Battling the Storm Within

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Veteran Suicide: The False Narrative of the Number “22”

Veteran Suicide: The False Narrative of the Number “22”
                                                

        

There is one number that defines the way many Americans think about military veterans. That number is 22 per day, as in, 22 veterans commit suicide daily in the United States.
This number has been blasted across the outlets of the mainstream media as a call to action for the advocates of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans; the group that seems to be the most at risk. In addition, several non-profit organizations with the number “22” in their name, have sprung up to assist this group and draw national attention to this crisis.

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http://inmilitary.com/veteran-suicide-the-false-narrative-of-the-number-22/

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26,000 Project letter - Speaking About Military Sexual Trauma

26,000-Letter Project Original mission



  The most recent Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Annual Report released May 2013 (http://www.sapr.mil/index.php/annual-reports) states that at least 26,000 military service members were sexually assaulted in 2012. Every few months, members of the United States Congress call survivors to Washington, D.C. to testify.  We go, hoping for real change, we describe what was done to us, the consequential suffering and struggles the assaults have caused, not only in our lives but the lives of our loved ones. Then, Congress does nothing…and awhile later, they ask for more of us to testify.  Since the report and its 26,000 appeared to catch the attention of Congress, perhaps they will listen and take significant action if they hear from us in huge numbers, like 26,000.  We invite you to participate in the exciting and unique “26,000-Letter Project.”


 
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http://www.26000letterproject.com/

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OPERATION DESERT STORM-LIBERATION OF KUWAIT


plan to liberate Q8
General Schwartzkopf’s offensive strategy – the ‘end run.’

Operation DESERT SHIELD grew rapidly to become the largest American deployment since the Southeast Asia Conflict. The Gulf region was within US Central Command's (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. Eventually, 30 nations joined the military coalition arrayed against Iraq, with a further 18 countries supplying economic, humanitarian, or other type of assistance.

    Plans for the liberation of Kuwait began while the defensive buildup was still on-going.  General Schwarzkopf decided on an end-run around Iraqi defenses.  So Iraqi forces would not have prior warning, he refused to move forces and supplies until the Air Campaign began.
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http://www.transchool.lee.army.mil/museum/transportation%20museum/desertstorm.htm

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'Things Have Changed,' U.S. Judge Says Of Case Over Men-Only Military Draft

    


A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an all-male military draft could be revived, after the Pentagon changed its policy on women in combat. Here, soldiers attend a ceremony in Arlington, Va., earlier this year.i
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an all-male military draft could be revived, after the Pentagon changed its policy on women in combat. Here, soldiers attend a ceremony in Arlington, Va., earlier this year. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an all-male military draft could be revived, after the Pentagon changed its policy on women in combat. Here, soldiers attend a ceremony in Arlington, Va., earlier this year.
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of an all-male military draft could be revived, after the Pentagon changed its policy on women in combat. Here, soldiers attend a ceremony in Arlington, Va., earlier this year.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
One week after Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced women in the U.S. military can serve in any combat role, a federal appeals court is considering a lawsuit from a men's group that says a male-only draft is unconstitutional.

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http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/12/459473353/things-have-changed-says-judge-in-case-over-men-only-military-draft

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GULF WAR: 25-YEAR ANNIVERSARY


Gulf War: 15th year anniversary
  •                            




By God we’ve kicked the Vietnam syndrome once and for all!”

When President George H.W. Bush finished a speech with those words on March 1, 1991, the U.S. was flush with the completeness of its victory in Iraq—an overwhelming air campaign, a 100-hour ground war whose speed and domination left even veteran tankers breathless and a Middle Eastern ally grateful for an American rescue.

The U.S. had just won the Cold War in Europe. Now it had prevailed in a hot war in the Middle East, while taking few casualties and establishing American dominance among one of the world’s most important regions. Above all, the war was popular at home, its troops welcomed back warmly.


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http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fspecial-reports%2Fthe-gulf-war-25-year-anniversary&h=3AQEPsZ1SAQH0j_1ksGlUv6at40p-c3WxOymeoijZpyo9Bg&enc=AZN-zgx3Gs-hCfaFneLMHVNBGxLcmD6Wm7-X_4wI4CCeKjaEUb1iF1Jma_2q38xyztkT1_7oMnFEacTM3uaMJiMoih-_t62GuiLjfeTP2v0zJgCjmfJKb-TwQbgKURQmCDEUSXSD7vNX5gxXf5Lh3M3MWWiAQqA_A107QYFmSCh-iv36dHD5bGeZscKPMcJO5M2zmss1OAC7uBmI3U8Z177h&s=1

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Monday, January 18, 2016

Pentagon asks Congress to update code for sexual assault cases


"I was glad to have an opportunity to discuss these goals with General Nichols, as well as continued challenges with increasing survivors' trust that when they do report sex crimes, they will be taken seriously and protected from retaliation," Sen. Claire McCaskill said in a statement from July. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


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http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pentagon-asks-congress-to-update-code-for-sexual-assault-cases/article/2579167

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You Can Get PTSD From Staying In An Emotionally Abusive Relationship























Stop. Just stop asking why a woman is so stupid and so weak when she stays in an abusive relationship. There’s no answer you can possibly understand.
Your judgment only further shames abused women. It shames women like me.

