I love shooting and over the years I’ve heard a lot of good advice. “Tracers work both ways.” But, here are a few more of the funny ones:
“The most important rule in a gunfight is: Always win and cheat if necessary.”
“Don’t forget, incoming fire has the right of way..”
“Make your attacker advance through a wall of bullets. You may get killed with your own gun, but he’ll have to beat you to death with it, cause it’s going to be empty.”
“If you’re not shootin’, you should be loadin’. If you’re not loadin’, you should be movin’, if you’re not movin’, someone’s gonna cut your head off and put it on a stick.”
“When you reload in low light encounters, don’t put your flashlight in your back pocket.. If you light yourself up, you’ll look like an angel or the tooth fairy… and you’re gonna be one of ‘em pretty soon.”
“Do something. It may be wrong, but do something.”
“Shoot what’s available, as long as it’s available, until something else becomes available.”
“If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. That’s ridiculous. If you have a gun, what in the hell do you have to be paranoid for.”
“Don’t shoot fast, unless you also shoot good..”
“You can say ’stop’ or ‘alto’ or use any other word you think will work, but I’ve found that a large bore muzzle pointed at someone’s head is pretty much the universal language.”
“You have the rest of your life to solve your problems.. How long you live depends on how well you do it.”
“You cannot save the planet but you may be able to save yourself and your family.”
“Thunder Ranch will be here as long as you’ll have us or until someone makes us go away, and either way, it will be exciting.”
And who doesn’t like some good advice. Surely, some of our politicians can use it in light of the recent SOTU speech. The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. You don’t “end” a war. You either win or lose it. If you don’t win it, the only other option is losing. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.
1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
3. I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy.
4. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.
5. A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him ‘Why do you carry a 45?’ The Ranger responded, ‘Because they don’t make a 46.’
6. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.
7. The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. ‘Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?’ ‘No ma’am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.’
8. Beware of the man who only has one gun, because he probably knows how to use it very well.
‘The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.’ - G. K. Chesterton
A people that values its privileges above its principles will soon lose both.
“Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..” – Thomas Jefferson
I have asked a lot of various military spouses I know to tell me what they would recommend putting into a ”bag of tricks” that would help spouses who were facing deployment. Some of my friends have been through 4 or more deployments with their spouse over the years, and some are facing their very first. No matter which deployment you are facing, fifth, second or anticipating one, it’s a scary and anxiety filled time.
Here’s some of the tips I got. I have more to share and will post them a little later.
1. (Shannon) Get involved in your FRG, but stay away from any petty gossip or stupid drama. Pay attention and know who you can and can’t confide in.
2. (Brock) Set at least one healthy and attainable goal to work toward while your husband is away. Plan it out. If you want to lose weight, join a gym and set a goal. Make it realistic. If you want to save money come up with a way you will do that. It gives you something positive to look forward to and work on while he is away.
3. (Tanja) Keep a diary or a blog. Write down what you are a going through each day. Sometimes it can change several times in one day.
4. (Brenda) Plan a regular girl’s pampering party at your house or a friend’s house. Everyone can bring a snack and a beauty product to share. Do each other’s nails and hair. Just have some fun and laugh.
5. (Michelle) Redecorate your bedroom. I found that the change helped me because the change made me look forward to my husband’s return instead of dreading his departure. I was excited for him to see what I had done! Keep in mind though that it should be something he would like too!
6. (Amy) Journal your time apart with pictures. Start an online, free album and upload a new picture for everyday. Just take your camera around with you. Take pictures of things like your front lawn or the kids near the car. It was a way for us to stay in touch and a way for my husband to see things he was familiar with and missed.
7. (Sarah) Pick up a new hobby you always wanted to do. If you want to learn how to cook or garden, do it now. Involve your kids because they need things to help them through too.
8. (Deb) Pick out about 5 of your all time favorite movies and watch them after the kids go to bed. I had a standing date with myself once a week where I would make popcorn and indulge in my favorite theater candy while watching my movies. I had a friend over once in a while, but I really enjoyed the down time after the kids were asleep too.
9. (Cheryl) Take a hot bath. Even if you don’t normally like them. Take one an hour before bed. It always helped me sleep.
