Army's senior NCO addresses Soldier issues during Wiesbaden visit
Jun 25, 2009
By Karl Weisel (USAG Wiesbaden)
WIESBADEN, Germany - Stress on the force, recruitment, retention and the Year of the NCO were among an array of topics addressed by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston during a day-long visit to Wiesbaden Army Airfield, June 24.
The Army's senior enlisted leader told a packed auditorium of Soldiers and families that he "wanted a good feeling for what's on their minds."
After touring several facilities on the airfield – including the Warrior Transition Unit, the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers' Warrior Zone, Wiesbaden Fitness Center and being briefed on ongoing transformation in U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden – Preston joined junior enlisted Soldiers for lunch. The one-on-one discussion time was followed by an open forum with Soldiers and their families in the Flyers Theater.
During the forum the sergeant major of the Army described the shape of the force, which currently includes 548,000 active-duty troops, of which 260,000 are deployed to 80 countries around the world. Those Soldiers and 95,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves also deployed are "doing an incredible job around the world," he said.
Preston described a meeting with President Barack Obama and other military leaders in which he raised concerns including stress on the force, recruiting and retention. "It's pretty stressful. There are a lot of dynamics out there because the Army is busy."
Describing how he told the president that stress occurs both during deployment and "when the units come back during dwell time," he said he "wanted the president to understand that it's not just operational stress but also institutional stress and stress on our families."
A tumbling economy was another stress factor, he noted.
Calling them "warning lights on the dashboard," the Army’s senior noncommissioned officer said a rise in suicides and post traumatic stress were visible effects of this stress on the force.
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NCO addresses Soldier issues during Wiesbaden visit
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Members Mental Health Screening Act
U.S. House passes Defense Authorization Act
By Matthew Reichbach 6/25/09 3:51 PM
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today, the annual bill which funds the Department of Defense. The bill passed 389-22.
The bill included an amendment by Congressman Harry Teague that would set up a post-deployment mental health screening program for service members. The amendment, named the Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Members Mental Health Screening Act after a Las Crucen who struggled with PTSD and eventually committed suicide after returning home from combat, was introduced by Teague in Las Cruces in May.
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http://newmexicoindependent.com/30527/u-s-house-passes-defense-authorization-act
Congressman Harry Teague Calls for Veterans and Service Members Mental Health
Screenings to Address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Bill Named in Honor of Local Veteran Kyle Barthel
Las Cruces, NM - Wednesday at Veteran's Memorial Park, Congressman Harry Teague unveiled a bill to address an increasingly prevalent issue for military personnel and combat veterans, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Member Mental Health Screening Act calls for mandatory mental health screening for military personnel upon induction into the military, before and after deployment, and before discharge.
"Kyle served in the 101st Airborne and was deployed to Iraq. Kyle reached out and sought treatment but was never but was never able to get the mental health help that he needed and deserved. Sadly, Kyle took his own life after suffering from problems associated with PTSD," said Congressman Harry Teague, speaking of the native Las Crucen the bill is titled in honor of.
The legislation comes amid rising concerns that undiagnosed and untreated PTSD cases are leading to mental health issues that decrease quality of life for returning combat veterans and in some cases result in suicide. Suicide rates for the Army have risen 60% since 2003 and the 101st Airborne, which Kyle was a member of, has this year alone suffered 14 deaths that are being investigated as suicides.
"When the Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess, I will introduce the Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Members Mental Health Screening Act, a bill calling for mandatory and confidential mental health assessments for service members so that those who need it can get the mental health treatment they have earned and so we can begin to stem the tide of tragic incidents associated with PTSD."
Congressman Harry Teague was joined by Kyle Barthel's mother and close family friend, County Commissioner Scott Krahling at the announcement.
"When I decided to run for public office, it was because I wanted to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Today, I can say I feel like I am part of the solution to a very big problem," said Commissioner Krahling. "Although he isn't here with us today, Kyle is here in spirit and we are here because of him. His life has inspired action that will give hope to the many military personnel and veterans currently suffering from PTSD."
Congressman Harry Teague serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and has made fighting for our nation's veterans a central priority since being sworn in January 6th, 2009.
By Matthew Reichbach 6/25/09 3:51 PM
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today, the annual bill which funds the Department of Defense. The bill passed 389-22.
The bill included an amendment by Congressman Harry Teague that would set up a post-deployment mental health screening program for service members. The amendment, named the Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Members Mental Health Screening Act after a Las Crucen who struggled with PTSD and eventually committed suicide after returning home from combat, was introduced by Teague in Las Cruces in May.
go here for more
http://newmexicoindependent.com/30527/u-s-house-passes-defense-authorization-act
Congressman Harry Teague Calls for Veterans and Service Members Mental Health
Screenings to Address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Bill Named in Honor of Local Veteran Kyle Barthel
Las Cruces, NM - Wednesday at Veteran's Memorial Park, Congressman Harry Teague unveiled a bill to address an increasingly prevalent issue for military personnel and combat veterans, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Member Mental Health Screening Act calls for mandatory mental health screening for military personnel upon induction into the military, before and after deployment, and before discharge.
"Kyle served in the 101st Airborne and was deployed to Iraq. Kyle reached out and sought treatment but was never but was never able to get the mental health help that he needed and deserved. Sadly, Kyle took his own life after suffering from problems associated with PTSD," said Congressman Harry Teague, speaking of the native Las Crucen the bill is titled in honor of.
