American Legion ups pressure on Coburn

American Legion ups pressure on Coburn

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 5, 2009 13:39:38 EST

The American Legion is organizing a grassroots campaign in Oklahoma to try to persuade Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to lift his hold on S 1963, an omnibus veterans bill, so it can be approved and enacted.

“We are contacting Legionnaires in Oklahoma to inform them about how their senator is delaying the bill and what that means for veterans, especially seriously injured veterans and their families,” said Steve Robertson, the Legion’s national legislative director.

The idea is that Legionnaires in Oklahoma would be able to spread the word to bring pressure on Coburn to change his mind, Robertson said.

Coburn is using Senate procedures to delay a vote on the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act because he wants to be able to offer an amendment that would pay for the new caregiver benefits, which would include monthly stipends, health care, counseling and other services.

Senate leaders do not want to allow the amendments, hoping to pass the bill quickly before Veterans Day, but Coburn — using rights available to every senator — has been able to prevent this from happening.
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American Legion ups pressure on Coburn

Fort Hood:He swore an oath of loyalty to the military

One of the questions that needs to be asked over the terror Maj. Hasan inflicted on the troops he was supposed to be taking care of, is what was he telling them? He was their psychologist! What did he tell them when they went to him for help with combat trauma? Did he end up with secondary PTSD from hearing their stories and seeing the wounded at Walter Reed?

Families have been wounded by secondary PTSD from living with PTSD veterans. Mental healthcare providers have been wounded by it because of all they have to hear and the repeated stress. Burnouts happen all the time. This has happened to me more times than I can remember and readers of this blog have witnessed it in me when it has gotten too much for me. But all of this leads to even more questions.

Did he make things worse for them? According to news reports, he was not that great at his job in the first place. What kind of training did he have on PTSD? Was he just what the DOD had their hands on to use to take care of the increased need of our troops to heal from all the traumatic events they were exposed to, especially with these multiple deployments? The Army study a few years ago stated clearly the redeployments increased the risk of PTSD by 50%. Didn't the troops deserve experts on PTSD instead? Don't they still deserve it?

Details Emerge on Hood Rampage Suspect
November 06, 2009
Associated Press

"He swore an oath of loyalty to the military," Grieger said. "I didn't hear anything contrary to those oaths."

WASHINGTON - His name appears on radical Internet postings. A fellow officer says he fought his deployment to Iraq and argued with Soldiers who supported U.S. wars. He required counseling as a medical student because of problems with patients.


There are many unknowns about Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the man authorities say is responsible for the worst mass killing on a U.S. military base. As of this morning 13 people are dead and 30 wounded following his alleged shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas.

For six years before reporting for duty at Fort Hood, Texas, in July, the 39-year-old Army major worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center pursuing his career in psychiatry, as an intern, a resident and, last year, a fellow in disaster and preventive psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.

While an intern at Walter Reed, Hasan had some "difficulties" that required counseling and extra supervision, said Dr. Thomas Grieger, who was the training director at the time.
read more here
http://www.military.com/news/article/details-emerge-on-hood-rampage-suspect.html?ESRC=eb.nl

This Major was supposed to be loyal to the troops like they were his own family because it is a military family. They are supposed to be willing to die for the sake of their brothers and sisters. We saw examples of this yesterday when they were pulling off their uniforms to bandage the wounded while waiting for help. This is as if it were domestic violence because a trusted member of the family killed others. I fear not many are taking yesterday's events seriously enough.

Over the years I've heard all kinds of statements that cause me to fear what is coming. I heard a Chaplain say that he does not know anything about PTSD but was sent to be counseling Marines in Iraq. While Chaplains are supposed to be taking care of the spiritual needs of the troops, this is a concern because PTSD is an emotional wound, caused by an outside force with one of the biggest issues is spiritual. They question their lifetime of understanding their faith, remembering a loving God, then wonder where God was with all of the horror they saw. They wonder how a loving God could allow all of that. They wonder if they were judged or abandoned by God. They need someone who not only knows God but what PTSD is as well. The other factor is that with the lack of trained psychologist, the chaplains are the next best thing for them to turn to, but over 60% seem to more interested in proselytizing than ministering to their needs.

Some psychologists and therapist believe that telling the troops they can prevent PTSD by training their minds is the answer, but it's not. They cannot stop being human. Scientists found the region of the brain where emotions live. They have seen the changes after trauma. PTSD is not a mental illness the way many think it is but an anxiety disorder caused by an outside force and it attacks the compassionate because they carry away the pain of others as well as their own pain. If they simply tell them they can train their brains, they are missing what PTSD is.

