Comments on: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention Military Veterans and Foreign Affairs Journal - VA - Veterans Administration Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:25:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: W Frank Boyer http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-56208 W Frank Boyer Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:56:07 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-56208 We also must not forget the husbands. I'm a veteran, a mental health professional and am married to an often-deployed military wife. Men face additional, or at least different, burdens when the spouse goes in harm's way. Men are "supposed" to be strong, not show emotions, be independent, take things in stride while all the while substituting for mom while she's away. The official term "dependent husband" doesn't help any either. If men decide they do need help there's almost nothing out there. Most support groups are specifically for women while only a handful "allow" men. If the military can't track suicides among soldiers' wives it is doubly difficult to do so for military husbands. Men are less likely to seek help, less likely to accept treatment and more likely to express their distress indirectly (e.g. drinking, fights, other dangerous activities) and when they do attempt suicide they are much more likely to succeed. The suggestion of more time at home for the military member will also help the husband. There should also be effort to establish and publicize support groups or activities at which men are specifically welcomed. Then it would be time to work on changing attitudes about seeking help, like the Army's "Real Warriors" campaign for active duty. (realwarriors.net) Veterans Today Editorial comment: "If the military can't track suicides among soldiers' wives it is doubly difficult to do so for military husbands. Men are less likely to seek help, less likely to accept treatment and more likely to express their distress indirectly (e.g. drinking, fights, other dangerous activities) and when they do attempt suicide they are much more likely to succeed." Excellent insight and focus W. Frank Boyer, Sir. The collective WE, with a combination of WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam Vet mentality take it for granted that today's Armed Forces is still a man's world and in far too many ways YES it still is. Meaning the only good military spouse is a WOMAN. I am a personal witness to the transition from an all female military spouse pool to a growing number of male spouses married to military who just may not be military members. That said, I am also among those who take it for granted that in such cases of increasing number of male spouses married to military it is the norm for military to marry well MILITARY. This too is not all together true. Regardless, the thoughts you bring up are very valid. However, it also goes to show that maybe, just maybe, the old officers and NCOs wives clubs dominated by the female spouses of the highest ranking officers and NCOS may still dominate the military spouse community. Until such time that the male spouse of higher ranking female officers (Generals and such) and NCOs (Command Sergeant Majors, Command Chiefs and such) begin to make an impact on such female dominated groups, male spouses are going to be very reluctant to participate. Add to this the fact that the military wives of the WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War generation were predominantly stay at home wives who wore the rank of their military member husbands has more that ever been dismantled by the reality that most younger wives work outside the home, maybe even off the base, and are in their own careers makes the situation of the more progressive elements of military families clash with the most traditional aspects of CONFORMITY expected by the military services. The Armed Forces has been a hotbed and proving ground of American social experiments such as the integration of races and such, but apparently has a long way to go in achieving the integration of men married to female military members. Throw in the lack of national commitment to the wars their spouses must conform to and fight in (maybe being killed or wounded) and the problems become ten fold. Is the final solution is to CAUTION that military only marry military members so that both couples are committed to the conformity that the military expects - MAYBE SO. The feedback we are getting from broken marriages caused by the wars, lack of national commitment, or even ability for the rest of American society to RELATE, tells us that it maybe prudent for civilians who know nothing of the military social system might think twice or ten times before marrying anyone in the military. That frankly is a very hard reality for me to personally come to, since I am married to the same woman for over 30 years, who survived the military spouse community, managed to maintain her own career, raise children, and so on despite me having been in both the Army during Vietnam when I met her, and the Air Force during the Gulf War half way through our 30 marriage and counting. However, we were not put through the pressure, strain, and pain that military families experience today, nowhere near that kind of challenge on our marriage. I really feel that had my same wife met me today, and I was a Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan determined upon a military career, she would seriously think twice before marrying me and the Army or Air Force unless of course she too was in the Army or Air Force. But that's only my humble opinion, based on MY experience with the military and civil service. Robert L. Hanafin Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired Veterans Today News We also must not forget the husbands. I’m a veteran, a mental health professional and am married to an often-deployed military wife. Men face additional, or at least different, burdens when the spouse goes in harm’s way. Men are “supposed” to be strong, not show emotions, be independent, take things in stride while all the while substituting for mom while she’s away. The official term “dependent husband” doesn’t help any either. If men decide they do need help there’s almost nothing out there. Most support groups are specifically for women while only a handful “allow” men.
If the military can’t track suicides among soldiers’ wives it is doubly difficult to do so for military husbands. Men are less likely to seek help, less likely to accept treatment and more likely to express their distress indirectly (e.g. drinking, fights, other dangerous activities) and when they do attempt suicide they are much more likely to succeed.
The suggestion of more time at home for the military member will also help the husband. There should also be effort to establish and publicize support groups or activities at which men are specifically welcomed. Then it would be time to work on changing attitudes about seeking help, like the Army’s “Real Warriors” campaign for active duty. (realwarriors.net)