The legislation comes amid rising concerns that undiagnosed and untreated PTSD cases are leading to mental health issues that decrease quality of life for returning combat veterans and in some cases result in suicide. Suicide rates for the Army have risen 60% since 2003 and the 101st Airborne, which Kyle was a member of, has this year alone suffered 14 deaths that are being investigated as suicides.
"When the Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess, I will introduce the Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Members Mental Health Screening Act, a bill calling for mandatory and confidential mental health assessments for service members so that those who need it can get the mental health treatment they have earned and so we can begin to stem the tide of tragic incidents associated with PTSD."
Congressman Harry Teague was joined by Kyle Barthel's mother and close family friend, County Commissioner Scott Krahling at the announcement.
"When I decided to run for public office, it was because I wanted to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Today, I can say I feel like I am part of the solution to a very big problem," said Commissioner Krahling. "Although he isn't here with us today, Kyle is here in spirit and we are here because of him. His life has inspired action that will give hope to the many military personnel and veterans currently suffering from PTSD."
Congressman Harry Teague serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and has made fighting for our nation's veterans a central priority since being sworn in January 6th, 2009.
Procedure to remove kidney stones ended up costing woman her leg!
Woman goes into Tampa General Hospital for a kidney stone procedure, and winds up losing a leg
By Victoria Bekiempis, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, June 25, 2009
TAMPA — She went to the hospital to have a kidney stone blasted away with sound waves, but the procedure wound up costing her a leg, her attorney says.
The procedure, called a lithotripsy, is considered noninvasive. Anesthesia is required, however, because the process — in which kidney stones are pulverized sonically — is extremely painful.
Kelli Woodfin thinks anesthesia complications caused circulation loss in her right leg, her lawyer David Eaton said. By the time the medical team figured out what went wrong, the leg could not be saved, he said.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1013149.ece
By Victoria Bekiempis, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, June 25, 2009
TAMPA — She went to the hospital to have a kidney stone blasted away with sound waves, but the procedure wound up costing her a leg, her attorney says.
The procedure, called a lithotripsy, is considered noninvasive. Anesthesia is required, however, because the process — in which kidney stones are pulverized sonically — is extremely painful.
Kelli Woodfin thinks anesthesia complications caused circulation loss in her right leg, her lawyer David Eaton said. By the time the medical team figured out what went wrong, the leg could not be saved, he said.
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1013149.ece
Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device for Parkinson's
Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device for Parkinson's patients
Parkinson's disease left Michel Medina Gonzalez unable to walk, talk or feed himself. But a cutting-edge treatment he received in Orlando helped fix that.
By Fernando Quintero Sentinel Staff Writer
June 25, 2009
Michel Medina Gonzalez shook violently in his chair inside a patient room at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was fitted earlier this month with a brain implant to control his symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Using a wireless device slightly larger than a PDA, Dr. Alex Gonzalez, a neurologist with Orlando Health, remotely adjusted the electronic implant with a stylus.
After a few adjustments, Michel's trembling left leg, which had been causing his foot to constantly tap on the floor, stopped moving.
Orlando Health is among the first hospitals in the nation to offer the new, implantable deep-brain-stimulation device that gives Parkinson's patients greater control of their movements
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Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device
Parkinson's disease left Michel Medina Gonzalez unable to walk, talk or feed himself. But a cutting-edge treatment he received in Orlando helped fix that.
By Fernando Quintero Sentinel Staff Writer
June 25, 2009
Michel Medina Gonzalez shook violently in his chair inside a patient room at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was fitted earlier this month with a brain implant to control his symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Using a wireless device slightly larger than a PDA, Dr. Alex Gonzalez, a neurologist with Orlando Health, remotely adjusted the electronic implant with a stylus.
After a few adjustments, Michel's trembling left leg, which had been causing his foot to constantly tap on the floor, stopped moving.
Orlando Health is among the first hospitals in the nation to offer the new, implantable deep-brain-stimulation device that gives Parkinson's patients greater control of their movements
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Orlando hospital pioneers latest deep-brain-stimulation device
Congress puts defense contractors before the troops again!
President Obama made it clear that the old way of spending money on defense contractors is gone, over and done with. No more wasteful spending on things not needed, no more unaccountability and no bid contracts. Congress however still wants to play their game with appropriations. In the process, their stunt of keeping in funding for the F-22 and F-35 has placed pay raises for the troops on the line. Are they out of their minds? This nation is broke! They still want to spend money for this?
Obama threatens veto of authorization bill
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jun 25, 2009 12:58:25 EDT
The Obama administration has issued a veto threat of the 2010 defense authorization bill over disagreements involving two aircraft programs.
But in a departure from the previous administration, the White House has not objected to Congress providing a larger pay raise for troops.
The June 24 statement of policy on HR 2647, the House version of the 2010 defense bill, says the two chief disagreements involve the F-22 and F-35 programs.
On the F-22, the administration “strongly objects” to the bill including $369 million in advanced procurement of the fighter plane.
“The collective judgment of the service chiefs and secretaries of the military departments suggests that a final program of record of 187 F-22s is sufficient to meet operational requirements,” the statement says, warning that if the advance procurement money is in the bill presented to the president, his advisers would recommend a veto.
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Obama threatens veto of authorization bill
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