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http://diseasestreatment.info/you-can-get-ptsd-from-staying-in-an-emotionally-abusive-relationship/

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Here’s One Way Of Understanding Why Some People Kill Themselves

Robin Williams

Many people grieved after hearing about the apparent suicide of Robin Williams.
This Aug. 14, 2009 file photo shows actor Robin Williams in Los Angeles. Williams, whose free-form comedy and adept impressions dazzled audiences for decades, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2014, in an apparent suicide. Williams was 63.
Fox News anchor Shepard Smithwas less understanding.





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http://neverignore.info/heres-one-way-of-understanding-why-some-people-kill-themselves/

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4 Ways to Live with Someone Who Has PTSD

Live with Someone Who Has PTSD Step 1.jpg Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex disorder that is the reaction to a traumatic event. Traumatic events that can result in PTSD often include war, rape, kidnapping, assault, natural disasters, car or planes crashes, terrorist attacks, sudden death of a loved one, sexual or physical abuse, extreme bullying, death threats, and childhood neglect. The symptoms of PTSD can arise suddenly, gradually, or come and go over time. PTSD does not just affect the person with the condition; it also affects the loved ones who are involved in his or her life. If you are living with someone with PTSD, it is important to recognize how PTSD can affect your home life, learn how to deal with symptoms of PTSD that may arise, and help your loved one in as many ways as you can.

 

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http://dailyhealthrecords.com/4-ways-to-live-with-someone-who-has-ptsd/

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Fact Sheet

 

Facts at a Glance
  • An estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives and up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
  • An estimated 5 percent of Americans—more than 13 million people—have PTSD at any given time.
  • Approximately 8 percent of all adults—1 of 13 people in this country—will develop PTSD during their lifetime.
  • An estimated 1 out of 10 women will get PTSD at some time in their lives. Women are about twice as likely as men to develop PTSD.
Extreme Trauma and PTSD
  • PTSD may develop following exposure to extreme trauma.
    • Extreme trauma is a terrifying event or ordeal that a person has experienced, witnessed, or learned about, especially one that is life-threatening or causes physical harm.
    • The experience causes that person to feel intense fear, horror, or a sense of helplessness.
  • The stress caused by trauma can affect all aspects of a person’s life including mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
  • Research suggests that prolonged trauma may disrupt and alter brain chemistry. For some people, this may lead to the development of PTSD.

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http://diseasestreatment.info/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-fact-sheet/

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Why Soldiers Miss War

    
Many soldiers struggle to adjust to civilian life after returning from war. (Photo: Nolan Peterson/The Daily Signal)

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Martin parked the truck outside the concrete slabs arranged in a defensive perimeter around the tactical operations center at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan.
A layer of fine brown dust hung in the air. Out in the distance, high, snow-capped mountains ringed the combined U.S.-Afghan base. C-130 transport planes and Apache helicopter gunships roared overhead at regular intervals.
“You wanna see where the rocket landed?” he asked me.
“Yeah, of course,” I replied.
“How you doing?” he asked, knowing what was in store for me later.
“I’m fine,” I replied automatically, not knowing if it was a lie. “I’m sure it’ll sink in later.”

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http://dailysignal.com/2016/01/06/why-soldiers-miss-war/

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Women in Combat, in Their Own Words- WATCH VIDEO

                                           
Long before the Pentagon's announcement, women were already embedded in the front lines of Afghanistan. All-female Cultural Support Teams (CSTs) served a unique purpose to engage with women and children on the ground, and to gather valuable intelligence—but these women soldiers were also in the thick of combat situations. What can we learn from their experiences? The Atlantic interviewed some of these women and gathered their thoughts on parity within the military, the unique qualifications of female soldiers, and what they would say to dissenters to the decision to allow women in combat roles.