Veterans Today Editorial comment:

“If the military can’t track suicides among soldiers’ wives it is doubly difficult to do so for military husbands. Men are less likely to seek help, less likely to accept treatment and more likely to express their distress indirectly (e.g. drinking, fights, other dangerous activities) and when they do attempt suicide they are much more likely to succeed.”

Excellent insight and focus W. Frank Boyer, Sir.

The collective WE, with a combination of WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam Vet mentality take it for granted that today’s Armed Forces is still a man’s world and in far too many ways YES it still is. Meaning the only good military spouse is a WOMAN.

I am a personal witness to the transition from an all female military spouse pool to a growing number of male spouses married to military who just may not be military members.

That said, I am also among those who take it for granted that in such cases of increasing number of male spouses married to military it is the norm for military to marry well MILITARY.

This too is not all together true.

Regardless, the thoughts you bring up are very valid. However, it also goes to show that maybe, just maybe, the old officers and NCOs wives clubs dominated by the female spouses of the highest ranking officers and NCOS may still dominate the military spouse community. Until such time that the male spouse of higher ranking female officers (Generals and such) and NCOs (Command Sergeant Majors, Command Chiefs and such) begin to make an impact on such female dominated groups, male spouses are going to be very reluctant to participate.

Add to this the fact that the military wives of the WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War generation were predominantly stay at home wives who wore the rank of their military member husbands has more that ever been dismantled by the reality that most younger wives work outside the home, maybe even off the base, and are in their own careers makes the situation of the more progressive elements of military families clash with the most traditional aspects of CONFORMITY expected by the military services.

The Armed Forces has been a hotbed and proving ground of American social experiments such as the integration of races and such, but apparently has a long way to go in achieving the integration of men married to female military members.

Throw in the lack of national commitment to the wars their spouses must conform to and fight in (maybe being killed or wounded) and the problems become ten fold.

Is the final solution is to CAUTION that military only marry military members so that both couples are committed to the conformity that the military expects – MAYBE SO.

The feedback we are getting from broken marriages caused by the wars, lack of national commitment, or even ability for the rest of American society to RELATE, tells us that it maybe prudent for civilians who know nothing of the military social system might think twice or ten times before marrying anyone in the military.

That frankly is a very hard reality for me to personally come to, since I am married to the same woman for over 30 years, who survived the military spouse community, managed to maintain her own career, raise children, and so on despite me having been in both the Army during Vietnam when I met her, and the Air Force during the Gulf War half way through our 30 marriage and counting.

However, we were not put through the pressure, strain, and pain that military families experience today, nowhere near that kind of challenge on our marriage.

I really feel that had my same wife met me today, and I was a Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan determined upon a military career, she would seriously think twice before marrying me and the Army or Air Force unless of course she too was in the Army or Air Force. But that’s only my humble opinion, based on MY experience with the military and civil service.

Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
Veterans Today News

]]> By: indythinker http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-35032 indythinker Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:35:39 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-35032 Sent to Veterans Today via email Of course this is occurring. And of course the military is trying to cover it up. The Stepford wives finally get to the point they can’t cope with being non-persons. And of course the wives aren’t seeking help. They’ve been brainwashed into believing that they aren’t important, only their husbands and their careers. And when their reason for existing, is deployed overseas and due to their total dependency, they no longer have the power and control person in their home, they sink into suicidal depression. And they can’t expect any help from any of the other Stepford wives or anybody else on the base, so when their depression and despair reaches a dark depth, they try suicide and many succeed, if not the first time, then with further attempts when they are ostracized by those who are supposed to help them, including their husbands. Bobbie Christian Sent to Veterans Today via email

