Battling the Storm Within Blog

As the Author of the #1 Amazon National-International Best Seller War Memoir “Battling the Storm Within” about living 20 years undiagnosed with PTSD, MST and the GWI. My mission is to empower others to address their own personal traumas, be healed, restored and live again. I believe in telling the truth, living the truth and being the truth. I will share the truth for it sets you free. I have battled my storm that was within me and won, so can you! Peace and blessings Sgt. Stephanie J. Shannon

Sunday, May 28, 2017

VA defends plan to cut thousands of dollars from elderly vets' benefits

WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs officials on Wednesday defended plans to strip tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits from elderly veterans as responsible reforms to the department’s growing budget, but opponents promised to fight the idea.

Included in President Donald Trump’s $186.5 billion VA budget for fiscal 2018 — a nearly 6 percent boost in discretionary spending from this year — are plans to dramatically cut the department's Individual Unemployability program.

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http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/va-plan-iu-cuts-benefits-elderly-veterans

The VA Does Not Adequately Support Women Veterans

The Veterans Affairs department's motto is this: To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.

Allison Jaslow, executive director of IAVA, says that the VA's motto reflects a major problem within the organization: it does not take seriously the rights and needs of women veterans.

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http://www.wnyc.org/story/women-veterans-deserve-more-care/

Women Veterans Have Higher Prevalence of Arthritis than Male Colleagues

Heavy equipment may be contributing to higher rates of arthritis in female servicemembers. New body armor has been designed specifically for the needs of female soldiers. In this photo, Spc. Arielle Mailloux gets some help adjusting her protoype Generation III Improved Outer Tactical Vest from Capt. Lindsey Pawlowski, at Fort Campbell, KY. Army photo by Megal Locke Simpson

DURHAM, NC – While the commitment to physical fitness demanded of active duty forces can keep many ailments at bay, the rigors of service also bring an increased risk of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, especially for young women entering (and exiting) the military.

As the major rheumatic diseases disproportionately affect women, the increasing number of women in uniform means military rheumatologists are likely to see many more patients and primary care providers will need to screen for those diseases more aggressively.

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http://www.usmedicine.com/agencies/department-of-veterans-affairs/women-veterans-have-higher-prevalence-of-arthritis-than-male-colleagues/

For Army Infantry’s 1st Women, Heavy Packs and the Weight of History

That’s just how the Army wants it.

House passes VA appeals bill and 5 other veterans measures

The House unanimously passed legislation Tuesday aiming to shorten the amount of time veterans wait for earned benefits, a process that takes an average of six years when a veteran is forced to appeal a claim with the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

But thousands of veterans are waiting much longer, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Read more...
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/house-passes-va-appeals-bill-and-5-other-veterans-measures-1.469887#.WSfE7m4pDYW

5 Reasons Why You're Not Happy After the Military

If you were like most service members leaving the military you were as happy and as giddy as a 7-year-old child the night before Christmas morning. You walked taller, you smiled more, and you probably even bragged a bit to everyone in your unit that it was time for you to ETS and your were going to receive the greatest gift of all – your DD214 (or was that just me?!?). After all, you had big dreams like going back to school, getting a real cool (high paying) civilian job, and of course, spending more time with your family. And maybe you were fortunate enough to do all of that, but ever since you got out, even more so now, you might feel like you miss the military and you WISH you were as happy as you were while you were in the service.

Your memory of that time (even if it was tough as hell) is that you felt better, you looked better, and some of you may have even done better financially and emotionally. And perhaps all of that is true, but you’re out now, and unless you have plans to reenlist, it’s time to make the most of what your present moment. It's time to recognize what has changed after you got out and to figure out how to get that “good feeling” back.

Read more...
https://ladybrigade.com/blogs/blog/124567171-5-reasons-why-youre-not-happy-after-the-military

Sick veteran fights for easier access to VA care- VIDEO

(CNN)Every time Army veteran Henry Mayo Jr. looks in the mirror -- his appearance permanently altered by medical conditions -- he is reminded of his service to the United States. But the Department of Veterans Affairs denies the connection between his sickness and his service, a problem that hinges on the fact that Mayo wasn't sent overseas, but served his country on US soil.

