Battling the Storm Within

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Military sex assault bill fails in U.S. Senate

The Senate on Tuesday blocked legislation to overhaul prosecution of sexual assault crimes in the military, a defeat that its sponsor, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, characterized as a temporary setback.

"This is a question of 'when,' not 'if,'" the Democrat said after the 50-49 vote, which was not enough to overcome a filibuster. "We are not going away. Sadly, the military will not fix this problem on their own."

Read more...
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Military-sex-assault-bill-fails-in-U-S-Senate-6331602.php

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Thursday, June 11, 2015

When G.I. Jane comes home

 
Since 9/11, more than 200,000 women have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 160 women have died in service to their country. Women have fought on the front lines as combat pilots and military police platoon leaders. They have received Silver Stars and Bronze Stars for Valor. Some have even joined special operations forces on combat missions.
Yet when people think of veterans, they rarely think of women.

Read more....

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0611-lemmon-female-vets-20150611-story.html

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Women Say They Don't Feel 'Respected And Valued' As Veterans In New Survey

 
Women are still struggling to gain respect for their military service and be taken seriously as veterans, according to a new survey released Monday by The Mission Continues.

Only 37 percent of the respondents said they feel "recognized, respected and valued as veterans in civilian life." Female veterans are more likely to struggle with unemployment and homelessness than their male peers.

Read more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/09/women-veterans_n_7543414.html

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Monday, June 8, 2015

Suicide rate of female military veterans is called 'staggering'

 
New government research shows that female military veterans commit suicide at nearly six times the rate of other women, a startling finding that experts say poses disturbing questions about the backgrounds and experiences of women who serve in the armed forces.
 
Their suicide rate is so high that it approaches that of male veterans, a finding that surprised researchers because men generally are far more likely than women to commit suicide.
"It's staggering," said Dr. Matthew Miller, an epidemiologist and suicide expert at Northeastern University who was not involved in the research. "We have to come to grips with why the rates are so obscenely high."
 
Read more...
 
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-female-veteran-suicide-20150608-story.html#page=1

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Sunday, June 7, 2015

How convicted military sex offenders prey again- VIDEO

WASHINGTON — Matthew S. Carr is the type of serial sex offender public registries were designed to track.

While serving in the U.S. Air Force, Carr approached women by posing as a doctor training in gynecology. He persuaded them to submit to pelvic exams as he inserted medical instruments, drew blood samples and even administered an injection near one victim’s genitals.

Watch VIDEO...

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/how-convicted-military-sex-offenders-prey-again-1.317050#.VIKm5njpT0g.facebook

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

How military sex offenders fly under the radar after returning to civilian life- VIDEO

There are hundreds of service members who have been convicted of sex offenses but never appear on any public registry once they leave the military, disappearing into neighborhoods across the country and, in some cases, preying on new victims. Special correspondent Mark Greenblatt of the Scripps News Service reports.

WATCH VIDEO...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military-sex-offenders-fly-radar-returning-civilian-life/#.VLcve9lvh94.facebook

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PTSD's link to sexual problems

An estimated 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men suffer from some degree of sexual dysfunction, broadly defined as any problem that occurs during the sexual response cycle — excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution — that causes dissatisfaction for the individual or couple.

Read more...

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/04/25/sexual-dysfunction-ptsd/26291815/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Hidden Camera Shows Officials Admitting That The VA Is Creating Drug Addicts [VIDEO]

 
New hidden camera footage released by award-winning journalist James O’Keefe reveals officials and employees stating the Department of Veterans Affairs encourages a pill-pushing opioid culture.

During the course of an undercover interview, Dr. Maureen McCarthy, deputy chief of patient services for the Veterans Health Administration, admitted overprescription practices are a significant issue across the country.


Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/04/hidden-camera-shows-officials-admitting-that-the-va-is-creating-drug-addicts-video/#ixzz3cQrMpuzm


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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Military Sexual Assault-Battered women’s justice project

Sexual assault is a pervasive problem in the United States, including in the Armed Forces. Public beliefs and attitudes about sexual assault lead to complacency and acceptance of a “rape culture” in the United States where rape is normalized, excused, tolerated, and even condoned. This acceptance creates an environment that makes it nearly impossible for sexual assault victims, in both the military and civilian systems, to obtain justice and discourages them from reporting and seeking help.