Of course this is occurring. And of course the military is trying to cover it up. The Stepford wives finally get to the point they can’t cope with being non-persons. And of course the wives aren’t seeking help. They’ve been brainwashed into believing that they aren’t important, only their husbands and their careers. And when their reason for existing, is deployed overseas and due to their total dependency, they no longer have the power and control person in their home, they sink into suicidal depression. And they can’t expect any help from any of the other Stepford wives or anybody else on the base, so when their depression and despair reaches a dark depth, they try suicide and many succeed, if not the first time, then with further attempts when they are ostracized by those who are supposed to help them, including their husbands.

Bobbie Christian

]]> By: Inheritance Tax – Make unlimited gifts. | Mark's Blog | Tax Finance Wisdom http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-35016 Inheritance Tax – Make unlimited gifts. | Mark's Blog | Tax Finance Wisdom Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:48:01 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-35016 [...] Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … [...] [...] Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … [...]

]]> By: Bobby Hanafin http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-35008 Bobby Hanafin Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:26:53 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-35008 Amanda, Thanks for you feedback and insight into Tricare Prime Remote. Most of our readers are not going to understand what Tricare is much less Tricare Prime Remote. But if I understand you based on my experience with Tricare since back in the day (1994) when it was experimental AND FREE to everyone. Our military family was first stationed then retired (temporarily) in the San Bernadino area of CA. Every Air Force Base within a 100 mile radius closed during the first BRAC. We experienced first hand the adventure that Tricare can be for a family that doesn't live near a military base. Throw in Mental Health (excuse me Behavioral Health) and the situation can get even more complex for military members and retirees much less spouses. When I think of Tricare Prime Remote today, what comes to mind in the National Guard, Reserves and families that do not live near a military base. Your situation is compounded even more by living in what sounds like a rural area (a similar problem Veterans have with access). You say that if there was better behavioral health care coverage from Tricare, more family members would seek help. I don't doubt this one bit. I'm not sure about active duty members, because reporting for Mental Health treatment is still closely monitored by their Chain of Command, but I know that military retirees can seek Mental Health treatment off base and not even have to go through their Primary Care Provider on base. Not sure how that works for dependents retired or not. Checking out what Tricare says about the types of treatment covered and so on is an adventure in itself. In fact, I and my off base Mental Health clinic got so frustrated with the constant paperwork required by Tricare to renew coverage that I was dropped when my Psychiatrist dropped Tricare. Now, I get my treatment and medication maintenance on base, and refuse to have anything to do with the TRICARE system. http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/TypesOfTreatments/Psychotherapy? Once a dependent or retiree is able to get into an on base program the trick is staying in one. As you well know we are on a space available basis. Heck it I had to depend on a Marine or Army base I might as well wrap it up. Seriously, I feel for your situation from a remote or rural area. Your comments are right on the mark. However, don't hold your breath waiting for Tricare to make seeking Mental or Behavioral Health coverage more accessible in remote areas. Finding a Mental Health clinic off base that one feels comfortable with and can trust is not an easy feat in many small towns. You get out into farming villages and such and the pool of such services is even less. The co-pays for dependents and even military retirees can be expensive and ill affordable. Maybe no big deal for a retired Field Grade officer or above like me, but for a mid-rank NCO or even E7, E8, or E9 who has to seek such services for their spouse, kids, or themselves those co-pays add up. AND the Pentagon (civilians that is) has been constantly trying to raise the premiums and copays for TRICARE. If not for the lobbying of Retired Officer, NCO, and Fleet retirees of all ranks, we could see annual premiums skyrocket. Bobby Hanafin Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired Veterans Today News Network Amanda,

Thanks for you feedback and insight into Tricare Prime Remote. Most of our readers are not going to understand what Tricare is much less Tricare Prime Remote. But if I understand you based on my experience with Tricare since back in the day (1994) when it was experimental AND FREE to everyone. Our military family was first stationed then retired (temporarily) in the San Bernadino area of CA. Every Air Force Base within a 100 mile radius closed during the first BRAC. We experienced first hand the adventure that Tricare can be for a family that doesn’t live near a military base.

