Marines Discuss the Severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome
WHSV News
Jun 27, 2012
Marine Corps Veteran Daniel Fahey served for years before being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. It is an anxiety disorder that can start after psychological trauma, like warfare.
“If you don't at least recognize and make that first step, it can really start to tear you up and tear everybody else around you down,” said Fahey.
He served in Afghanistan and in Iraq counseling other soldiers.
Fahey said he considered suicide by driving off the road to get rid of his problems. That was when he realized he had a problem.
“It can seriously just cause you to implode slowly, and that's a very lonely place to be.”
Staunton Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members wanted to make sure people have information about PTSD, in case they suffer from some of the symptoms. They held a forum so other people could learn about PTSD.
read more here
Monday, July 2, 2012
Army Sgt. Major Raymond Chandler III keeps fighting to save lives
One of the heroes on PTSD is Sgt. Major Chandler and in this article he "called himself the poster child of someone with PTSD" with a lot of courage. He's been open about his own battle with Combat PTSD making him a true hero in the fight to save the lives of the men and women serving today and the veterans of yesterday.
Officials Say Progress Must Continue in PTSD Treatment
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2012 – Great strides have been made in treating service members with post-traumatic stress disorder, but progress must continue, military and medical leaders told an audience here today.
The military’s three surgeons general and the Army’s senior sergeant major spoke at an event to mark the third-annual National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day.
Sgt. Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III called himself the poster child of someone with PTSD who is concerned about the stigma associated with seeking treatment, something which he says is an on-going issue for many.
His first brush with a life-threatening event in Iraq became life-altering, he said, adding that it caused him to do things that led to a “downward spiral.” For example, during his post-deployment health risk assessment, he wasn’t completely honest about his situation because he was being redeployed.
“I felt that if I said truthfully what happened and what I was feeling, I wouldn’t be able to succeed and move on. I’ve come a long way since 2005,” he added, noting that he had turned off a good part of his life -- the emotional, spiritual and physical elements to deal with being the professional soldier.
Chandler finally entered a two-week behavioral health program which he said made a significant difference.
In 2011, when he interviewed with then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. for the job as Sergeant Major of the Army, he said Casey was glad to have him onboard with his experience in PTSD counseling, because Chandler could speak to the challenges and treatment.
Chandler got the job and went on to tell his story to service members and families.
“I think we’ve made a difference,” Chandler said. “I know in many of our soldiers’ lives and the many challenges of the past 10 years, we’ve made tremendous strides in our behavioral health care access, and our care and quality of care, [but] we still have a long way to go.”
“I believe we will work through this and we will be better as a nation,” he said.
Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho told the audience “As a society in military medicine we must be able to provide care for the invisible wounds of war in the long run. As a nation, it is our opportunity to partner and lead the way in breaking the silence [of the invisible wounds].”
read more here
Canadian Military ‘Disappointed’ head of veteran’s suicide probe
‘Disappointed’ head of veteran’s suicide probe won’t press Peter MacKay for key documents after Defence Minister’s stonewalling
Chris Cobb
Postmedia News
Jun 27, 2012
OTTAWA — The head of a federal inquiry probing the suicide of Afghan war veteran Stuart Langridge says he won’t immediately challenge Defence Minister Peter MacKay in Federal Court over his refusal to hand over key documents.
MacKay refused a request by Military Police Complaints Commission chairman Glenn Stannard to waive solicitor-client privilege in the Langridge case and provide the inquiry with the documents.
“While I’m disappointed with this response by Minister MacKay I continue to respect his position of authority,” said Stannard and his undoubted prerogative to exercise his discretion with respect to any request to waive privilege.”
read more here
Chris Cobb
Postmedia News
Jun 27, 2012
OTTAWA — The head of a federal inquiry probing the suicide of Afghan war veteran Stuart Langridge says he won’t immediately challenge Defence Minister Peter MacKay in Federal Court over his refusal to hand over key documents.