Are any of the troops prepared with what they really need to hear? Do they know how to heal? Do family members know what to do? After what I've seen in news reports, the answer is doubtful. With the increase of suicides and attempted suicides, that answer is supported by the results of the attempts they've come up with to address this.

With what happened at Fort Hood, there are many things they are missing. Now the biggest one after yesterday is the fact they were attacked by one of their own on their base where they are supposed to be safe. The "secondary stressor" of yesterday piled onto what they've already been exposed to will cause many to experience a full blown assault of PTSD without warning. Many think that their mild PTSD is as bad as it can be and they have not been given the proper treatment to begin to really heal. With this striking, there will be many in crisis and shocked over the sudden changes in themselves. The military has proven they were ill prepared for all of this and now it is very doubtful they will be prepared for what is to come.

Calling in crisis teams is the best thing they can do to take care of people who need to talk. Who will call in crisis teams for the already wounded now exposed to trauma at home? This was a man trusted to take care of them instead of trying to kill them and now there are 13 of their own they will have to grive for along with 30 more wounded. They will be looking for answers and wondering who they can trust. Aside from this, they will also be wondering who the miltiary decided was worthy of trusting with their care.

Report: Vets need drug treatment, not jail

Report: Vets need drug treatment, not jail

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 5, 2009 14:25:31 EST

Treatment, not incarceration, should be the first option for veterans who commit nonviolent drug-related offenses, a group advocating alternatives to the nation’s “war on drugs” said Wednesday in a new report.

The Drug Policy Alliance report also called on government agencies to adopt overdose prevention programs and policies for vets who misuse substances or take prescription medicines, and urged “significantly expanded” access to medication-assisted therapies, such as methadone and buprenorphine, for the treatment of dependence on opioid drugs used to treat pain and mood disorders.

During a conference call with a Drug Policy Alliance representative and seven other advocates for change in the treatment of veterans, the military’s Tricare health benefits program came under fire for what a New York-based physician and specialist in drug addiction treatment called its failure to pay for veterans’ and family members’ opioid dependence treatments.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veterans_drug_treatment_110509w/

MTV Returns to Duty and still focusing on our troops

MTV’s “Return to Duty”, a documentary honoring young veterans and active duty servicemen and women that will follow “The Real World: Brooklyn’s” Ryan Conklin as he returns to the battlefields of Iraq for a second tour of duty. “Return to Duty” airs on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, at 9pm ET/PT.


MTV’S “RETURN TO DUTY” TAKES AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY WITH “THE REAL WORLD: BROOKLYN’S” RYAN CONKLIN AS HE RETURNS TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ



One-Hour Documentary Premieres On MTV Veteran’s Day,

Wednesday, November 11 at 9PM ET/PT



MTV, MTV2 and mtvU to Celebrate Millennial Veterans’ Service, Connect Them to Resources, and Empower Young Civilians to Support their Peers



New York, NY (October 28, 2009) –MTV will honor young veterans and active duty servicemen and women this Veteran’s Day with the premiere of “Return to Duty” -- Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 9 pm ET/PT on MTV, and at 11 pm ET/PT on MTV2 – along with a suite of special programming and links to Veterans resources across all of its platforms. Viewers of “The Real World: Brooklyn” vividly remember the emotional moment when cast member and Army vet Ryan Conklin was unexpectedly recalled for a second tour of duty in Iraq. And now, Ryan himself takes us through the year since that day. In “Return to Duty”, we go to Ryan's hometown of Gettysburg as he prepares to go back to Iraq, and as he once again has to say good-bye to his family. Once in Iraq and back on parole through the streets of Baghdad, Ryan shows us a view of the war that's different than anything we've seen before.



Recently, MTV research revealed that 74 percent of young people ages 18-29 personally know someone who has fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. With this in mind, MTV, MTV2 and mtvU are featuring a number of public service announcements, short-form features and resources as part of an ongoing commitment to support our newest generation of veterans. This content will focus on the difficult transition these men and women face as they come home to civilian life and how their civilian counterparts can help make this adjustment easier.



Veteran’s Day Programming Includes:



Return To Duty (9 pm ET/PT on MTV; 11 pm ET/PT on MTV2) - Return to Duty is Ryan’s gritty and very personal document of his return as a patrol gunner to the sweltering streets of Baghdad. Equipped with his own video camera, and the addition of a camera crew embedded with his unit, it’s a soldier’s view of America’s changing military presence in the long war in Iraq. His very close-knit family back home must cope with the fear and absence of their son fighting overseas once again; while his new found relationship with Real World: Brooklyn roommate Baya is put to a critical test.



