Audie Murphy: American Hero

Audie Murphy, widely regarded as one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, exemplifies the essence of heroism. His remarkable bravery, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to serving his country have immortalized him as an American icon. This essay delves into the life, accomplishments, and enduring legacy of Audie Murphy, a true American hero.

Early Life and Military Service

Born on June 20, 1925, in Kingston, Texas, Audie Murphy grew up in humble beginnings. His childhood was marked by poverty and hardship, as he was raised in a sharecropper's family of twelve children. Murphy's father abandoned the family when he was young, leaving his mother to single-handedly support the household.

In 1942, at the tender age of seventeen, Murphy lied about his age to enlist in the United States Army. Despite his diminutive stature, standing at just 5 feet 5 inches tall, he was determined to serve his country. Murphy's journey through the military ranks was marked by extraordinary valor and courage on the battlefield.

Combat Actions and Heroic Deeds

Murphy's combat actions during World War II earned him an unparalleled reputation for bravery. He participated in numerous campaigns across Europe, displaying exceptional leadership and fearlessness in the face of enemy fire. One of his most notable feats occurred on January 26, 1945, near Holtzwihr, France.

During a fierce battle against German forces, Murphy's company was decimated, and the young soldier found himself as the sole survivor. Undeterred by overwhelming odds, he climbed onto a burning tank destroyer and used its machine gun to repel the advancing enemy forces. Murphy's courageous stand allowed his company to regroup and ultimately repulse the German attack.

For his actions that day, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration bestowed by the United States government. His citation praised his indomitable courage and unwavering determination in the face of mortal danger. Murphy's heroism during World War II extended far beyond that single engagement, as he continued to lead his men with distinction until the war's end.

Post-War Life and Legacy

Following the war, Audie Murphy returned to the United States as a celebrated hero. He embarked on a successful career in Hollywood, starring in over forty films and becoming a household name. Despite his fame and fortune, Murphy remained humble and dedicated to honoring the memory of his fallen comrades.

In addition to his acting career, Murphy authored several books detailing his wartime experiences and advocating for veterans' rights. He became a staunch advocate for mental health awareness, openly discussing his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from his combat experiences.

Tragically, Audie Murphy's life was cut short when he died in a plane crash on May 28, 1971, at the age of 45. However, his legacy continues to endure as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. His memory lives on in the hearts and minds of Americans, inspiring future generations to embody the values of honor, integrity, and selflessness.

Conclusion

Audie Murphy's life story serves as a testament to the extraordinary resilience and bravery of the human spirit. From his humble beginnings in rural Texas to his legendary exploits on the battlefield, Murphy's journey embodies the essence of the American dream. His unwavering commitment to duty, honor, and country exemplifies the highest ideals of heroism. Audie Murphy will forever be remembered as an American hero whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Americans to strive for excellence and to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

Badge of Life

Editor's Note: The information presented on PTSD is applicable to military personnel.

On February 13, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Sergeant Andy O’Hara, California Highway Patrol (ret.), Executive Director of The Badge of Life.

Program Date: February 13, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: The Badge of Life
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/02/14/The-Badge-of-Life

About the Badge of Life
According to The Badge of Life, they “are a group of active and retired police officers from the United States and Canada who are victims of trauma-related injuries from our law enforcement service. We have suffered the worst that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brings—the hopelessness, the despair, the flashbacks, the attempts at suicide, the nightmares and insomnia, the panicky hypervigilence, anxiety and terror. Among us are victims of both critical incident and cumulative PTSD.

Our personal experiences are varied and representative of what occurs in police work—shootings, violent attacks, the loss of fellow officers, near-death experiences, helplessly watching the death of a child, and more. We were drawn together out of a determination to help others avoid our fate. With the help of experts in the field like John Violanti, PhD (author of Police Suicide, Epidemic in Blue and Under the Blue Shadow), Dr. Janak Mehtani, an expert on PTSD and Catherine Leon, LCSW, who has worked extensively with PTSD and law enforcement, we began to set a path.

We found that many departments still lack adequate suicide prevention programs. We found many departments have excellent programs—but limit themselves to suicide awareness and prevention. Our program came after long discussion and research--and the realization that, in the search for complex answers, we were all missing the simple solutions! Thus came about the Badge of Life program--a common sense approach to law enforcement stress and trauma that stunned even us by its utter simplicity.

About the Guest
Sergeant Andy O'Hara, California Highway Patrol (ret.) is a military veteran and the Executive Director of The Badge of Life. According to Sergeant O’Hara, he “spent his last day of law enforcement sitting on the bedroom floor with his gun, trying to decide whether to shoot himself in the mouth or side of the head. Hospitalized twice with the effects of his post traumatic stress, he has written on this topic and spoken to numerous groups about the importance of this new program. Through those presentations, he has realized how well received and effective the message truly is. He is a member of the California Peer Support Association, the International Police Association and works as a peer volunteer with the West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/02/14/The-Badge-of-Life

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

America Supports You: Organization Addresses Vets' Housing Challenges

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

July 25, 2008 - Veterans transitioning from war to peace may need a place to call home, whether it's for the long or short term, the executive director of a North Carolina-based program that offers them that and a good bit more said. "The needs we are addressing all, in some way, revolve around temporary and long-term living arrangements that are appropriate for the various challenges that our active duty and military veterans face," Lance Orndorff said about "American Heroes Return."

"Camp Hero" is an integral part of American Heroes Return, which, in turn, is part of the Virginia-based "Place of Solace, Inc."

The camp offers a phased living environment at no cost to active-duty servicemembers or veterans, he said. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or permanent disability and in need of long-term care have access to the home-style camp that offers a mixed-use residential environment with shopping and social and recreational opportunities.

Active-duty servicemembers simply looking for someplace to hang out while they're home for rest and recuperation can stay in simple cabins and take in all that Camp Hero has to offer.

"Active-duty military on terminal leave and veterans post-active duty have a difficult time finding a 'landing zone' when returning to the states or leaving the base," Orndorff said. "They usually need just one to three months of living accommodations, as well as job location and training assistance, to get them reestablished in the civilian sector.

"This is where they can choose from either the rural farm or in-town contemporary housing experience, where they work with others like themselves who are transitioning back into civilian life," he added.

American Heroes Return is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

The organization's America Supports You affiliation is helping bridge the gap between its efforts to support both active-duty servicemembers and veterans, Orndorff said.

"I'm finding that my own review of other [America Supports You-affiliated] organizations ... is leading me to begin thinking about ways to network and partner," he added. "There may be portions of programs that we had intended to establish on our own that we can better accomplish by partnering with a group already accomplishing that task."

America Supports You: Group Offers Free Mental Health Counseling

By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service

June 17, 2008 - Mental Health practitioners nationwide are donating their time and services to provide free, confidential counseling to military people and their families. "Combat affects everyone in one way or another," explained Dr. Barbara Romberg in an "ASY Live" interview on BlogTalkRadio. "Most people react when exposed to a situation where there are extreme or horrific events; it is a human reaction to abnormal situations."