MacKay refused a request by Military Police Complaints Commission chairman Glenn Stannard to waive solicitor-client privilege in the Langridge case and provide the inquiry with the documents.
“While I’m disappointed with this response by Minister MacKay I continue to respect his position of authority,” said Stannard and his undoubted prerogative to exercise his discretion with respect to any request to waive privilege.”
read more here
Changes needed in Guard, Reserve pay
Review: Changes needed in Guard, Reserve pay
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 2, 2012
A Pentagon review of compensation members of the National Guard and reservists receive is recommending that changes be made to make salaries and benefits more equitable, according to an article from The Associated Press.
Guard members and reservists normally receive two days of pay for each weekend day they spend training in the States, but only receive one day’s pay when deployed to Afghanistan, according to the article.
read more here
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 2, 2012
A Pentagon review of compensation members of the National Guard and reservists receive is recommending that changes be made to make salaries and benefits more equitable, according to an article from The Associated Press.
Guard members and reservists normally receive two days of pay for each weekend day they spend training in the States, but only receive one day’s pay when deployed to Afghanistan, according to the article.
read more here
Troop hospitalizations show mental toll of war
Troop hospitalizations show mental toll of war
By WYATT OLSON
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 1, 2012
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Hospitalizations of troops with mental disorders such as suicidal or homicidal intent and debilitating psychosis reached a 10-year high in 2011, underscoring the mental and emotional toll of America’s dual wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center says 13,133 servicemembers were treated as inpatients last year for mental disorders, the top reason for hospitalization of active-duty troops. That was up from 10,706 in 2007.
The total number of hospitalizations for mental disorders in 2011 was about 21,700, suggesting that many patients were treated more than once, based on annual data from a recently released Medical Surveillance Monthly Report.
The number of visits for outpatient mental health treatment has also ballooned, almost doubling from just under 1 million in 2007 to about 1.89 million in 2011, the report revealed.
The number of hospitalizations is almost certainly higher because it does not include inpatient treatment of mental disorders during deployments or field training exercises, or on ships at sea.
read more here
By WYATT OLSON
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 1, 2012
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Hospitalizations of troops with mental disorders such as suicidal or homicidal intent and debilitating psychosis reached a 10-year high in 2011, underscoring the mental and emotional toll of America’s dual wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center says 13,133 servicemembers were treated as inpatients last year for mental disorders, the top reason for hospitalization of active-duty troops. That was up from 10,706 in 2007.
The total number of hospitalizations for mental disorders in 2011 was about 21,700, suggesting that many patients were treated more than once, based on annual data from a recently released Medical Surveillance Monthly Report.
The number of visits for outpatient mental health treatment has also ballooned, almost doubling from just under 1 million in 2007 to about 1.89 million in 2011, the report revealed.
The number of hospitalizations is almost certainly higher because it does not include inpatient treatment of mental disorders during deployments or field training exercises, or on ships at sea.
read more here
Triple Amputee Marine wrestles gator on "Gator Boys"
Want an emotional lift this Monday morning? This will do it! Great video!
'Gator Boys': Severely Injured Marine, Corporal Todd Love, Wrestles An Alligator
(VIDEO)
Posted: 07/02/2012
On "Gator Boys" (Sun., 9 p.m. EST on Animal Planet) Sunday night Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle helped make a wounded veteran's dream come true.
Todd Love, Corporal USMC, lost both his legs and his left arm in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in October 2010.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Todd had not given up on his dream of wrestling an alligator, and so the "Gator Boys" obliged. He also got to touch an 11-feet-long alligator on the nose.
read more here
Camp Lejeune Marines told conserve energy or pay for it
Some Marine families may have to pay electric bills
By AMANDA WILCOX
The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C.
Published: July 1, 2012
Thursday’s town hall meeting on Camp Lejeune left some military families worried about utility bills for the first time in their adult lives.