10. (Terri) Cry when you need to and don’t be strong for the world. Be strong for your kids. Support your husband and cry like a baby to your support people. They are there for it. Let it out.
I know I’m severely late with this since I’ve been here now almost three weeks. But, I’ve been busy and then I lost my notes sheet with all the great information from the welcome brief with LTG Robert Cone. As you know, I served under LTG Cone when he was a “mere” Brigadier (one-star for the ill-informed) General at the National Training Center. I was excited to read last year that he was taking over III Corps and Fort Hood, one of the many reasons I chose to come here.
Every week, III Corps Commanding General and Command Sergeant Major (or their representative), LTG Cone and CSM Coleman, host a welcome briefing for all incoming troops. It’s a mandatory briefing to “graduate” from post in-processing to unit in-processing. After the briefing, representatives from the units that the troops will be assigned to meet and greet them over a free luncheon. There are also various representatives from post and community programs, including the Association of the United States Army. Good thing they were there because my membership was set to expire at the end of this month. I just went ahead and paid for the lifetime membership so I don’t have to worry about that problem again.
LTG Cone is about to lead III Corps in assuming the Iraq mission. Prior to leaving, he left the incoming Soldiers with some great words of advice as well as his leadership philosophy. As long as I’ve known LTG Cone, he’s been a Soldier’s General. It is his earnest belief that “Soldiers are the most important asset at Fort Hood.” And it shows based off his policies. According to the Phantom Warrior Standard book that is required to be carried by every Fort Hood troop, leaders must work very hard to release their troops within a certain time each day. The schedule is imposed to “allow service members to be home with their families by 1800 for a family dinner.” On Thursdays, the day ends no later than 1500 and exceptions to the policy must be directly coordinated with the Senior Commander of III Corps and Ft. Hood. Just one of many policies meant to alleviate the stresses on families during the high OPTEMPO this post is accustomed to.
LTG Cone told the audience that the greatest strength of the Army is Soldiers, not Generals and Colonels. “It’s Privates, Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains” that make the Army great, he said. He urged the leaders (and emphasized that EVERYONE in the room can be a leader) to create a command climate where leaders can lead. All too often in our Army, lower level NCOs and Officers are so micromanaged that they are unsure of their own individual leadership abilities as they get promoted. This leads to more micromanagement and the stifling of ingenuity and innovation in leadership styles.
Directing his comments towards NCOs, the CG noted that training is job #1 in our Army. “We need to sweat in peacetime so we don’t bleed at war,” he asserted. He cautioned against wasting Soldiers’ time with useless training or no training at all. “When we waste Soldiers time, it says they aren’t important,” Cone said.
This is so true. Leaders at all levels to ensure that if a Soldier is going to get out of bed at 0500 or 0600 to do the work of this great nation, they should look forward to a busy day learning to stay alive, perfect their job skill, engage in meaningful counsel, and be afforded opportunities to excel and progress. Busy work doesn’t provide Soldiers with “purpose, direction, and motivation” – the definition of leadership. There is always room for training troops on Warrior Tasks and require minimum preparation and resources. Time management was another area stressed during the briefing by LTG Cone.
I’ve always said that if someone leaves a post thinking it sucked, it’s pretty much their own fault. I personally think that Fort Irwin is one of the best installations in the Army – a hidden jewel in the desert! But, a lot of people don’t feel that way and it’s because they didn’t make the most of their time there. I can’t count how many times I went to Vegas, only about 90 minutes away. I visited Hoover Dam, Victorville, Big Bear Lake, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Death Valley and other places within a short drive from post. Even closer, there are numerous off road areas for those that like to ride dirt bikes and four wheelers. I don’t gamble, but always found something fun (and cheap) to do in Vegas. Most people who didn’t like Irwin were hermits and rarely left post.