ASY Live is part of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

Romberg, founder and president of "Give an Hour," said she started her nonprofit organization to educate servicemembers and their families about the seriousness of post-traumatic stress disorder and the importance of taking steps to combat it.

"When we set up the organization a few years ago, the concept was very simple, she said. "We asked mental health professionals across the country to give an hour of their time."

When one of the program's providers was asked why she joined, Romberg said, her answer was equally simple. "How could I not? It's so little that they are asking of me to give," the practitioner said.

Romberg said a broad spectrum of mental health practitioners participated in Give an Hour. "We have mental health professionals of all kinds -- psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, licensed marriage and family counselors, substance abuse counselors and pastors," she explained. "One size doesn't fit all; people need different things."

Raising awareness about PTSD is as important to the group as providing help to people who need it, she said.

"We are really launching a public education campaign to make sure our entire country understands post-traumatic stress -- what it is and why it's so important to address," she said. "Post-traumatic stress is a condition that will affect most people."

Romberg said there are important signs that a family member can identify that may be an indication that professional help may be a necessary part of the recovery process.

"Anyone might be withdrawn or irritable for awhile, but if those symptoms persist past six or eight weeks, then you need to take action," she said. "If the family member seems to be uninterested in activities that they used to be interested in before, uninterested in relationships with spouses or children, or engaging in persistent drinking or substance abuse as a way of escaping, that's a warning sign," she explained.

Nightmares, anxiety attacks and rage can lead to very serious symptoms if left untreated, she added, "but it doesn't have to become a chronic mental illness at all."

For that reason, Romberg explained, it is important that family members work to recognize symptoms and seek counseling as quickly as possible. Most people want to feel as if they can handle these issues, she said. And in fact, they can, but sometimes they need assistance, she added. That's where Give an Hour comes in.

Give an Hour provides counseling not only for servicemembers, but also for affected family members, whom Romberg defines as "anyone who loves someone who is serving."

"When someone we love is deeply affected, the consequences are usually fairly far-reaching," she explained. "Spouses and children are, of course, an immediate concern, ... but grandparents, aunts and uncles are just as affected by this situation.

"If you, as a family member, feel like you have resources," she continued, "you can put together a plan and you have ... someone else to help you think through it, and eventually encourage [your] loved one to come with [you]."

It is also important, she noted, to keep a close eye on children.

"Spouses that are focused on their husband or wife, it might be really difficult to also be concerned with their children," she said. "We see things such as regression -- a young child that's maybe 3 was potty-trained and all of a sudden starts wetting the bed or isn't eating or sleeping well."

The services offered by Give an Hour are free and ongoing, and providers stay in the network a minimum of a year, Romberg said.

"If their provider has to leave, we provide a replacement," she noted. "They are never told, 'You've used up your services here.' By building such a hard network, it's not a hardship to give an hour. And [the practitioners] are happy and eager to give."

To receive support or to register to become part of this support network, people can visit the organization's Web site, www.giveanhour.org. People seeking help can search for the nearest participating provider by entering their ZIP code.

"It can be an educational conversation or it can be setting up an appointment to meet face to face," Romberg said. "If they don't know what type of assistance they need, they can also click on the 'Contact Us' button, ... and we will help locate a provider.

"It's all about partnering, networking, reaching out, connecting -- helping them to get what they need," she said.

(Jamie Findlater, host of "ASY Live" on BlogTalkRadio, works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)

America Supports You: Patriotic Hearts Care for Military, Families

American Forces Press Service

June 11, 2008 - Servicemembers, veterans and their families going through problems related to deployments can get help from a California-based troop-support organization. Members of the group, called Patriotic Hearts, have developed a plan to help families navigate the sometimes-unexpected issues they may face when a loved one returns from the front lines.

The plan involves working with spouses of deployed servicemembers to map out welcome-home parties, helping veterans find jobs, and hosting military marriage-enrichment weekends.

"This three-point plan also addresses the needs of the military children, who endure tremendous stresses," Mark Baird, president of Patriotic Hearts, said.

Welcome home parties, the first part of the plan, play an important and vital role in helping military families start over again when a spouse returns from deployment, he said. Held in a large picnic area on or near military facilities, the parties provide a day of fun, music, food and laughter.

These events, while being especially beneficial for the children, help the whole family close the book on a stressful chapter in their lives, Baird said.

"It is our conviction that welcome-home parties are cathartic, and that they play an important first step in increasing psychological, emotional and marital well-being among our troops and their families," he said. "The celebration completes the cycle."

HirePatriots.com -- a free, online job posting and search board for troops, spouses and veterans -- works to help with the second phase of Patriotic Hearts' plan. It was created in response to an injured Marine's need for work after returning from deployment to find his family's car had been repossessed.

In San Diego, where the program originated, more than 2,000 members of the military community find employment each month.

Keeping families together and lessening the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder are ancillary effects that HirePatriots.com creates, Baird said.

Financial stress is a big factor in many divorces, he noted.

"When added to the extraordinary stresses of the military and multiple combat deployments, the lack of enough money can be lethal [for marriages]," he said, adding that finding employment also can remove a stress factor that can contribute to PTSD.

The third way Patriotic Hearts has to help military families is its military marriage-enrichment weekends. The program provides all-expenses-paid, off-installation marriage retreats for current troops and recent veterans.

"The first to be invited are the wounded warriors from base hospitals," Baird said. "But all troops and [recent] veterans are welcome to attend."

This is the least servicemembers returning from deployment and their families deserve, he added.

Patriotic Hearts is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

Officials Break Ground for Brain Injury Center of Excellence

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

June 5, 2008 - Just inside the gates of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., officials today ceremoniously turned the dirt at the site of what will become the military's premier institute for the study and care of psychological health and traumatic brain injuries. Defense Department Secretary Robert M. Gates, alongside two other department secretaries, top military leaders, recovering wounded warriors and the namesakes of the Fisher House Foundation joined to break the ground for what will become the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for psychological health and traumatic brain injury.

Construction of the $70 million, 75,000-square-foot facility is being funded by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a not-for-profit agency that raises funds to support military servicemembers and families. The project mirrors the organization's funding and construction of a physical rehabilitation facility – The Center for the Intrepid -- built at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio last year.

This facility will serve as the clinical research and educational arm of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI -- a collaborative network of military, private and public health care and educational organizations linked to discover and promote best practices in the care of treatment of psychological health and TBI.

Gates said the need for such a facility has "never been more pressing or more important."

He said that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have presented DoD with a unique mix of injuries, stress and strains on its military force.

"As in every conflict in America's history, many of our troops have returned bearing the scars of war – scars both seen and unseen," Gates said. "These invisible wounds are in many ways more pernicious, more grievous, because they are not readily apparent and have not always received the attention they should."

