WTF is Secretary of the Army John McHugh thinking?

WTF is Secretary of the Army John McHugh thinking?
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
February 5, 2013

The book I thought I'd have done last month keeps writing itself because of what is going on and the rise in military suicides. When will it ever be enough for someone to finally be held accountable for all of this? I am tired of asking that question but as tired as I am of that, I am heartbroken of family after family blaming themselves when there are so many others to blame first.

I screamed when I ran into this "report" thinking it would have something to offer.

A War on Two Fronts: Army Orders Plan to Combat PTSD
Feb 5, 2013
By News 92 FM

Army Secretary John McHugh signed an order Monday for all Army commanders to come up with a plan to better handle post-traumatic stress disorder. McHugh admitted its going to take a culture shift in the Army to face mental health issues at home and on the battlefield.

This is coming from a "news" station as if it was some major story to cover but that is all there is on the post. Nothing more. No questions? No data? No evidence? Not even one single WTF moment of accountability?

They have been "doing" that since the reports first started to come out over ten years ago! Well, now they are to begin to spread the pain even further using a failed program that is the major one problem in the military.

Army secretary calls for mental health 'resilience' training
By Kim Murphy
February 4, 2013

JOINT BASE LEWIS McCHORD, Wash. — With suicides in the Army reaching another record in 2012, Army Secretary John McHugh said Monday he is reviewing recommendations from a study of soldier behavioral health evaluations and intends to adopt mental health “resilience” training for all soldiers.

McHugh said he was not ready to announce the results of the behavioral health review — launched after several troubled soldiers at the Madigan Army Medical Center here complained that their post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses were downgraded by a forensic psychiatric team. The Army continues to hold close to the vest what it found when it looked across the country at how soldiers with mental health problems were being diagnosed.

“A few things are already clear,” McHugh said at a briefing to announce the “completion” of the report.

“Our commanders are working very, very hard. They’re trying to do everything they possibly can to provide to our soldiers the right programs, the right care.” But the “abundance” of programs made available over the past decade has led in some cases to “confusion” about what services are available, especially when good programs are “stovepiped” in individual locales and not telegraphed to all bases and commands, he said.

“Often commanders and those charged with delivering care are unaware of certain benefits and opportunities that are are available. Other times, they are aware of them but not sure how to apply them … interventions are often not coming as early as we would like to see them,” the secretary said.

As a first step, McHugh said he has ordered his top staff to develop a Ready and Resilient campaign to integrate and synchronize programs aimed at combat readiness and resilience for active duty soldiers and reserve and National Guard forces, as well as civilian employees and family members.
read more here

Is McHugh new to this job? No.

Secretary John McHugh became the 21st Secretary of the U.S. Army on September 21, 2009.
Education:
State University of New York's Nelson A. Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs Utica College of Syracuse University
Most Recent Assignment:
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, represented northern and central New York from January 1993 to September 2009

Trainers in this program tell the soldiers they can "train their brains" to be resilient. What the soldiers hear is if they end up with PTSD, it is their fault because they didn't train right and have weaker minds than the others they are with. Do they really think a soldier will admit they need help after their buddies think the same way? Do they think soldiers will be honest about what is going on with them when their buddies aren't admitting they need help either?

This is just too ridiculous to keep going on without one single reporter asking what has failed already!

They keep pushing this crap no matter who is paying the price. Is there any wonder why they feel they cannot ask for help after all these years?

Thoughts while working out in the gym
Maj. Gen. Dana J. H. Pittard 1st AD and Fort Bliss Commanding General
1st AD and Fort Bliss Commanding General
No More Preventable Soldier Deaths

On Monday, following Super Bowl Sunday, most Soldiers at Fort Bliss will have the day off because we, as a post, went more than 100 days without a preventable Soldier death from September 2012 to January 2013. Unfortunately, we had one of our Soldiers die this month. His death was preventable. I wish someone could have successfully intervened to help our fellow Soldier in need. We all need help at times. Seeking help is strength, not weakness. I ask all Soldiers and family members to look out for each other. If you need help or someone you know needs help, call your chain on command or duty chaplain at 637-4265, or Military One Source at 800-273-TALK. Help us ensure there are no preventable deaths at Fort Bliss.

Yes, the same general who called military suicides "selfish acts" while working out in the gym. Now he's saying instead of "Army Strong" it is "Iron Strong" but again reporters just decided to report on the reduction of suicides at Fort Bliss and not asking any questions as to why that happened. How about asking how many were discharged and then committed suicide? How about how many were transferred to other bases and then committed suicide? Anyone have a single clue other than the people in charge?

Has anyone asked McHugh about all of this? Has anyone asked him why they kept redeploying soldiers over and over again even though their own research showed it would increase the risk of PTSD? Anyone ask him why they did not deploy trauma specialists right away when they discovered this? Anyone ask him why some of the chaplains in the military are still trying to get soldiers to convert to their faith at the same time they tell troubled soldiers they are going to hell if they do not covert and accept Christ as members of their denomination?

Has anyone asked any of the people in charge who is responsible for this? Who is being held accountable? Who has been fired or who has been discharged for dereliction of duty?

They keep surviving combat but can't seem to survive being back home. Anyone even wondering why this keeps happening or why families leave the graves filled after suicide, blame themselves for it and then they discover what they should have been told all along?

While I read way too much, I hear even more. I hear because I listen and ask questions. The problem is, I hear all too often from families when it is too late to save a life and they need comfort because they can't stop blaming themselves for what the military didn't do and reporters didn't report on.