Where do the 80%ers fit in?

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:37:43 -0400

We are all pretty familiar with bell curves; a graph that is normally broken down into three sections, low, average and high. Normally, the average section makes up about 80% of the graph with the other two sections having about 10% respectively.

Recently I was having a conversation where this idea of the "80%'ers" came up. What I mean by that is this: There are a ton of service organizations out there. Some are doing some great things. Some are out there flapping in the breeze while others are just starting that. In this conversation I was having, we began wondering which group a lot of these organizations target. We figured out if you put the Veteran population of any area into a bell chart, break them up into "severely wounded", "wounded but working" and "not wounded" (I'm sure we could use better terms but you get the point); the "wounded but working" section would be that 80% "average" section. However, we figured out that a majority of the bigger service organizations - the ones you see on TV and hear about all time - are really only catering to the severely wounded, 10% population of the overall population.

Now, please understand, I'm not saying that our brothers and sisters-in-arms that were severely wounded in defense of this nation do not deserve it. I feel they deserve it and then a lot more. However, what about the 80%'ers? I can't even begin to count the number of times I've gone somewhere to speak and been greeted with "I pictured you missing a (insert body part)" or some other comment. Granted; in general, the majority of the population doesn't have a true understanding of what sort of wounds go unseen. Wounds like PTSD and TBI are ever-increasing. Walk into a room and ask all the Veterans in that room to raise their hands if they carry a PTSD diagnosis. You'll notice that most, if not all, raise their hands. When you talk to Joe Q Taxpayer, when he/she thinks of wounded military members, our missing body parts come to mind.

I work very hard every day to remind those around me that not every wounded Veteran sticks out, nor are we in need of "free soup and socks". Veterans, regardless of the injuries he or she may have to live with, are not helpless. Many of our brothers and sisters-in-arms are once told they will never walk again and end up showing the doctors that not walking is not an option. They find a way. Those of us with unseen injuries learn to adjust our methods to work within the new way our brains are weird. We are not looking for freebies. Sure, it is nice to get something once and awhile but don't baby us. Don't treat us like broken goods. I think that those of us, the 80%'ers, have a huge struggle with this. Sometimes we need help, but we do not need freebies. Still the question remains, where do we fit in?

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Mar 11 at 2015 12:41 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:41:38 -0400

IMHO, organizations like the American Legion and VFW attempt to cater to the "80%" while addressing the needs of the the other 20%. They need to adjust to fit the 21st Century veteran, but they are at least trying.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 11 at 2015 12:49 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:49:48 -0400

I think that the civilian misperception may be out there...and there are groups such as the American Legion, VFW, AMVETS and others that are truly striving to care for all to the best advantage. I would actually pose that if you walked into a room of vets and ask how many actually have the PTSD diagnosis, your numbers would be somewhat less... The reason for this is that there are many vets that function enough to refuse being evaluated/treated for PTSD (I am one of those). There are many reasons...my reason is that there is way too much talk of the VA submitting paperwork that would rescind my rights to own firearms with a PTSD diagnosis...Not sure if it is true or not, but I am functioning well enough that I don't want to take that chance.

Response by SSG Philip Parsons made Mar 11 at 2015 12:57 PM

SSG Philip Parsons — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:57:21 -0400

I believe you have a great point. I am doing a research project on the stigma of PTSD and how many veterans are suffering from unseen wounds. I would like to use this in my paper, would you mind if I quoted you on this?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 11 at 2015 1:36 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:36:29 -0400

Your use of the standard bell curve put me in mind of Thomas Sowell's recent article regarding "Disparate Impact" wherein "...Sweeping assumptions take the place of facts, and misleading statistics are thrown around recklessly."

Generally, one starts with the data and marvels at the frequency with which they form themselves into a bell curve. Starting with the bell curve and assuming how the data might fit within it seems a bit like putting the cart before the horse.

Thus, I think I'll sit out this discussion and wait for the data

http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2015/03/10/the-disparate-impact-racket-n1968040

Thomas Sowell - The 'Disparate Impact' Racket

The U.S. Department of Justice issued two reports last week, both growing out of the Ferguson, Missouri shooting of Michael Brown. The first report, about "the shooting death of Michael Brown by Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson" ought to be read by every American.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 9:29 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 21:29:04 -0400

Really like this thought. I'll have to kick this idea around some more with some of my buddies.
A buddy of mine is getting a nonprofit off the ground right now, I'm definitely going to have to get him to read this.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Mar 11 at 2015 10:00 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 22:00:24 -0400

I served as a Service Officer at the local DAV office in Olympia WA. We don't turn veterans away because they were not deployed, or in this place but not that.

We helped every veteran who came in, whether disabled or not. Membership is a little limited, but we serve ALL veterans seeking assistance.

There has been a lot of conversation about whether all vets are the same, or whether there are differences whether disabled or not, combat or not, etc, on RP. But for veteran services, it DOES MAKE a difference.

Response by Sgt Daniel V. made Mar 18 at 2015 9:10 PM

Sgt Daniel V. — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 21:10:33 -0400

Where do we fit in?Firstly, we all fit into a triage group!
Group A is the life-threating injury group and some of us with PTSD fit into that group.
Group B is acute symptoms that are non life-threatening but they need professional help and continuous monitoring.
Group C is in-patient care for sympotms that can be reduced with therapy, rehab, and medication but are not adjusting well need to be monitored closely
Group D is the out-patient group that is having trouble adjusting and is in need of regular therapy and occasional visits but exhibits regular and continous progress.
Group E is the Diagnosed and well adjusted group that is okay with self monitoring, regular professional check ups and regimented self administerd medication, rehab, diet or other therapies.
I personally fall into Group E but I started at Group B. I was hurting myself with alcohol and through professional intervention and a deliberate choice to heal I made it to group D within a few months. The transition from group D to E took a few more months and I have been able to maintain in Group E because I take it seriously. However, it took me years to realize that I was in Group B.
What do we need?
Group A. These are PTSD patients that need to be under 24 hr monitoring and may require a non voluntary medication regiment. Violent outburst (suicidal or homicidal) have occurred and they need to be under professional care until they can be upgraded to Group B.
Group B. These patients need to be under 24hr monitoring and have not displayed an ability to cope with PTSD and have asserted violent tendancies, medication may be required, and need continous professional help.
Group C. These patients need to have 24hr surviellance for a predetermined amount of time. examples of this group are drug use, alcoholism and self hurting, anxiety, sleep trouble and other rehab in-patients.
Group D. Is the recovery group that need regluar continous help either daily, weekly, or monthly visits. Display progress and the ability to cope with symptoms but require continual professional assistance.
Group E. is the group that require some professional assistance or advice either monthly or yearly and show a great ability to cope with PTSD and need perscribed medication, diet, exercise or other self administered therapies.
We need to remember that at any moment we can be upgraded or downgraded. We all need the tools and finances to be able deal with whatever group we fall under. It maybe just as expensive to be in Group E as in Group A. Chronic PTSD patients should be given an automatic 50% percent disabilty through the VA to afford them the best opportunity of achieving and maintaining a Group E status and it automatically gives them free health care through the VA further reducing the cost of care and forcing the government to invest more heavily into the veterans care. With the help of VA partners the veteran will have the best opportunity of dealing with PTSD and reaching Group E. PTSD is not curable unless a more serious ailment such as amnesia or dementia replaces it. It is a serious medical condition and we need to curb the trend and reduce suicides and other violent outbursts.