Marine colonel calls suicide ‘shameful,' cites ‘godless age’ and calls on Marines to ‘read some scripture’

Since the start of Gen. Robert Neller’s tenure as commandant in 2015, nearly 224 Marines have ended their own lives. That’s more Marines than an entire rifle company, he noted in a recent two-page letter on mental wellness.

In 2018, 354 active and reserve Marines attempted suicide, and 77 Marines died, numbers that are greater, Neller wrote “than any previous year recorded."

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15 Rare Photos of Black Rosie the Riveters

During World War II, 600,000 African-American women entered the wartime workforce. Previously, black women's work in the United States was largely limited to domestic service and agricultural work, and wartime industries meant new and better-paying opportunities -- if they made it through the hiring process, that is. White women were the targets of the U.S. government's propaganda efforts, as embodied in the lasting and lauded image of Rosie the Riveter. Though largely ignored in America's popular history of World War II, black women's important contributions in World War II factories, which weren't always so welcoming, are stunningly captured in these comparably rare snapshots of black Rosie the Riveters.

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The MISSION Act launches June 6: Here’s how to use your new urgent care benefit

The MISSION Act launches June 6 and means greater access and flexibility for veterans in choosing their healthcare providers. One of those changes covers urgent care.

Rather than go to a VA facility’s emergency room or another alternative, the MISSION Act allows veterans to go to civilian urgent care clinics.

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Military Sexual Assault

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.

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Everyone is broken.

It’s a fact of life that’s not only clear from the pages of the Bible but also from the practical reality of what we see around us and in our own lives. Our bodies are broken. Our emotions are broken. Guess what? Our minds are broken, too.

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How to Help someone with PTSD

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is estimated to affect around 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience. It often goes undiagnosed because it doesn’t always develop immediately after the event, sometimes not becoming apparent until years afterwards. It goes without saying that it’s extremely difficult for sufferers, but it’s also difficult for their loved ones who may not always know how best to respond to them.

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'The invisible folks': Spouses behind vets with PTSD

The suicide rates among veterans are astounding: 22 die by suicide daily. And behind the scenes are the spouses and family members who often get little support in their own battle to care for their loved ones.

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Falling enrollment in VA’s caregiver program raises concerns

As Veterans Affairs officials prepare for a massive expansion of caregiver stipends later this year, lawmakers are expressing concern that the department still can’t administer the current program properly, leaving many participating families confused and frustrated.

A new analysis from the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., found that more than 30 percent of individuals enrolled in VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers have dropped out of the system over the last two years, a figure she calls “disturbing.”

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