Cia Admits Major Error In Gulf War

LANGLEY, Va. — The CIA said Wednesday that its own errors may have led to the demolition of an Iraqi ammunition bunker filled with chemical weapons after the 1991 Persian Gulf war--an event that may have exposed tens of thousands of U.S. troops to nerve gas.At an unusual televised news conference at its headquarters, the agency apologized to the veterans for failing to notify the Pentagon about the contents of the depot.

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http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-04-10/news/9704100114_1_kamisiyah-gas-and-other-chemical-chemical-weapons

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Exposing untold stories of military sexual trauma

        

  

SAN DIEGO – Sexual abuse and instances of rape unfortunately bleed into many branches of our society – even into the areas that include those who dedicate their lives protecting our country.

The non-profit #NoLongerVictims (Confessions of a MST) is dedicated to raising awareness about military sexual trauma (MST) and is making waves across the nation by posting the untold stories of those who suffer from it.  

 

MST is the term that the Department of Veterans Affairs utilizes to refer to sexual assault or repeated sexual harassment while a veteran is in the military.

 

CEO of #NoLongerVictims Brittany Fintel-Larson said on Sunday night, the organization posted banners across the civilian bridge by the 32^nd Street Naval Base in San Diego.

Harrowing and detailed incidents of rape or abuse ranging from 1975 to 2012 were strung across the bridge. Some of the accounts indicate that the assaults happened while veterans were on deployment in Afghanistan or Bahrain. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety were among the emotional ramifications.

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http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/The-untold-stories-of-military-sexual-assault--300699841.html

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Military sexual trauma survivor still haunted by her memories

                              

Tamara Dunning looks over her military record, which includes the documents that cover the investigation following her report that she was sexually assaulted.

 

She was three months into Army boot camp and barely 18 years old when she says she was attacked and sexually assaulted by a male soldier. Her attacker was never convicted of any crime relating to that night, and because of the statute of limitations, he never will be.

Nearly thirty years later, American River College student Tamara Dunning is still haunted by what she remembers. “This isn’t just something that happened,” Dunning said of her assault. “This is my life. This affects every corner of my life.”

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http://www.arcurrent.com/news/2015/04/20/military-sexual-trauma-survivor-still-haunted-by-her-memories/

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How people reacted to my rape

I tried to explain it to someone once. It’s like surviving your own murder, sort of. Ever wonder who would show up at your funeral? Or, more to the point: Who would actually be sad? Rape taught me: fewer than I’d thought.

It is November 11, 2010. Eleven-eleven! It is a Thursday, it is Veteran’s Day, it is the birthday of one of my closest friends, it is the day after a record release party at a bar that is hidden underneath another bar, it is a day I am most certainly skipping class.

By 2 o’clock in the afternoon I will be in the hospital, nurses and social workers reciting health risks and injecting me with things and swabbing and scraping the “evidence” off my body. Later, I will be billed for this: over a thousand for the kit, a few hundred for the ambulance, two hundred or so for the doctor who finally appeared after I sat, waiting, glassy-eyed with ringing ears, for some hours. But for all the hours that pass, the handprints are still around my neck, a broken circle of red and gray.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/04/19/how_people_reacted_to_my_rape/

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Report slams mismanagement, backlog at Phila VA

More than 30,000 inquiries sent to Philadelphia's Veterans Affairs benefits office were left to languish, on average for almost a year, according to an internal investigation.

 

That finding was one of several outlined in a searing report released Wednesday by the VA's Inspector General. During their 10-month probe, investigators also confirmed data manipulation, poor working conditions and shoddy-record keeping.

 

"We substantiated serious issues involving mismanagement and distrust of [office] management impeding the effectiveness of its operation and services to veterans," the report's authors concluded in the 78-page report.Among the findings:

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http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150415_Phila__VA_probe_results_expected_Wednesday.html

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Marin military sexual trauma survivor to lobby Congress

After Victoria Sanders of Novato endured a brutal rape while serving in the Army, she kept silent about it for decades. Now, Sanders is speaking out on behalf of herself and other sexual assault survivors, lobbying for legislation changing how rape is reported and prosecuted in the military.