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http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/423600/women-in-combat/?utm_source=SFFB

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The 7 everyday struggles of women in the military


Being in the military means keeping up with grooming standards. Being a woman in the military means keeping up with grooming standards of the military and society. While there is a lot of press around sexual harassment and assault in the military, and it is a real problem, there are plenty of other aspects to being a female in uniform. It also means plenty of trash talk, confusion, and humorous adventures dealing with men in the line of duty.


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http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/7-everyday-struggles-women-deal-serving-military

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How People Who Have PTSD Think Differently

 

PTSD Think Differently
 
Having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder changes a person, not only the way they think, but also the way they act and how they love. It can be challenging, most of the time with PTSD a few other things come along such as anxiety, depression and panic which can change a lot about how a person sees the world and other people.

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http://homehealthcareinc.info/how-people-who-have-ptsd-think-differently/

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The Toxic Attraction Between An Empath And A Narcissist

toxic relationship
 
We know that “narcissist” has become a bit of a buzzword recently, and some folks are quick to apply it to an ex-lover or family member or friend. While awareness of this concept is healthy, so is remembering that it is, in a mental health context, a serious condition that shouldn’t be applied to someone you’re mad at because they stole your mirror. ~ Eds. 
 I am an empath. I discovered I was an empath after I got involved in a very deep and highly destructive relationship with a narcissist.


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http://themindsjournal.com/the-toxic-attraction-between-an-empath-and-a-narcissist/

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Women in the Military


Back in the 1970s, the idea of women being drafted was so unimaginable that it helped to kill the Equal Rights Amendment. Now women serve and die in the armed forces alongside men. The story of women in the military is history in the making. Indeed, their experiences serve as a microcosm of many workplace and family issues.

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http://www.cliohistory.org/click/workplace-family/military/

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How to Sabotage Your Relationships


 
Relationships don’t just end in a single moment in time. People who love each other don’t just stop loving the other person. Rather, what appears to be ‘falling out of love’ is often caused by a process of destructive behaviors that slowly and consistently tear down the foundation of love and trust that two people have for each other.

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http://www.inspiredgirl.me/how-to-sabotage-your-relationships/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Project Diane: Integrating Military Women in Combat Roles

 

WOMEN COMBAT
                                                                     
On Thursday December 3rd, 2015 Secretary of Defense Ash Carter rescinded the explicit policy banning military women from serving in combat roles. This change in policy represents a significant departure from traditional military policy. Many people will view this as the final solution to gender inequality in the military. We share enthusiasm for this momentous change but are tempered by the difficult reality of achieving cultural change within the military.


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http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fm.huffpost.com%2Fus%2Fentry%2F8962600&h=-AQEu9wiLAQHOKJLTZmznt0tB1r5dMhU7feoWMb5QOJu5Uw&enc=AZM9i1aZoaQgViKd35hj6akC1ogJRG_bNzw_SxPwnQ-LH8VvJcVmACDf90zp6BuDyzJWvGI7msc5xX-CQL0Kssss5XD1RIEtNak0BgW6vKx-tMILr6NIZaQ_c2Q3n6z8tvYbxRZobqeuSlkHxASuJ0ryfI9Z8zaCCslmqcvd5CJgMJkB1jB0zKSyh3rrd_q2FpfolW4s0OBtgG3ZZ6X26115&s=1

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Men and women at Marine boot camp will continue training separately

      

Male and female Marine recruits are likely to continue training separately at boot camp, but the service will look at ways for further gender integration, Marine Corps Times has learned.
Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller met with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus Thursday about the service’s gender integration plan, including enlisted and officer entry-level training. During the meeting, Neller detailed the portions of the Marine Corps' entry-level training that are coed, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting.

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http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2016/01/15/men-and-women-marine-boot-camp-continue-training-separately/78863432/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Why Civilians Don’t Relate To Veterans

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 Civilians want to connect with veterans, but we’re not giving them the time of day.

Cultures clash. History is filled with conflicts based on things as simple as ideas, beliefs, and philosophy. It’s been happening for a few thousand years, and it’s probably going to keep happening for a few thousand more. Somewhere closer to home there’s a constant struggle between veterans and civilians finding a common ground. As veterans, we expect to be understood, respected, and treated appropriately for the things we’ve grown to believe we are, and our status in society. There are civilians who are reaching out and want to fill that gap, and still we keep them at distance.

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http://taskandpurpose.com/why-civilians-dont-relate-to-veterans/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Monday, January 4, 2016

Military leaders’ responsibility in stopping sexual crimes

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/military-leaders-responsibility-in-stopping-sexual-crimes/2015/12/25/bbaf60a4-a9c7-11e5-b596-113f59ee069a_story.html

Learn more...www.battlingthestormwithin.com