On-base housing residents will now be held responsible for their energy consumption and will be receiving electric bills within the next year as part of a new residential energy conservation program being implemented by Headquarters Marine Corps and Marine Corps Installation Command at all Marine installations.
“A lot of families have never had to pay electricity bills,” said Dixie Johnson, marketing manager with Atlantic Marine Corps Community Housing. “If they’ve always lived on a military installation they’ve never had to worry about that ... and it’s a concern for them.”
Navy Capt. Craig Fulton came to the town hall meeting from Headquarters Marine Corps to talk to Lejeune residents about the new changes. He said the Department of Defense is implementing the conservation program because research has found that military families on base use far more electricity than their civilian counterparts.
As a result, the DoD will start sending out bills in October to families who use more energy on average than their neighbors and reward those who use less.
“You could, the word is could, be charged for the utilities that you use,” Camp Lejeune Base Sgt. Maj. Ernest Hoopii said. “If you’re below the average usage of a house of a particular size, then you’ll make money... but if you go over that threshold, you’re going to be charged.”
read more here
By AMANDA WILCOX
The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C.
Published: July 1, 2012
Thursday’s town hall meeting on Camp Lejeune left some military families worried about utility bills for the first time in their adult lives.
On-base housing residents will now be held responsible for their energy consumption and will be receiving electric bills within the next year as part of a new residential energy conservation program being implemented by Headquarters Marine Corps and Marine Corps Installation Command at all Marine installations.
“A lot of families have never had to pay electricity bills,” said Dixie Johnson, marketing manager with Atlantic Marine Corps Community Housing. “If they’ve always lived on a military installation they’ve never had to worry about that ... and it’s a concern for them.”
Navy Capt. Craig Fulton came to the town hall meeting from Headquarters Marine Corps to talk to Lejeune residents about the new changes. He said the Department of Defense is implementing the conservation program because research has found that military families on base use far more electricity than their civilian counterparts.
As a result, the DoD will start sending out bills in October to families who use more energy on average than their neighbors and reward those who use less.
“You could, the word is could, be charged for the utilities that you use,” Camp Lejeune Base Sgt. Maj. Ernest Hoopii said. “If you’re below the average usage of a house of a particular size, then you’ll make money... but if you go over that threshold, you’re going to be charged.”
read more here
20 Navy and Marine members help feed homeless during Navy Week
Boston Navy Week 2012
On day off, they continue to serve
By Matt Rocheleau
Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe
July 2, 2012
About 20 Navy and Marine members volunteered to help dish out meals to some 300 homeless men in a cafeteria at the Pine Street Inn shelter in the South End on Sunday afternoon. Before the meal, five Navy sailors from the Northeast Navy Band put on a musical performance.
(click links for more)
Compiled by Anush Elbakyan, Boston.com correspondent Ships berthed at Pier 4 at Charlestown Navy Yard, from left: USCGC Juniper, HNOMS Thor Heyerdahl, and HDMS Esbern Snare.
On day off, they continue to serve
By Matt Rocheleau
Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe
July 2, 2012
About 20 Navy and Marine members volunteered to help dish out meals to some 300 homeless men in a cafeteria at the Pine Street Inn shelter in the South End on Sunday afternoon. Before the meal, five Navy sailors from the Northeast Navy Band put on a musical performance.
(click links for more)
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Fort Bragg soldier who shot commander dies
Fort Bragg soldier who shot commander dies
By GREG BARNES
The Fayettville (N.C.) Observer
Published: July 1, 2012
The soldier who fatally shot his superior officer during a safety briefing on Fort Bragg and then turned the gun on himself has died.
Col. Kevin Arata, a Fort Bragg spokesman, identified the soldier as Spc. Ricky G. Elder, 27, of Hutchinson, Kan. Elder died Saturday at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
Elder is accused of fatally shooting his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Roy L. Tisdale, during a safety briefing Thursday.