At Fort Hood and in the surrounding community, there are over 160 programs that focus on easing stress for the troops. There are numerous educational opportunities (there’s even a Texas A&M campus nearby) on post and within a short distance from the gates of Fort Hood. There are survivor outreach programs that focus on the families members of our fallen heroes to ensure they are not forgotten. I can’t tell you how many clubs, pools, gyms, theaters and other diversion I found within the limits of post. For Wounded Warriors, there is a Warrior Transition Unit to help them in their recovery that also provides opportunities for them to get out and reintegrate into society. And the community is awesome. The surrounding towns are very supportive of the troops, offering discounts and other benefits to those who serve. There is also a “resiliency campus,” but I’m not going to dwell on that right now because I want to write a post specifically about what they have to offer. But, it’s there to help Soldiers deal with the effects of combat, to include PTS, PTSD, and other mental health issues. LTG Cone said that the Army sends us out to combat and everyone is affected at some level. “It’s our job to fix you,” he said staring as many Soldiers in the eye as possible.
Taking a somber tone, the CG spoke about depression, suicide, and anger issues. He urged everyone in the room to take care of the people to their left and right. But he also told us that we have to look inside. “No one can help you if you aren’t willing to help yourself,” he counseled. The stigma is gone and there’s nothing weak about seeking help for combat related mental health issues. If you recognize that your buddy needs help, LTG Cone said to “step up and tell them to get help.” Then, go with them to ensure they know they are not alone. If you think that your buddy is contemplating suicide, don’t let him/her make that decision. Be the nosy buddy and take action. Show them you care and their life in important.
I don’t want to go on and on, but I wanted to mention something Command Sergeant Major Coleman, III Corps and Fort Hood Command Sergeant Major, said. It’s a very profound statement and when followed affects every aspect of a Soldiers life. “Do what is right and is what is right all the time,” he said. As Soldiers, we take care of each other. We lift each other up and watch each other’s backs. There’s a definition I like to attribute to discipline: “Discipline is doing what’s right when no one else is watching.” CSM Coleman pretty said that, so I know I’m not too far off base.
We are at war and when troops aren’t doing what’s right, it affects mission readiness and deployability. It takes other Soldiers away from their missions to pick up the slack, which makes us all more vulnerable. But, when a Soldier does as CSM Coleman stated and “does what is right and what is right ALL the time” we don’t have to worry about that. Accidents will happen and calamity will strike, but not as often when we’re prepared and not participating in risky behavior.
Of course we are not sure which one of these lovely ladies will be crowned Ms. America, but in the end it will be one of these ladies that is wearing a brand new pair of Rocky Combat Boots.
You know as a result of my blogging, co-hosting the You Served Radio show, etc. I have been blessed with many opportunities to travel, meet wonderful Americans (both famous and regular Joes and Janes) and learn a lot about media, etc. I am very grateful of all of that, but I have to say my good buddy Uncle Jimbo over at Blackfive landed a pretty nice gig here. I mean VEGAS!! with all the Ms. America contestants? Jeez man what a nice trip.
He put together a nice video of his trip out to Vegas as a representative of the Warrior Legacy Foundation’s participation in the “When they come back…we give back” awareness campaign. This campaign is a result of past You Served Radio guest Derek Sholl. Derek was a great guest and a guy that has a true passion in making sure our servicemembers coming back from combat and re-integrating into American society get some assistance when they need it.
My dear friend Patti wrote the following based on her own experiences as a wife of a wounded warrior. Her husband came home from Iraq with a TBI and PTSD. Patti is as practical and helpful as they come. I asked her if I could repost this here in full, and she gave me the thumbs up. I hope you find the information helpful.
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Recently, I have had an influx of women sending emails to me asking if I have any information to help them cope with a husband who has PTSD.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Patti… my husband has PTSD.
PTSD is not something our men like to talk about. It’s not something we as wives want to think about either. But, the truth is there are many military men coming back from deployment only to face a mental war inside themselves.
First and foremost, let me say… PTSD is not something you should be ashamed of. If you think you have PTSD, or your husband has PTSD, it is very important that you go and find help. The military offers free counseling for those who need it.
I understand that some may not want to go on post for counseling. There’s another great resource out there…Give An Hour. Give An Hour is a private organization that offers not only free counseling, but confidential counseling.
Not only does PTSD effect our military men, but it effects families and can effect friendships. If you suspect your husband has PTSD and he will not admit it, you should still consider seeking guidance for yourself.
The more you know about PTSD, the better you will be able to cope with someone who has PTSD. Many military wives have secondary PTSD.
