Military commanders vow better treatments for post traumatic stress
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The top commanders at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are pledging to better handle soldiers who believe they're suffering from post traumatic stress.
Multiple tours of duty have taken their toll on U.S. troops, both the casualties and the injuries, seen and unseen.
"I've definitely got more than a couple of years of stuff floating around up in my head," said Army Specialist Jared Enger.
Enger was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but the findings were overturned by a forensic psychiatrist.
"The forensic psychiatrist that I saw for all of five minutes I guess made a determination that he thought I didn't have any issues," Enger said.
Enger and hundreds of soldiers complained of unfair treatment, and the Army relented, this week announcing it would no longer use forensic psychiatrists.
"While they may work in criminal proceedings or other ways, it's not good for the disabilities system," said I Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Robert Brown.
There was speculation the psychiatrists overturned the PTSD diagnoses to save the money needed to treat the soldiers -- perhaps $1.5 million each.
"We can't afford not to spend those dollars right now to take of these folks," said Maj. Gen. Richard Thomas.
Madigan commander Col. Dallas Homas was just re-instated after being sidelined while the Army investigated the PTSD situation. Their findings were he did nothing wrong.
"And how humbled I am to be allowed to return to command Madigan," Homas said.
And the commanders vowed to get rid of the stigma attached to PTSD.
"You've got to seek help," Brown said.
Right now, these are promises are coming down from the highest commanders. But soldiers down below are still waiting to see if these promises are kept as they go down the chain of command.
Enger is skeptical, but at least he got his PTSD diagnosis reinstated and he's getting his honorable discharge in a month. And he's ready to continue on with treatments.
Multiple tours of duty have taken their toll on U.S. troops, both the casualties and the injuries, seen and unseen.
"I've definitely got more than a couple of years of stuff floating around up in my head," said Army Specialist Jared Enger.
Enger was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but the findings were overturned by a forensic psychiatrist.
"The forensic psychiatrist that I saw for all of five minutes I guess made a determination that he thought I didn't have any issues," Enger said.
Enger and hundreds of soldiers complained of unfair treatment, and the Army relented, this week announcing it would no longer use forensic psychiatrists.
"While they may work in criminal proceedings or other ways, it's not good for the disabilities system," said I Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Robert Brown.
There was speculation the psychiatrists overturned the PTSD diagnoses to save the money needed to treat the soldiers -- perhaps $1.5 million each.
"We can't afford not to spend those dollars right now to take of these folks," said Maj. Gen. Richard Thomas.
Madigan commander Col. Dallas Homas was just re-instated after being sidelined while the Army investigated the PTSD situation. Their findings were he did nothing wrong.
"And how humbled I am to be allowed to return to command Madigan," Homas said.
And the commanders vowed to get rid of the stigma attached to PTSD.
"You've got to seek help," Brown said.
Right now, these are promises are coming down from the highest commanders. But soldiers down below are still waiting to see if these promises are kept as they go down the chain of command.
Enger is skeptical, but at least he got his PTSD diagnosis reinstated and he's getting his honorable discharge in a month. And he's ready to continue on with treatments.
Our civilian leaders could help with this problem if they'd stop sending our troops off to fight wars half a world away every time the politicians drop the ball.
Yes we needed to strike back at Al-Qaida after 9/11. No we didn't need to invade two countries to do that. Youâd think weâd have learned something from Viet Nam but I guess nothing brings in the votes like a little flag waving, especially if itâs someone elseâs kids who answer the call.
Its good to know the commanders are now starting to pay attention to the needs of military personnel. Finding, diagnosing and helping them cope with PTSD or TBI or any other form of disability serviceman have is just as important as their combat readiness.
My father was in the military during the Desert Shield/Storm and contracted the mysterious "Gulf War Syndrome" which his doctors today still say doesnt exist yet I saw the difference in him physically when he came home on his final deployment before his retirement.
 @DarkRenegade Vaccinations were the culprit. Jack Metcalf pushed for info and accountability on this.  Despite known risks, squalene was used as an adjuvant in at least the anthrax vacc.
"All (100%) GWS patients immunized for service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm who did not deploy, but had the same signs and symptoms as those who did deploy, had antibodies to squalene. In contrast, none (0%) of the deployed Persian Gulf veterans not showing signs and symptoms of GWS have antibodies to squalene. Neither patients with idiopathic autoimmune disease nor healthy controls had detectable serum antibodies to squalene. The majority of symptomatic GWS patients had serum antibodies to squalene.
I just have to wonder why this has become an issue since Iraq and Afganistan. After tours in Viet Nam I went to the docs. I suggested that something was wrong when my then wife said that my thrashing around in my sleep and my literally hitting the floor at the sound of a backfire or the sound if a dish dropping on the floor. I was laughed at. I guess you current troops are idolized and us Viet Nam guys were demonized (I personally never got "spit on" but I certainly got verbally abused). I am not suggesting the the current wars are any less brutal on the troops than we expierienced in Viet Nam. However, the fact that the current wars have resulted in about 3000 dead of all allied nations and Viet Nam resulted in 52,000 American dead only does give one pause. Better technology? Better tactics? No Richard Nixon? I have to ask the question - what's in this hollow promise by the DOD for us past war troopers (not only Viet Nam but do any of you remember our invasions of Grenada and the Dominican Republic?) Just sayin...
@GOATCUTTER Thank you for your efforts in S.E. Asia, we are still burying friends that died there. I dont believe there will be anything forthcoming from this government for the conditions they have forced you into. This promise will be like the others and only confirms that the lucky ones died first. Good Luck Bro
This is ridiculous. The military isn't doing anything to better the situation. The reinstated the commander who oversaw this fiasco!!! If nothing else, he was a bad manager and deserved to be relieved of command. If the military truly cared about solving the problem, they would have found another leader. That's it, I'm writing congress regarding this ridiculous action.
Forensic psychologists. Â In other words, the military assumed that soldiers diagnosed with PTSD were trying to defraud the government. Â Guilty until proven innocent.
Its the guys who ARE NOT aware they have problems are the real concern. Many years later, when the conditions are just right, a series of events will happen that will suddenly put a vet back in the Korengal valley. Those are the guys I care about. How does the Army spot these guys?
"Military commanders vow better treatments for post traumatic stress" Yeah and that vow comes from those that sit on their hands while devastation visits young military families. Nothing has changed.
Man, we sure love waving the flag and sending off the troops with all manner of patriotic hoopla and bunting.
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But when they come back in the thousands emotionally scarred, it's all, "You're fine. Next."
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It's a national disgrace, and has been for seventy years.
@PilonidalCyst I find it especially troubling when the powers that be have whittled down every possible path to a family wage job with health care to 3 choices. Police, Corrections, Military service. and then they are treated like animals. This country is sick and most of the people have become sick as well.