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http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/politics/injured-veteran-va-coverage-fight-cnntv/index.html

GAO: Thousands discharged for military misconduct had mental health diagnosis

The top government watchdog said Tuesday that nearly a quarter of U.S. troops discharged for misconduct were given other-than-honorable discharges despite previously being diagnosed with a mental health condition.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) in its report faulted branches of the Department of Defense (DOD) for having policies inconsistent with — or poor enforcement of — official Pentagon rules for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or sexual trauma.

Read more...
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/333667-watchdog-report-thousands-discharged-for-misconduct-had-mental-health?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB+05.17.2017&utm_term=Editorial+-+Military+-+Early+Bird+Brief#

A Tea That Helps With Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis

Thyme is a common herb that is regularly used to season fish and meat, but a tea made from the leaves of this plant can be surprisingly beneficial. This herb was used by the ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians as a medicine, and modern science has shown that the ancients were right to use thyme as a medical treatment. Research into the health advantages of thyme tea has shown that it can lessen symptoms for people with fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Marine Corps takes new step to separate troops caught sexually harassing others

The Marine Corps took a new step Tuesday to stop sexual harassment in the service, requiring commanders to submit anyone involved in a substantiated case to be reviewed for possible separation from the service the first time they are caught.

The move was disclosed in an administrative message, and revises the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual. It specifically applies to cases in which a Marine distributes intimate photographs of someone else without their consent, as well as harassment in which a Marine offers to influence someone’s career in exchange for sexual favors or initiates unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature.

Read more..
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/05/10/marine-corps-moves-to-separate-troops-caught-sexually-harassing-others/?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.9ba64c1cf819

Learn more...
www.empowermiwomenvets.com

Why Is It So Hard to Address Sexual Assault in our Military?

In a word: the culture. The military/warrior culture of course, but also our culture at large.

Dr. Carl Castro, Associate Professor and Director, USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, points out that sexual assault is seen equally in our civilian society and in society world-wide. Still, the estimated percentage of females who experience sexual assault in the military (MST) can be safely said to be about 25%. That’s one in four. Staggering. (The percentage for men is two to three percent.)

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Raising money for women veterans homelessness and empowerment

MIWVE is a 501c3 faith based organization that empowers women veterans in the 8 dimensions of wellness. Women veterans remain the most underserved population in the U.S. We need your financial support to help us provide quality programs and resources for women veterans and their families.

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https://www.facebook.com/donate/10212097203041913/1848730338709730/

A 40-year 'conspiracy' at the VA

Top VA officials attend a House Committee hearing in 2006 on the breach of data security at the department.

Four decades ago, in 1977, a conspiracy began bubbling up from the basements of the vast network of hospitals belonging to the Veterans Administration. Across the country, software geeks and doctors were puzzling out how they could make medical care better with these new devices called personal computers. Working sometimes at night or in their spare time, they started to cobble together a system that helped doctors organize their prescriptions, their CAT scans and patient notes, and to share their experiences electronically to help improve care for veterans.

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http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/03/vista-computer-history-va-conspiracy-000367

Horror show. More than 100 veterans died waiting for care at Los Angeles VA hospital

Over the weekend we saw another story emerge which reminds us that the lingering effects of the VA scandal are far from gone and too much work remains to be done. It’s not that we haven’t seen some signs of progress at the agency. Shortly after President Trump decided to keep David Shulkin around and place him in charge of the VA, the new Secretary begged for expanded authority to fire failing workers. That prompted the President to create what I like to think of as the Office of Your Butt is Fired inside the VA.

Read more...

http://hotair.com/archives/2017/05/08/horror-show-100-veterans-died-waiting-care-los-angeles-va-hospital/

40 Service Members Are Sexually Assaulted A Day

Department of Defense military and civilians bow their head during innvocation during the Army's Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Kickoff Ceremony at the center courtyard of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2015.

The military’s recently released sexual assault report showed that an estimated 14,900 service members were sexually assaulted in 2016, a rate of more than 40 every day.

