Joe Latham

• Branch: USMC
• Years Served: 16
• Rank: E6-SSGT
• Military Occupation: Infantryman
• Hometown: Ladera Ranch, CA
• Twitter Handle: @joemlatham

Tell us a little about you outside of the military:

I am a mental health provider at Irvine Valley College, a Community College system in California.

Why are you participating in the fly-in with IAVA?

To gain an in-depth understanding of how legislation is created and how change occurs within our country. I also aim to advocate for my fellow veterans and provide insights into the challenges and obstacles they face.

How did your military experience shape you to be the person you are today?

Joining the Marine Corps in early 2001 and experiencing the aftermath of 9/11 was a transformative period for me. The intense training and deployment taught me the value of perseverance through challenges and the importance of building genuine interpersonal bonds. These relationships, especially with a mentor who taught me about emotional vulnerability, shaped my approach to mental health. The loss of friends to mental illness ignited a new purpose in me to help others heal from the pains of combat. As a clinician, I focus on creating compassionate relationships to aid in emotional exploration and psychological development, leveraging my personal and professional experiences to foster healing.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you believe is the most pressing? Why?

Mental health intervention and treatments for the veteran community are paramount. Early intervention improves prognosis, and normalization of treatment before and after discharge is crucial. Supportive care and more veteran mental health providers can significantly promote mental health awareness and effective treatment.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you have the strongest personal connection to? Why?

I have a strong personal connection to modernizing the VA health care system. Based on my experience, the current systems are outdated, and there should be more veterans serving veterans. Additionally, incentivizing veteran providers and addressing the inequity of care caused by differences in insurance reimbursement rates are important. These issues impact the quality and accessibility of mental health care for veterans.