Gates said advancements in armor protection and battlefield medicine have led to more troops surviving what would have been otherwise fatal injuries. As result, though, there has been an increase in cases of TBI. The secretary conceded that although much about the condition still is not understood, $150 million has been dedicated to the injury's prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Also, the military has implemented better reporting mechanisms for those potentially affected, and DoD has launched departmentwide efforts aimed at reducing the stigma attached with receiving mental health services in the military.

"That change in our culture represents our biggest challenge, and we know it will not happen overnight," Gates said.

Last month, DoD changed a longstanding question on its security questionnaire that asks if servicemembers have received mental health counseling. Now, the question excludes counseling for combat-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We hope that with this change, more will be willing to come forward and seek help," Gates said. "The main point is to do everything we can to ensure that the inevitable anxiety and stress from combat does not turn into something tragically worse."

Gates said that the new center symbolizes that the United States is keeping its contract with servicemembers and their families to provide care should they be injured on the battlefield.

"After the wars themselves, I have no higher priority. And this superb new center will be a living reminder that America honors that contract and keeps faith with those who have sacrificed so much for all of us," Gates said.

The honorary chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Arnold Fisher, said that the contributions provided for the center were not charity, but a duty by Americans to care for its troops.

"This is not charity work. This is our duty to give back to this country, especially to the military," Fisher said. "We are no longer embarrassed to talk about mental health of our brave warriors. They deserve the best care, and this center will be the core of that effort."

The Fisher family's Fisher House Foundation raises money to build homes on military installations and at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States. Families of those recovering at the hospitals are allowed to live in the homes for free. So far, the foundation has built 38 such homes. It plans to build more at the Bethesda campus, officials announced.

Once complete, the building will be turned over to the Defense Department for resourcing and management. The building is planned to be finished by November 2009.

The center is another example of the ever-expanding partnership between VA and DoD and other governmental agencies. So far, the two agencies have collaborated on revising policies and procedures that have been sticking points for servicemembers transferring their care between the agencies. They've also joined to hire federal recovery coordinators who will oversee the management of the cases of the most severely injured. VA, DoD and the National Institutes of Health will collocate at the new center. The deputy director of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI is a VA employee.

"This Intrepid Center of Excellence will play an absolutely essential role in a unwavering commitment to continue that forward movement in getting it right in caring for those who have borne the battle," VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake, a retired lieutenant general who served as Army surgeon general, said.

Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the collaboration of the political administration, the military and the private sector shows long-term commitment toward servicemember care.

"We all are committed to making sure this is not just a short-term flash in the pan," Cartwright said. "We are committed to making this work, to addressing every problem that we can find and we can go after. This is absolutely essential. This is our duty."

The director of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI said the center will put in one place the partnerships that her office has been working to cultivate and will serve as a hub of global efforts to provide evaluation, diagnosis, and treat those suffering from PTSD, TBI and other psychological issues.

"We've always worked together to some extent, but this center will provide that galvanizing focus that will bring the VA, the National Institutes of Health, and bring the Department of Defense and the private and public sectors together, all united in one great effort," said Army Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, who also serves as the special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.

Sutton added that the center will benefit not only military medicine, but also civilian medicine in terms of its findings in research and diagnosis.

"Whatever we can find in terms of best practices around the world, we're bringing it here. Whatever we learn here, we'll push it out," Sutton said.

The groundbreaking is the first of many changes to the landscape of the historical naval hospital campus, as it prepares to merge with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center by 2011 to become the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

U.S. General in Iraq Takes Measures to Prevent Suicides

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

June 2, 2008 - The U.S. general responsible for operations in Baghdad announced today that he is taking proactive measures to prevent soldiers in his command from taking their own lives. Soldiers are his "top priority," Army Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division, told Pentagon reporters during a satellite-carried news conference from his Baghdad headquarters.

"We take proactive measures to improve soldier access to mental health care and prevent suicides and identify early symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder," Hammond pointed out.

Hammond said he has established a suicide elimination policy that features training for leaders, rank-and-file servicemembers and behavioral health care providers. A key element of the program, he noted, is de-stigmatizing the act of seeking care for mental health issues.

Additionally, the command's chaplains and mental health care providers are directed "to visit our combat outposts, be with our soldiers in our joint security stations -- and listen," Hammond said.

These efforts are paying off, the general observed, noting there's been a 35-percent decrease in medical evacuations to the United States of command personnel for mental health reasons.

Emphasizing that "any suicide is one too many," Hammond also noted that his division's suicide rate is currently below the 2007 Army in-theater average.

The servicemembers in his command are performing well in Iraq, Hammond emphasized.

"They're doing one heck of a job," Hammond said of his troops' endeavors, noting their work in Iraq is striking a blow for freedom and is helping the Iraqi people realize a better tomorrow.

"I think, clearly, that it's an encouraging situation we have right now" in Baghdad, Hammond continued. "But, we still got a lot of work we got to get done.

"And, we're up for it," he added. "We're up for it, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Army Deploys Prevention Programs to Combat Soldier Suicides

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

May 29, 2008 - The Army is deploying a multitude of prevention programs as part of efforts to stop soldiers from taking their own lives, senior Army officials said here today. The Army should train its soldiers how to cope with psychological challenges as well as physical ones, Army Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, assistant surgeon general for force protection, told reporters during a Pentagon roundtable.

For example, the Battlemind training program prepares soldiers for a combat environment, Cornum said, adding that troops who've taken Battlemind training report fewer psychological health problems.

Last year, the Army initiated a chain-teaching program to educate all soldiers and leaders about symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and mild brain injury, Cornum said. More than 900,000 soldiers were trained since July, she noted.

Cornum saluted Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' decision to change Question 21 of the questionnaire for national security positions, regarding mental and emotional health. The revised question, she said, now excludes non-court-ordered counseling related to marital, family or grief issues, or counseling for issues related to military service in a combat zone.

"So, the change was made because accessing professional help for those mental health issues should not be perceived to jeopardize your career," Cornum said. "On the contrary, failure to seek care for those kinds of issues might actually increase the likelihood that your psychological distress could escalate to a more serious mental health condition, and that more serious condition could, in fact, preclude an individual from performing those sensitive duties.

"War is hard on soldiers and it can be even harder on families," she observed. "When soldiers return home, most will experience a readjustment period, but they will also experience a successful home transition."

Some returning servicemembers will require short- or long-term counseling to assist in that transition, Cornum said, noting that situation is not unusual.

"We believe there is more to be done, and we are committed to maximizing prevention, as well as treating psychological health problems as they occur," Cornum said.

The Army's personnel directorate and the Army Surgeon General hosted the initial Suicide Prevention General Officer Steering Committee on Feb. 11. That committee will take a critical look at policies, procedures, climate and culture as they pertain to suicide prevention, according to Army documents.

The 144-page Army Suicide Event Report released today said 115 soldiers took their lives in calendar year 2007, the highest number of suicides since record-keeping began in 1980, according to officials. Five of the deceased were female soldiers. Ninety-three of the departed soldiers were active-duty troops, and 22 were either in the National Guard or Army Reserve.