The military conducts regular surveys on sexual assault in the armed forces, and this latest report bears some encouraging signs.

Read more...
http://taskandpurpose.com/40-service-members-sexually-assaulted-day/

Learn more..

www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Former soldier who was recorded fatally shooting service dog is found dead

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — North Carolina police say they're investigating the possible suicide of an Army veteran charged with shooting her service dog as she laughed.

Fayetteville Police Lt. Todd Joyce said Sunday investigators believe that 23-year-old Marinna Rollins killed herself. Joyce declined to explain what evidence detectives found. He says police were called to her apartment early Sunday after her body was found by friends.

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https://www.stripes.com/news/us/former-soldier-who-was-recorded-fatally-shooting-service-dog-is-found-dead-1.467308#.WRT-tjGCnIU

New research links Iraq dust to ill soldiers

WASHINGTON — Titanium and other metals found in dust at a base in Iraq have been linked to the dust found in six sick soldiers' lungs, according to a study set to be released Monday.

Read more...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/02/lung-study-va/9771237/

Shulkin says he's considering closing 1,100 VA facilities

WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin says his department is seeking to close perhaps more than 1,100 VA facilities nationwide as it develops plans to allow more veterans to receive medical care in the private sector.

Military Sexual Assault Victims Discharged After Filing Complaints

While the Army wouldn’t upgrade Emily Vorland’s discharge, Texas thought enough of her service to give her a veteran’s license plate

The scariest part of Emily Vorland’s relatively uneventful 2009 deployment to Iraq was that the enemy wore Army green, just like she did. When a higher-ranking male officer sexually harassed her, her commander told Vorland to file a formal complaint. So she did. Lieutenant Vorland was grateful when higher-ups ordered her alleged abuser to stop contacting her. But as the investigation continued, Vorland says the Army seemed to shift its focus to her.

It concluded she had “acted inappropriately,” engaged in consensual sex and was lying about it. A lesbian, she was concerned that her best defense was one that would end her military career because the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rules were still in place. The Army used her acknowledgement that she should have been more careful in detailing what happened to generate a letter of reprimand,

US army releases images taken by combat photographer of mortar explosion that killed her

The US Army has released images captured by a combat photographer of the explosion that killed her.
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-a
rmy-combat-photographer-photos-hilda-clayton-mortar-explosion-images-kill-her-a7713606.html

Appellate Court Rules Veterans Can Pursue Class Actions Over VA Delays

On April 26, 2017, the Federal Circuit ruled that veterans seeking to challenge delays at the VA may aggregate their claims and file a class action. The ruling in Monk v. Shulkin overturns decades of precedent at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) which denied individual veterans the ability to proceed on behalf of others facing similar challenges to obtaining their benefits.

The case is being handled by the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, which represents the plaintiff Conley Monk.

Read more...
https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/appellate-court-rules-veterans-can-pursue-class-actions-over-va-delays

This Gravity Blanket Relieves Stress And Could Revolutionize Your Sleep

Sleeping Like a Baby

Counting sheep may work for some people, but for others, falling (and staying) asleep is a problem with seemingly no solution. The Center for Sleep Research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reports that more than 10 percent of the population is affected by a sleep disorder, while the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research estimates that as many as 70 million Americans suffer from sleep problems—adding a whopping $15.9 billion to the national healthcare bill.

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https://futurism.com/this-weighted-blanket-has-been-scientifically-proven-to-reduce-your-stress-and-improve-sleep/

Report: Enlisted service member is the fourth-worst job in America

An annual worst-jobs report has ranked enlisted service member as the fourth-worst occupation in the country — a step down from last year.

CareerCast put enlisted troops ahead of only newspaper reporters, broadcasters and loggers in its 2017 list, which factors in salary, hours, stress, work environment and multiple other data sets.

Last year, the career site ranked enlisted personnel as fifth-worst, a position held in 2017 by pest control workers. Troops slid behind disc jockeys, who rose from fourth-worst in 2016 to the No. 6 spot in the countdown this year.

