Incapacitation by invisible injury, line of duty. Advocacy.

It needs more than that. Just as the services have a specified code of conduct, General Orders, and the UCMJ to govern our conduct, it should be obvious that a similar standard needs to be in place for the government. Any service member should expect to come out in the same condition they went in or receive assistance in full recovery, both physical and mental, including living expenses and retraining. What you're doing is paraphrasing something I've said repeatedly for many years now, The phrase "The Army takes care of it's own" (you may substitute any service branch in that statement), leaves out one important detail. You get hurt, you aren't "their own" any more. You're the veterans administration's problem. And they don't give a rat's @$$ about your recovery.

The system needs more than an overhaul, it needs to actually be thought out from the ground up before it's implemented. Not just palliative responses to public outrage.

Good luck on your surgery. Pay more than passing attention to building up the healing factors in your body prior to surgery, nutritional supplements, eggs, milk solids, heavy on the proteins (red meat), and ask your physician for advice on the matter.

I had to dial it up on the computer since I've been out &nbsp;of the medical profession for thirty years, and I have some observations that might be helpful. I had to fight my way back through this unassisted, so I lacked the resources for a conclusive evaluation of my own condition, and that's not easy when you spend sixteen hours a day unconscious and the other eight barely lucid, for six years after I got out my brains were so badly scrambled I couldn't find the table to put food on. I encountered the Mayo Clinic website for Fibromyalgia &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;( &nbsp;http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/basics/definition/con-20019243 &nbsp;)<div><br></div><div>and noticed two important things immediately. First, most of the symptoms constitute the initial symptoms of shock. Whether produced by an undiagnosed heat injury or hypersensitivity to a new microbiological pool (the reason for all the shots before going overseas) it remains shock. The body's endocrine system is trying to stabilize itself in the face of something that is overpowering it. And not doing too well. It's also possible that the instability is producing an early onset of arthritis, but that would require a clinical evaluation.Second on the list is a dietary recommendation, and nutritional support is what pulled me back far enough to get a handle on my condition. This same instability seems to be at the heart of Post Traumatic stress Disorder, Residual Malaria, and you may have just added Fibromyalgia to the list. Simply stated, nutritional support is the key. The nutrients in the body ARE what the body uses to regulate and stabilize itself. This causes the body to utilize nutrients ACROSS THE BOARD at an accelerated rate. Nutrients and trace elements alike, causing a chronic general nutritional deficiency. In short, you may require a higher level of nutrients in the body to maintain a normal level of stability. A basic vitamin mineral complex could be helpful, I keep a bottle on hand and use half of one at a time as needed due to the heavy coating on the tablets. Probiotics may also be helpful, any health store or herbal store will have them. And welcome home.</div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&amp;c2=6035818&amp;cv=2.0&amp;cj=1"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/basics/definition/con-20019243">Fibromyalgia Definition - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Fibromyalgia — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, treatment of this chronic condition characterized by widespread pain.</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

The WTC is in NY, but 9-11 was a federal operation, considered an act of terrorism and the area was declared a combat zone during the first 72 hours, not a state mission as the national guard were there as part of Operation Noble Eagle/Enduring Freedom, the governor was suppose to put us on federal orders and did not. Like I said it is complicated, it is not your typical National Guard situation, and when Congress and the State Legislation were passing laws covering the First Responders care during that time they kind of forgot about the National Guard who were actually in the zone performing along side with federal agencies, the police and firefighters. Part of the problem is that the National Guard did not keep records of who was in what zone, but also as I was injured in the zone and it was declared a combat zone, I am not able to bring suit against the government. Like I said not your typical situation. Believe me I have talked to the Mayor, Governor, State and Federal Senators, my Congressman, and 5 different lawyers. This is a mess that they did not plan on, and dont know how to fix so easily. 

The point that I was trying to make is that the Federal Government REQUIRES STATE PERMISSION in order to acquire your services. Effectively, you are retained by the federal government from the state as a mercenary. And just for the record most mercenaries do strictly rescue work. Simply because they've seen enough nastiness to be able to cope with it better than most. Have you tried the World Health Organization for assistance? It's a UN organization with a little more in the way of political resources to unravel the mess.

You need to reread your regulations, the Federal Government normally requires state permission to acquire your services, unless an act of National Terrorism or if a disaster crosses state lines as Active Military are not permitted to perform such duties by regulation of the federal government may require the states to activate the National Guard, but it is up to the state under which tile to activate you under. 

I stand corrected. Although my comments were intended from a real world perspective, not merely a legal one. The objective for me was to point out possible assets that may be of assistance since 9 11 was an act of international terrorism, producing a significant level of U.N. involvement. The mercenaries I have met in many cases have a far more desirable content of character than some service members that I had to work with. Since my first three years were with a National Guard unit in communications and the last seven were on active service in medicine, two years with the 82d as a patient care specialist (airborne) another with the 18th Airborne Corps hospital at Bragg as a clinic NCOIC, and another as a Senior Aid man for an unofficial Ranger Company. The perspective may be appropriate to you , since, like me, the system has reneged on it's responsibilities to you. If I hadn't pointed the W.H.O. out as a possible resource, I wouldn't have been doing my best for you. So please don't take offense.