Sanders and a fellow advocate, Terri Youngs, are going to Washington, D.C. to present a petition with 130,000 signatures supporting the Military Justice Improvement Act. Sanders is also bringing 130 letters from military sexual assault survivors she plans to hand deliver to members of Congress.

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http://www.marinij.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Ref=AR&avis=NO&category=NEWS&date=20150410&lopenr=150419970&profile=1030040

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Men Say They’re Wary of Women in Special Forces: Veterans of Both Sexes Weigh In - VIDEO

According to the new surveys released last week by RAND Corp., nearly half of male special operations officers do not believe their female counterparts can meet the physical and mental demands of their commando jobs, reports the Associated Press.

As a result, they worry that the Pentagon will end up lowering physical standards in order to better accommodate women.

WATCH VIDEO:

http://www.ijreview.com/2015/04/289665-men-women-special-forces/?source=FBshare

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How to Recognize and Help Someone with PTSD

 

(DGIwire) – According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as much as eight percent of the population will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. The VA also notes that about 5.2 million U.S. adults have PTSD during a given year. In light of the prevalence of this condition, it is important for friends and family to be familiar with its symptoms in order to ensure the best medical care is given.

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http://www.dgiwire.com/how-to-recognize-and-help-someone-with-ptsd/

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What the Death of Army Pfc. LaVena Johnson Says..(Warning – Graphic Material) Video

Ask about Gabriel Union, and many will readily give details about the actress’ recent engagement to Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade. Ask about Beyoncé and get the skivvy on her 2013 CD of the same name. Ask about Olivia Pope and get the most insightful predictions of upcoming Scandal episodes. Ask, however, about deceased Private First Class [Pfc.] LaVena Johnson and all too many will reply, “Who”?

If you have asked the “who” question, know that you are not alone. And if it is some consolation, also know that a number of factors contribute to your lack of knowledge. Being unaware is not completely your fault. Mainstream media is unlikely to touch the story of LaVena Johnson due to the powerful interests that desire it to go quietly into the night. Black media is consumed with the goings-on of celebrities. Cultural blogs make these rather simple reports that require little serious journalism and research their focus and top priority. As a result, the broader community masters the scoop on the rich and famous as if this demonstrates being in the know on key issues of our times. And [black] politicians are unlikely to risk their political fortunes on the tragedy involving some 19-year old black girl. And as if the death of Pfc. Johnson is not sad enough, after answering the “who” question, one is left with another equally disturbing question. How?

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http://kennethdprice.com/2014/01/09/what-the-death-of-pfc-lavena-johnson-says-about-us/

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Rape PTSD Equal To Effects of War

 

For many women, rape is a crime where the after-effects of PTSD, even years later, can be as bad as the assault itself. Experts agree that suicide can result from rape related PTSD, just as it can cause suicide thoughts and actions immediately after sexual assault.

In a report entitled The Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota, based on the research by Melissa Farley, Nicole Matthews, Sarah Deer, Guadalupe Lopez, Christine Stark and Eileen Hudon, the result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from rape is the same as occurs in war. The effects can intensify if a woman does not report the rape and in most cases, women don’t.

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http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/04/06/rape-ptsd-equal-effects-war-159901

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10 Ways To Support A Friend Battling PTSD

 

 

There is a lot of information circulating about identifying and getting appropriate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Much of that information discusses how research has consistently demonstrated that social support is vital to recovery and is one of the biggest protective factors against PTSD. Social support has a number of positive benefits following a trauma, including reducing feelings of depression, guilt, loneliness, low self-esteem, stress, and social withdrawal.

While one may recognize the importance of social support for our battle buddies with PTSD, it may be difficult to determine how to go about providing good social support to those who need it most. Some individuals struggling with their symptoms may actually alienate those around them, making it even more difficult for friends to reach out and provide support. This is a difficult dilemma to navigate.