A third soldier, 22-year-old Spc. Michael E. Latham, was treated for minor wounds at Womack Army Medical Center and released.
read more here
By GREG BARNES
The Fayettville (N.C.) Observer
Published: July 1, 2012
Lt. Col. Roy L. Tisdale, commander of the 525th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C., was fatally shot by a member of his battalion around 3:30 p.m., June 28. COURTESY OF THE U.S. ARMY
The soldier who fatally shot his superior officer during a safety briefing on Fort Bragg and then turned the gun on himself has died.
Col. Kevin Arata, a Fort Bragg spokesman, identified the soldier as Spc. Ricky G. Elder, 27, of Hutchinson, Kan. Elder died Saturday at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
Elder is accused of fatally shooting his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Roy L. Tisdale, during a safety briefing Thursday.
A third soldier, 22-year-old Spc. Michael E. Latham, was treated for minor wounds at Womack Army Medical Center and released.
read more here
Combat PTSD is nothing to fear
When I read the title of this article it bothered me.
"Enduring mental problems" makes it sound like they are the subject of a Criminal Minds episode with an "unsub" blowing people away instead of pointing out the simple fact that less than half of the veterans with PTSD seek help.
Yesterday I was talking to a group of veterans and one of them wanted to warn me about phony PTSD veterans just looking for a free ride. I told him he was listening to the wrong people because while it is true there are some trying to take advantage of the compensation, the likelihood of this happening is very low especially when you know they are more apt to avoid the VA than they are willing to reach out for any kind of help from them.
We read reports of veterans committing crimes simply because the majority of them do not commit crimes but are not considered newsworthy. There are actually more veterans seeking to kill themselves than commit crimes. We don't talk about that though. It is heartbreaking enough to know that out of the 8% of this country 18 veterans a day take their own lives and out of the less than 1% serving today they are averaging 1 a day. Should we actually face the fact that many more attempt suicide each day, the number of veterans committing any crime at all would seem insignificant but if a person is accused of committing a crime and happens to be in this minority, well then, it makes the headlines.
Don't get me wrong. This article is well worth the read but the title misleads. More veterans have PTSD for several reasons. Repeated deployments increase the risk and we know too many have done multiple tours. The other factor is there are now more combat veterans with more knowledge than every before and more seeking help to heal.
Growing number of veterans endure mental problems
By JENNA MINK
Daily News
Published: July 1, 2012
Bowling Green, Ky. — One Bowling Green veteran remembers too well the deep depression and mental breakdown that haunted him after years of combat. Decades after serving in the military, the man still does not want his name connected to his condition.
“That’s one of the main problems in combat,” he said. “It’s what it does to you mentally.”
A growing number of veterans are reporting mental problems, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. They are just a few issues veterans encounter when they return home.
read more here
"Enduring mental problems" makes it sound like they are the subject of a Criminal Minds episode with an "unsub" blowing people away instead of pointing out the simple fact that less than half of the veterans with PTSD seek help.
Yesterday I was talking to a group of veterans and one of them wanted to warn me about phony PTSD veterans just looking for a free ride. I told him he was listening to the wrong people because while it is true there are some trying to take advantage of the compensation, the likelihood of this happening is very low especially when you know they are more apt to avoid the VA than they are willing to reach out for any kind of help from them.
We read reports of veterans committing crimes simply because the majority of them do not commit crimes but are not considered newsworthy. There are actually more veterans seeking to kill themselves than commit crimes. We don't talk about that though. It is heartbreaking enough to know that out of the 8% of this country 18 veterans a day take their own lives and out of the less than 1% serving today they are averaging 1 a day. Should we actually face the fact that many more attempt suicide each day, the number of veterans committing any crime at all would seem insignificant but if a person is accused of committing a crime and happens to be in this minority, well then, it makes the headlines.
Don't get me wrong. This article is well worth the read but the title misleads. More veterans have PTSD for several reasons. Repeated deployments increase the risk and we know too many have done multiple tours. The other factor is there are now more combat veterans with more knowledge than every before and more seeking help to heal.
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