63,000 soldiers found to have Combat PTSD during screening

This is what Point Man Ministries has been trying to warn people about. As bad as the numbers are today they are only going to get higher later on. Dana Morgan, President of Point Man International Ministries holds conference calls every Monday night on Skype with Out Post Leaders across the country. Combat PTSD is our number on topic. We handle the spiritual needs of combat veterans and their families with Home Fronts lead by the spouse of a veteran.

This is not "rocket science" but it is experience knowing what works because Point Man has been around since 1984, almost as long as I've been doing the same type of work.

You probably haven't heard of Point Man because we're all volunteers and none of us have enough money to get the publicity other groups have but on top of that, none of us have the time to go out and scream "look at me" and dig into your pockets.

I am so lousy at it that when I help a veteran, I never mention the fact that I am supported by donations and can't pay my own bills to cover the costs of doing what I do. While I'm no good at finding funding, I've been doing this for 30 years and can tell you the same thing I tell the veterans I work with. None of this is hopeless. None of them are helpless. While contrary to a recent articles saying some are "cured" by the VA in 5 years" along with a footlocker filled with other nonsense claims, there is a lot of healing going on the media doesn't even know about.

Read this article and take in the numbers were heading for then watch the two videos at the bottom of this to hear from an Iraq veteran and then you'll know how much is really possible.

Soldiers seeking routine medical care now get PTSD screening as well
By SETH ROBSON
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 5, 2012

The Army is asking soldiers who go to the doctor for ailments such as back pain or colds to answer questions about depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in a bid to identify those who may need help.

About 63,000 soldiers out of 2 million screened during routine doctor appointments since 2007 have tested positive for previously unrecognized and untreated mental health problems, according to Col. Charles Engel, a Walter Reed National Military Medical Center doctor.

“The patients may be there for anything from a broken arm to an upper respiratory problem,” Engel told experts gathered at a recent meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. “Very seldom do people go to their primary care doctor just for stress or depression problems.”


Studies show that the average person with PTSD waits 12 years before being treated. As recently as 2004, only about a quarter of soldiers who were suffering from PTSD were getting specialized care, he said.


“We have a lot of people out there getting no care,” he said.
read more here

Marine Corps to launch anonymous holistic fitness program

Marine Corps to launch new holistic fitness program
July 05, 2012
AMANDA WILCOX
DAILY NEWS STAFF

The Marine Corps is implementing a new holistic fitness program designed to help warriors focus on whole body fitness.

The program, called the Marine Corps Fitness Improvement Tool (MCFIT) was spearheaded by Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford. It is designed to help Marines recover from the stresses of combat in a healthy, holistic fashion.

“From the command side this program will be extremely helpful in assessing overall unit fitness,” said Navy Lt. Lindsey Stoil, a medical planner with Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. “Things might look good on the outside, but there might be an underlying problem across the unit.”

The program includes two phases, the first of which is a paper-based survey designed to assess a Marine’s health, and the second is a web-based assessment. Phase 2 is still under development and is scheduled to launch at the end of this year. Participation in the program is completely anonymous.
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The Hill makes big deal out of good song

It is a good song and just because Romney uses it, doesn't mean he owns it. What is the big deal about the Marines playing this song?

Marine Corps band plays Romney song on White House lawn
By Ian Swanson
07/04/12

A subset of the Marine Corps band struck up one of Mitt Romney's walkout songs while President Obama was greeting visitors at the White House Independence Day celebration.

A White House pool report said the band struck up Rodney Atkins's "It's America," and described it as an "awkward moment."

The president and first lady Michelle Obama were hosting service members and their families on the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday evening to mark the Fourth of July.

Military families were treated to an evening of barbecue, fireworks and a music concert featuring the Marine Band and country music star Brad Paisley.
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Wounded Afghanistan Vet spends July 4th at White House

Wounded Iowan at White House today
O.Kay Henderson
04 Jul 2012

(Washington) -- An Iowa sailor is one of about 1200 service members invited to spend Independence Day at the White House.

Taylor Morris of Cedar Falls lost all four of his limbs after stepping on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in May. He was just discharged from Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. Morris says the White House visit will make for a special 4th of July.

“There’s a dinner. I think Brad Paisley is going to be playing and a fireworks show we’ll be watching out on the lawn, hopefully the weather stays good. I definitely will be putting my nicest shirt on,” Morris says. “A Brad Paisley concert — you can’t beat that.”

Morris is just the fifth person to survive a quadruple amputation at Walter Reed. The explosion happened two months ago and he talked about the incident with KCNZ, his hometown radio station.

“I was conscious through the whole thing,” Morris said, “and so when I stepped on it I could hear it and feel the blast, feel the heat and I remember looking at my arm when I was trying to stabilize myself in the air as I was back flipping through the air and noticing that my arm was gone and then I hit the ground and noticed by legs were gone, too.”

Morris had a face-to-face meeting with the president last week when Obama toured the “Wounded Warrior Wing” at Walter Reed.
read more here

VA opens clinic for homeless vets

VA opens clinic for homeless vets
July 4, 2012

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (VAMC) recently opened the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT) primary and urgent care clinic.

“This is a walk-in clinic where homeless veterans can see a doctor or nurse practitioner, without an appointment, to get the medical care they need and begin the process of seeking permanent housing and other resources,” said Luz Hein, chief of social work service at Jesse Brown VAMC. “This is a comprehensive patient-centered approach to caring for and rehabilitating homeless veterans.”

The H-PACT is on the eighth floor of the VAMC’s 820 S. Damen Ave. building and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The clinic offers medical care and other services, such as case management, substance abuse treatment, community referrals, housing placement, triage, and mental health services to all homeless veterans.

The goal of the H-PACT is to see that homeless veterans receive the comprehensive care and services they need and to reduce barriers to health care delivery, Hein said.

Call (312) 569-6402.