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A conversation with Dr. Ky Hunter CEO of ROC and Afghanistan Veterans of America January 23, 2026 Editor’s Note This Q&A is based on an interview with Dr. Ky Hunter CEO of ROC and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Q: What led you from military service into veterans’ advocacy and public policy work? My background is as a Marine Corps Cobra attack helicopter pilot, with multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. After active duty, I served in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. House of Representatives. That experience was transformative. I saw firsthand how policy decisions directly affect veterans’ lives, often far more than people realize. What stood out to me was how effective advocacy requires both strong research and real human stories. At the time, many policy discussions relied heavily on anecdotes without robust data. I wanted to help bridge that gap, using research to support lived experiences and push for evidence-based policy that improves quality of life after service and strengthens long-term military readiness.
Q: How would you describe the current state of veteran services in the United States? What is working well? There are several real success stories. The Post-9/11 GI Bill has been truly transformative, expanding education access and increasing veterans’ employment prospects and lifetime earnings. It’s also allowed benefits to be shared with families, which strengthens long-term stability. We’ve also seen strong progress in women’s veterans’ health care. Policies ensuring access to female primary care providers, direct gynecological care, and improved screening, especially for veterans exposed to burn pits. The PACT Act has also expanded eligibility for VA care, reaching tens of thousands of veterans who may not have known they qualified.
Q: Where are veterans still falling through the cracks? Mental health care is the most urgent concern. The VA is facing tens of thousands of vacant mental health provider positions. Many veterans prefer VA providers because they understand military culture, but shortages have led to longer wait times and increased reliance on community care, where access and quality can vary. This shift has been particularly challenging in rural areas, where community providers may not exist at all.
Q: What challenges do rural veterans face in places like coastal and inland Oregon? Rural veterans deal with long travel distances, seasonal road closures, and limited provider availability. In many communities, the VA has historically been the only reliable source of care, especially for women’s health services. When funding or staffing is reduced at VA facilities, rural veterans are disproportionately affected. Weather, geography, and infrastructure make missed appointments and delayed care very real consequences.
Q: What concerns are veterans raising about economic security and benefits? Housing and economic stability are top concerns. VA home loans are one of the most powerful tools veterans have to achieve homeownership, which is a key way military service helps break cycles of intergenerational poverty. Any effort to make those loans more expensive or limit access creates serious anxiety for veterans and their families. Veterans are also expressing concern about how current deployments and domestic use of military personnel may affect long-term mental health outcomes and future care needs.
Q: What steps should veterans and communities take right now to protect benefits and improve access to care? First, veterans should make sure they are enrolled in the VA system and registered under the PACT Act, even if they are unsure whether they qualify. Oregon’s veteran service officers are an excellent resource for navigating benefits. I also encourage people to get involved with organizations like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Advocacy matters, and educating both veterans and non-veterans about policy decisions helps ensure that lawmakers understand what veterans actually need.
Listen to the full interview at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4tjrZrHS-Y
Let’s Talk Tillamook is an independent community project led by experienced broadcasters and journalists dedicated to providing accurate, factual information and thoughtful conversations for the people of Tillamook County.