For some veterans, battle never ends
Many fight PTSD, depression when they return home
Sentinel and Enterprise
Posted: 09/16/2012
By Jack Minch
Andrew "Dallas" Rosacker was a member of an elite Marine Corps anti-terrorist security team, but after 10 years, he got out of the military as a sergeant in 1999.
He went to work for the State Department and spent three years working security details for the Army Corps of Engineers alongside the military in Iraq.
During that time he was in two IED explosions and two car bombings as well as multiple firefights.
"I was a target of a car bomb in 2003," he said.
At one point he also worked with SEAL Team 1 as a sniper.
Since returning home he has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression.
He also suffered a stroke related to his combat experiences that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body.
The issue of military personnel spiraling into depression has become a serious problem for the military.
Fitchburg spent hours looking for a despondent veteran who was reported to be possibly suicidal and armed Sept. 5. Officer Paul McNamara located her using electronic equipment that tracks longitude and latitude.
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Showing posts with label Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act. Show all posts
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Friday, February 8, 2008
Obama, Hagel, and Harkin Address GI Suicides
Obama, Hagel, and Harkin Address GI Suicides
by Piuma, Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 11:36:08 PM EST
The following is excerpted from a diary on the Think On These Things blog:
As news reports reveal growing numbers of suicide among soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, Chuck Hagel, and Barack Obama on January 31, introduced major legislation aimed at preventing suicide among active duty members of the military. The Senators' bill, the Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act, would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a comprehensive suicide prevention program including annual training for soldiers, improved instruction for field medics and post deployment assistance. The legislation authorizes six million dollars for implementation of the programs. A companion measure will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA).
Today's Washington Post reported that Army statistics show that 121 soldiers committee suicide last year - a 20 percent increase from 2006. This is the highest rate of Army suicides recorded since the Army started collecting this data in 1980. The Post also reported that last year about 2,100 soldiers "injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002."
"These startling statistics should serve as a wakeup call that suicide among soldiers and veterans is more than a problem, it is an epidemic," said Senator Harkin. "Thankfully, our push to provide America's veterans with a suicide prevention program was heard last year, when the President signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law. But there is more work ahead - especially in serving our active duty military personnel. We can and must act quickly to save our soldiers who are so bravely fighting for our country."
go here for the rest
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/7/23368/63265
by Piuma, Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 11:36:08 PM EST
The following is excerpted from a diary on the Think On These Things blog:
As news reports reveal growing numbers of suicide among soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, Chuck Hagel, and Barack Obama on January 31, introduced major legislation aimed at preventing suicide among active duty members of the military. The Senators' bill, the Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act, would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a comprehensive suicide prevention program including annual training for soldiers, improved instruction for field medics and post deployment assistance. The legislation authorizes six million dollars for implementation of the programs. A companion measure will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA).
Today's Washington Post reported that Army statistics show that 121 soldiers committee suicide last year - a 20 percent increase from 2006. This is the highest rate of Army suicides recorded since the Army started collecting this data in 1980. The Post also reported that last year about 2,100 soldiers "injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002."
"These startling statistics should serve as a wakeup call that suicide among soldiers and veterans is more than a problem, it is an epidemic," said Senator Harkin. "Thankfully, our push to provide America's veterans with a suicide prevention program was heard last year, when the President signed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law. But there is more work ahead - especially in serving our active duty military personnel. We can and must act quickly to save our soldiers who are so bravely fighting for our country."
go here for the rest
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/7/23368/63265
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