oceanography,” he says. “I wasn’t even at square one when I got out. I was below square one.”
THE SOLUTION: Link up with a career mentor, who can guide you on schooling, transferable military skills and experiences, various career options, or guidance on entrepreneurial ventures. One resource is American Corporate Partners (
www.acp-usa.org), a nonprofit engaged in free corporate career-mentoring services for post-9/11 veterans. “The good news is there are so
many people out there who want to help. It’s a good problem to have,” says Colleen Deere, vice president of American Corporate Partners. “That one call or one email could be life-changing. You can meet some- body to give you all of the advice that makes the difference.”
SOME RESOURCES: American Corporate Partners (
www.acp-usa .org). Other resources include the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (
https://msepjobs.mili
taryonesource.mil), the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (
www.dol.gov/vets), and your local chamber of commerce.
Rehab and physical therapy
THE CHALLENGE: Perhaps you’ve moved to be near supportive extend- ed family members — but you’re geographically far from a VA facility or your former physical therapist. Or you’re worried about finding a provider who accepts TRICARE. Some caregivers also might feel daunted by the prospect of motivat- ing a veteran to follow through with exercises at home during recovery, according to Todd Sayer, a physi- cal therapist and senior regional
PHOTO: MONIKA GNIOT/SHUTTERSTOCK; PREVIOUS SPREAD, CHUTIMA CHAOCHAIYA/SHUTTERSTOCK
director at ATI Physical Therapy, a national leading provider.
THE SOLUTION: If you’re getting pushback from a veteran about at-home physical therapy exercises, “remind them that their lives still matter to everyone,” Sayer says. And learn the exercises at their physical therapy appointment so you can do them as a team.
Set a goal for the family, such as a
vacation. Maybe your veteran is physically incapable of going now, but with regular physical therapy, he or she can make it happen. This provides motivation and unites the family behind his or her progress. Sayer says many large physical
therapy providers, such as ATI, will accept TRICARE; it just takes some due diligence — and some phone calls — to find them.
SOME RESOURCES: If you’re in a geographic area with few TRICARE providers, know that physical therapists don’t want to turn patients away, Sayer says. Many will arrange something so you can access care.
Relating to your kids THE CHALLENGE: Kids want
everything to be okay. When they notice it’s not, “that’s when it goes south” for them, says Dr. Mark
Pisano, Fort Bragg school psycholo- gist and coordinator of the National Association of School Psychologists’ Military Families interest group. When someone comes home with a serious injury, children and teenagers react very differently. You might see younger children pulling away. From teenagers, you might see anger, too. You could see dropping grades and self-destructive behavior. The overwhelming emotion is
fear, and the No. 1 question is “What will happen to us now?”
THE SOLUTION: Contact your child’s teacher so he or she won’t attribute unusual behavior to ADHD or disciplinary issues. If your school has a child psychologist, set up an appointment; if it doesn’t, see the guidance counselor to get a referral.
SOME RESOURCES: National Family Military Association (www
.militaryfamily.org). Easterseals also provides a camp (www.easterseals .com/our-programs/military-veter ans/a-camp-for-kids-in-military .html). Also look into the Elizabeth Dole Foundation (www.elizabethdo
lefoundation.org).
MO
— Heidi Lynn Russell is a freelance writer from Kentucky. Her last feature article for Military Officer was “Enter- prising Officers,” June 2016.
NOVEMBER 2016 MILITARY OFFICER 59
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