Operation Iraqi Veterans Case Study

Combat veterans are among the highest at risk for issues in transitioning form military life to civilian. Many potentially suffer from both physical and/or mental traumas. Many veterans and even active duty services members have allowed the unofficial culture of if you need mental or medical help you are weak. Many military families are also afraid of utilizing family support mechanisms out of fear of

Since 2012, WWP Program Grants have held two annual grant cycles to support the increasing number of returning wounded veterans and their reintegration needs. Brett Miller is a U.S. Army veteran and founder of Warfighter Outfitters, Inc. His 2005 deployment to Iraq left him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), saw a unique opportunity to help fellow injured service members through the camaraderie and bonding offered by two of his own interests: hunting and fishing (Newswire). Then there 's Staff Sergeant Erick Millette. During two tours in Iraq, Erick survived 17 IED attacks. They left him with the kinds of injuries that you can 't always see: head trauma, brain injury, PTSD. Millette’s military career was cut short, but he 's taken on a new mission, and that 's sharing his story with audiences across the country. He spread the message that it 's okay to talk about these unseen wounds of war, to seek out help and to seek out support. Millette says that the Wounded Warrior Project literally saved his life, and now through his work, he 's helping save even more lives (Secretary).

Mature and motivated. Proven ability to assist providers and veterans on exam days in any manner needed. General problem solving in a solutions-oriented manner for both providers and veterans. Update case statuses as available. Accomplish ambition to assist wounded veterans with a caring, positive, and patriotic attitude. Organized, courteous, professional, capable of following instructions from all levels of staff and associates alike. Experience in applying, general rules and regulations of diverse settings and environments. Competent to obtain and enter data from various automated data systems to affect admission and disposition of patients. Interpersonal and communication skills frequently prove constructive to others and team members alike,

To the millions of veterans that have served this country by leaving behind their world as they once knew it, thank you. Entering the world of a soldier comes with a culture of warriors who are taught and trained to be ready to kill, but also ready to save, heal, and comfort (Hansen). Sergeant Hansen served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years and was deployed three times, once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. He was honorably discharged in April of 2014, however like many other veterans, his military experience has impacted his new civilian life due to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. It is paramount that a proper system concerning military veterans of the United States is established for the process of re-acclimating soldiers back to a civilian lifestyle. Within the current system and process that is being used, veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are discharged without the support and guidance they need to efficiently return to the civilian world.

Other people—spouses, children, family members, friends, or co-workers—often are more aware of the veteran's emotional distress than he is himself.(Scurfeild, 1993)

Steps have been taken to improve the situation for rural and highly rural veterans. In 2011 President Obama “pledged the support of the federal government for increased behavioral health care services through prevention-based alternatives and integration of community-based services through the Strengthening Our Military Families initiative.”(Helseth). Also in 2011 then VA head Eric Shinseki took part is a Listening and Walking Tour, visiting veterans in North Dakota, Montana, and Alaska.

When young Smithson had joined the Army reserves at just age 17, he encounters many feelings such as abandonment, the innocence of Iraqi citizens and death. When touring Iraq, Smithson experiences many horrific events including the death of a fellow soldier, which he did not know very well. When hearing

In Ashley Gilbertson’s “The Life and Lonely Death of Noah Pierce,” she talks with the family members and friends of veteran Noah Pierce to find out what led to Noah’s suicide following his service with the United States Army. It is believed that Noah’s experiences in Iraq attributed to him having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and causing a change in his behavior during and after his service. Additionally in one of the letters to his mother detailing an engagement with enemy contacts and even though he claimed that he came unscathed with no bullet wounds or lost limbs, Noah admits to possibly having traumatic brain injury (TBI) because of that experience (Gilbertson). Exposure to the war environment in Iraq and the murders he committed had a direct impact on Specialist Noah Pierce in which it cultivated his aggressive behavior which caused numerous episodes that spiraled down to Noah committing suicide.

For the next eight months, I was stationed with Patrick and a number of others like him who had transferred from being an NCM to officer by route of attending RMC. Many of them had seen recent active service in Afghanistan and some of them, including Patrick, were experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a psychological response to intense traumatic events, primarily those that are life threatening (Veterans Affairs, 2006 p.1). Although ancient in its idea PTSD was only recognized by the American

Victor Monjaraz, a former Marine, says that he felt he could handle PTSD on his own, but his emotions did not allow him to. His wife had to convince him to visit a psychologist at the VA and see what the doctor had to say. Monjaraz already felt that he had PTSD before the visit. He was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Monjaraz experienced night terrors and road rage. He was easily irritated and could not be in crowded spaces. The disease also took a toll on his marriage and says, “The Marines taught me to turn off my emotions but didn’t teach me how to turn them back on” (Monjaraz).

Behavior: Client reported lack of motivation to do anything such as accompanying his wife to run errands, going to the gym, getting back to school. Client reported enjoying working out before he got out of the military. He reported his unmotivated behavior caused many problems between him and his wife and it was taking a toll on their marriage. In addition to having problems with their marriage, he reported having difficulty to sleep. Client appeared stressed and feeling unease during the session with the social worker (SW). He also reported feeling uncomfortable when being around many people. He gets agitated easily especially when he hears people overly concerned with trivial matters knowing that there are people in other parts of the world who do not have clean water to drink and decent food. Client reported feeling unhappy since he returned from deployment but does not know why.

A service member’s emotional and psychological issues are not like malfunctions of a piece of equipment and must not be treated as a troubleshooting problem in a technical manual. And yet this seems to be the only way the military, as a whole, knows how to address the issue of a service members mental health. It requires a holistic approach that is not currently embraced by the military. Historically, the military has been ill-equipped to handle the shifting nature of the psychological issues created by introducing a service member to the battlefield.

William Thomas is a 34-year-old African American man that lives in Killeen, TX with his wife, Sandra and his son, Timothy (9 years old). William entered the Grace Christian Center on June 23, 2016. William suffers from PTSD as a result of his combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2014. William served in the United States Army for six years, He enlisted in 2010 and exited the military on an honorable discharge February 10, 2016. During William service, he achieved the rank of Sergeant and served in two combat deployments. William has no known drug allergies but said that he refuses to medication which is why he is here to see Grace Counselors instead of the VA. William loves to shoot guns, exercise and play the video game call of duty. William has been having anger outbreaks and cry spells since he left the service just four months ago. His wife, who escorted him to the church said that they are constantly fighting over stupid things and that he treats her like he’s her soldier. William keeps trying to explain himself but he says his wife doesn’t listen. He’s not treating her like a soldier he 's just trying to point out some things and he doesn’t feel respected therefore he feels the needs to raise his voice and through a tantrum.

In the evening of March 11, 2009, I was patrolling the streets of Kirkuk, Iraq with about ten (10) other US Soldiers from the 2d BCT, 1st Cavalry Division, 3d Battalion, 82d Field Artillery Regiment and the Iraqi police. At least two military vehicles were part of the patrol. The objective of the patrol was to prevent insurgents a conducive environment for constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). We were heading northward greeting Iraqi residents and businesses and got to a part of the street which had a building with an advertising billboard with the inscription 'AL-BARAKA for Cars Trading' on our right side. About ten (10) feet away from three parked white sedan cars, I saw the LTC involved in a conversation with a man. The man

later decided that he also wanted to complete the PIPP application process. Both applications were given to the Veteran and this writer later aided him in the process. At this time, the Veteran is unable to complete either application since he had not secured a