Friday, February 13, 2015

VA Sec. McDonald, Veterans, Discuss Veterans, 'American Sniper'

The message the movie carries but is ignored, once again, by the many rushing to see and talk about, especially by those served, the flag waving poser patriots, and having never sought to serve themselves. Their 'reality' comes from the movies, TV drama's {think torture, hey it worked on 24} as well and in today's world the video games played, that last for an hour or two and are meant as entertainment not propagandized 'reality'!

Kyle had the right idea in coping with his own PTS demons, after at first apparently not but finally recognizing they existed. One was doing what combat theater vets have done, especially since PTS was recognized and thus named, in talking and listening to other veterans of the theaters of operations, young and old, for decades. Talking and listening to each other, with help even from those civilians living with their own often misdiagnosed PTS as well as caring good listeners who were friends or family and knew no judgement would be made if they released their thoughts freely in talking about. As the Country, and Representatives of, served ignored many issues, PTS included, from those wars and as to PTS some made very comfortable livings as 'experts' denying it even existed Feeding the peoples Representatives, especially conservatives, the talking points needed to deny the funding for care for and not demanding those they represent should actually share in the sacrifices!

He became a Veterans Peer Counselor, many vets of Vietnam went into the mental health professions after they returned, wanting to help others cope. Can one get 'cured' of PTS, no. But one, many many many have, can learn to cope with, the total opposite from how they were brought up since infancy, and lesson, or rid themselves of, the triggers that might bring back those demons into their thoughts.

Kyle still had a long way to go in his own coping as apparently he didn't listen to others speak and study better the many triggers that can set off an individual, especially one not yet coping but falling deeper into those nightmares, so soon after returning from theater himself. He should have listened to the Mother who asked for the help for her son about how troubled he was. He should have gotten to know the son better. Instead, apparently he became comfortable enough to return to the gun ranges and his weapons hopefully understanding they could be his own triggers, he thought it was a great idea to do the manly recreation, helping fellow vets, of firing off rounds, weapons used in war, and talk then about what this vet he was helping was going through. The trial of his and his friends shooter, Eddie Ray Routh a veteran of the OEF/OIF era, just started. And in the first day this came out in testimony:

On the way to the outdoor resort where former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was killed, he sent a text message to the friend sitting next to him about the third man in the truck: “This dude is straight-up nuts.”

The friend text-ed Kyle back this response:

Littlefield responded to Kyle’s text message with one of his own indicating he was concerned, too.

“He’s right behind me. Watch my six,” Littlefield wrote, using a military phrase meaning “watch my back.”

Instead of, Kyle the vet peer counselor hadn't thought about apparently, sending one saying they probably should scrap the gun range visit and maybe go for coffee or a sit down someplace else and talk to Routh, get to know him better and what's troubling him, and listen to him, with weapons safely locked away. Hell, this vet Routh might have wondered why both were texting at the same time and if they were doing so about him, he was also in the truck cab, that might have started the direction of what was coming. When they were found, after the shootings, there were a number of semi-automatic weapons found with them!

ICYMI: Sec. Bob McDonald discusses Veterans, American Sniper with Charlie Rose
February 11, 2015 - On Monday, Feb. 9, VA Secretary Bob McDonald joined the Charlie Rose Show on PBS to discuss the attention brought to today’s Veterans by films such as American Sniper. Joining the panel discussion were the film’s screenwriter, Jason Hall, and two Marines: Team Rubicon co-founder Jake Wood and Jacob Schick, a Warrior Relations Specialist with the Brain Performance Institute’s Warrior Training Team.

McDonald was asked about the film American Sniper and said it gave the American public a look at what military Veterans have gone through.

“The obvious injuries and wounds are the ones seen by everyone, but it’s those inconspicuous wounds are the ones we often deal with in the VA. I thought it was great to be able to raise that to the American public,” McDonald said. read more>>>

Watch the Charlie Rose show. The discussion begins at the 10:07 mark.
{You can slide it over to the start time around that ten minute mark}

American Sniper Highlights Veterans' Readjustments
February 12, 2015 - Transitioning to civilian life can be extremely challenging. The current box-office blockbuster American Sniper graphically illustrates just how difficult this transition can be. The movie portrays the true-life story of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. For those who haven’t seen the movie, many Servicemembers and Veterans have commented on how accurate the storytelling and acting is. Like Kyle, many of the men and women who serve our country find themselves feeling isolated, angry or conflicted when they return home, making it difficult to move forward and start the next chapter of their lives.

VA has developed, and continues to develop, resources to help Servicemembers and Veterans navigate the readjustment to civilian life. In addition to in-person resources such as Vet Centers and VA Medical Centers, VA also provides online programs and telephone-based services. Some of those resources include: read more>>>

VA Sec. McDonald Delivers Reality to Fellow, Congressional Rep., Vet

Sen. Bernie Sanders told Conservatives: “If you can’t afford to take care of your veterans, than don’t go war. These people are bearing the brunt of what war is about, We have a moral obligation to support them.” February, 26th, 2014

Neither of these recent wars have yet been paid for, nor the continued blowback from the spread and growth from the policies implemented!
Neither the long term results from, including the long ignored or outright denied existence of, till this Administrations Cabinet and Gen Shinseki, only Government branch consistent for the past six years, Veterans issues from!
As well as under deficits most of the, grossly under funded for decades and the wars from now, VA budget is still borrowed, with interest, thus added problem creating costs, with representative who control the purse strings blaming the mostly dedicated VA personal within, that shouldn't exist!


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