Specter trying to forestall closings of five veterans centers
Saturday, December 05, 2009
By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is trying to find federal funding for five Pennsylvania veterans outreach centers that will run out of money by Dec. 31.
He'll have to act fast. At least one center, in Erie, has already closed. And the remaining centers -- in Harrisburg, Greensburg, Boyertown and West Pittston -- are no longer seeing clients. The state Department of Labor and Industry has provided just enough money to complete the closure process.
"If he can get the money to keep it open, I will probably stay on," James Krobath, an operations specialist in the Harrisburg center, said of Mr. Specter's efforts. "It would be pretty difficult at this point to recover. We're in the closeout mode."
Budget cuts have pushed state government to shutter the facilities, which help veterans with a range of services, from seeking pension benefits to obtaining medals. They have a strong reach in rural areas.
go here for more
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09339/1018665-454.stm
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Report slams flaws in DoD sex assault program
Report slams flaws in DoD sex assault program
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 5, 2009 8:22:44 EST
The Pentagon office charged with oversight of military sexual assault prevention and response policy is not doing an effective job — and responsibility should be placed, at least temporarily, directly in the hands of the deputy secretary of defense, a task force has recommended.
The report by the Defense Department’s Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services, based on 15 months of work and interviews with more than 3,500 people at 60 locations around the world, said the department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office is not providing policy or oversight for key responsibilities, or interacting with military officials in the field who are accountable on this issue.
Defense officials should revamp the office and provide the expertise necessary to lead and oversee its primary missions of sexual assault prevention, response, training and accountability, the task force said.
read more here
Report slams flaws in DoD sex assault program
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 5, 2009 8:22:44 EST
The Pentagon office charged with oversight of military sexual assault prevention and response policy is not doing an effective job — and responsibility should be placed, at least temporarily, directly in the hands of the deputy secretary of defense, a task force has recommended.
The report by the Defense Department’s Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services, based on 15 months of work and interviews with more than 3,500 people at 60 locations around the world, said the department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office is not providing policy or oversight for key responsibilities, or interacting with military officials in the field who are accountable on this issue.
Defense officials should revamp the office and provide the expertise necessary to lead and oversee its primary missions of sexual assault prevention, response, training and accountability, the task force said.
read more here
Report slams flaws in DoD sex assault program
Veterans Assistance Program Slated to Close
This is how I close all of my emails.
This is what every governor needs to remember when they think about what programs to cut and what to keep. Governors come and go, just as congressmen and senators, but a veteran is a veteran until they day they die. They are not some kind of charity to put disposable income into nor should they ever be some kind of easy spending cut to hit. These are our veterans and we do a lousy job of proving we finally learned what Washington knew when this nation was first begun. If they are thinking let someone else take care of the veterans, then they should also feel the same way when men and women are asked to step up to serve in the military, yet hear, let someone else do it from them.
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
This is what every governor needs to remember when they think about what programs to cut and what to keep. Governors come and go, just as congressmen and senators, but a veteran is a veteran until they day they die. They are not some kind of charity to put disposable income into nor should they ever be some kind of easy spending cut to hit. These are our veterans and we do a lousy job of proving we finally learned what Washington knew when this nation was first begun. If they are thinking let someone else take care of the veterans, then they should also feel the same way when men and women are asked to step up to serve in the military, yet hear, let someone else do it from them.
Veterans Assistance Program Slated to Close
12/04/09 6:16 pm
reporter: Ann Mercogliano
producer: Bryan Peach
Harrisburg, Pa. - A state program designed to help veterans is on the chopping block. The Governor's Veterans Outreach and Assistance Center in Harrisburg is one five centers that have been cut from the state budget.
Veterans gathered at Fort Indiantown Gap Friday to protest the closure of all five Governor's Veterans Outreach and Assistance Centers located across the state. Veterans said the decision by the state to cut funding to these offices is unpatriotic and simply unacceptable.
"I think it's outrageous," Veteran Jerry Polonsky said, "This to me sounds like a backroom deal."
The Veteran's Outreach and Assistance Center in Harrisburg helps Vets and their surviving spouses. The center said it assists with disability claims, pension claims and medical applications.
According to the office's director, money stopped flowing back in June which means salaries haven't been paid.