Read more...
http://www.bwjp.org/our-work/topics/military-sexual-assult.html

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Genesee County Flint Veteran Stand Down Event on Friday June 12th from 9 to 3 pm @ the GCCARD bldg.


Attention Genesee County there will be a Flint Veteran Stand Down Event on Friday June 12th from 9 to 3 pm @ the GCCARD bldg. Sgt. Shannon will be speaking, community organizations, resources and services will be present available. I hope see you there. Peace

Learn more...
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/05/genesee_county_to_host_homeles.html


Ann Arbor VA Veteran's Town Hall mtg/resource fair at U of M Flint on Tuesday June 23rd




Ann Arbor VA is holding a Veteran's Town Hall meeting and resource fair at U of M Flint on Tuesday June 23rd 6 to 9 pm. Sgt. Shannon will be there exhibiting hope to see you there. Peace

Learn more...

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/05/va_ann_arbor_healthcare_system.html

Genesee county MI women veterans/active service women Monthly Support Group Meeting "I got your back Initiative"

 
Roll Call for ALL Genesee county women veterans and active service women to Women Veterans Supporting Women Veterans "I got your back Initiative" monthly support group meeting every 4th Saturday @ 2pm at the New Beginnings Veteran Outreach Center in Flint, MI Working together is making all the difference see you on Saturday June 27th @ 2pm.


www.nbveteranoutreach.org

The Greater Flints Art Council is sponsoring an Art Walk for Author Sgt. Shannon - Friday June 12th

 
The Greater Flints Art Council is sponsoring an Art Walk local author book signing event for Sgt. Shannon on Friday June 12th 6 to 9 pm. Hope to see you there. Peace
 
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Monday, June 1, 2015

Veteran's suicide on VA grounds spurs calls for help- VIDEO

PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) -
The growing number of veteran suicides is an issue that took center stage at the VA Medical Center in Phoenix on Tuesday.

It has been a hot-button issue for veterans for a while, but in Phoenix it was magnified two weeks ago by the suicide of a veteran on VA property.

"I think he's a martyr for what he did," veteran Brandon Coleman said of Thomas Murphy, who tragically took his life while sitting in the parking lot of the VA administrative offices in downtown Phoenix.
"I believe it was a symbolic act and that he did it because he would want us to talk about it," Coleman said.


Read more:


http://www.kpho.com/story/29167836/veterans-suicide-on-va-grounds-spurs-calls-for-help#ixzz3brOCkSv3

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Gulf War Illness and Presumptive Service Connection.

In July 2014, the VA put another knife in the back of Veterans. This time they handed another defeat to Gulf War Veterans who are experiencing unusually high incidence rates of brain and lung cancer.

VA Denies Service Connection Presumptions for Gulf War Veterans with Brain and Lung Cancer.

We know so very little about what is going on with the Gulf War soldiers when in comes to chronic multi-symptom illnesses.

Read more...

http://www.veteranslawblog.org/gulf-war-illness/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Commentary: Halting vet suicides requires culture change

In April, my Army unit that served in Afghanistan passed a dark milestone: We've now lost more men to suicide than we lost in combat.

During a 485-day deployment in 2006-07, a single member of our platoon was killed (though many, myself included, were wounded — we had an 85 percent casualty rate).
But since returning home, three members of my platoon have taken their own lives. To grapple with the fact that we lost three times as many men to post-war suicide than to combat is to begin to grasp the true burden of war that veterans carry.

Read more...

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/opinion/2015/05/19/stopping-veteran-suicide/27533823/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

How military culture induces military suicide

Today’s medical challenges equivalent to the bacterial infections of a century earlier include mental health, depression and suicide.

American society has devolved to a point where 1 in 4 people say they have no one to talk to about personal tragedies, while research shows that loneliness can lead to depression, a lack of sleep, an increase in stress hormones and a less meaningful life. We may lack Fleming’s petri dish, but the following question can still be posited with regard to military suicide: If a solution to military suicide already exists, what mental shift is necessary to perceive it?


Read more.....

https://medium.com/@darryldiptee/how-military-culture-induces-military-suicide-1bdaa17e13fe