Posted on Nov 1, 2018
What are your thoughts on Sebastian Junger's ideas of the hyper-valorizing of Soldiers and VA incentivized PTSD?
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PTSD
Deployment
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 12
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When he has gone twenty years suffering from PTSD, lost three wifes, two to divorce, one to suicide and lost a daughter,{by car} and son to suicide{by drugs}, come back and tell me about PTSD. There are alot of people out there getting benefits for it that do not deserve it. I am a Vietnam Veteran and came out of Vietnam with, "Three Purple Hearts." The struggle has been hard, but you have to decide if you want to live or die. I do not believe we are hypervalorizing anyone that has been in Combat for months at a time. It all depends on your age and how much your brain has developed. Check out, "The Battle for Khe Sanh." Most of us were between 18 & 19. SEMPER FI
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Sgt (Join to see)
Sgt Daniel Hobart Brother, you deserve everything that the VA can provide. Semper Fi Daniel.
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Nicci Eisenhauer
I have a friend whom I haven't seen in a very long time who was there. The painting was done by another friend of mine from a photo Paul took. The painting is in the museum at Quantico. If you like, I could probably connect you guys. And I am so sorry for all you've been through, Sir. With all my heart, I say, "Welcome home."
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SFC Ronald Eckert I also wonder when I read:
"The irony is that 10% of the U.S. military experiences combat. Something like 50% of the military has applied for PTSD disability. So what’s going on with that 40%? Now, I’m not prepared to be as cynical about that 40% as some people might be. I think an awful lot of those people are honestly describing something that is actually a transition disorder. It isn’t PTSD, but the only vocabulary we have right now is PTSD"
"The irony is that 10% of the U.S. military experiences combat. Something like 50% of the military has applied for PTSD disability. So what’s going on with that 40%? Now, I’m not prepared to be as cynical about that 40% as some people might be. I think an awful lot of those people are honestly describing something that is actually a transition disorder. It isn’t PTSD, but the only vocabulary we have right now is PTSD"
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MAJ Rene De La Rosa
Sgt Theodore (Ted) M. Hallock SFC Ronald Eckert, the problem right now is the culture of being owed something for nothing. Most folks are willing to do anything to avoid working, yet do not realize that their pay will be small and they still have to go back to work. I actually have people wanting to get better than 100%. What? We all know there is no such thing, but to have the barracks lawyers chime in, well..........
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PO2 Kira Hays
Not everyone who has PTSD from the military is due to combat. There are many cases in which sexual assault has occurred, mine being one such case. I think it's important to understand that PTSD comes from trauma and not necessarily combat trauma. In addition, I was rated 100% with Special Monthly Compensation category L, and I was permanently and medically retired from the service. This was due to the severity of my PTSD which required regular aid and attendance due to often I would try to hurt myself, as well as other things that I will not go into. The point is, there is more to things than you think
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Sgt (Join to see)
PO2 Kira Hays - I am sorry to hear that you went through a horrible experience that no one should go through. I am happy to hear that they have rated you at 100%
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That's his opinion, which he is entitled to.
With regard to his opinion on PTSD, I haven't read his research papers, or doctoral dissertation on PTSD, so I can't comment on that opinion - OPINION. Especially since his opinion differs from the body of research on PTSD.
He has zero experience with the VA, since civilian ournalists aren't eligible for VA benefits, and his claim that VA incentivizes PTSD is lacking in facts. First, you don't automatically get payment for life for mental health disabilities because VA doesn't automatically consider them permanently disabling to the point of being compensable. They are required be reevaluated at 5 years, unless you are one of the rare Veterans who receives a "permanent and total" initial rating. (Required doesn't mean there will be a reevaluation, but that is the requirement.)
His comments are exactly why I told the reporters embedded in my unit to wait at the camp in Kuwait while I moved the unit forward a few miles, and that I would return to bring them forward before we crossed into Iraq. Sorry, I got busy, and they never caught up.
With regard to his opinion on PTSD, I haven't read his research papers, or doctoral dissertation on PTSD, so I can't comment on that opinion - OPINION. Especially since his opinion differs from the body of research on PTSD.
He has zero experience with the VA, since civilian ournalists aren't eligible for VA benefits, and his claim that VA incentivizes PTSD is lacking in facts. First, you don't automatically get payment for life for mental health disabilities because VA doesn't automatically consider them permanently disabling to the point of being compensable. They are required be reevaluated at 5 years, unless you are one of the rare Veterans who receives a "permanent and total" initial rating. (Required doesn't mean there will be a reevaluation, but that is the requirement.)
His comments are exactly why I told the reporters embedded in my unit to wait at the camp in Kuwait while I moved the unit forward a few miles, and that I would return to bring them forward before we crossed into Iraq. Sorry, I got busy, and they never caught up.
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