A Call to All

I was recently given a website to checkout called Not Alone, which was created to help military personnel who battle the after math of being in a war zone a chance to share their experiences with one another. We are all affected in different ways when we experience a tragic event in our lives, war can contribute many of these events that can manipulate a persons mind that could change them forever.

As I searched through the pages of the website, I stumbled upon an article speaking about Fort Campbell Suicides (by BULLDOG), a subject we are hearing all to often inside and outside the military community. Comments by others had been posted in response of the article and when I came upon a comment by Yvonne and took the time to read it, I realized I was reading a comment left by a soon to be married woman who was excited about marrying her military man, but never saw that day.

Yvonne lost her husband while he was deployed, and yet in the end Yvonne spoke about her fiance's best friend who after returning home from the war, struggled to fit into civilian life once again do to the lack of support and proper treatment he needed. Yvonne ends her comment calling out to all civilians to be more supportive and understanding of what these brave heroes go through.

Yvonne is 100% correct, our military men and women need more support and war can change a person too a point where they cannot reconnect to civilian life. Many soldiers are affected differently with the trauma they experience while serving in a combat zone and where the Government lacks, organizations such as this one are making a difference.

Communication and support is key to helping these guys who serve our country. The Soldiers Project is another great organization with medical personnel taking a little of their time to help OIF/OEF veterans battling with symptoms of PTSD, though it is slowly expanding throughout the U.S. and needs more volunteers. The same goes for so many other Non-profit organizations, who are looking to do everything they can to help the men and women of the military.

Though we are making a difference in helping veterans when they return from the war zone compared to other past wars, support is still needed in anyway so these great organizations can fully reach out to these soldiers. Just as the many organizations are here to help these returning veterans, so should their families and American citizens. Family needs to support and understand what their soldier may be going through when they return and family too should take time to educate themselves to prepare for the return of their soldier. Instead of thinking their military family member is just having a bad day which then drags on throughout time, take the time to talk and try to connect with them.

Like I said before, talking to a person shows you care, and communication is the main focal point to understanding what a person may be going through. When you show someone your supportive, that's when you may find the person opening up, revealing to you what troubles them. Though I'm not a professional or a licensed medical personnel, this is something I have experienced with someone and it's also what I have learned while attending college.

So to all organizations, families and American citizens looking to make a difference in the lives of returning veterans, support and work with one another and maybe we can help even more men and women of the military and the number of suicides from rising.

To Yvonne,

Whoever you are, My sympathy goes out to you and I will make sure your call to all is heard.

-STEVE

TRANSITIONING VETERAN WIKI - PTSD LINKS

http://www.notalone.com/

The Soldiers Project - a non-profit organization in the Mental health sector looking to make a difference in the lives of OIF/OEF Veterans

SHORT FILMS

WALKING WOUNDED - produced by Darin Farr (Veteran and Film producer for Veterans Affairs)

NOW, AFTER - produced by Kyle Hausmann-stokes (Veteran of OIF and Film producer)

Job Cuts Seen Throughout the Air Force

It is obvious that the economy is still not where it was before it took a nose dive back in October of 2008. Companies are still laying off workers, thousands of newly unemployed Americans are filing unemployment benefits at this moment, and the talk of falling into a deeper recession still lingers. However, not only does the civilian sector feel the impact of an economic downfall, so does the military community.

In the June 2009 issue of the Air Force Times, an article written by Sam LaGrone titled "Fewer Fighters", speaks about the downsizing of the Air Force. The government hopes that by downsizing the military we can be a more lethal Air Force focusing on adding the more futuristic and modern aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35. Though this makes more sense as we wish to continue to be the most dominate military in the world, what many don't know is that by wanting these next generation aircraft, the Air Force is about to start cutting jobs.

The Air Force has plans to start eliminating 5 to 10 squadrons, and a total of 249 aircraft as stated in the article. Four thousand Airman will see themselves without a squadron, though they will be given choices, depending on where their duty location is. The Airman and Officers affected by this cut may be given the option to retrain into another career field, be reassigned to another squadron on their duty station or move to another base doing the same job, though it all depends on what command they are with.

As the economy continues to struggle, Washington will continue to make budget cuts needed in order to move money around to other departments. When we speak about the pros about serving in the military, many if not all will agree that its a pretty safe way to make a living performing a job you enjoy. Though what people don't know is that even in the military, the jobs that people choose to do while serving, may not be the job they will have by the time they retire or complete their enlistment. While a serviceman may lose his job of choice, he will find himself with a new job possibly with a new squadron; where as his civilian counter part will lose his job and collect unemployment benefits for a limited time while he searches and struggles to find work.

