fromthepresident
Peace of Mind
Veterans and their family members must cope with a stress
unimaginable to those who have not walked in their boots
during the eight years america has been at war.
ilitary leaders like the families and caregivers of
M
Adm. Michael Mullen, america’s wounded heroes.
USN, chairman of the likewise, Moaa, DoD,
Joint chiefs of Staff, and and the Va are joining forces
Gen. George casey, army to ensure returning warriors
chief of staff (featured on page 52 of this and their families understand
issue), recognize the current pace of oper- that seeking treatment of un-
ations is exacting a high price from those seen injuries is no different
in uniform and their loved ones. from seeking treatment for
Moaa long has advocated increasing visible wounds. it’s a health
military manpower levels to keep ameri- and readiness issue, not one
can forces aligned with mission needs. of strength or weakness.
the nation must get its army, and the in May 2009, the Defense
military as a whole, back into balance. centers of excellence (Dcoe)
We also are convinced it’s time to mount for Psychological Health
an aggressive counterattack against an and traumatic Brain injury
insidious enemy that threatens the health launched the real Warriors
and welfare of america’s all-volunteer campaign to emphasize that
force. that enemy is the perceived stigma maintaining physical and mental health —
that deters too many warriors and their including expeditious treatment and recov-
family members from seeking care to cope ery from wounds of war, both physical and
with the stress of repeated combat tours. psychological — is essential to military read-
More than 1.6 million troops have de- iness. Moaa is working with the Dcoe’s
ployed since october 2001. Studies show leader, army Brig. Gen. loree Sutton, M.D.,
that close to one-third of returning war- who passionately shares your association’s
riors experience some level of unseen inju- commitment to care for the nation’s troops
ry, including PtSD, traumatic brain injury, and veterans and their families and caregiv-
and depression. Most tragically, suicides ers who fall victim to these injuries.
are at a 10-year high in the military. Visit
www.realwarriors.net to learn more
that’s why Moaa hosted, with the U.S. about this campaign and what each of us
Naval institute, the recent Defense forum can do to help destigmatize diagnosis and
Washington: “coping With Unseen injuries: treatment of the hidden wounds of war.
from Battlefield to Homefront” (see ex-
cerpt, page 70). We hope this event helped
shine a bright spotlight on this issue and
highlight the pervasive scope of these inju-
ries and the need to do much more to assist — Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret.
12 Military officer DECEMBER 2009 Photo: Steve Barrett
Dec_presidents.indd 12 11/3/09 12:48 PM
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