Read more...
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/report-enlisted-service-member-is-the-fourth-worst-job-in-america

Veterans walking 92 miles to raise suicide awareness

COOPERSVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — A U.S. Marine Corps veteran in West Michigan is bringing together veterans from across the state to raise awareness about a deadly problem: post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bart Gramek and fellow veterans organized a 92-mile walk from Comstock Park to Cadillac. He says they’re doing it to change to change the alarming statistic that about 22 veterans die each day as a result of suicide.

Two Americans killed, one wounded fighting ISIS in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — Two American troops were killed and a third was wounded while battling Islamic State loyalists overnight in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Thursday, marking the latest in a series of violent developments as the Trump administration contemplates whether to escalate the 15-year war.

The troops' identities were not immediately disclosed, pending family notifications. The wounded service member did not require medical evacuation, a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, Navy Capt. William Salvin, told Military Times. He characterized the injury as a minor wound though it's unclear whether the service member has returned to duty. Year to date, three Americans have been killed in action in Afghanistan. At least 21 others have been wounded by the relentless violence there.

Read more...

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/us-troops-killed-afghanistan-islamic-state

Trump to establish new VA accountability office

WASHINGTON — President Trump will establish a new accountability office for the Veterans Affairs employees and create a new task force to look for waste and fraud in the sprawling bureaucracy during a visit to department headquarters Thursday afternoon.

The moves could lead to faster firing of problem employees at VA offices and a downsizing of corporate staffs across the 365,000-person department, VA Secretary David Shulkin told reporters on Thursday.

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http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.militarytimes.com%2Farticles%2Ftrump-va-office-accountability-executive-order%3Futm_source%3DSailthru%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DEBB%2B4.27.17%26utm_term%3DEditorial%2B-%2BMilitary%2B-%2BEarly%2BBird%2BBrief&h=ATMYIt1txfO3jt21QwlARiK6KxBe2CnyTEJ2mdkBc_mOKWipB3x5xULHHGoCHUpAxkNA8AGkkylu4p6WsYnBj9H4qoJvF9QeV-4kiPPWRlHD3fEylrP1H1ju94EqYKeahjH3wGRClq4mZFGpB4e6eoiKu5qvlC036iWV5UQ

Rate Of Suicide Among Female Veterans Climbs, VA Says

Veterans have a significantly higher rate of suicide than civilians. The numbers for female veterans, however, are two to five times higher than their civilian counterparts.

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

And now let's talk about a painful statistic. Twenty veterans commit suicide each day according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. That rate is somewhat higher than suicide among civilians. But female veterans have a rate between two and five times higher than civilian women, and the number has grown steeply over the past decade. As NPR's Quil Lawrence reports, there are just no easy explanations.

VA limiting new hiring as it aims to widen private care

WASHINGTON — Despite the lifting of a federal hiring freeze, the Department of Veterans Affairs is leaving thousands of positions unfilled, citing the need for a leaner VA as it develops a longer-term plan to allow more veterans to seek medical care in the private sector.

The order by VA Secretary David Shulkin is described in an internal April 14 memorandum obtained by The Associated Press. The VA indicated it would proceed with filling open positions previously exempted under the hiring freeze. Noting that the White House had ordered all departments to be leaner and "more accountable," the VA indicated that more than 4,000 jobs would still be left vacant unless they were specially approved "position by position" by top VA leadership as addressing an "absolute critical need."

The Suicide Rate Among Female Veterans Is On The Rise, And Experts Have No Idea Why

A U.S. Air Force veteran sits in the Women Veterans Health Clinic Waiting Room.

The suicide rate among female veterans has increased far more dramatically than the suicide rate among male veterans over the past decade, and experts are struggling to figure out why, NPR reports.
“We can’t ask deceased people about what factors might have led up to the completion of suicide,” Lindsay Ayer, who studies military suicide at the RAND Corporation, told NPR.

Read more...

http://taskandpurpose.com/suicide-rate-among-female-veterans-rise-experts-no-idea/?utm_content=tp-facebook&utm_campaign=health&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Learn more...
www.battlingthestormwithin.com
www.empowermiwomenvets.com

Nearly 400 military bases must be tested for drinking-water contamination

Contamination from former or current military installations has ignited a nationwide review of water on or around bases that used a firefighting foam containing toxic chemicals.