Army records show 102 soldiers died by their own hands in 2006, of which 11 were women.

Most soldiers that killed themselves were young and male, according to the report, with failed personal relationships cited as the number one cause. Most soldiers that committed suicide did so at their home stations and not overseas. In fact, of the 115 soldiers who killed themselves last year, 32 died in Iraq, while 4 died in Afghanistan. Drug or alcohol use was cited in 30 percent of the suicide cases.

The majority of the suicide cases last year did not have a known history of a mental disorder, according to Army documents.

The current active-duty Army suicide rate is 18.8 per 100,000 soldiers, according to officials. The Army suicide rate goes down to 16.8 per 100,000 soldiers when the reserve components are added. The adjusted U.S. population suicide rate is 19.5 per 100,000 people.

There've been 38 confirmed soldier suicides so far this year, officials said.

"Obviously, suicide is a very complex phenomenon with a lot going on," said Army Col. Elspeth C. Ritchie, director of the Army Surgeon General's office for behavioral health. "The main motive for suicide is related to breakup of relationships, usually with a partner."

Other soldier-suicide motivators include getting in trouble at work or elsewhere, Ritchie noted.

"We know that the multiple deployments and the length of the deployment are major stressors back at home; so, there're kind of a lot of different factors," Ritchie said. "We certainly would hope that all of our indicators of quality of life get better as the deployments get shorter and there's more 'dwell time' back at home." Dwell time is the time at home station between deployments.

"But, I don't think we would be able to say we predict that at this time," Ritchie continued. "We also know that we're doing a lot of mitigating strategies at (suicide) prevention and resilience, and we hope that those would help, as well."

One soldier suicide is too many, said Lt. Col. Thomas E. Languirand, who works in Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel office.

"We value each and every soldier, and we look continually ... at how we can put our policies and programs in place to help with the resiliency of our soldiers and their families to better enhance their life-coping skills," Languirand said. "And, we obviously believe that behavioral health is a very important, key part of preventing suicides in the Army."

Languirand observed that high operational tempo is causing stress across the Army's ranks.

"We understand that we are a force under stress, and we do the best that we can to mitigate those risks -- not only the risks that you may associate with persistent conflict, but also the risks that are normal and prevalent in everyday society," Languirand said.

Yet, Ritchie said, there doesn't seem to be a statistical link between wartime operations and an increase in soldier suicides.

"Actually, we're not seeing a clear relationship between conflict increase and suicide," Ritchie said.

Seeking Mental Health Care is Encouraged, Army Psychiatrist Says

By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
Special to American Forces Press Service

May 23, 2008 - Reducing the stigma related to servicemembers seeking mental health assistance is a total team effort that involves educating peers to look out for each other and encouraging those who might be reluctant to receive care, a senior military medical official said yesterday. "Commanders and noncommissioned officers really play a critical role in eliminating stigma, especially the junior-level noncommissioned officers who are with the troops on a day-to-basis. They play a key role in this goal of decreasing stigma," Col. (Dr.) C.J. Diebold, chief of the psychiatry department at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, said in an interview on the "Dot Mil Docs" program on BlogTalkRadio.com.

He added that improving one's overall behavioral health by eating sensibly, getting exercise, and practicing good hygiene are key factors when facing stressful situations. "Behavioral health is important to everyone, as it directly affects how a person feels and acts," Diebold said.

He added that keeping up overall mental health is especially crucial when deployed to a combat zone.

"When one is deployed in a place like a combat zone, one must really maintain a really healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude to be able maintain good behavioral health," Diebold said.

Encouraging servicemembers to learn more about maintaining overall mental health for not only themselves, but also for their families, is just one of the elements highlighted in May, which is Mental Health Month.

"It jogs people's consciousness to recognize the importance of mental health, and hopefully that will continue throughout the entire year," Diebold said.

Many lessons have been learned by looking at mental health issues year-round, he added.

"One of the lessons learned over the past few decades is the importance of a servicemember's psychological well-being in terms of being able to perform their mission, but also the psychological well-being of their families," Diebold said. He added that servicemembers who may need assistance either during or after their deployment have a lot of different options to choose from.

"A servicemember could go to their unit chaplain, and I have talked with servicemembers over the years, and this is really the first place that a lot of people will go to," he said. "The chaplains are a very good way to go and be able to talk through some of the issues that are going on."

Diebold said still other outlets include talking with primary care providers, behavioral health professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, family therapists, and alcohol- and substance-abuse counselors.

"The important thing to remember is that if a person is concerned that they may have experienced a traumatic event in theater and some other environment, and it is really affecting them, to go in and talk to a counselor [or] their primary care manager and get evaluated and get treated if it is indicated," Diebold said. "The sooner it's recognized and the sooner it is evaluated and treatment, the better a person is going to feel, and [it decreases] the chance that they may have long-term effects."

Servicemembers may encounter post-traumatic stress disorder or combat and operational stress during or after deployments, Diebold said.

"I think that it is now the longest continuous combat operations of any war besides the Revolutionary War, and we have had servicemembers deploying multiple times now," he said. "The stress that servicemembers and the families [are experiencing] have been well recognized, and that is why these special programs and bolstering of helping services have been implemented to help out."

Some of the symptoms associated with PTSD are nightmares, nervousness, anxiety or flashbacks. In contrast to PTSD, combat and operational stress reactions are short reactions to stress from being in the combat zone. Usually, combat and operational stress symptoms will resolve with rest, short-term counseling or sometimes simply on their own, he explained, whereas symptoms of PTSD can last a few days, months or even years.

Diebold added that the Department of Veterans Affairs has been working to find treatments for PTSD. Usually, with treatment, a servicemember affected by PTSD can return to active duty. Mental health professionals are deployed in theater to aid servicemembers who may be dealing with PTSD or know someone who is, he noted.

"Our mental health professionals are out there among the troops, educating the troops that this is an expected reaction and here are some of the things that you can do to help decrease some of your stress.

"Commanders and soldiers are being educated and being encouraged to go in and seek mental health treatment," he continued, "and leaders are encouraged to allow their soldiers time away from work ... to get evaluated and treated."

(Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg works in the New Media branch of the Defense Media Activity.)

New Program Offers 'Care for Caregivers'

By Elaine Wilson
Special to American Forces Press Service

May 22, 2008 - The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research here has launched a program aimed at caring for a segment of the military population much more accustomed to administering care than receiving it. The program, called Care for the Caregivers, is designed to identify and treat a syndrome called "compassion fatigue" in military health care providers.

Compassion fatigue, also known as secondary traumatic stress disorder, is the emotional residue or strain of exposure of working with patients recovering from traumatic events.

The relatively new term, coined by Dr. Charles Figley in the 1990s, is becoming increasingly popular as caregivers are faced with the long-term care of trauma patients surviving the battlefield in greater numbers than ever before.