Pattis Top 10 on living with a combat injured, PTSD Vet:
1. Seek Godly counsel
2. Educate yourself on PTSD; you can visit CNN Health, they offer an array of information on PTSD. You can also GOOGLE PTSD and many results will pop up in the search engine.
3. Learn what your husbands “triggers” are and how to defuse situations (example: anniversaries of difficult situations; death of commrads, extreme firefights etc). If you know it’s the anniversary of something difficult your husband experienced while your husband was away, you may know why he’s having an exceptionally bad day, week or sometimes even month.
4. Take care of yourself. For the past couple of years, I have let myself go to take care of my husband and his injuries. I am finally getting back on task when it comes to taking care of myself. It’s been a long road, and if you can avoid going down the road I went down – trust me, it will be best for you! Exercise, eat right, try to sleep good. Its so easy to get wrapped up into worrying about your husband. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will eventually crumble.
5. If your husband is also suffering from other mental conditions such as depression or self harm, allow them to feel the way they do – BUT – watch for warning signals that things may be getting worse so that you can help them by alerting a mental health team or doctor.
6. Don’t be hard on yourself! Do not blame yourself for your husbands PTSD, do not think you “should have” done this or that. We all know that the horrific events of war are what caused your husbands PTSD, don’t start questioning yourself.
7. Keep a journal or have a mentor you can “vent” to. As women, most of us are external processors. This means, we need to release so many words to express our feelings and emotions. You will feel better after releasing these thoughts/words. You can either keep a journal or talk with a mentor. Sometimes, as women – we just need to “get it all out.”
8. Marriage counselling with someone who understands PTSD would be very benifical. I’m not saying this is going to “fix” your husbands PTSD, but it will hopefully allow you both an avenue to express yourselves on how you are both feeling, why you are feeling the way you do and what techniques may help you.
9. Find a PTSD support group in your area. If you cannot find a support group, maybe you will think about creating a support group yourself. There’s a very big need for PTSD support groups, and it’s always good to know you are not traveling down that road alone.
10. Don’t be afraid to admit that you need help. There are resources, organizations, support groups, books and so much more that are out there to help. We should be very thankful these resources are in place for us in todays day and age.
This video is a tissue grabber, that is for sure. It is from Aaron Cormack from the U.K. It is a beautiful song that they recently put together with pictures to make a great video. Now that we have been made aware of it, we here at You Served will be working to get Aaron on You Served Radio soon.
I read this story in the Army Times and wanted to share it with our readers who may not be aware.
The Defense Department now is paying for an Internet service that helps military families find in-home child care, nannies, tutors, elder care providers, pet sitters and other services in their local communities.
Active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps members and their families, as well as National Guard and reserve members and their families, can receive a free membership to the service, which costs an average of $120 a year. Retirees are not eligible.
You must go to www.sittercity.com/dod to activate your free membership.
Those looking for the services can do it in two ways, through a sitter search or by posting a job. Those looking for child care, elder care providers, pet sitters and house cleaners can use specific search criteria, including geographic areas. The database will pull from more than 600,000 child care provider profiles nationwide. But there are more than 1 million care provider profiles across all five types of care — child, tutoring, senior, pet, and home, said Mary Schwartz, spokeswoman for Sittercity.
The program provides military families with instant access to caregiver profiles, including background checks, pictures, references, reviews, a four-step screening process, and a specialized matching technology to help select the right caregiver. They also are working to include military spouses who provide family child care in their homes, too.
Sittercity.com doesn’t employ the caregivers; it simply helps match them with families. The family hiring the caregiver negotiates the salary or fee with the caregiver.
The site will help increase options for families, including normal weekly and hourly care and care for those who work in excess of a normal duty day or live off-base in remote areas, said Melissa Anderson, head of Sittercity’s corporate division.
“We’re very honored and excited to be part of this program for military families,” Anderson said.
“Because of the mobile nature of military life, trusted community resources are often difficult to identify and locate. These online tools will help service and family members attain the best match between resource and need,” said Tommy Thomas, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, in a statement announcing the new service.
The site confirms eligibility through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.