Throw in Mental Health (excuse me Behavioral Health) and the situation can get even more complex for military members and retirees much less spouses. When I think of Tricare Prime Remote today, what comes to mind in the National Guard, Reserves and families that do not live near a military base. Your situation is compounded even more by living in what sounds like a rural area (a similar problem Veterans have with access).

You say that if there was better behavioral health care coverage from Tricare, more family members would seek help. I don’t doubt this one bit. I’m not sure about active duty members, because reporting for Mental Health treatment is still closely monitored by their Chain of Command, but I know that military retirees can seek Mental Health treatment off base and not even have to go through their Primary Care Provider on base. Not sure how that works for dependents retired or not.

Checking out what Tricare says about the types of treatment covered and so on is an adventure in itself. In fact, I and my off base Mental Health clinic got so frustrated with the constant paperwork required by Tricare to renew coverage that I was dropped when my Psychiatrist dropped Tricare. Now, I get my treatment and medication maintenance on base, and refuse to have anything to do with the TRICARE system. http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/MentalHealthAndBehavior/TypesOfTreatments/Psychotherapy?

Once a dependent or retiree is able to get into an on base program the trick is staying in one. As you well know we are on a space available basis. Heck it I had to depend on a Marine or Army base I might as well wrap it up.

Seriously, I feel for your situation from a remote or rural area. Your comments are right on the mark. However, don’t hold your breath waiting for Tricare to make seeking Mental or Behavioral Health coverage more accessible in remote areas. Finding a Mental Health clinic off base that one feels comfortable with and can trust is not an easy feat in many small towns. You get out into farming villages and such and the pool of such services is even less.

The co-pays for dependents and even military retirees can be expensive and ill affordable. Maybe no big deal for a retired Field Grade officer or above like me, but for a mid-rank NCO or even E7, E8, or E9 who has to seek such services for their spouse, kids, or themselves those co-pays add up.

AND the Pentagon (civilians that is) has been constantly trying to raise the premiums and copays for TRICARE. If not for the lobbying of Retired Officer, NCO, and Fleet retirees of all ranks, we could see annual premiums skyrocket.

Bobby Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
Veterans Today News Network

]]> By: Bobby Hanafin http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-35005 Bobby Hanafin Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:50:26 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-35005 "As an Air Force wife I would like to clear up a misconception… our guys deploy for four months at a time, but often redeploy after only two or three months home so in the long run they are deployed as long, if not longer, than soldiers and Marines." Dea Dea, First thank you for your response, and the misconception that the Air Force and Navy have not been pulling their weight as 'boots on the ground' is I believe in relation to overall Air Force and Navy personnel. That is not to say that no Air Force or Navy personnel are not deploying nor paying the ultimate price in sacrifice. It is common knowledge that both the Air Force and Navy have and do deploy Airmen and Sailors to the war zones, and some in a foot Soldier's role. Most notable for the Air Force has been transportation units, logistics units, Security Police, and of course medical personnel. Then of course there are the aircrews who fly troops and equipment to the war zones plus let's not forget the honorable but stressful job of flying the fallen back to Dover AFB with dignity. The most notable in the Navy has been the Sea bees, navy coastal patrol boats similar to the Swift Boats of Vietnam, plus similar units as the Air Force (transportation, logistics, civil engineering, medical, and so on). However, there has been an impression, even within the Air Staff and DoD that an attitude that "I didn't join the Air Force or Navy to become and Infantry Man (or Women)," was prevalent and was just not going to fly in the War on Terror given the shortage of people needed to sustain never ending deployments. An attitude I must say that I know the Air Force is proactively working on changing. Note my article on Air Force cracks down on combat deployment exemptions. Dea, though this doesn't obviously pertain to your husband, Airmen trying to get out of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan has been a real concern for the Air Force. This data in fact comes from the Air Staff. "The Air Force has steadily tightened deployment exemptions – from yanking medical waivers to cutting training assignments." Military Times. Military Times, the parent publication of Air Force Times, reports that the Air Force has been consistently cracking down on Airmen seeking exemption and waivers to get out of deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan. As noted in the article, Air Force Expeditionary Force (AEF) units can deploy from a low of 90 days to high of six month tours, and most Airman face only one tour compared to the grueling Army and Marine ground troops six months to a year or more on multiple tours. "A low of 90 days to high of six month tours," Dea that falls within the window of what you say your husband is pulling. The info on single tours also comes from the Air Staff as I believe an average, so you husband is evidently getting screwed on average. I believe that the Air Force is now doing a much better job at preparing Airmen to be boots on the ground. Check out the Air Force Expeditionary Force Center photo gallery of Airmen being given what looks like Basic Infantry Training. http://www.expeditionarycenter.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?page=1 Dea, I assume your husband has been through this training that is conducted by the Army, if not then he is really getting screwed. Robert L. Hanafin Editorial Board Member Veterans Today News Network & Our Troops News Ladder “As an Air Force wife I would like to clear up a misconception… our guys deploy for four months at a time, but often redeploy after only two or three months home so in the long run they are deployed as long, if not longer, than soldiers and Marines.” Dea

