they can move on with their life and get the benefits they’ve earned,” Collins explained.
But the changes don’t stop there. The VA has opened 20 new health care clinics across the country this year, aiming to reach veterans in underserved areas. An additional $800 million has been invested in facility upgrades, ensuring that patient care is not only accessible but safe and effective. According to the department, veterans enrolled in the VA system now have faster access to non-VA providers—a move designed to cut wait times and get patients the care they need, when and where they need it. New reforms have also made it easier for survivors to receive benefits, reducing bureaucratic hurdles that have long frustrated grieving families.
Of course, not everything is running smoothly. The government shutdown in November 2025 has cast a long shadow over federal agencies, and the VA is no exception. While Collins reassured veterans that health care appointments and disability payments remain unaffected—thanks to advance funding—other services have taken a hit. Educational and vocational benefits, crucial for veterans transitioning to civilian life, have been disrupted. Over 37,000 VA workers were furloughed, and though most have returned to work, many are doing so without pay. “We’re just at a little bit of a slowdown dealing with those which do affect, you know, how veterans get services and they don’t have that one on one treatment that we are able to normally give them,” Collins admitted.
The impact is real, especially for veterans trying to build new lives after service. “A lot of our students, a lot of our vocational rehab and education folks are folks who transitioned out of active duty military into civilian life. Most all of that is shut down right now,” Collins explained. While the VA is still processing educational benefits for those already in school, the disruption underscores how fragile the safety net can be—even in a year marked by progress.
Still, Collins remains hopeful. “Veterans, thanks. I mean, I’ve been an honor to serve with you for over the past 20 plus years, 25 years also now to serve you as you come out. Just please know that what you’ve done means a lot by raising your right hand, serving in our military, making it the best and baddest in the world. You’re also now earning benefits from the VA and the country is thankful for you and your service,” he said, offering a message of gratitude ahead of Veterans Day.
For veterans like Johnson, these reforms and expressions of thanks are more than just words—they’re lifelines. After years of instability, he’s found purpose in helping others, and he sees firsthand how vital timely benefits, accessible health care, and community support can be. His story is a reminder that while the road home can be long and fraught with obstacles, it’s not one veterans have to walk alone.
As the nation honors its veterans this November, both the sweeping policy changes and the individual stories of perseverance offer reason to hope that the next chapter for America’s veterans will be one of dignity, support, and—finally—stability.