The director said he's been working since then for free to help Vets process claims. Veterans said it will be the younger generation hit the hardest by the closures.
"These young guys coming back. It's going to hit them harder than what it did before," Veteran Fred Tregaskes said.
read more here
http://www.whtm.com/news/stories/1209/684419.html
Marine imposter suspect to plead guilty
Marine imposter suspect to plead guilty
10:15 PM PST on Friday, December 4, 2009
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
A Palm Springs man has agreed to plead guilty to one federal charge of the unauthorized wearing of military medals he did not earn to impress his classmates at a high school reunion.
Steven Burton, 39, is scheduled to enter his plea Dec. 14 in U.S. Federal Court in Riverside, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Akrotirianakis.
Burton pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge Nov. 12, a day after the charge was filed on Veterans Day. He is free on $10,000 bond.
FBI agents and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service began investigating Burton when he appeared at a high school reunion dressed as a lieutenant colonel. At the reunion in the Bay-area community of Martinez, Burton wore several medals, including the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross, the highest medal awarded by the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.
A Naval commander attending the reunion took a picture that included Burton and submitted it to investigators. Authorities discovered Burton had posted his photo on blogs claiming that he served in Iraq and Afghanistan, though he never served in any branch of the military.
read more here
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_medals05.42643ef.html
10:15 PM PST on Friday, December 4, 2009
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
A Palm Springs man has agreed to plead guilty to one federal charge of the unauthorized wearing of military medals he did not earn to impress his classmates at a high school reunion.
Steven Burton, 39, is scheduled to enter his plea Dec. 14 in U.S. Federal Court in Riverside, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Akrotirianakis.
Burton pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge Nov. 12, a day after the charge was filed on Veterans Day. He is free on $10,000 bond.
FBI agents and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service began investigating Burton when he appeared at a high school reunion dressed as a lieutenant colonel. At the reunion in the Bay-area community of Martinez, Burton wore several medals, including the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross, the highest medal awarded by the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.
A Naval commander attending the reunion took a picture that included Burton and submitted it to investigators. Authorities discovered Burton had posted his photo on blogs claiming that he served in Iraq and Afghanistan, though he never served in any branch of the military.
read more here
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_medals05.42643ef.html
UC SanDiego gets $60 million for PTSD and TBI
If they are trying to "prevent" PTSD, then this has already been done as much as it can be. Ever read about a work place shooting? Ever read about floods? Hurricanes? Tornadoes? Ever read about when police officers have to shoot someone or one of their own falls in the line of duty? If you have then you are already seeing what mental health experts have been doing to prevent PTSD. There are crisis teams rushing out to help so that people can talk to someone they know won't judge them or tell them to get over it. They bring with them the decency of mankind, thus offering hope of tomorrow. Isn't that what we as humans all need after traumatic events we face?
When you see the worst another human has to offer, you need someone there offering their best. When you see what mother nature can do that is catastrophic, you need someone there to help you see that nature is also still magnificent at times. When you survive what others did not, you need someone there to help you see that the survival guilt you feel is based on events that were out of your control.
From coast to coast there are crisis teams rushing into events others run from. They work to help survivors as wells the responders and they do this because the sooner the events are addressed, the less of a chance they have to take control.
When it comes to the military, this is not done all the time. It's only done some of the time. Sometimes it is done well but too often provided by people without the slightest clue what PTSD is or what to say. Chaplains are deployed with the troops but too many have no idea what PTSD is. Imagine that! We expect psychologists and psychiatrists to be experts on PTSD since that is the number one cause of mental health crisis in the military, especially when the psychological testing is done when they enlist and mental health conditions are supposed to be discovered ahead of time, this leaves PTSD as the condition they should all be experts on. We've heard great answers from some in the military but we've also heard a boat load of crap as well depending on who is doing the talking.
So far we've heard very little indicating the military is coming close to understanding what PTSD is or why it singles out some individuals over others. This leaves us to wonder how it is they are looking to prevent that which they do not understand.
