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Press Releases

Fort Drum: A Great Burden, Inadequate Assistance. And Now, An Overwhelming Response.

Please click here and read the full report (PDF): Fort Drum: A Great Burden, Inadequate Assistance.

Since the release of our report, the response has been overwhelming and gratifying. To read more about the report and press coverage to date, please click here.

We were especially gratified when Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton recognized our efforts and issued a statement:

“I am deeply concerned by the findings in this report. It is simply unacceptable that 10th Mountain Division soldiers who have recently returned from Iraq have to wait for up to two months for mental health care appointments. Not only has the Department of Defense failed to provide Fort Drum and other military installations with adequate mental health care resources, but there is also a persistent stigma within the military that discourages our servicemembers from seeking and receiving the mental health care that many of them need. With so many units serving multiple combat tours, this problem is only becoming more acute, and it must be addressed urgently.”

The rest of her statement can be read here.

As discussed in the previous Veterans for America report – Trends in Treatment of America’s Wounded Warriors – VFA has visited military facilities in and out of the United States. Our work has revealed a military mental health system that is under severe stress. VFA’s work at Fort Drum, unfortunately, confirms this.

Read The New York Times Article featuring our report and efforts: Report Faults Mental Care For Iraq Veterans.

Veterans For America Releases Major Report: Trends In Treatment Of America’s Wounded Warriors.

Veterans for America is proud to release a ground-breaking report on the challenges facing our wounded warriors who are suffering from the “signature wounds” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological trauma.Having visited every single demobilization site in the United States and overseas, Veterans For America investigators found that care for these injuries is significantly lacking and that the decisions made by the military will negatively impact our veterans for the rest of their lives.

According to retired Brigadier General Stephen N. Xenakis, former Commanding General of the Southeast Regional Army Medical Command: “VFA’s report contains all the right information. It demonstrates the enormous needs of and responsibilities to our wounded servicemembers and their families. That need far exceeds our current capability. VFA provides much-needed, first-hand information on the scope of the problems and the steps needed to address them.”

To read more or to download the report, please click here.

We are very interested on learning more directly from servicemembers, veterans, and their families. If you, or someone you know, is an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran suffering from TBI or a psychological wound, please fill out our registry here so that we may help you.