The military is now testing nearly 400 bases and has confirmed water contamination at or near more than three dozen, according to an analysis of data by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. The new numbers offer the best look to date at the potential scope of the problem.

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https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stripes.com%2Fnews%2Fus%2Fnearly-400-military-bases-must-be-tested-for-drinking-water-contamination-1.465223%23.WP-S2PnysdW&h=ATMvjuqNXpf0kl8j9G1oKYA-Nz17XNMwI6aVS3bu-wH8SkrgeuSxsykhLyR0F16b0Cf_UBo0sfSvEdFMc3VcH4PhX7cIw6-zzfE4F-WzFsLste-7ZFmyTBZatNsv02YvsFDkVmfMXayr3QBrIv07jasX-HzAcBWDMVk&enc=AZNo4i5PopQwp6n5gOG-hzWzbkjxJeiUBOoO7hPDget3x2rs6rF0WaVXf0pNWOeQVbnGFifjJrTFBukyR9cgksasDp1pv8I13ULJT-rOM9Dm8UCxHbUGdPnHQAR77d5Dn0vKu5dWSTJKjuznYK-Prq0-M-5e2LqfKMV0ap5d03Px05pGxa7smuVA4Jh8iY3g9MxGsSnHvHo___U1x-WIHdt8&s=1

Orange essential oil may improve symptoms of PTSD, say researchers

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects around 8 million adults in the United States, but treatments for the condition are still limited. Orange essential oil may offer a nonpharmaceutical option to help reduce the stress and fear associated with the disorder, suggests research carried out by scientists at George Washington University.

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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317098.php

New Law Lets Vets Choose Their Doctor (AND the VA Will Pay For It)

Last Wednesday the President of the United States “extended” the Veterans Choice Act, which essentially taps Congress to open the program up further, and give more veterans the opportunity to opt for private care — rather than be forced to seek professionals within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ network alone.

The act was due to expire in August.
POTUS putting his signature on the bill means the program’s remaining $950 million will go into effect.

Read more...
https://military.id.me/vet-pack/new-law-lets-vets-choose-doctor-va-will-pay/?utm_source=SOV&utm_medium=post&utm_term=kevin&utm_content=042417

How Smart People Handle Toxic People

Toxic people defy logic. Some are blissfully unaware of the negative impact that they have on those around them, and others seem to derive satisfaction from creating chaos and pushing other people’s buttons. Either way, they create unnecessary complexity, strife, and worst of all stress.

Stress can have a lasting, negative impact on the brain. Exposure to even a few days of stress compromises the effectiveness of neurons in the hippocampus—an important brain area responsible for reasoning and memory. Weeks of stress cause reversible damage to neuronal dendrites (the small “arms” that brain cells use to communicate with each other), and months of stress can permanently destroy neurons. Stress is a formidable threat to your success—when stress gets out of control, your brain and your performance suffer.

Fibromyalgia Mystery Finally Solved! Researchers Find Main Source of Pain in Blood Vessels

Image result for breaking news special report

Researchers Find Main Source of Pain in Blood Vessels.

Researchers have found the main source of pain in Fibromyalgia patients, and contrary to what many believe, it does not stem from the brain. The findings mark the end of a decades-old mystery about the disease, which many doctors believed was conjured in patients’ imaginations. The mystery of Fibromyalgia has left millions of sufferers searching for hope in pain medications. Up until recently, many physicians thought that the disease was “imaginary” or psychological, but scientists have now revealed that the main source of pain stems from a most unlikely place- excess blood vessels in the hand, legs and foot.

Read more...
http://medicalhealthnews.info/fibromyalgia-mystery-finally-solved-researchers-find-main-source-of-pain-in-blood-vessels/

9 Signs You're in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship

Issues of jealousy

An emotionally abusive partner or spouse isn’t just jealous of the people you’re closest with but also your dreams and goals because they want to control all aspects of your life. A secure person doesn’t need to be jealous of the relationship you have with others because they trust you and the relationship you’ve created together.