When veterans contact me for help, I'm able to get further with a few emails or phone conversations than years of therapy. I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. I know they are needed because they can diagnosis as well as medicate when needed. I am not a member of the clergy. I know they are needed because they can do what I cannot. The problem is that these "professionals" are not focused solely on the veteran of combat. They cannot track reports or programs across the globe. They cannot spend hours upon hours talking to the veterans around the country. They see only what is in front of them.
They know what they are told. If the VA tells them they have enough mental health workers, they see new patients walking the halls, that is what they see. They do not see the veterans turned away because there are not enough people to care for all of them. If they hear of a clinic opening, they assume the problem will be fixed soon but they don't see the next town over with nothing.
We read about new groups starting out but we don't know who is starting them, what they know, what their agenda really is, what they are basing their treatments on or who is giving them advice. We just assume they are doing more good than harm.
If they really want to treat PTSD, first they have to know what it is and if they want to prevent it, they have to know what is being done in the rest of the country in civilian life. Most of what we see happening in response to traumatic events in our daily lives has come because of the Vietnam veterans pushing to have PTSD treated. It would be a wonderful day if the VA and the DOD took their clues from there and knew what was already known.
When you see the worst another human has to offer, you need someone there offering their best. When you see what mother nature can do that is catastrophic, you need someone there to help you see that nature is also still magnificent at times. When you survive what others did not, you need someone there to help you see that the survival guilt you feel is based on events that were out of your control.
From coast to coast there are crisis teams rushing into events others run from. They work to help survivors as wells the responders and they do this because the sooner the events are addressed, the less of a chance they have to take control.
When it comes to the military, this is not done all the time. It's only done some of the time. Sometimes it is done well but too often provided by people without the slightest clue what PTSD is or what to say. Chaplains are deployed with the troops but too many have no idea what PTSD is. Imagine that! We expect psychologists and psychiatrists to be experts on PTSD since that is the number one cause of mental health crisis in the military, especially when the psychological testing is done when they enlist and mental health conditions are supposed to be discovered ahead of time, this leaves PTSD as the condition they should all be experts on. We've heard great answers from some in the military but we've also heard a boat load of crap as well depending on who is doing the talking.
So far we've heard very little indicating the military is coming close to understanding what PTSD is or why it singles out some individuals over others. This leaves us to wonder how it is they are looking to prevent that which they do not understand.
When veterans contact me for help, I'm able to get further with a few emails or phone conversations than years of therapy. I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist. I know they are needed because they can diagnosis as well as medicate when needed. I am not a member of the clergy. I know they are needed because they can do what I cannot. The problem is that these "professionals" are not focused solely on the veteran of combat. They cannot track reports or programs across the globe. They cannot spend hours upon hours talking to the veterans around the country. They see only what is in front of them.
They know what they are told. If the VA tells them they have enough mental health workers, they see new patients walking the halls, that is what they see. They do not see the veterans turned away because there are not enough people to care for all of them. If they hear of a clinic opening, they assume the problem will be fixed soon but they don't see the next town over with nothing.
We read about new groups starting out but we don't know who is starting them, what they know, what their agenda really is, what they are basing their treatments on or who is giving them advice. We just assume they are doing more good than harm.
If they really want to treat PTSD, first they have to know what it is and if they want to prevent it, they have to know what is being done in the rest of the country in civilian life. Most of what we see happening in response to traumatic events in our daily lives has come because of the Vietnam veterans pushing to have PTSD treated. It would be a wonderful day if the VA and the DOD took their clues from there and knew what was already known.
University Studies Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
Recently, the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) School of Medicine received a $60 million dollar grant for a five-year study to determine better prevention and treatment methods of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) among American victims and war veterans/soldiers.
The study, which is funded by the Department of Defense Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program (DoD PH/TBI), will test new therapies to “prevent illness and enhance recovery in individuals at risk for adverse psychological, emotional and cognitive outcomes” caused by TBI and PTSD, according to UC news release.
read more here
http://sandiego10.cityspur.com/2009/12/03/university-studies-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-and-traumatic-brain-injury/
Colorado Mansion may become reintergration center
McAfee's mansion may become soldiers' reintegration center
By Brittney Hopper
Thursday, December 03, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO -- A mansion once owned by John McAfee in Woodland Park is being considered as a place where soldiers can go to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group, along with the military, are working together to try and make the mansion a place soldiers can call home before going home.
