AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 3, 2010 – More vigilant leadership, pre-screening recruits for compatibility with military service and better post-deployment follow up are among solutions proposed by the acting director of the Army National Guard for stemming soldier suicides.

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After more than seven years, the United States “will end its combat mission in Iraq and take an important step forward in responsibly ending the Iraq war,” he said during his weekly radio address.

That responsibility, he stressed, includes caring for the men and women in uniform who volunteered to fight.

Source : DoD

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EDMONDS — For armed services men and women returning stateside, fear can become a ghost haunting them in daily life, more frightening than the firestorms and improvised explosive devices they encountered abroad. For these veterans, a new war begins at home with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

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A young filmmaker with Fayette roots is finalizing work on a groundbreaking new documentary about four soldiers recovering from the traumatic brain injuries they sustained while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.   Justin Springer, a 1999 graduate of Fayette County High School, plans to debut his film, titled “Along Recovery” at festivals across the country this winter.   A former Army officer himself, Springer utilized his military background to gain unprecedented access to a Texas Army hospital and his subjects.  After high school, Springer attended Tulane University on an ROTC scholarship. Upon graduation, he deployed twice to Iraq.

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The secretary of the Army spent two days at Joint Base Lewis-McChord this week, getting a firsthand view of its services and facilities.

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2010 – The Defense Department is ready to respond should Hurricane Earl’s projected landfall this weekend bring disaster to the Atlantic coast, Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. Robert L. Ditchey said today.  Today, hurricane warnings were issued for North Carolina, and a hurricane watch was issued in Virginia. North Carolina’s division of emergency management issued mandatory evacuations in some areas in the Outer Banks. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency for his state.  “The Department of Defense is monitoring Hurricane Earl, working closely with the [Federal Emergency Management Agency], and is prepared to respond if needed,” Ditchey said.  FEMA’s Region I defense coordinating officer also has been activated. The 403rd Wing from Kessler Air Force Base, Miss., known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” has conducted five flights in the past 24 hours, providing aerial surveillance along the coast.  Also, North Carolina and Virginia National Guard have placed more than 250 guardsmen on state active duty to begin response preparations, he said.

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2010 – Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded eight nonprofit organizations for their efforts to improve the quality of life for servicemembers and their families during the 11th Annual Newman’s Own Awards ceremony held here today.  The volunteer-based organizations received awards totaling $75,000, with Inova Health System Foundation’s Military to Medicine program taking the highest honor and corresponding $15,000 award.
The behind-the-scenes contributions of these organizations are every bit as valuable as the more visible contributions of those in uniform, Cartwright noted.  “For those who go out and sacrifice in a very overt way, there are those that serve in very different way, but equally as important,” the general said. “What you have done is no less important to the legacy of this country.”

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2010 – Balancing military and personal life involves sacrifices. At times, this balancing act can cause sailors to become extremely overwhelmed and even depressed.
Some sailors might seek guidance from shipmates while others can let feelings fester. Unresolved emotions can become unbearable and, like a pot of boiling water, the sailor overflows. Seeing no way out, 46 sailors took their lives last year.  Suicide is the third-leading cause of death in the Navy, accounting for 13 percent of fatalities in 2009, officials said. Any loss of a sailor’s life can be devastating for a family and command. It’s important that sailors are familiar with the signs and symptoms of suicide so identifying a shipmate contemplating suicide is easier.  The Navy recognizes the seriousness of suicide and has developed additional training methods to help sailors acknowledge they are front line supporters of suicide prevention efforts. Sailors, from pay grades E-1 to O-10, are key players in the suicide prevention process, something that begins with the chain of command, with coworkers and with friends of the sailor experiencing negative thoughts.

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SDSU offers critical programs and services for veterans and active-duty military.

The door is wide open—literally—at the circular-fronted building on the southwest corner of Fraternity Row.  In the bright, clean lounge, the television broadcasts FOX News. One young man studies quietly while another wanders into the kitchen for a snack. As more students arrive, they spill outside into the shady courtyard, where a giant American flag drapes part of the wall.   This is Veteran’s House at San Diego State University, the country’s first university residence hall for student veterans. With its perpetually open door and casual ambiance, the former fraternity house has become a popular meeting place for SDSU’s growing community of student veterans and future veterans.

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