"We're starting to notice signs of compassion fatigue in caregivers of wounded warriors," said Army Col. Kathryn Gaylord, director of the Army Institute of Surgical Research's Care for the Caregivers program. "Caregivers are giving everything of themselves to care for patients, but there's a price sometimes associated with that."

Taxed by deployments of their own and the complicated care of severely wounded servicemembers, caregivers are beginning to exhibit signs of trauma normally reserved for patients. With symptoms such as heightened irritability, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances, the syndrome bears a marked resemblance to post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Compassion fatigue is when caregivers have such deep empathy they develop symptoms of trauma similar to the patient," Gaylord explained.

While similar in nature, Gaylord pointed out the difference between compassion fatigue and "burnout," an emotional exhaustion many people experience due to increased workload and institutional stress. Unlike compassion fatigue, burnout does not contain a trauma element.

Over time, compassion fatigue can lead a caregiver to grow distant from patients or, on the flip side, too close. Both can be detrimental to the patients and families.

Caregivers at the burn center, for instance, treat the same patients for months or even years, which can lead to a strong connection, and a strong sense of failure, guilt and loss if a patient does not survive.

"We treat patients for many weeks to months, during which time they undergo many operations and procedures," Gaylord said. "A strong relationship develops with the patient's family; we get to know them very well."

Army Spc. Antonio Cevallos, a physical therapy technician at the institute, is familiar with the ongoing intensity of day-to-day care. He went from transferring patients wounded in Iraq via ground ambulance in Kuwait to treating wounded warriors in the burn center.

"I see a lot more here [at the institute]," he said. "Compared to minutes or hours of one-on-one contact, it's days and weeks. It has its ups and downs."

Cevallos said he grew close to several patients and was pained to see two patients deteriorate, then pass away.

"It's difficult at times," he said. "But what keeps me going is the fact that I'm helping other people. As long as I keep my purpose, it keeps me above water."

Caregivers are trained to be compassionate, but there is little training in the military on how to handle the stress of compassion, said Gaylord, who hopes to remedy the problem through the Care for the Caregivers program.

The doctor described the program as a combination of prevention training and treatment through the use of seminars and stress-management techniques.

"We have a series of world-renowned experts coming here to speak on topics such as grief, relaxation, nutrition and exercise," said Gaylord, who said the key to prevention is to find ways to manage and alleviate stress.

The seminars include education on the latest relaxation techniques, including "Alpha Stim," which is cranial electrical stimulation and vibration sounds that trigger the brain to relax.

In addition, Gaylord and her staff are building a respite room at the institute, which will serve as a peaceful haven caregivers can retreat to and regenerate. Wanting a state-of-the-art area, Gaylord contracted an architect who designed relaxation rooms for Nike and Hilton.

"The room will be very relaxing with a waterfall, music, massage chair, special motion chair and a video with headsets," she said.

Gaylord also plans to integrate group sessions and questionnaires that will help identify issues and track the impact of the program.

Cevallos said having a support system at work is beneficial.

"Sometimes you need to talk to someone or relax with a group," he said. "I've sat down in a session, and it was soothing. There's a sense of comfort from being with other people who are going through similar experiences."

Army Chaplain (Maj.) Philip Kochenburger, Brooke Army Medical Center chaplain, attended a compassion fatigue seminar on loss, grief and trauma May 9 and used an air travel safety briefing analogy to describe the importance of caring for caregivers.

"The flight attendants always tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first before you help others," he said. "The same is true of caregivers. They have to make sure they take care of themselves along with the patients."

Gaylord said the focus will remain on resiliency and mental well-being.

"We'd like to eventually delve into the research aspects of this so we can determine what makes some people more innately resilient than others."

(Elaine Wilson works in the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)

Center Creates 'Little Miracles' in Treating Combat Stress

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 9, 2008 - A revolutionary treatment program here is demonstrating "little miracles" as it gives new hope to soldiers afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder who want to stay in the Army , its director reports. The new program is the brainchild of clinical psychologist John E. Fortunato, who uses a holistic approach to treating PTSD at the new Fort Bliss Restoration and Resilience Center.

Fortunato conceded that his proposal "wasn't an easy sell" initially, particularly because it wove yoga, massage therapy and other nontraditional approaches into its treatment program. But driven by the frustration of seeing soldiers with PTSD forced to leave the Army against their wishes, Fortunato pressed forward and won approval for his prototype program.

With $2.2 million in initial funding and a 1940s barracks building to rehab, he set out to launch the Restoration and Resilience Center in June 2006. The center opened last summer.

Fortunato was convinced traditional PTSD treatments weren't long enough, intense enough or comprehensive enough. "So we set out to create a program to address all aspects of PTSD and treat the whole soldier," he said.

The participants, all volunteers, take about one-half the doses of medications they'd typically get through community mental-health programs. "That's because we're doing a bunch of other things," Fortunato said.

Many PTSD-afflicted soldiers experience "hyper-arousal," which the center staff treats with techniques like medical massage and "Reiki," a Japanese stress-reduction technique. Acupuncture has proven to be "extremely effective" in treating the anxiety, panic, and tension-induced physical pain many experience, Fortunato said.

There's a big physical component to the program, too. The soldiers must walk at least 10,000 steps a day, including a daily 45-minute "power walk." They play water polo three times a week, forcing interaction that Fortunato said many would rather avoid.

"That's another piece of PTSD. They want to socially isolate. They don't like to interact with other people," he said. "So we have them interact with the people they feel most comfortable with: other soldiers with PTSD."

Field trips during the program take the soldiers to the local mall and Wal-mart, "two hells" to many of them because they're too big, too crowded and too noisy, Fortunato said. "We teach them ways to regulate their stress level so they can handle those kinds of environments."

Many afflicted soldiers have trouble with concentration and memory, Fortunato said. For them, the program's mix of physical activity and calming techniques appears to help. They do yoga; tai chi, a Chinese martial art; "Quigong," a centuries-old Chinese self-healing method; and biofeedback, which uses the mind to heal the body. "We have a meditation room that looks like it came out of a Zen monastery," Fortunato said.

The program aims to repair the physical damage to the "learning center" in many PTSD sufferers' brains. That's caused, Fortunato explained, when the body's stress hormone is elevated too high and for too long -- as it commonly is among combat troops.

"The good news is, [the learning center] is one of only two parts of the brain that can grow new cells," he said. So his program requires participants to sit at a computer several times a day, doing mental exercises to help them regain their cognitive functioning.

While confronting the physical aspects of PTSD, the program addresses the emotional and spiritual aspects, too.

"Few soldiers come back from war without terrible images and events in their head," Fortunato said. Many "suck it up and soldier on" in the combat theater because they have no choice. But when they return home, these issues can percolate to the surface as nightmares, flashbacks and other problems.

Fortunato's program uses "rehearsal therapy" to help participants confront their most painful memories and experiences. "The soldier tells the story, as painful as it is, over and over until you've emptied it of its emotional punch," he said. "They are never going to forget the story, but it doesn't have to have the grip on their guts that it did before."

