Veterans For America

Tune in today to National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation to hear VFA’s Directory of Policy Jason Forrester discuss PTSD and the psychological fallout of war. He will also talk about the ongoing debate over whether the Purple Heart should be awarded to those suffering the mental wounds of war. The show is slated to air from 3pm-3:40pm Eastern Time. To find your local station broadcasting the show, CLICK HERE.

In the wake of a rash of suicides among recruiters in the Houston area, the Army has ordered a stand-down of the entire recruiting force to review the situation. Poor command climate, long and stressful hours, failing personal relationships and the fallout of overseas combat are all likely to blame for the suicides. The stand-down is called “significant” and is aimed at examining the strains on recruiters everywhere. The psychological pain of combat and the stress of duty is not a figment of the imagination, but painfully and noticeably real as brain scans on troops reveal the trauma of war. The wounds may sometimes be invisible to the naked eye, but they have serious consequences and demand serious treatment.

The strains of war and the rapid pace of lengthy, back-to-back-to-back deployments, has hit everyone in the ranks from the brass to the citizen-Soldiers in the National Guard who have seen their duties increase by nearly 60 percent from 2007 to 2008.

We have a new president, but a lethal legacy hanging over from the last administration: Iraq. We’re still there. We aren’t leaving tomorrow, either, despite upcoming elections. And in Afghanistan, the genuine front in the war against those who plotted the 9/11 attacks, prepare for a tougher line from the new president. Still, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he is “deeply skeptical” of sending any more than the 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan already requested by the top US commander there. “There must be an Afghan face on this war,” Gates said, noting that the US must set realistic goals. Increasingly, it seems, there will be a Pakistani aspect to the fight as well. On a related note, President Barack Obama is slated to make his first official visit to the Pentagon today.

The VA settles a case of data theft that exposed potentially millions of veterans’ personal information for $20 million. Our veterans need swift action on a number of fronts, and we hope the new VA leadership is able to put its costly mistakes behind it.

With the Pentagon’s substance abuse treatment policies not always working, Sen. Claire McCaskill wants a change. McCaskill, D-Mo., said it was a “scandal” that soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood had trouble getting help for their addictions and waited as long as nine months for treatment.

And finally: Will Flipper have our Navy’s back?