Veterans should pre-enroll for burial benefits

Updates in the news are provided for interested veterans, retirees and active duty service members.
· VA burial benefits — pre-enrollment:

Since first announced in December, more than 10,000 eligible veterans have taken advantage of a new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefit that allows them to pre-enroll for interment in a VA national cemetery, which means less paperwork that survivors will have to complete following their loved one’s death. Interested veterans can submit VA Form 40-10007, Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, and supporting documentation, such as a DD Form 214, if readily available, to the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office by toll-free fax at 855-840-8299; email to Eligibility.PreNeed@va.gov; or by regular mail to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office, PO Box 510543, St. Louis, MO 63151.

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http://press-leader.com/news/4605/veterans-should-pre-enroll-for-burial-benefits

Vietnam Vets Bore An Immense Burden So Future Generations Wouldn’t Have To

Farewell ceremonies in Danang on July 25, 1969 mark the departure of the colors of the 9th Marine regiment which is being deployed to Okinawa under President Richard Nixon’s 25,000 troop withdrawal plan.

I grew up with a naive view of the Vietnam War, but in my defense, everything I knew about it stemmed from my uncle’s stories about his time there. When your tio is famed Green Beret and Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Benavidez, you hear a lot of badass stories.

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http://taskandpurpose.com/vietnam-vets-bore-immense-burden-future-generations-wouldnt/

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www.empowermiwomenvets.com

25 Male Survivors Of Sexual Assault Quoting The People Who Attacked Them

We previously highlighted quotes from 27 female survivors. Since sexual assault plagues all genders, here are quotes from male survivors.

Posting private nude photos is now a crime in the Navy and Marine Corps

Posting nude pictures of service members without consent is now, for all intents and purposes, a crime in the Navy and Marine Corps — a response to the nude photo-sharing scandal that surfaced when a reporter outed a private Facebook group of Marines and sailors that was used at times to swap nudes.

An interim revision to Navy regulations prohibits Navy and Marine Corps personnel from posting intimate photos “if the person making the distribution or broadcast does so without legal justification or excuse,” the regulation reads.

Read more...
https://www.navytimes.com/articles/swapping-nude-photos-is-now-a-crime-in-the-navy-and-marine-corps

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Cleanse Your Kidneys The Natural way

The kidneys help in many important functions of the body such as removing waste from blood and balancing body fluids, form urine. These two bean shaped organs have more than million microscopic nephrons that filter our blood.

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http://www.healthguidegenius.com/cleanse-kidneys-natural-way/

All the Foods, Herbs, Spices, Teas, Oils, and Supplements that Can Help Cleanse Your Body of Parasites!

Approximately 50 million Americans are infected with protozoans or worms, i.e., types of parasites. According to the CDC, 50% of the U.S. water supply is contaminated with a parasite known as Giardia Lamblia. It is not destroyed by chlorination and triggers about 2 million cases annually.

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http://dailyhealthkeeper.com/cleanse-body-parasites/

Yale Law School Files Class Action On Behalf Of US Army Veterans, Tens Of Thousands Of Them

Yale Law School is representing thousands of US Army veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in a class action lawsuit against Secretary of the US Army.

The lawsuit names the present Secretary of the Army concerning less-than-honorable discharges unlawfully given to soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The lower discharges were intended to force mentally ill soldiers out of the military without the retirement, benefits and care to which they were entitled.

Read more...
http://www.disabledveterans.org/2017/04/17/yale-law-school-files-class-action-on-behalf-of-us-army-veterans/

9 Pains Linked To Our Emotional States.

1. Pain In Your Head.

Pain in your head, like headaches, can be caused by stresses of the day. Take some time to relax and ease the stress every day.

Lawmakers, advocates: Veterans Crisis Line is better, but not fixed

WASHINGTON — The Veterans Crisis Line is showing signs of improvement, but its leaders shouldn’t be so quick to say its longstanding problems are completely fixed, some lawmakers, internal watchdogs and veterans organizations said Tuesday.

