They Might Be a Blue Falcon If...
They might be a Blue Falcon if they testify to Congress that veterans receiving disability benefits are “dependent” — while they’re collecting those same benefits themselves.
Let me back up for readers who didn’t serve.
In the military, a Blue Falcon is the sanitized version of “buddy fucker.” That’s the guy who sells out his own to save himself. The one who takes credit for your work, rats you out to command, or leaves you hanging when things go sideways. It’s one of the worst things you can call someone in uniform because it violates the fundamental trust that keeps units alive.
Blue Falcons aren’t new. What’s new is that we’ve put them in charge of the Department of Defense.
Right now, there’s a flock of them circling veterans’ benefits, healthcare, and disability compensation. They’re testifying to Congress, writing op-eds, and shaping policy — all while positioning themselves as “reformers” looking out for veterans’ best interests.
But if you know the signs, Blue Falcons are easy to spot.
They Might Be a Blue Falcon If:
They testify to Congress that disability compensation creates “dependency” — but describe their own service-connected benefits as “earned” and never disclose what they collect.
They advocate slashing VA healthcare budgets — while maintaining their own VA healthcare coverage and never mentioning it in their bio.
They cite their own research to Congress as evidence — but conveniently omit the tables and findings that directly contradict their testimony.
They warn that veterans are becoming “unemployable” due to disability ratings — while holding multiple high-paying jobs, board positions, and consulting contracts themselves.
They argue that PTSD diagnosis rates are “too high” — but never mention what they’re rated for, or whether they’ve ever sought VA mental health treatment.
They claim young veterans don’t “need” their benefits — while their entire career has been built on leveraging their veteran status for credibility, book deals, and think tank positions.
They call for “reforming” the VA disability system — but their reforms only affect other veterans, never the benefits they receive.
They publish op-eds about the “moral injury” of accepting benefits — while accepting a government paycheck to write them.
They testify that combat veterans are “gaming the system” — but they’ve never worked a VA claims job, never processed a PTSD claim, and have no idea what evidence is actually required.
They advocate for policies that will cost veterans billions in benefits — but frame it as “tough love” and “helping them be independent,” as if the Iraq vet with PTSD who can’t hold a job just lacks willpower, or the sailor whose back gave out after 20 years of shipboard duty doesn’t deserve support because he wasn’t shot at.
They position themselves as an expert on veteran employment — while their data shows the opposite of what they claim, and they hope nobody reads past their abstract.
They warn about the “cost” of veteran benefits — but never mention the cost of 20 years of war, the cost of sending them in the first place, or the cost we agreed to pay when we promised them healthcare and disability compensation.
What’s At Stake
This isn’t abstract policy debate. These Blue Falcons are shaping the future of VA healthcare, disability compensation, and benefits that 5 million veterans currently rely on. Their testimony becomes legislation. Their op-eds become talking points. Their “research” becomes the basis for budget cuts.
And when those cuts happen, they’ll still have their benefits. They’ll still have their jobs. They’ll still be positioned as experts.
The 22-year-old who lost his legs in Afghanistan? He’ll be told he’s “dependent.” The Marine with TBI who can’t hold a job? She’ll be told she needs “tough love.” The Vietnam vet who finally got his Agent Orange benefits after a 40-year fight? He’ll be told the system is “too generous.”
Blue Falcons have always existed. But we used to identify them and route around them. We didn’t promote them. We didn’t put them in charge. And we sure as hell didn’t let them testify to Congress about how the rest of us should lose our benefits while they keep theirs.
What Veterans Need To Do
Know the signs. Track the testimony. Read past the headlines and look at who’s saying what — and what they’re not disclosing about their own situation.
When legislation gets introduced to “reform” VA benefits, ask who’s pushing it and what they stand to gain. When think tanks publish reports about “dependency,” check who funded the research and whether the authors are receiving the benefits they want to cut.
And when someone uses their veteran status to advocate against veterans’ interests, call it what it is.
A Blue Falcon leading a flock.
Share this piece. Tag the Blue Falcons you recognize. And remember: they’re counting on veterans not paying attention. Don’t give them that.