no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Categories
Latest Veterans Affairs Articles
Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Finally Being Recognized As Real Wounds
May 6, 2013:
CBS 60 Minutes presented a very powerful piece last night, May 5, 2013, on traumatic brain injuries (TBI's) as real, and this is important, physical wounds. TBI is not the same as PTSD. It is something completely separate from PTSD, but can be an extremely debilitating factor if both are being experienced by the same person.
White House Gets Behind The Hiring of Veterans
May 3, 2013:
The private sector has been making commitments to hire veterans for some time now. For example, Walmart, UPS, and others have been doing this for some time. The White House has recently announced a "significant new effort to reduce unemployment and improve job prospects among veterans." They say that they are "enlisting the support" of U.S. companies to hire 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years. I am pleased to see a coordinated effort by both the public and private sectors in this effort. All such efforts are to be welcomed, and might I add, encouraged. It is after all, the right thing to do.
A Helping Spouse And The Power of Love to Heal
May 2, 2013:
This is a powerful video of a wife speaking about her Vietnam veteran husband's struggles to recover from the debilitating effects of PTSD. Her love and understanding, as well as that of fellow veterans brought him to recognize his need for help.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
Apr 29, 2013:
This young U.S. Navy veteran has a very important message for all veterans. "Don't wait if you are having problems." If you are recognizing that you are having problems, or are hearing that from others, don't wait to go see the local VA. You have earned those benefits. They are there for you. Don't hesitate to use them.
The Reshaping of The Military
Apr 3, 2013:
In an article from USA Today, the new Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, announced his intent "...to 'reform and reshape' the military--from paying personnel to buying weapons--to deal with the deep budget cuts the Pentagon faces."
Vale, Colorado Veterans Program
Apr 2, 2013:
This program at the Vale Ski Resort has been going on for ten years now. The number of veterans who are being served in the program has grown dramatically over those years. The volunteer efforts of this program have grown in both importance and value over these past ten years. These volunteers have been helping severely wounded veterans learn that they can still enjoy such things, just differently. it also gives them a freedom that they thought they would never enjoy again. They help these wounded warriors begin to think about the future in ways they thought were gone to them forever.
Getting My Life Back Together
Mar 25, 2013:
This veteran had to fight hard to get his life back together. He had to fight through alcohol issues, substance abuse, and the very clear symptoms of PTSD. He was taught to not share his problems. He learned to keep things in and it effected his ability to work, and his relationships.
We Are Failing our Post 9/11 Veterans
Mar 25, 2013:
I happened to catch an NBC evening new report tonight and I could not help put sit down and write an article in response to it. According to the report, we currently have over 900,000 post 9/11 war veterans who have applied for disability benefits with the Veterans Administration and are having to wait for those services that they deserve and need for, on average, over 270 days, or almost a full year. In major cities, like New York City, that waiting time skyrockets to over two years.
Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon Valor
Mar 25, 2013:
The video you will see here is a trailer for a new film that will be released soon. It is about a subject that I am intimately familiar with as well. The film is Called, "Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon Valor." It centers on the experiences of the Marines of Bravo Co., 1/26 who were at Khe Sanh for the Tet Offensive of 1968.
Triggering PTSD
Mar 18, 2013:
One of the strange things about PTSD is that it can arise, or be triggered at times quite separate from the events that caused it. This is especially true when the early symptoms are not dealt with properly at the time that they first arise.
March 15th, The Ides of March: Thoughts of War and Peace
Mar 18, 2013:
The Ides of March was a Roman festival, somewhat like the celebration of the New Year. It was the beginning of spring and planting season. But it is also famous for being the day in 44 B.C. on which Julius Caesar, the great general of the Legions who had been victorious in the wars against the Gauls and in the civil war against the rebellious general, Pompey, was assassinated by his friends and Senators, Brutus and Cassius.
Heading Towards A Better Life
Mar 12, 2013:
"Is this the way you want to live?" This is a very important question for any of us, but for a military, combat veteran, it is a life and death question in search of real answers.
Working With Heroes Everyday
Mar 12, 2013:
Working your way back into the family is one of the challenges of returning veterans. This video is from the point of view of one of the counselors who works with families in helping them through the struggles to recover each other. But she is also one who has served in uniform.
I Once Was A Warrior
Mar 7, 2013:
The poem below is written by Gary Bryson. It is a poetic handling of what it means to be a warrior, both on the battlefield and on your long journey to "get back home." It identifies thoughts and feelings that are going to be familiar to many warriors. The poem honors those who have gone to war, those who have been wounded, and to those who continue the struggles related to the experiences warriors go through.
Golf: A Refuge For Veterans
Mar 1, 2013:
There is a place called American Lake, near Tacoma, Washington. It is a unique place. There is a golf course there, the only golf course in the United States that was created and designed expressly for disabled veterans. Young and old veterans find this place magical. They find there the mutual support of fellow veterans, and a place where they can forget their problems for a few hours, playing a round of golf, just like any body else.