Meanwhile, many soldiers with PTSD find that their combat experience has shaken their core beliefs and values, Fortunato said. A chaplain helps them review "the big organizing things in their life" as they address the spiritual piece of their PTSD struggle. "We weren't doing much to address this before," but it's critical to a soldier's healing, he said.

Fortunato said there's nothing monumental about the Recovery and Resilience Center's approach to treating PTSD. "If you put all of that together, it isn't magic," he said. "None of it is magic. And do you know what? None of it is new. All we did is, we looked at the whole soldier and tried to treat all of him."

The "whole soldier" approach appears to be paying off. Twelve of the 37 soldiers who volunteered for the program have graduated and returned to their units. Among the recent graduates is a soldier who was in a catatonic state in August, but now is free of all signs of PTSD.

"Little miracles are what we are watching happen," Fortunato said.

So far, only two participants have washed out of the program, both taking medical discharges from the Army.

Fortunato is the first to say his program isn't for everyone. "This is a hard program," he said. "[Participants are] in treatment 35 hours a week [with] daily psychotherapy, daily group therapy [and] integrative medicine. They go from 8:30 in the morning until 4:30 every afternoon. You have to be highly motivated to put up with that much treatment."

There's no set timetable for completing the program, but Fortunato said he's finding six months to be optimal for most soldiers. "As long as they are working hard, we are going to hang in with them," he said.

The soldiers formed their own platoon, which they dubbed, "the Wolf Pack." It's a testament, Fortunato said, to the way they take care of each other and the strength they've shown in admitting they have PTSD and seeking treatment.

As the soldiers work to overcome their combat stress and return to their units, Fortunato said he's convinced the program is in the Army's best interest as well.

The cost alone of treating a soldier -- somewhere between $14,000 and $20,000 -- is a bargain to the force, he said. By comparison, he said it would cost about $400,000 to recruit and train a new soldier and provide lifetime disability payments and medical care to the discharged soldier.

"So why wouldn't you do this?" Fortunato said. "I think the numbers are all in our favor."

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates appears to agree. He toured the Restoration and Resilience Center on May 1, calling the visit an "extraordinary experience."

"They are doing some amazing things here in terms of helping soldiers who want to remain soldiers but who have been wounded with post-traumatic stress disorder," he said. "It is a multi-month effort by a lot of caring people, and they are showing some real success in restoring these soldiers."

Gates called the center an example of new approaches the military is taking to care for these troops. "This center here is illustrative of what can be done," he said.

Gates said he'll consider the idea of possibly replicating Fort Bliss' prototype program to other posts.

Fortunato said he's all for duplicating his effort, but emphasized that his program's small size is a key to its success. The soldiers and staff all know each other, have nicknames for each other, and feel a personal commitment to each other. "We all love these guys," he said.

America Supports You: CinCHouse.com Wins Webby Award

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

May 7, 2008 - A troop-support organization's Web site earned top honors in the annual Webby Awards competition as the top lifestyle site of 2008. The CinCHouse.com Web site -- which derives its name from military shorthand for "commander in chief of the house" -- beat out such corporate giants as Epicurious and Reebok to take top honors in the 12th annual awards.

CinCHouse.com is Operation Homefront's online community for military wives and women in uniform.

"We are completely thrilled," said Regina Galvin, the site's editor in chief. "This really validates all the hard work we put in last year to create a better product for our readers. I can't thank our staff enough for the excellent work they did and continue to do every day."

Shortly after Galvin joined the organization, a creative overhaul of the previous site produced a sleeker, more innovative version. Chad Myers, director of Web development, said the prestigious award will bring much-needed attention to the plight of military families struggling as deployments continue.

"I'm excited to win, but the real benefit will be the exposure to the organization and the ability to help more people because of it," Myers said.

In 1999, Navy wife and author Meredith Leyva created the site as a virtual gathering place for military families frequently on the move. Part of Operation Homefront, CinCHouse includes forums as well as an online magazine that covers such issues as post-traumatic stress disorder and parenting.

"We are extremely honored," she said. "This award really speaks volumes about how important our services are to our members and how important our members are to the larger Internet community."

Operation Homefront is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

Hailed as the "the Internet's highest honor" by the New York Times, the Webby Awards are the leading international awards honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Web sites. They are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy whose members include Internet co-inventor Vinton Cerf, R/GA's chief Bob Greenberg, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Arianna Huffington and Harvey Weinstein.

"The Webby Awards honors the very best of the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of the Webby Awards. "CinCHouse's win is a testament to the skill, ingenuity and vision of its creators."

Founded in 1996, the Webby Awards program is known worldwide for its famous five-word speech limit. Past headline-grabbing speechmakers include Al Gore ("Please don't recount this vote."), Beastie Boys ("Can anyone fix my computer?") and Prince ("Everything you think is true.")

This year, the Webby Awards received a record 10,000 entries from more than 60 countries and all 50 states. The winners will be honored at two star-studded ceremonies in New York City. The Webby Film and Video Awards ceremony takes place June 9, and the 12th Annual Webby Awards Gala will be held June 10.

Military Works to Eliminate Perceived Mental Health Treatment Stigma

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 7, 2008 - Why, when there's no stigma attached to getting treatment for any other combat injury, do troops hesitate to step forward to get the mental health care they need?
That's the challenge facing military leaders as they encourage their troops suffering from combat stress to seek mental health services, said Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler, who's heading the new Joint Staff Wounded Warrior Integration Team.

Sattler, director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff, said the military's uncomplaining, can-do spirit can make some troops resist seeking treatment for what Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates calls "the unseen scars of war."

"Sometimes our toughness can be our biggest obstacle in getting those injuries healed," Sattler said.

"If you ... have been hit in battle and have an external wound, you go forward and you receive medical treatment, and you are not ashamed in any way, shape or form to go get that treatment," he said. "But for some reason, [there's a] stigma associated with a nonphysical battle injury such as traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We have to make sure that our men and women know there is no stigma associated with seeking the same high degree of medical care to make sure those injures are also taken care of," he said.

The Joint Staff Wounded Warrior Integration Team is focusing much of its work on better understanding PTSD and TBI and their effects, and getting people with symptoms to step forward, Sattler said.

"As the research continues and the care becomes better, it is our responsibility to make sure we alleviate the stigma and ensure our men and women looking for that type of help are unashamed about it," he said.

Getting treatment is a sign of strength, not weakness, and improves a servicemember's duty performance, he said. "They are going to perform better, they will be better warriors – soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines – if they are completely healed inside as well as outside," he said.

Gates urged senior noncommissioned officers attending the Sergeants Major Academy for their help in getting troops who need it to seek combat-related mental-health care.

"All of you have a special role in encouraging troops to seek help for the unseen scars of war -- to let them know that doing so is a sign of strength and maturity," he said during his May 1 visit to Fort Bliss, Texas. "I urge you all to talk with those below you to find out where we can continue to improve.