Mark Waddell was an area commander in Iraq in 2003; he suffered from PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
read more here
http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=385615
By Brittney Hopper
Thursday, December 03, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO -- A mansion once owned by John McAfee in Woodland Park is being considered as a place where soldiers can go to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group, along with the military, are working together to try and make the mansion a place soldiers can call home before going home.
Mark Waddell was an area commander in Iraq in 2003; he suffered from PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
read more here
http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=385615
24-hour International Event to Showcase Benefits of Virtual Environments for PTSD Survivors
24-hour International Event to Showcase Benefits of Virtual Environments for PTSD Survivors
why Second Life?
Within Second Life, Fearless Nation offers:
Spirit Lodge (landing point): A library on PTSD subjects, and meeting space.
Ganesh Center: An art gallery and creative space to make music, art, or writing.
Mocean Station: A space for avatar physicality: Yoga, dance, tai chi, meditation, and other bodywork.
Thermal Pools: Avatar physicality and education about detoxification and bodywork for substance abuse, relaxation, stress reduction, mastery over the fear response, reintroduction to touch by others.
Nidra House: Yoga nidra spaces. Yoga Nidra is a listening form of yogic sleep that research has shown reduces anxiety, promotes better physical/mental health, and control over the fear response.
The Borealis Center for community events and classes.
Blackheart Gardens for remembrance and honor.
Ventura Beach: Education and avatar interaction with companion animals and interaction with psychiatric service dogs, horses, dolphins, and other mammals.
Billabong Beach: Surfing, swimming, and hanging out places to relax and interact.
The ‘HEALING WORLDS’ Approach to PTSD Recovery in SL
This model uses the SL VRE (Virtual Reality Environment) to give traumatized individuals experiences in social interaction and avatar activities that promote trust, skill mastery, and health through:
Creation of a flexible “physical” presence (the avatar)
Control over environment (can build, create own space, choose interactions
Education bout PTSD (knowledge is power)
Trying activities that diminish fear and anxiety such as:
Talking openly in a safe space about traumatic experiences
Progressive muscle relaxation (avatar yoga, movement, dance)
Performance (music, singing, speaking, poetry, storytelling, dance, showing art, speech-making, etc.)
Creative expression (music, art, poetry, clothing, etc.)
Social interaction with others (rebuilding social skills)
Supporting other PTSDers
Receiving support from other PTSDers
Advocating for PTSD awareness and treatment
Experimenting with new ways to approach problems, re-conceive the perception of traumatic experiences.
http://www.fearless-nation.org/Fearless-in-Second-Life.html
PTSD Awareness Event Coming to Second Life December 19
why Second Life?
Within Second Life, Fearless Nation offers:
Spirit Lodge (landing point): A library on PTSD subjects, and meeting space.
Ganesh Center: An art gallery and creative space to make music, art, or writing.
Mocean Station: A space for avatar physicality: Yoga, dance, tai chi, meditation, and other bodywork.
Thermal Pools: Avatar physicality and education about detoxification and bodywork for substance abuse, relaxation, stress reduction, mastery over the fear response, reintroduction to touch by others.
Nidra House: Yoga nidra spaces. Yoga Nidra is a listening form of yogic sleep that research has shown reduces anxiety, promotes better physical/mental health, and control over the fear response.
The Borealis Center for community events and classes.
Blackheart Gardens for remembrance and honor.
Ventura Beach: Education and avatar interaction with companion animals and interaction with psychiatric service dogs, horses, dolphins, and other mammals.
Billabong Beach: Surfing, swimming, and hanging out places to relax and interact.
The ‘HEALING WORLDS’ Approach to PTSD Recovery in SL
This model uses the SL VRE (Virtual Reality Environment) to give traumatized individuals experiences in social interaction and avatar activities that promote trust, skill mastery, and health through:
Creation of a flexible “physical” presence (the avatar)
Control over environment (can build, create own space, choose interactions
Education bout PTSD (knowledge is power)
Trying activities that diminish fear and anxiety such as:
Talking openly in a safe space about traumatic experiences
Progressive muscle relaxation (avatar yoga, movement, dance)
Performance (music, singing, speaking, poetry, storytelling, dance, showing art, speech-making, etc.)