 

In order to assist those struggling to find a way to support a friend through his or her struggle with PTSD, here are a few tips and suggestions.

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http://taskandpurpose.com/10-ways-to-support-a-friend-battling-ptsd/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tp-facebook&utm_campaign=culture

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Resensitization: Coming Back to Life after Trauma

Trauma dysregulates the body. It moves energy levels away from baseline to extremes of hyperarousal (“too much,” panic, overwhelm) and sometimes hypoarousal (“low,” lethargy, emptiness), not only alternating but sometimes getting stuck in either extreme.

When we experience overwhelm in the body, one natural response to this dysregulation (and accompanying confusion or relational struggles) is to just get away—perhaps through drinking, sex, anxiety medication, working out, or power-watching television series online. For some, especially when trauma occurs early in life or when physical escape is not an option, dissociation (mentally drifting, wandering, “spacing out”) becomes the path to something that approximates peace or safety.

Whatever route you take to numbness, it ultimately leads to separation from overwhelming sensory input coming through the body. Studies have shown that even when mental denial occurs, when we tell ourselves we are not upset, our body still shows all the standard symptoms of activation and overwhelm.

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http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/resensitization-coming-back-to-life-after-trauma-0223154

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10 Ways to Treat Depression Without Antidepressants

You’ve probably been told that antidepressants correct the chemical imbalance in your brain. As it turns out, that’s not quite true. In fact, antidepressants might be doing you more harm than good.

Even if antidepressants do work, the fact remains that they’re insanely expensive. Considering how depression treatments can last a lifetime, it’s impractical to spend something like $21 to $1,000 a month just to keep the blues under control. Depression is already a burden enough by itself, without all the financial consequences that come with it.

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http://themindunleashed.org/2015/03/10-ways-to-treat-depression-without-antidepressants.html

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Female Veterans Pose Homeless Challenge for VA

NEW YORK (WOMENSENEWS)--For Penelope McClenan, a 52-year-old disabled veteran, the future is clouded by the most basic of uncertainties: does she have a home to call her own?
Over a year ago, on Jan. 29, 2014, a city marshal escorted her out of her apartment. It was her birthday.

McClenan is unable to work for medical reasons she ties to the time of her military service, and the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program had been helping to pay her rent for three years.

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http://womensenews.org/story/military/150401/female-veterans-pose-homeless-challenge-va

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PTSD and Veteran Suicides, the Reasons You Will Never Get from the Big Media

Ted Nugent has done it again. During a speech given at a dinner hosted by the Republican Party of Maricopa County, the “Nuge” blamed President Barack Obama and his treatment of the military for the rash of veteran suicides. Though often criticized for his lack of military service, Ted Nugent has been an outspoken supporter of the troops for decades.

As a United State Marine and combat veteran, I would like to elaborate on Ted’s statements and offer a perspective from someone who has trained our troops during the Global War on Terror.

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http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/ptsd-and-veteran-suicides-the-reasons-you-will-never-get-from-the-big-media/

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Ex-troops with highest suicide risk often don't qualify for mental care

The largest study to date of recent military and veteran suicides has identified two high-risk groups of former troops who are generally ineligible for the psychiatric care afforded to all others who served: those forced out of the military for misconduct and those who enlisted but were quickly discharged for other problems.

In each of those groups, an average of 46 of every 100,000 former service members committed suicide each year — more than double the rate for veterans with honorable discharges.

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http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-0202-veteran-suicide-20150402-story.html

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VA in Scandal: Lawmakers Slam VA Inspector General - VIDEO

Politicians from both sides of the aisle are talking about the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General: the office responsible for overseeing our VA system. And, the conversation is exposing more underlying issues at the VA.
Lawmakers say now is the time for the Veterans Affairs Administration to step up - before it’s too late.

“VA needs to do a better job,” said Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL).
Miller is the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Inside his hearing room, he was asked about the so-called “culture of fear” at the Tomah VA.

