washingtonscene
the cracks,” said Rasmussen. “One huge medication for 30 hours after arrival. “The
problem is that we in the military speak a commanders don’t know what goes on in
different language than civilians and family the wards,” she said. When her son became
members do.” suicidal, she called the VA but got no call
Capt. Catherine Wilson, USN-Ret., of back for days. “My federal recovery coor-
the Virginia Veterans Services Wounded dinator is the only person who has helped
Warrior Program, integrates statewide me,” she said. After the session, she was
behavioral health and other services for connected with multiple sources of help.
veterans and their families. The program Noel Koch, deputy undersecretary of
trains civilian providers on unique mili- defense for Transition Policy and Care Co-
tary/veteran needs and benefi ts, works ordination, said, “I’m not going to say we’re
with the criminal justice system, and pro- doing a great job of taking care of wounded
vides grants for behavioral health. warriors. We do well at PowerPoint, con-
Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical ferences, and generating paper; we haven’t
psychologist, founded Give an Hour, a done so well on outputs to care for our
national network of 4,400 mental health wounded warriors. … One of our challenges
professionals offering free services to is to fi nd ways to measure outcomes.”
troops, veterans, and their families. Shannon Maxwell, spouse of Lt. Col. Tim
“Many don’t seek care because they don’t Maxwell, USMC-Ret., said she has received
want to answer certain questions,” said extensive Marine Corps support. But she
Van Dahlen. “We’re trying to deliver said caregiver needs in severe TBI cases
them care for the rest of their lives.” “are for life, not just 18 months. No matter
Panel 3: Caring for Families & Caregiv- how high-functioning the TBI victim, care-
ers: Facing the Truth giver needs never cease.”
Moderated by Dr. Karen Guice, execu- Guice asked each panelist to identify
tive director of the VA Federal Recovery the single most important fi x needed.
Coordination Program, this panel ad- Maxwell said, “Wounded [servicemem-
dressed longer-term needs of loved ones. bers] and families need expert advocate
Economist Dr. Eric Christensen, author help in fi lling out the medical/physical
of a 2009 Center for Naval Analyses report evaluation board paperwork perfectly the
on the economic sacrifi ces suffered by care- fi rst time.”
givers, said seven out of eight had to quit or Koch said cognitive rehabilitation
signifi cantly curtail work to be a caregiver. should be made a DoD obligation.
“It’s the rule, not the exception.” He said Kammerdiener asked, “Who takes care
the average caregiver income loss in cases of moms? Who provides me the income,
of seriously wounded servicemembers is medical care, and retirement plan like I
about $60,000 over 18 months. Many have had before my son was wounded?”
to give up not just their jobs but also their Christensen said, “The government
houses and health coverage. owes the same support for PTSD and
Leslie Kammerdiener, mother of a sol- TBI victims it does for more visible inju-
dier who suffered severe burns and brain ries. It’s better to be an amputee than to
injury, said, “The system is very broken for have severe TBI.” MO
a lot of us.” She has no income and reported
receiving no support from the Army since
— Contributors are Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-
her son left Brooke Army Medical Center,
Ret., direc tor; Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret.; Col.
Bob Norton, USA-Ret.; Cmdr. René Campos, USN-
Texas, even though he remains on ac-
Ret.; Capt. Kathy Beasley, USN-Ret.; Col. Phil Odom,
tive duty. Transferred to a VA polytrauma
USAF-Ret.; Joy Dunlap; Bret Shea; and Matt Mur-
center, he was provided no bed, food, or phy, MOAA’s Government Relations Department.
40 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2009
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