Returning Vets Straining VA

Returning Vets Straining VA
May 31, 2011
York Daily Record

According to the Associated Press, the agency's current budget is $129 billion. That includes $58.8 billion in discretionary spending. The Obama administration has requested a 4.5 percent increase.

Sgt. Geoffrey Alexander Emschweiler of Red Lion gets out of the Army in the fall, and he's trying to figure out what to do with his life.

He's been in the Army for almost five years,including stints in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's seen combat in both countries. Last year, he won two Army Commendation Medals with Valor.

He's getting treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder. He took a pass on the medication, but said he is receiving counseling.

These days, Emschweiler said, the Army does a good job educating combat veterans like himself about PTSD's pervasiveness and symptoms. There's no longer a stigma attached.

He sought treatment when found he was able to sleep for only a couple of hours each night. When he did sleep, he'd have nightmares about friends who got killed.

When he goes into a room, he's acutely aware of things like his position in relation to the door and where people are holding their hands. Standing in a crowd, or loud noises, will make his heart beat fast and his adrenaline kick in. Suddenly, he's back in combat mode.

"It's hard to turn it off," he said.

Emschweiler is 22 years old.

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Returning Vets Straining VA