Posted on Dec 9, 2014
SGM Senior Adviser, National Communications
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SFC Intelligence Analyst   Atl
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I like that a discussion is being opened up on this subject. I wonder if the question "How many marriages have ended because of the condition(s) of returning troops?" got this rolling. Certainly physical injuries have become a hindrance to closeness and intimacy among couples just as the psychological ones have. This is certainly not a high visibility target in the present like Ebola among others are; so it is refreshing to see something like this being addressed.
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COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM
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A conference on sex intimacy combat injuries could be useful depending upon what is covered, by whom, and who attends. I wish we were a bit more logical and strategic in what and how we tackle problems within the United States. My perception is that we currently go after popular or high visibility issues (this conference being the exception probably) rather than allowing data to drive what we prioritize. For example, research dollars go towards an illness because a Hollywood actor takes it on as a cause vs going after the #1 killer of Americans as the #1 priority, the #2 killer as the #2 priority, etc.
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SGM Senior Adviser, National Communications
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COL Smallfield, excellent points...sometimes we go for the headline rather than heart of the matter.
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Lt Col Instructor Navigator
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http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/infographic-shows-differences-between-diseases-we-donate-and-diseases-kill-us

We donate to diseases that are not the biggest killers, and we ignore ones that are very common.
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CSM Command Sergeant Major IN
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I hope something useful comes out of it. This is such a personal issue and service members, or their spouses, rarely let others know what goes on (or doesn't) behind closed doors. I don't know if they perceive the issue or problem as sexual inadequacy or dysfunction when they have underlying issues such as PTSD that could be the culprit. I personally know one service member that shared with me he has not been able to be intimate with his spouse for nearly 3 years since returning, and yes, he is being treated for PTSD.

Adding training or classes to DEMOB is not the answer in my opinion. There are already SO MANY that most everything is a check the box, hurry up and move on. Nothing has any meaning and nobody listens to anything.

Maybe training for counselors to be able to identify if these issues exists for those already in programs dealing with groin/sexual organ injuries, PTSD, and/or TBI and know it can be an issue for the service member and spouse (and family) , and have a way to work on/through it. There are plenty smarter than me and hopefully some of them will come up with something.
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