So is job security safe while serving in the military? Sure it is, however you too can find yourself losing the job you chose and love to do, because of military cutbacks pressured by the struggling economy. Though the military in the coming years will save billions of dollars because of these cuts, they already have plans on spending this money elsewhere. This will also affect government workers working on military facilities, private contracting companies and even surrounding areas of military installations.

Air Force Times article (Sam LaGrone

Decrease in Home Sales Attributed to Military Downsizing - old but still a good example

Battlefield Pups

A recent article posted on MSNBC.com caught my attention the other day as it spoke about a soldier and his four legged Iraqi companion. The article was about Major Steven Hutchinson and an Iraqi dog named Laia that he adopted while deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The article begins on a sad note, as I immediately read that Maj. Hutchinson passed away because of a roadside bomb just three months before he was to return home to the U.S. While Maj. Hutchinson was deployed, his unit found a stray 1 month old pup that was to be euthanized unless his unit adopted her. Maj. Hutchinson responded to the call. Almost being reprimanded for defying military orders, Hutchinson was doing everything he could to make sure Laia would be returning home with him when he was due back.

Major Hutchinson might have lost his life in Iraq, but his dreams of returning Laia back home are coming true. With the help of the SPCA and Operation Baghdad Pups, Laia is on her way to a new life with a new family (that family being the brother of Maj. Hutchinson).

The unit of Maj. Hutchinson spoke about how the dog brought great joy and happiness to him as the dog would travel around with him on his lap and even sleep along side of him. In the medical field, dogs are used for therapeutic services to help people of all ages who are dealing with physical and mental disabilities. Though in the battlefield dogs are being used to detect explosive material, land mines, perform guard duties, and even help with search and rescue missions. However, dogs and puppies such as Laia are bringing much therapeutic services to the American Soldiers as they are finding that caring for a dog (while serving in a war zone) is giving them feelings that they are missing with their family back home in the states.

An article by USA Today helps to bring life to what I'm speaking about as it talks about the psychological benefits to therapy dogs and the impact they can have on the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Major Hutchinson's story is just one of many that have surfaced in the news helping to show the psychological benefits dogs can have on soldiers in a war zone. With no family and children to care for, soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are finding that the stray pups and dogs they find off the streets are bringing them much happiness that they would be receiving by being around their loved ones who are waiting on their return back in the U.S.

People do not understand the importance of these animals in the fight against the war on terror. As I said before, they carry very unique skills that humans cannot emulate and because of this military dogs have saved thousands of lives doing what they do best. I was very fortunate to have worked side by side with K-9 units while I served in the Security Forces at Elmendorf AFB.

While being deployed to Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, I was given the opportunity to watch the training these incredible animals go through with the military. My job at PSAB was to work with the search team, which was made up of a number of military police members and a K-9 team. Together we would search all civilians and vehicles looking to come onto our installation usually to do contract work. The K-9 team was the first to conduct a search of all the vehicles in the search bay, using the dogs keen sense of smell to sniff out any explosive material. Although I will not go further into how we conducted our searches using the military dog, I will say that the military dog was so well trained that with the slightest amount of material used for making IED's, the dog would pick up on the scent and we would immediately respond.

The Dog is not only man's best friend, but it is also one of the greatest assets in the military, and has been for many years. Military dogs and stray dogs being adopted by American Soldiers are receiving more help than ever before as organizations such as Baghdad Pups, Space Coast War Dog Association and Guardian Angels for Soldier' Pets are doing all that they can to get the word out on how to donate and help these incredible animals and the people that care for them.

Today War Dogs who have been injured in war are being rewarded military honors for their service, receiving medals such as the Purple Heart. War dogs who have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting their partner and the lives of so many are being remembered with the creation of numerous monuments and websites.

I'd like to dedicate this to Tsgt. Jason Norton who was a K-9 handler for the 3rd Security Forces, Elmendorf AFB and who lost his life while deployed in Iraq. I was fortunate to work with Tsgt. Norton and received the news about his passing when I separated from the service. He will always be remembered.

Other Great sites

John Burnam Monument Foundation

Guardian Angels For Soldiers Pet Sanctuary

K9 Pride Blog

Military Dog Memorial Site Blog

Olive-Drab War Dogs

Operation Santa Paws

ASPCA for Kids (online book) - Dogs at work