“I know there is a culture of fear around the Department of Veteran's Affairs and that's one thing Secretary McDonald is trying to change,” Miller said. “This culture of hospital directors setting up their own fiefdoms and then punishing people who don't agree with them, or become whistle-blowers - you shouldn't lead out of fear.”

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http://www.wndu.com/news/nationworldnews/headlines/VA-in-Scandal-Lawmakers-Slam-VA-Inspector-General--298546041.html?device=phone&c=y

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The Importance of Being Called a Woman Veteran

We are Women.

 

In the military, you’ll often hear a service member tell another to:
“Man up.”
“Quit being a pussy!”
“You are being a little bitch today.”
“Quit acting like a little girl.”

These phrases use adjectives to describe weakness and associates them with being a woman. Since you show qualities of one, you are subject to mocking; you are considered weak.

Another word often used is “female”. Women in the military are very often called th
at and it is problematic for many reasons.

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http://www.womenveteransconnect.org/2015/03/18/importance-called-woman/

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How to Live with Someone Who Has PTSD

 

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://www.wikihow.com/Live-with-Someone-Who-Has-PTSD

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Military Suicide Risk Not Linked To Deployment, DOD Study Says

 

Soldiers who deploy to overseas wars are no more likely to commit suicide later in life than military personnel who remain at home, say Department of Defense researchers. Suicide risk for soldiers is still 41 percent to 61 percent higher than the rate among civilians, but a new study of nearly four million U.S. military service members may clear up debate about whether deployment is a meaningful factor in evaluating a soldier’s suicide risk.

A possible link between deployment and suicide was first raised as the suicide rate among soldiers increased by 80 percent from 2004 to 2008, during a period when American soldiers were deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. In the first half of 2012, the number of soldiers that the military lost to suicides was higher than those killed in combat. Two analyses published by the Department of Defense over the past two years had found conflicting results on this matter and the scope of each was limited. That disagreement provided the impetus for a study led by Mark A. Reger of the National Center for Telehealth and Technology at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

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http://www.ibtimes.com/military-suicide-risk-not-linked-deployment-dod-study-says-1866538

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Military sex assault lawsuit aims to remove some commanders from overseeing cases

Sex assault victims filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the

Department of Defense in an effort to take commanders with “misogynistic and sexist tendencies” out of legal proceedings for sexual harassment and sexual assault cases.

The lawsuit doesn’t seek any financial damages, but it does ask the military to ensure that commanders who have been involved in sexual harassment or assault accusations themselves are not presiding over those types of cases, according to Susan Burke, a Maryland-based lawyer who represents military sexual assault victims.

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/31/military-sex-assault-lawsuit-aims-to-remove-some-c/

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Air Force songbook again cited, this time in sex assault lawsuit

 

WASHINGTON — Sex assault victim advocates on Tuesday again pointed to an unofficial Air Force songbook with derogatory lyrics about women and gay airmen as a reason for filing a new lawsuit against the Defense Department.

 

The 130-page book was originally made public by an assault victim in 2012 and is stamped with the playing-cards logo of the 77th Fighter Squadron, which is known as the Gamblers and based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Despite an Air Force crackdown, advocates claimed too little was done and such songbooks are still being used by officers and commanders.

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http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-songbook-again-cited-this-time-in-sex-assault-lawsuit-1.337672

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Study: Wind blew deadly gas to U.S. troops in Gulf War

WASHINGTON -- U.S. bombings of Iraqi munitions factories in January 1991 released a plume of sarin gas that traveled more than 300 miles to affect American troops in Saudi Arabia, although military officials claimed at the time that chemical alarms triggered by the gas were false, a study released today shows.

The Jan. 18, 1991, bombings of the munitions plants in Nasiriyah and Khamisiya blew a plume of sarin gas high above a layer of cold, still air -- also called the boundary level -- and into a swift wind stream that carried the gas to Saudi Arabia, said the study conducted by researchers Robert Haley and James Tuite and published in the journal Neuroepidemiology.

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/12/13/sarin-gas-gulf-war-veterans/1766835/

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