Yeah, I know – I missed day two. I meant to write that yesterday, but I left my laptop in my car and it was late and I didn’t want to get dressed to walk out and get it. Then, today I have my laptop but left my notes in the car. Since yesterday was the welcome brief by Fort Hood and III Corps Commanding General, LTG Robert Cone, and Fort Hood and III Corps Command Sergeant Major, CSM Arthur Coleman, I wanted to touch on some of the things they mentioned. They made a lot of good points and have some great quotes. So, since once again it’s late and I don’t want to get dressed to go out and get them, I’m skipping to day three. Tomorrow, I will write about day two!
Fort Hood has a fairly efficient in-processing system. Leaders that are Sergeant First Class and above are able to in-process on their own. The checklist has what needs to be done on certain days. Today, I did medical, dental, and finance. All of this is located in the Copeland Center which is the in-processing hub of Fort Hood. Practically everything is centrally located here.
Prior to leaving Redstone Arsenal, they gave me a half dozen immunizations in order to clear. It was a nightmare. As I in-processed immunizations here, I smugly replied that this should be quick since I just got all my shots up to day a month ago. WRONG! I need the typhoid vaccination. I swear, any day now I’m going to be utterly impervious to even death with all these shots. Then I had to get an HIV test and something else. They all blur after awhile.
After immunizations was self help. This is where you speak with a medical counselor about the over-the-counter medications that are available at the pharmacy. This is a benefit that I don’t think most civilians know about. In the Army (at most duty stations), I can walk into the pharmacy and ask for a bottle of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and not pay a dime for it. I can also get things like Pepto Bismol, Sudafed, and other OTC drugs. Naturally, there is a monthly limit, but someone who gets a lot of headaches can understand the cost benefit of this. I wonder if even the Soldiers really take advantage of this as I frequently see them buying them at the PX.
Next up was Dental. Emily hates my beautifully hygienic mouth. She says it’s not fair that I have such nice teeth and never needed braces. The dentist agreed and sent me on my way, explaining that I needed to come in June for my regularly scheduled six month cleaning. This is another benefit that we get as Soldiers – free every six month dental cleanings, plus all the floss and toothbrushes we need (completely off topic, but we also get free condoms and they come in every size – even flavored!). At Redstone Arsenal, they even have the waterless, pre-pasted single use toothbrushes you could grab (one per visit). I put them in my car for times when I’m in a hurry and forgot to brush my teeth. Teeth looking fine, I walked out smiling to my next location – Tricare.
I don’t know why so many people complain about military health care. The only problems I’ve had were with individuals and only rarely with the system. When we relocated the family, there was confusion among Tricare representatives. Where the family went, they weren’t covered under the normal active duty Prime plan. They had to go on Standard. To get them on Standard, I had to dis-enroll from the Prime, which was in another region. Because our health care is contracted out, each region does things a little differently. One was telling me that if we dis-enrolled from Prime, we couldn’t re-enroll for another year while the other was saying that if you dis-enroll because Prime isn’t offered, that there is no time limit. Well, we dis-enrolled and sure enough Emily got a letter saying she wouldn’t be allowed to re-enroll for a year. So, I had to clear that up with the representative and we should be good to go. Time will tell, but hopefully we never have to test it!
By this time, it was lunch time. I ran to the Military Clothing store on post because I needed a new beret. You see, when we moved, the packers packed up my uniform which had my beret in the pocket. I didn’t know that until I tried to find my uniform the next day. I still had my spare beret packet away with my other uniforms and ended up using that piece of junk that hung virtually to my shoulders. I went in and bought one of those nifty pre-formed and pre-shaved berets so I didn’t have to worry about the hassle. It sucked! The thing kept poofing out like a french pastry chef. I’m very image conscious as a senior NCO and don’t like looking like a dirtbag. I went back today and got a standard beret that worked 100 times better than the more expensive one I bought a few days earlier! I also had to get a new Combat Action Badge (CAB) since mine was on the uniform that is probably packed with my soap-on-a-rope.
