Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
PTSD and the military
I was on my way to be the forward guard for our camping trip when I heard a piece on NPR that made my blood boil. It was about how the military was treating soldiers who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health problems. The official line is that they want to help and treat every soldier with problems. The reality on the ground doesn’t come close to that line.
According to the piece PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) manifests itself in many ways. It can include depression, drug and alcohol abuse, family problems, spousal abuse and problems with authority. One interviewee was the Sergeant Major of the Army who stated that above all the Army was concerned with “good order and discipline” which is pretty standard. He also stated that they would do what they could for the soldier but that “good order and discipline” was the most important thing.
The trouble with this is that in these cases good order and discipline is in direct conflict with the soldier’s and Marine’s state of mental health. So if those soldiers and Marines cross the line they’re disciplined in the standard way. That means, in many cases, that they’re kicked out of the service. Being kicked out of the service means that they’re then cut off from the health care that they need and deserve.
I understand the military’s dilemma. I DO understand the need to maintain good order and discipline and to maintain unit cohesion. However, when a member of the military has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder those members need and deserve care. Kicking them out seems to me to be the most irresponsible thing that the military can do.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
You mean people get discharged for PTSD?
The way I heard it you have to be really mentally disturbed to be removed from the army. I've read about people who have PTSD being returned to active duty units despite the fact that they obviously are on the edge of a nurvous collapse that could cost the lives of them/other soldiers/civilians.
Still, I guess it's good that the army at least discharges people with severe PTSD, not good about them loosing health care though.
During the recent elections we were asked to vote on a bill that would provide funding for veterans. I was torn, on the one hand I do agree that veterans who recieved some lasting damage from their stint in combat, whether physical or mental (my grandfather has hearing loss due to explosives in WW2, and I certainly think the government could pony up for hearing aids, prosthetics, psychological treatment and compensation for inability to work), at the same time though I don't think the soldiers who came through unscathed deserve special support, since they can still support themselves. My uncle for example came through Vietnam unscathed (by virtue of being a pilot and not one of those poor saps, read cannonfodder, on the ground), and I don't think he needs special treatment as much as say, someone who was hit by shrapnel and is now paralized does. Then again we could always just increase taxes so by the time the Iraqi vets are old farts there would actually be enough money to support them.
PTSD
A couple of things-
While RickU technically wasn't saying soldiers are being discharged because of PTSD, in all practicallity, that is the case. As I understand it, PTSD is a mental illness which might make a soldier unable to keep 'good order and discipline'. So, in effect, they are being discharged for PTSD. Semantics, I guess.
Next, I must disagree with your 'unscathed soldiers' point. Maybe I am biased due to my previous military service, but I think the least we can do is provide ALL veterans with health care for life. I am no combat hero or anything close, but I did give up four years of my life and I could have been called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice. I think that should count for something. Not to mention, how pathetic the military pays it's members. I've never used the VA, but if I was down and out, I would hope that the gov't would lend a helping hand.
Amen, Dirk.
I couldn't agree with you more about the obligation the nation owes our veterans.
Jim Downey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like Science Fiction? Read my novel, Communion of Dreams, for free.
Sorry
My apologies if I wasn't clear enough. They aren't discharging them if they have PTSD. In fact, they're trying to keep them at their normal duties. Many of the symptoms of PTSD lead these folks to do things that are against military regulations which then leads to their discharge.
I too have followed this...
...though lacking your service background, I don't have the full understanding you do about the needs of the military.
But I do know what price many of my friends and family paid over the long haul thanks to service in Viet Nam. And that we're asking a hell of a lot more of our soldiers in Iraq than a single one-year tour. Being the good people that they are (by and large), they're trying to suck it up and do their duty...but at a frightful cost which they, and we, will be paying for over the coming decades.
I'm not a pacifist. There are times when you have to go to war, and accept the costs, because the alternatives are even worse. Nothing I have seen of this war convinces me that this is one of those times.
Jim Downey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like Science Fiction? Read my novel, Communion of Dreams, for free.
Worst President in History
I have been hearing about the lack of care given to PTSD sufferers a lot lately. I hope this means they are actually going to address the problem. I think the recent Walter Reed scandal/story has made many folks take a closer look at what is really going on concerning our veterans health and well being. RickU gave me yet another reason to be outraged.
I am so God damn sick of hearing politicians, journalists and pundits talk about 'supporting the troops' when they really mean prolonging the Iraq catastrofuck. To so many people, supporting the troops means putting another stupid ribbon on their SUV or buying a bigger flag or cheering on the Worst President in History.
If you really want to support the troops get on board with alternative energy sources. Buy a more fuel efficient vehicle or hybrid. Turn off lights in rooms that you are not using. Use the new types of flourescent light bulbs. Put a solar panel on your house. Recycle everything. And so on... There are many ways to be patroitic. Stickers and flags are not patriotic. Supporting a war for oil is not patriotic. I wish the Dems would grow some balls and put an end to this thing.
What the hell are you
What the hell are you talking about?! Everyone knows we're there to spread democracy. Freedom is on the march!
(Yes, that's sarcasm.)