ORLANDO, Fla. — As November marks National Veteran and Military Families Month, many veterans continue to face challenges from their transitions from military to civilian life.
A 2021 study by the Military Family Advisory Network revealed nearly 40% of veterans surveyed said they had less than $500 in an emergency savings fund — or no money saved up at all. And more than 80% of veterans surveyed said their finances caused them stress at some point over the last year.
One Central Florida veteran says he is still struggling after the rigors of military training caused him major leg injuries and left him disabled for life.
Army veteran Michael Kranci says he can still walk — but not far. He says overseas and even back at home, he believes his medical care has not been as good as it could’ve been, leaving him with debilitating pain.
Kranci’s desire for discipline drew him to the military, which instilled even more discipline that’s ingrained in him for good.
“I wake up at 0400 every day, just about, and I go to sleep when it gets dark, I eat at the same time every day — you’re stuck like that,” Kranci said.
But while mental habits remain, it’s the physical scars Kranci’s left with that make life most difficult.
“My life is just I’m going to sit until that hurts and then I’m going to stand until that hurts, then maybe I’ll lay down, then I’ll sit down then I’ll stand, so I just have to rotate what I want to hurt right now,” he said.
And he says his veteran benefits aren’t enough to pay the rent along with all the other costs of living. And he says he’s had trouble finding an affordable lawyer to help represent him after he bought what he believes was a faulty used car.
“Predatory car lots, and then on top of that the veterans insurance isn’t taking care of the veteran,” Kranci said. “And it’s just a mess.”
His car has been in the shop for five months, leaving him with no dependable way to get to classes at Full Sail University, where he’s studying audio engineering.
“I’m having to ask people for rides, I can’t go to the grocery store, I can’t go out and do stuff, I can’t socialize — I’m stuck at home,” Kranci said.
Making music is something that’s been a big part of Kranci’s life since he was a boy — he says it is a form of expression when words just won’t do.
“Music isn’t something that you can put into words, it’s more of a feeling,” said Kranci. “And so if you don’t know how to say something you can make a song and it will say it for you.”
And his medical issues are not stopping Kranci from making music — he’s building a career he hopes will help him overcome his physical challenges.
“I like a challenge, and this is something where it’s a challenge when you want it to be, it’s easy sometimes — you can be creative with it,” Kranci said.