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing to discuss problems with the suicide hotline, following a scathing report released March 20 by the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report concluded about 30 percent of calls to the hotline at the end of 2016 were rolled over to backup centers. The VA does not operate the backup centers and calls there are sometimes placed in a queue.

Advocates see more work ahead for integrating women in combat, military roles

WASHINGTON — Former Marine Corps Capt. Greg Jacob says when women entered his company, everyone’s training scores went up.

“The men didn’t want to get beat by the women,” he said. “So they started lifting more weights, pushing harder. The entire standard of the unit was raised.”

That’s why Jacob, a longtime advocate of integrating women into military combat posts, is frustrated with slow progress on the issue in recent years. He thinks the issue isn’t one of political correctness and quotas, but instead one of re-examining ways to make the military stronger.

Read more....
http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/women-combat-continued-concerns-advocates

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www.empowermiwomenvets.com

Toxic exposure in Iraq causes breast cancer

Initially denied, DAV gets Air Force veteran’s condition service-connected

Dr. T. Danielle Russell is proud of her Air Force service. After she returned home, DAV was there for her when she developed cancer.

She took the vaccines the Air Force prescribed before her deployment. She drank the water the military provided in Iraq. She lived and worked where she was told. Following orders enabled her to survive her tour in Iraq, but she didn’t expect that would also lead to cancer after she returned home.

Dr. T. Danielle Russell is fighting bilateral breast cancer. She first filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2013, believing the cancer was connected to her military service. A VA doctor disagreed, blaming it on genes

VA takes action on emergency call

The nation’s hospital system for military veterans is not yet out of trouble, as a report on Wednesday warning of danger to patients at the Washington, D.C., veterans hospital demonstrates. But the new head of the VA reacted quickly to the report, almost immediately replacing its director. And he announced that he welcomes public complaints about his department’s performance.

According to Dr. David Shulkin, recently confirmed as Secretary of Veteran Affairs, the best way to improve service at VA hospitals is to expose them to public pressure for change. To that end, he announced the creation of a new website that will eventually compare every VA hospital’s performance with that of nearby public hospitals, and also provide reports on how long it takes to get service.

Read more...
http://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/va-takes-action-on-emergency-call/article_c403d1e6-2152-11e7-bec4-e77b793361d2.html

VA helps military sexual trauma survivors

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WLUC) - April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the VA stands with Veterans who have survived Military Sexual Trauma (MST).
MST is not a diagnosis but rather an experience. It is not only sexual assault but any sexual harassment that occurred during military service. MST affects all genders, ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds, and physical sizes and strengths. It has been prevalent in all branches and eras of service.

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http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/VA-helps-military-sexual-trauma-survivors-419493033.html

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

20 Warning Signs of an Emotionally Abusive Relationship

An emotionally abusive relationship is harmful to your confidence and self-esteem, and you may not even be aware of the abuse. Unlike physical abuse that causes physical pain and leaves visible markings, the signs of emotional abuse are not as apparent.

Research shows that emotional abuse is as damaging to a person as both physical and sexual abuse. The study that followed 846 at-risk children over a 14-year period shows that the most common abuse is the psychological threat to safety and security.

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https://www.powerofpositivity.com/20-warning-signs-of-an-emotionally-abusive-relationship/

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www.battlingthestormwithin.com

Women could be forced to sign up to US military draft by 2018

Women might be forced to sign up with the US military draft by 1 January 2018 if government approves a new proposal from the armed services committee, moving one step closer to ensuring both genders would be subject to serve during war.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/women-could-be-forced-to-sign-up-to-us-military-draft-by-2018-a7028411.html

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www.empowermiwomenvets.com

The Best 20 Foods That Are Better Than Painkillers

1. Ginger for aching muscles

Danish study said ginger daily can reduce joint and muscle pain, swelling by 63%. Gingerols stop pain so get a tsp ginger every day.

2. Cloves for tooth pain

UCLA experts recommend clove chewing for gum and teeth pain. It is anesthetic and has eugenol. Add ¼ tsp cloves in the meal and regulate blood sugar and cholesterol.

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http://www.organichealthcorner.com/best-20-foods-better-painkillers/