Today’s Student Vets: From War to College (Airing on MTV, MTV2, and mtvU) - Rich, a young veteran, attends a University in Manhattan after his military tour abroad and talks candidly about the difficulties he’s faced since returning to campus - from emotional to academic. This short-form feature will follow Rich and two other young veterans as they make the challenging transition back into college life, delving into the emotional struggles they face, and how civilian students can play a role in helping them adjust back into civilian life. This feature, sponsored by the McCormick Foundation, will be released as part of mtvU and The Jed Foundation’s Peabody Award-winning “Half of Us” campaign, which works to fight the stigma around mental health and encourage help-seeking among college students across the country. Veterans and students can access the campaign’s Veterans resource center at www.halfofus.com/veterans



Public Service Announcements (Airing on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU)– In partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, mtvU’s Half of Us campaign is releasing three new PSAs addressing the emotional struggles college veterans face when returning to campus and how civilian students can play a role in easing that transition. To view the public service announcements, please head to http://www.halfofus.com/video/.



Brave.MTV.com – All of MTV’s Veterans-related programming will drive viewers to this comprehensive action center, where Vets can access resources, civilians can get involved and support America’s young veterans, and anyone can check out MTV’s acclaimed veterans programming, including “Kanye West: Homecoming” and “A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE.” The site connects Veterans to online support systems from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) the country’s first and largest nonpartisan, non-profit for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The website also offers a broad range of resources, including information on how to use the new GI Bill, and for those enrolled in college a pathway to join the Student Veterans of America. Civilians are offered opportunities to sign MTV’s B.R.A.V.E. petition -- to ensure our returning veterans get the support they need – and to get involved in Vets-related service projects and more.



IAVA’s Third Annual Heroes Gala- Additionally, the network will be deeply involved with IAVA’s Third Annual Heroes Gala. Here, MTV networks will be honored with the 2009 IAVA Civilian Service Award for stewarding programming showing the true face of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing new veterans.



MTV.com - For exclusive video blogs and photos of Ryan and his family, including never before seen video from Iraq, check out www.returntoduty.mtv.com. The site also allows viewers to watch the full season of The Real World: Brooklyn and view photos of the cast.



“Return To Duty” was created for MTV by Bunim-Murray Productions. Jon Murray and Jim Johnston serve as Executive Producers of “Return To Duty.” Jacquelyn French is the MTV executive overseeing the project.

Aftermath of Fort Hood shootings may be worse

Aftermath of Fort Hood shootings may be worse

As the news reports kept coming out today about the carnage at Fort Hood, my greatest fears were not for today, but for the next few months ahead. No one is talking about "secondary stressors" and this needs to be addressed quickly.

There are crisis teams heading there according to the press briefing by Lt. Gen. Robert Cone. This is one of the best things they can do. I spent months taking this kind of training and it is very thorough. The issue that we need to be concerned about is when there are thousands of soldiers, combat soldiers with multiple tours, many of them are dealing with mild PTSD. Mild PTSD is not that hard to cope with. They live pretty normal lives while covering up the pain they have inside. Many even cope well the rest of their lives but many do not. Like a ticking time bomb, PTSD rests waiting to strike if untreated. It waits for the next traumatic event and then mild PTSD turns into PTSD on steroids.

These are the soldiers that will need the greatest help as soon as possible.

These bases are very well secured. That makes the soldiers and their families feel safe. Think about going into combat and then making it home alive where you are supposed to be safe. Then having this happen.

I was at Fort Hood in March. I had an auto rental and even though I had a military issued ID, that was not good enough at the guard house. I had to show my rental agreement every time I drove onto the base. Even if you have a Department of Defense sticker on your car, you still have to show your military ID. That makes them feel they are safe. Then away from harm, away from combat, they end up having to face something like this from not only one of their own, but a Major and a Doctor who is supposed to be there for them, trying to kill them.

Crisis teams will address the traumatic events of today, but the soldiers that have already been involved in traumatic events cutting into them will need far greater help than anyone is really prepared to deliver. This is my greatest fear for them.

Then we have troops from Fort Hood and other bases deployed into Iraq and Afghanistan wondering who they can trust now after one of their own did something like this. None of this is good and the aftermath may be worse than this day itself.