"Those who have sacrificed for our nation deserve the best care they can get," he continued. "As I have said before, there is no higher priority for the Department of Defense, after the war itself, than caring for our wounded warriors."

'Army Wives' Cast Works to Create Realistic Military Parallel

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

May 6, 2008 - Drama can occasionally creep into the lives of military families, but since last season, it's been a sure thing for the military families portrayed on Lifetime Network's top-rated show. The cast of "Army Wives" was here yesterday filming scenes for the series' upcoming second season.

The show focuses on four Army wives, the civilian husband of an Army officer, and a handful of children as they navigate the high and not-so-high points of Army life at fictional Fort Marshall, S.C. They, like real Army families, have dealt with deployment, homecomings and other issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Out of respect for their real-life counterparts, the cast members are working to make their portrayal of military life realistic. One viewer spotted Kim Delaney -- who plays Claudia Joy Holden in the series -- in a Charleston hotel elevator and expressed her appreciation for the show in a soft voice.

"She said, 'My daughter married into the military, and he's over there right now, and they have a little boy, and just get it right!'" Delaney recalled, raising her voice sternly. "That's the thing I love about our show. It's extremely respectful of the military, and we're really proud of what the military's doing, and it's entertainment, but we want to show everybody what everybody goes through."

Delaney, who plays the wife of garrison commander Brig. Gen. Michael Holden, described her character as the "moral center" of the group during a break from filming of the upcoming season's fourth episode yesterday. The instruction Delaney got from the soft-spoken lady in the elevator resonates with the rest of the cast, as well.

"Now that the show has gotten some success, the military has come on board, which is great, because now we can get all those details right," said Brian McNamara, who plays the husband of Delaney's character. "It's not very often in television that you actually feel incredibly proud of what you're doing.

"We went to Fort Bragg [N.C.] at the beginning of this season and met a number of soldiers," he continued. "They spoke to us about their experiences, and it just makes you that much prouder to be doing this and to do it right."

Getting the details right also is important to actor Drew Fuller, who plays Spc. Trevor LeBlanc.

"We are definitely the young couple on the Army post, so a lot of how the audience learns about life on post and certain proper protocol is told through our eyes," Fuller said. "We're portraying real people. There are many E-4s out there with a wife and two kids, and it's really important that we do it right. We've got to make it right for them; we're, as a group, so proud of what they're doing for us, it's the smallest of favors that we can do for them."

The TV family endured its first separation last season when Trevor deployed to Iraq.

Making "Army Wives" as real as possible is a top goal for Harry Bring, an Army veteran and the show's executive producer.

"What I hope happens is that we depict it properly," he said. "[I hope] that we get so much production value out of it that the audience knows that we are military -- not just a drama about Army wives, [but also] that we do this stuff for real."

Viewers were quick to take to the Internet whenever the show missed its target of getting all the details just right last season, and the blogosphere's remarks about errantly worn berets during the first season were mild compared to what it thought of Lt. Col. Joan Burton's methods of coping with her life after returning from her Iraq. Wendy Davis, who plays Burton, heard plenty of comments regarding her character's conduct.

"I don't know if it was the drinking or the dancing on the bar. It was very interesting to live that out," Davis said of her character's experience with post-traumatic stress disorder. "When we went to Fort Bragg, ... one of the things [the officers] shared was ... that our soldiers are not throw-away. It's really about getting them help. That was really great to hear."

Thanks in part to a former soldier who's acting as the show's military advisor, and with tips from military family members working as extras on the set, the show is now on a truer military path.

Natalie McQueen, the wife of a deployed servicemember, has been a fan of the show since it began last year. She said she's pleased with the attention to detail she saw during her experience as an extra yesterday.

"I am a big fan. I really enjoy it," she said with her 5-year-old daughter, MacKenzie, at her side. "They portray the military family really well. It is very realistic."

Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. John Patterson, clutching a bouquet of flowers for his TV wife, also proudly acknowledged his appreciation of "Army Wives." He called the show a credible account of military life.

"I've watched it a couple of times," said Patterson, who's activated and is stationed here. "It's a pretty good show. I was in the Army also before I was in the Air Force, and it does portray [military life] well."

The second season of "Army Wives," which premiers June 8 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Lifetime, promises plenty of surprises -- just like life in an Army family.

Gates: Purple Heart for PTSD 'Needs to Be Looked At'

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 5, 2008 - With growing recognition of the toll post-traumatic stress disorder has taken on U.S. forces, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the Defense Department may consider awarding Purple Heart medals to combat veterans afflicted with it. "It's an interesting idea," Gates said when asked about the concept during a May 2 media availability at Red River Army Depot, Texas. "I think it is clearly something that needs to be looked at."

Gates' comment followed his visit the previous day to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he toured the post's Recovery and Resilience Center, which is using a holistic approach to treating troops with PTSD.

John E. Fortunato, who conceived of and runs the center, told reporters that awarding the Purple Heart to PTSD sufferers would go a long way toward chipping away at prejudices surrounding the disease. Because PTSD affects structures in the brain, it's a physical disorder, "no different from shrapnel," Fortunato said. "This is an injury."

The Army classifies PTSD as an illness, not an injury, so troops with PTSD don't qualify for the Purple Heart. That distinction is limited to troops killed or wounded in a conflict.

"I would love to see that changed, because these guys have paid at least as high a price, some of them, as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with a shrapnel wound," Fortunato said.

Not recognizing those with PTSD with a Purple Heart "says that this is the wound that isn't worthy," Fortunato said. "And it is."

Fortunato said he'd also like to see a regulation prohibiting harassment of troops with PTSD, similar to regulations banning racial or sexual harassment. "Until there are sanctions that make a superior pay a price for harassing a soldier with mental health problems, I don't know that it will change that much."

Soldiers still get laughed at for seeking mental-health services or told that it will ruin their careers, he said. Some in the force view people with PTSD as weak, believing that if those with the disease "just sucked it up and soldiered on, [they would] could get over this," Fortunato said.

"The Army is making a lot of strides toward changing that, but it's a slow go, because it has to happen at the grassroots level," he said. "Like any other prejudice, it's hard to die."

During his visit to Fort Bliss, Gates announced a new policy in which combat veterans no longer have to acknowledge on their federal security clearance forms that they have received mental health care for combat stress. Gates said he hoped the policy would eliminate troops' concerns that seeking mentalhealth care can cause them to be denied a security clearance and threaten their careers. He also expressed hope it would take the stigma away from seeking treatment.

Gates called on senior noncommissioned officers to encourage their soldiers who need it to get care, and to let them know that doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness.

"All of you have a special role in encouraging troops to seek help for the unseen scars of war -- to let them know that doing so is a sign of strength and maturity," Gates told soldiers attending the Army Sergeants Major Academy, at Fort Bliss. "I urge you all to talk with those below you to find out where we can continue to improve.

"Those who have sacrificed for our nation deserve the best care they can get," he continued. "As I have said before, there is no higher priority for the Department of Defense, after the war itself, than caring for our wounded warriors."