Creative expression (music, art, poetry, clothing, etc.)
Social interaction with others (rebuilding social skills)
Supporting other PTSDers
Receiving support from other PTSDers
Advocating for PTSD awareness and treatment
Experimenting with new ways to approach problems, re-conceive the perception of traumatic experiences.
http://www.fearless-nation.org/Fearless-in-Second-Life.html
PTSD Awareness Event Coming to Second Life December 19
Thursday, December 3, 2009
30,000 more troops, 10,000 more will wait for PTSD help
The time acknowledged rate of PTSD is one out of three. This applies to traumatic events, since it is the only way to be claimed by PTSD. It literally means after trauma. Trauma as many of you know is Greek for wound. If President Obama carries through with sending 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan, it is very likely this will result in 10,000 more PTSD wounded, possibly more considering many have been on multiple deployments. The Army study several years ago found redeployments increase the risk of PTSD by 50%.
While it would take a military genius to know if this is the right thing or not, you'd still have to find a way to get them to agree this is the best plan. As the saying goes, "this is above my pay grade" because there is no way possible I would know what the right thing to do is. Truthfully, you'd have to agree even though you have your own opinion, it would be very difficult to prove you had all the answers. So what do we do about it? We keep asking questions to learn more. That's what thoughtful people do. We need to be wondering if the rest of the country is asking any questions at all.
Top on the list should be where the mental health help will come from? The Obama Administration is trying to play catch up to nine years worth of PTSD claims building up while there was not enough being done. As they try to play catch up, more and more are seeking help. This is a good thing because the message is finally getting thru to them. It is also a bad thing because there have not been enough psychologists or psychiatrists and even less trained on PTSD. What is waiting over the horizon and bearing down on every state in this country is a massive tsunami but the warning system has been unplugged.
National Guards and Reservists have been returning in droves to their oblivious communities and no jobs adding to the stress. Families with little understanding of what PTSD are unprepared for the sledgehammer waiting to break their family apart. As most of us know, none of this has to happen it turns out the military and the VA think they are just doing fine, yet they forget the suicide and attempted suicide rate goes up every year, clearly proving they haven't had a clue what to do.
So as this build up is a means to an end, what is the end to the waiting line of veterans doing the work left to wait in line for help?
There will be many more seeking help among the older veterans and the newer generation once able to get by with what came home with them. Mild PTSD turns ugly when not treated and too many of them will come to terms with what they cannot get over on their own.
While it would take a military genius to know if this is the right thing or not, you'd still have to find a way to get them to agree this is the best plan. As the saying goes, "this is above my pay grade" because there is no way possible I would know what the right thing to do is. Truthfully, you'd have to agree even though you have your own opinion, it would be very difficult to prove you had all the answers. So what do we do about it? We keep asking questions to learn more. That's what thoughtful people do. We need to be wondering if the rest of the country is asking any questions at all.
Top on the list should be where the mental health help will come from? The Obama Administration is trying to play catch up to nine years worth of PTSD claims building up while there was not enough being done. As they try to play catch up, more and more are seeking help. This is a good thing because the message is finally getting thru to them. It is also a bad thing because there have not been enough psychologists or psychiatrists and even less trained on PTSD. What is waiting over the horizon and bearing down on every state in this country is a massive tsunami but the warning system has been unplugged.
National Guards and Reservists have been returning in droves to their oblivious communities and no jobs adding to the stress. Families with little understanding of what PTSD are unprepared for the sledgehammer waiting to break their family apart. As most of us know, none of this has to happen it turns out the military and the VA think they are just doing fine, yet they forget the suicide and attempted suicide rate goes up every year, clearly proving they haven't had a clue what to do.
So as this build up is a means to an end, what is the end to the waiting line of veterans doing the work left to wait in line for help?
12/02/09 NYTimes: Obama Adds Troops, but Maps Exit Plan
President Obama announced Tuesday that he would speed 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in coming months, but he vowed to start bringing American forces home in the middle of 2011, saying the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended commitment.http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
There will be many more seeking help among the older veterans and the newer generation once able to get by with what came home with them. Mild PTSD turns ugly when not treated and too many of them will come to terms with what they cannot get over on their own.
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