Let me digress for a moment and complain about the ACU for a minute. EVERYTHING related to this uniform is too expensive. The patches cost twice as much as the old patches. The uniform costs more than the old one. The rank costs more. And the badges cost a HELL OF A LOT MORE than the sew-on badges from the old uniforms. I had to pay $7.10 for a Sta-Black CAB because we can’t sew on the subdued badges with this uniform. And there is no such thing as an AAFES brand like the old days that was cheaper than the Sta-Bright or Sta-Black brands in there now. $7 for something that probably cost $.40 to make. A sew-on patch would have cost about $1.25. Buy one for each uniform and you’re still saving $2! They say that it’s cheaper this way because you don’t have to pay for sewing. I SEWED MY OWN PATCHES ON!! Even still, it would cost another $1.50 to sew each badge on, bringing the total for four uniforms to $11. If I lose my CAB (or it gets packed), I pay $14 for just two badges. I will never lose a sew on badge!! So, by sewing on patches, I’ve saved $3 and that’s if I only need/use ONE badge. I feel for those Airborne, Air Assault, Air Hooah guys that have to buy multiple badges. Sometimes it pays to be a frog-hoppin’ leg! Digression over…
I had some transportation stuff to take care of and they didn’t do the Do-It-Yourself (DITY) moves until 1300. But, on a base as large as Fort Hood, a LOT of people are in need of taking care of transportation stuff. So, I grabbed my grapefruit and knife that I bought at Military Clothing (my old National Training Center retention knife broke) and plopped myself in line next to transportation door at about 11:40. I was second in line! I was able to file my DITY move paperwork to get reimbursed for what I carried from Alabama.
After that, I had some extra time, so I went to III Corps Headquarters to speak with the Public Affairs peeps to let them know I was on station. I always try to foster relationships with the PAOs and let them know I’m here so they aren’t surprised if it comes up. It also gets me on the media distribution list for happenings on post that I can attend and write about. I like to stay active in my post and inform you people about the great way our Army is taking care of troops. I also get forewarning of celebrities coming to spend time with our Soldiers so I can give them credit for using their fame on our behalf. I also wanted to try and schedule an interview for the radio show with LTG Cone. LTC Cone was my CG back at Fort Irwin when he only had one star. He reenlisted me indefinitely into the Army is a GREAT leader. I’m privileged to serve under him again and my Day Two post will explain why in more detail.
The day was almost over, so I headed over to my new unit. We’re still trying to flush out where I belong until all the other E8’s scheduled to leave are identified and positions open up. Looks like right now I’m sort of excess. There is a unit that asked for me by name and I tried locating them today but didn’t have enough time before the day ended.
I came home, prepped for our awesome show tonight, and the rest you know! If you missed the show, you must download and listen. We had some awesome guests and the audio was finally fixed, except for the birds squawking from time to time. After the show, I talked to some of the kids (Anissa isn’t talking to me because I won’t put up with her attitude) and chatted online with Emily for awhile. She finally got her 2-year phone upgrade and I was helping her get songs on it for ringtones.
And that’s day three at Fort Hood. For the record, I’m not doing this every day! I’m just writing about the in-processing process.
I don’t know if they mean prevent it totally or prevent a more severe case of PTSD, but it makes perfect sense that the faster horrific pain is addressed and the less suffering that happens, the better the injured solider will fare in the long run.
Health News By Allie Montgomery Published: Thursday, 14 January 2010
EXCERPT
Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) affects both active duty soldiers and war veterans, but now there may be a way to help prevent it. Immediately administering a treatment of morphine to troops wounded in the field can cut the chance in half that they will develop PTSD, according to a new study that is suggesting a new strategy for preventing the psychological fallout of war.
Researchers from the U.S. Naval Health Research Center led the study of approximately 700 troops that were injured in Iraq between the years of 2004 and 2006. Troy Lisa Holbrook, who is an epidemiologist at the Naval Center and the leader of this study, said, “It was surprising how strong the effect of the morphine was.” The findings of this study were published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
Of course, whether or not the Pentagon will adopt this practice on the battlefield remains to be seen. Dr. Jack Smith, who is the acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy, stated that the “very interesting findings” are “likely to stimulate further research.”
Approximately 53,000 troops that have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq have been treated for PTSD, a disorder in which someone who has endured a traumatic event keeps re-experiencing both the event and the fear and emotions it caused. These patients often have trouble with relationships, substance abuse, work and physical ailments.
The researchers have been testing different ways to treat it, and this new study looked at whether fast and strong pain relief can help to prevent it. However, it was still unclear as to whether it was the fast pain treatment or something more specific to the morphine that made the difference. READ MORE
Family Of A Vet