Dea,

First thank you for your response, and the misconception that the Air Force and Navy have not been pulling their weight as ‘boots on the ground’ is I believe in relation to overall Air Force and Navy personnel. That is not to say that no Air Force or Navy personnel are not deploying nor paying the ultimate price in sacrifice.

It is common knowledge that both the Air Force and Navy have and do deploy Airmen and Sailors to the war zones, and some in a foot Soldier’s role. Most notable for the Air Force has been transportation units, logistics units, Security Police, and of course medical personnel. Then of course there are the aircrews who fly troops and equipment to the war zones plus let’s not forget the honorable but stressful job of flying the fallen back to Dover AFB with dignity. The most notable in the Navy has been the Sea bees, navy coastal patrol boats similar to the Swift Boats of Vietnam, plus similar units as the Air Force (transportation, logistics, civil engineering, medical, and so on).

However, there has been an impression, even within the Air Staff and DoD that an attitude that “I didn’t join the Air Force or Navy to become and Infantry Man (or Women),” was prevalent and was just not going to fly in the War on Terror given the shortage of people needed to sustain never ending deployments.

An attitude I must say that I know the Air Force is proactively working on changing.

Note my article on Air Force cracks down on combat deployment exemptions.

Dea, though this doesn’t obviously pertain to your husband, Airmen trying to get out of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan has been a real concern for the Air Force. This data in fact comes from the Air Staff.

“The Air Force has steadily tightened deployment exemptions – from yanking medical waivers to cutting training assignments.” Military Times.

Military Times, the parent publication of Air Force Times, reports that the Air Force has been consistently cracking down on Airmen seeking exemption and waivers to get out of deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan.

As noted in the article, Air Force Expeditionary Force (AEF) units can deploy from a low of 90 days to high of six month tours, and most Airman face only one tour compared to the grueling Army and Marine ground troops six months to a year or more on multiple tours.

“A low of 90 days to high of six month tours,” Dea that falls within the window of what you say your husband is pulling. The info on single tours also comes from the Air Staff as I believe an average, so you husband is evidently getting screwed on average.

I believe that the Air Force is now doing a much better job at preparing Airmen to be boots on the ground. Check out the Air Force Expeditionary Force Center photo gallery of Airmen being given what looks like Basic Infantry Training. http://www.expeditionarycenter.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?page=1

Dea, I assume your husband has been through this training that is conducted by the Army, if not then he is really getting screwed.

Robert L. Hanafin
Editorial Board Member
Veterans Today News Network &
Our Troops News Ladder

]]> By: Tweets that mention Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention : Veterans Today -- Topsy.com http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-35000 Tweets that mention Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention : Veterans Today -- Topsy.com Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:30:13 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-35000 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Diana M. Rodriguez, cw and Pat Cox, Jenny Bosco. Jenny Bosco said: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention: Deployment for more than 11 months was associated w.. http://bit.ly/7rRkqb [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Diana M. Rodriguez, cw and Pat Cox, Jenny Bosco. Jenny Bosco said: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention: Deployment for more than 11 months was associated w.. http://bit.ly/7rRkqb [...]

]]> By: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34993 Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:48:47 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34993 [...] posted here: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Categories: Family, Health Tags: are-reluctant, because-it-still, cnn, Health, health-help, [...] [...] posted here: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Categories: Family, Health Tags: are-reluctant, because-it-still, cnn, Health, health-help, [...]