Gates Asks Senior NCOs to Encourage Troops to Seek Mental Health Care

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 1, 2008 - The Defense Department is working to reduce stress on the force and improve quality of life for the troops, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told soldiers at the Army Sergeants Major Academy here today. As part of that effort, Gates asked the senior leaders' help in getting troops who need it to seek combat-related mental health care.

"Our country, in recent years, has asked a tremendous amount of you and those who serve with and under you, and everyone has risen to the occasion," Gates told the senior noncommissioned officers, all attending the Army's top NCO school and bound for sergeant major and command sergeant major jobs in the force.

He conceded that "no one expected major combat operations in Iraq to go on this long" and cited the challenges: "multiple and sometimes extended deployments, the stresses of battle, the wounds of war, both seen and unseen."

"All of this has taken its toll on our troops and their families," Gates said. Yet, he noted, morale remains high, "testimony to the extraordinary honor, courage and resilience of those who serve, as well as the leadership and mentoring provided by the senior NCO corps."

But that high morale can't be taken for granted, Gates said. "I know I am preaching to the choir when I tell you that, as senior leaders, we must all be ever cognizant of stress on the force -- stress that has been greatly increased in recent years," he said.

Gates outlined measures being taken to reduce that stress and improve soldiers' quality of life.

Combat deployments are being reduced from 15 to 12 months in light of changes on the ground and gains made. Gates expressed hope that conditions on the ground will enable force levels in Iraq to reduce further by the year's end. A more sustainable deployment rotation will be adopted within the next year or so, with the active force serving two years at home after every one year overseas.

"From my perspective, we are trying to strike a balance: to reduce the tempo of deployment without compromising our strategic objectives or national security," Gates said.

The United States is growing its ground forces and will add 7,000 troops to the Army as part of a five-year, 65,000-troop expansion. The Marine Corps is getting larger too and will complete its 27,000-member expansion next year, two years ahead of schedule.

"With a larger pool of soldiers and forces available, individual soldiers and their units should be deployed less frequently, with more dwell time at home," Gates said.

The secretary cited vast improvements in emergency care on the front lines and in the Army medical system. Since last year's revelations of what he called "deplorable outpatient conditions" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Gates said, he has focused a lot of time and energy on the system of care for wounded warriors.

"We have made great strides, even though more remains to be done," he said.

New warriors-in-transition campuses are revolutionizing the way wounded warriors are getting medical treatment and rehabilitation, he said. With an NCO with them throughout the process, wounded troops get help navigating the full range of support available for their families.

Gone are the days, Gates said, when wounded warriors are considered "permanently broken."

"The reality is that these extraordinary young men and women are far from broken," he said.

The Defense Department also is emphasizing care for troops with post-traumatic stress disorder, Gates told the NCOs, but he admitted that not all are getting the treatment they need.

In addition to new screening procedures that will help ensure no one "slips through the cracks" of the care system, the department is actively working to eliminate the stigma associated with PTSD, he said.

As part of that effort, Gates announced earlier today that the Defense Department will no longer require people who have received treatment for combat-related stress to report it on Standard Form 86, the government security-clearance form.

"Mental health treatment in and of itself will not be a reason to revoke or deny a clearance," Gates told the soldiers. "We hope this will encourage more men and women in uniform to seek help."

Gates called on the NCOs, the "backbone of the military," for help in getting soldiers who may have hesitated in the past to step forward to now get the care they need.

"All of you have a special role in encouraging troops to seek help for the unseen scars of war -- to let them know that doing so is a sign of strength and maturity," Gates told the group. "I urge you all to talk with those below you to find out where we can continue to improve.

"Those who have sacrificed for our nation deserve the best care they can get," he continued. "As I have said before, there is no higher priority for the Department of Defense, after the war itself, than caring for our wounded warriors."

New Report on Vets' Mental Health 'Very Consistent' with Military Findings

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

April 17, 2008 - A study released today shows that nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, findings that military health officials called "very consistent" with their own. During a media roundtable at the Pentagon this morning, officials said the report by the RAND Corporation, titled "The Invisible Wounds of War," helps clarify mental health hurdles the Defense Department is seeking to overcome.

"We're on a journey, and we've come a long way, ... but we've got a long way to go," said Army Col. Loree Sutton, chief of the newly created Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. "That's why we're so thankful to teams like the RAND team that have stepped up and helped us better understand our challenges."

Sutton called it "heartening" that the RAND report's conclusions are "very consistent" with previous studies by the Army's Mental Health Advisory Team and other results published in a private medical journal. "We appreciate their efforts to inform our efforts," she added.

One of the study's findings is that just more than half of servicemembers reporting symptoms actually seek care for post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. For those who do seek help, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider "minimally adequate," the report states.

"Clearly, that's a finding that concerns us," Sutton said.

"It's very consistent with the civilian literature, as well as with our own assessment of the challenges in this area," she said. She cited "closing the gap" between knowledge and practice as a top priority. "We will redouble our efforts," she said.

Sutton said the military health community has used $500 million appropriated in 2007 to fund more than 25 major new programs supported by more than 125 initiatives, many of which "get to the heart of that concern." She added, "We want to provide evidence-based care, the very highest quality care."

One reason many troops avoid psychological treatment, the RAND report says, is because they fear it will harm their careers.

"In general, respondents were concerned that treatment would not be kept confidential and would constrain future job assignments and military careers advancement," the report said.

Sutton said the military health community is attempting to transform military culture with regard to its approach to psychological care. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has bolstered these efforts, she said, by seeking to remove a question about health care history that appears on security clearance questionnaires.

"That's in the process of being revised right now," she said. "We think that that's going to be a big step forward to help our servicemembers understand that seeking care, in fact, is a sign of strength."

Joining Sutton at the roundtable was Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Jaffee, director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. Jaffee said the "big cultural challenge" also occurs in the combat theater, especially in servicemembers' attitude about seeking treatment for possible battlefield concussions.

"Our culture is so towards performance that we think we can shake it off; if we toughen up, we can get by it," he said. "It's very similar to the professional athlete who may not want to be taken out of the game.

"So it really speaks to that big cultural challenge," he said, "which is one of the main challenges in front of us."

While the healthcare community has a long road ahead, it took a step in the right direction over the past year by hiring nearly 8,000 additional mental health professionals and other staffers, Sutton said.

The colonel also highlighted the Center of Excellence, a state-of-the-art hub for psychological health and traumatic brain injury treatment that opened its doors in November. One of her main duties there, she said, is to assess the efficacy of the more than 150 new programs and initiatives, increasing funding for those that are most efficient and scrapping those that flounder.

Underscoring a sense of urgency in her mission, Sutton stressed the need for "less talk and a lot more action" in regard to mental health clinical care, education, training, research funding, and outreach. She said spreading the importance of military mental health care is an issue of national importance.

"It's a national educational campaign," she said. "Not just for those of us in the military and the veterans community, but for our entire country."