Posted on Apr 25, 2016
How many of you are disenfranchised with the VA, and would be willing to attend PTSD groups through a local Veteran run NGO?
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Posted in these groups: 
PTSD
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Combat
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
PTSD Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Combat Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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Folks,
In 2008, we started a concept at Ft Lewis, WA because we could find no\no peer lead groups across the country! We need more grassroots peer support long before we suggest a vet directly enter therapy!
PTSDAnonymous.org
Using battle buddies so help and network directly with their "peers!"
Much can be done long before a situation enters the crisis phase.
In 2008, we started a concept at Ft Lewis, WA because we could find no\no peer lead groups across the country! We need more grassroots peer support long before we suggest a vet directly enter therapy!
PTSDAnonymous.org
Using battle buddies so help and network directly with their "peers!"
Much can be done long before a situation enters the crisis phase.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SPC Rory J. Mattheisen - While homeless, I actually did charity and have no rating. Typing this post, I am having mild seizures, I do the best I can and go to the VA 40 years away.
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LTC Stephen Kubiszewski
Tacoma/FtLewis WA
Www.ptsdanonymous.org
Www.ptsdanonymous.org
support and discussion for veterans affected by post traumatic stress disorder, ptsd, tbi, suicide, peer support, spouse support, peer groups.
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The Hardest Part of attending a Group at the VA is the participants that come. I went to two different groups several years ago and left after two meeting for each of them. They were filled with Dishonorable Discharged assholes that were trying to get paid. The same idiots would come in with a Cane and cry the two times I went. He was assigned to Alaska. Never in Combat.
Unfortunately, the VA wants production not results. I m heard the Vet Centers are better aligning Combat Vets with the right groups. Since the Vet Center wont help you get "Paid", the fakes and losers don;t come.
I would love to find a group filled with real Combat Vets from Iraq to sit around and shoot the shit. Its not happening where Im from.
Unfortunately, the VA wants production not results. I m heard the Vet Centers are better aligning Combat Vets with the right groups. Since the Vet Center wont help you get "Paid", the fakes and losers don;t come.
I would love to find a group filled with real Combat Vets from Iraq to sit around and shoot the shit. Its not happening where Im from.
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LTC (Join to see)
First, I appreciate your candid reply. You are spot on. Hell, we could have a long discussion on the VA care. It has been up and down. I m not one to tell stories about combat or things that we have seen. I don't want to talk to people that can't understand or feel anything from words.
I told a story a couple of days ago to a old guy waiting with me at the VA. In Iraq, we use to get letters from Middle or High School students for morale. We were expect to grab one or two and write back to them. One day a batch came in. We had a J-2 that was straight and narrow dude, so a couple of us decided to write a letter that started nice then turned terribly dirty from a High School girl offering to send sexy pictures to him for money. We put it in one of the received envelopes, sealed it, put it on his desk, and waited to see his reaction. Of course, we watched him read it and saw his reaction when he read the risque portion. After freaking out a bit, he threw it away. So, we sent one of the J-1 sergeants into his office to verify he got a letter and they needed him to write a response ASAP. We had fun all day with it. I try to remember stories like that.
After the war, you will still be a Hero. You proved yourself inside and out. Take what you are now and continue that success in your next endeavor. Start Planning NOW. Stay safe.
I told a story a couple of days ago to a old guy waiting with me at the VA. In Iraq, we use to get letters from Middle or High School students for morale. We were expect to grab one or two and write back to them. One day a batch came in. We had a J-2 that was straight and narrow dude, so a couple of us decided to write a letter that started nice then turned terribly dirty from a High School girl offering to send sexy pictures to him for money. We put it in one of the received envelopes, sealed it, put it on his desk, and waited to see his reaction. Of course, we watched him read it and saw his reaction when he read the risque portion. After freaking out a bit, he threw it away. So, we sent one of the J-1 sergeants into his office to verify he got a letter and they needed him to write a response ASAP. We had fun all day with it. I try to remember stories like that.
After the war, you will still be a Hero. You proved yourself inside and out. Take what you are now and continue that success in your next endeavor. Start Planning NOW. Stay safe.
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A1C Lisa Casserly
Exactly! Finding that group of peers to help you when you need help, who know where you have been and what you have been thru is CRITICAL.
