An effort to help disabled military veterans was underway this week. The Veteran Independent Research Organization hosted a workshop at the University of Guam. It was aimed at providing those who served in our armed forces with the tools and skills to create documentary-quality videos. The goal - to highlight life of our veterans here on guam. 

Guam is known for being among the highest in military recruitment.  Still, medical help and resources for veterans on the island is very limited. At least that's according to local veteran John Concepcion. "For instance, in patient care, if myself wants to, you know, at least get some sort of inpatient care, I have to fly to Hawaii. So why is that? Why can't we just have a few beds here for those that are struggling with PTSD or any other mental health issues? So yes, the resources are not here, It’s sad," he shared.

"Sometimes we feel like second-class veterans."

Concepcion is among other veterans taking their experience to participate in a filmmaking workshop called  "Voices of Veterans: Masterclass in Visual Storytelling." The group gathering this week at UOG.

Hosted by the Veteran Independent Research Organization, the three-day workshop was led by two veterans turned scholars. VIRO co-founder Michael Flores and local filmmaker Tony Azios aim to empower military veterans, like Concepcion, who feel forgotten after serving their country.

The focus - to give them the tools and skills to create documentary-quality videos to tell their stories. Flores is currently an NPR affiliate journalist and served as a medic during his military career, and he told KUAM News, "These stories need to be told because I think America tends to forget the sacrifices veterans have made for this country. PTSD, physical injuries, with disability, they’re giving pennies for their service and especially here on Guam."

"I do a lot of reporting on veterans on NPR radio over in California and there’s issues with the VA over there, getting them housing but over here on Guam it’s very different, they’re ignored."

Disabled veteran and VIRO co-founder Nathan Tilton knows all too well the feeling and difficulty these former service members have faces. Additionally, as a PhD student at the University of California at Berkeley, based on his field studies, research, including his personal experience trying to strengthen health services on the island, he, too noticed a critical lack in services for veterans.

He said, "I was out here, working the past summer and it was a wonderful experience but to be, especially with the Department of Affairs and the CBOC is manned for 8,000 veterans right but we all know there’s more than 8,000 vets and least to be at least 3 to 4 and a half doctors."

Both Flores and Tilton say they will work with the veterans along the way to make the documentary.  It's a launching pad to start the discussion of the harsh realities of being a veteran, dealing with mental issues such as PTSD and grappling with the moral injury of war.

For Concepcion, it also includes still taking pride in his heritage and standing with his fellow CHamorus. "I'm still on two sides of the coin here. I have served and I am proud CHamoru. It's, it's a story in itself. You know, really, I'm just trying to live day by day, and I'm trying to find who I am, at this moment, after serving," he said.

"Why are we forgotten? Yeah. Why, why, why? Why are we forgotten? And why? Why does it take, you know, us to create a film for you to see that the veterans here are struggling? Why? Why do we have to send that message in the first place shouldn't even be that way. So if it takes us to get together and make it happen by film, then so be it that just shows the support we have."

Additionally the veterans hope the project will also bring awareness to just how much help is needed.