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CCMSgt Mike Ramsey
The VA gave me a bad feel for them at the first appointment. The Doc I saw talked to me for two minutes, deciced my TBI was minor and I didn't have PTSD. He didn't talk to my family at all and they were the ones that had to deal with me. The VA even called me and said, "if I continued to claim my TBI/PTSD it would delay my claim processing for 2 or 3 years or more." They suggested that I drop the claim for those disabilities until after the initial claim was finished and then refile. I did, and I am still paying the price. A NGO doesn't necessarily have to take over, but who ever does needs more knowledge and compassion than the VA had back then and a great deal more than they have now.
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Until The VA is run by Veterans for Veterans the system will never works, since the people they have there now, only worry about the paycheck and the time to clock out at 4:30. What happen with the veterans has privileges on Government works, still is who you knows.
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SSgt B Mac
BLUF, I agree.
My wife never served but she genuinely cares. Most of her coworker's are veterans and they grudge against my wife like its a competition for promotion. Constant bickering and backstabbing at ratting each other out. My wife just wants to work and help veterans. I hear about it all the time, they show up and do less than minimum. My wife used to stay late unpaid to get what others didn't do done. Her boss is a retired Master Sergeant that sits on his ass all day on eBay and Facebook. When coworker's call in sick the supervisors don't gap fill they just let the shop pick up the slack. the leadership in the VA needs to be flushed. The good ole boys have let the quality of the VA go down the tubes.
I submitted a complained up to HHQ VA to do a surprise inspection, unannounced to see the bs going on. What did big VA do, they announced they were coming and did interviews. They got the dog and pony show. What a fruking waste, won't get a true glimps of what is really going on. They need to send in an independent investigator to evaluate the leadership. The first, second and third line leadership are incompetent. They use fear tactics to motivate their subordinates. They threaten reports and even termination to motivate. It's a hostil work environment. Now you introduce SGT PTSD into the mix and that exacerbates the hostile work environment. I predict with the current situation at the VA one of these disgruntled VA veteran employees will go postal.
We have single parents, hanging on by a thread, choosing food or the electric bill,gas to drive to work or car insurance, walking an hour each way to work because they can't afford the basic maintenance or repair of said Vic. the whole system needs to be fixed but the cancer needs to be removed. The employees just aren't happy. That trickles down to the customer, the veterans. But then again, the Veterans mistreat the VA employees too. It's a vicious cycle. Somethings going to give, something is going to break.
My wife never served but she genuinely cares. Most of her coworker's are veterans and they grudge against my wife like its a competition for promotion. Constant bickering and backstabbing at ratting each other out. My wife just wants to work and help veterans. I hear about it all the time, they show up and do less than minimum. My wife used to stay late unpaid to get what others didn't do done. Her boss is a retired Master Sergeant that sits on his ass all day on eBay and Facebook. When coworker's call in sick the supervisors don't gap fill they just let the shop pick up the slack. the leadership in the VA needs to be flushed. The good ole boys have let the quality of the VA go down the tubes.
I submitted a complained up to HHQ VA to do a surprise inspection, unannounced to see the bs going on. What did big VA do, they announced they were coming and did interviews. They got the dog and pony show. What a fruking waste, won't get a true glimps of what is really going on. They need to send in an independent investigator to evaluate the leadership. The first, second and third line leadership are incompetent. They use fear tactics to motivate their subordinates. They threaten reports and even termination to motivate. It's a hostil work environment. Now you introduce SGT PTSD into the mix and that exacerbates the hostile work environment. I predict with the current situation at the VA one of these disgruntled VA veteran employees will go postal.
We have single parents, hanging on by a thread, choosing food or the electric bill,gas to drive to work or car insurance, walking an hour each way to work because they can't afford the basic maintenance or repair of said Vic. the whole system needs to be fixed but the cancer needs to be removed. The employees just aren't happy. That trickles down to the customer, the veterans. But then again, the Veterans mistreat the VA employees too. It's a vicious cycle. Somethings going to give, something is going to break.
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A1C Lisa Casserly
AMEN. The closest VA for medical care for us is EIGHT HOURS DRIVE away. 8 hours is too far. 8 hours is unacceptable. 8 hours could mean the difference between life and death.
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