]]> By: Amanda http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34983 Amanda Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:13:16 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34983 I think if there was better behavioral healthcare coverage from Tricare, more family members would seek help. I know that when my husband was deployed, we lived in a Tricare Prime Remote region, and the nearest network provider was an hour away - one way. My son's visits still cost us $100 out of pocket. We were told if it had been the soldier, it'd all be covered, but not as much is covered for family members. Sometimes people don't avoid getting help because of the stigma, but some can't afford it. I think if there was better behavioral healthcare coverage from Tricare, more family members would seek help. I know that when my husband was deployed, we lived in a Tricare Prime Remote region, and the nearest network provider was an hour away – one way. My son’s visits still cost us $100 out of pocket. We were told if it had been the soldier, it’d all be covered, but not as much is covered for family members. Sometimes people don’t avoid getting help because of the stigma, but some can’t afford it.

]]> By: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … | Kuwait today http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34980 Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … | Kuwait today Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:36:10 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34980 [...] View post: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … [...] [...] View post: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … [...]

]]> By: Fran Lawrence http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34979 Fran Lawrence Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:30:22 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34979 AAAUUUGHGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! VA SCREWED MY HUSBAND AGAIN!!!!! THEY ARE HEARTLESS and i will stop right there..... AAAAUUUUGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! fits AAAUUUGHGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

VA SCREWED MY HUSBAND AGAIN!!!!!

THEY ARE HEARTLESS and i will stop right there…..

AAAAUUUUGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! fits

]]> By: Dea http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34971 Dea Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:19:40 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34971 as an Air Force wife I would like to clear up a misconception... our guys deploy for four months at a time, but often redeploy after only two or three months home so in the long run they are deployed as long, if not longer, than soldiers and Marines. We don't get the special vacation rates at military resorts since we dont get R&R either. Since the wars started in 2002 my husband has been home for three Christmas's, two New Years, and two anniversaries. We don't get dwell time so we have no idea when he will be called up again. He's in a short staffed, but highly needed, career field. No he's not a pilot or working on planes, he's on the ground making sure soldiers and Marines can do their jobs and they come back safely. as an Air Force wife I would like to clear up a misconception… our guys deploy for four months at a time, but often redeploy after only two or three months home so in the long run they are deployed as long, if not longer, than soldiers and Marines. We don’t get the special vacation rates at military resorts since we dont get R&R either. Since the wars started in 2002 my husband has been home for three Christmas’s, two New Years, and two anniversaries. We don’t get dwell time so we have no idea when he will be called up again. He’s in a short staffed, but highly needed, career field. No he’s not a pilot or working on planes, he’s on the ground making sure soldiers and Marines can do their jobs and they come back safely.

]]> By: Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Search http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34966 Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Search Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:04:18 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34966 [...] Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Tags: are-reluctant, exactly-how, health-help, members, members-killed, military-spouses, not-clear, religious, seek-mental, she-said, still-carries Fruit Simple Fit Family SweepstakesDisowning Family Members For Religious Dogma – The Atheist …Michelle Obama Reflects on First Year In White HouseWife says Wake up, Grab your camera - Steve's Digicams ForumsMiami Dolphins | Sun-Sentinel Blogs: Miami Dolphins QB Pat White …FREE Software to manage your Twitter and Facebook account easier …As the day of the papal visit to the Synagogue of Rome approaches …Hasina's India visit a total failure: Bangladesh oppositionUBD concludes educational visit to Kota Kinabalu | Brunei NEWS …Pope to visit to synagogue Sunday, Patriarch of Jerusalem to join … View the Contact Powered by Search [...] [...] Military Spouse and Family Suicide Attempts need Attention … Tags: are-reluctant, exactly-how, health-help, members, members-killed, military-spouses, not-clear, religious, seek-mental, she-said, still-carries Fruit Simple Fit Family SweepstakesDisowning Family Members For Religious Dogma – The Atheist …Michelle Obama Reflects on First Year In White HouseWife says Wake up, Grab your camera – Steve's Digicams ForumsMiami Dolphins | Sun-Sentinel Blogs: Miami Dolphins QB Pat White …FREE Software to manage your Twitter and Facebook account easier …As the day of the papal visit to the Synagogue of Rome approaches …Hasina's India visit a total failure: Bangladesh oppositionUBD concludes educational visit to Kota Kinabalu | Brunei NEWS …Pope to visit to synagogue Sunday, Patriarch of Jerusalem to join … View the Contact Powered by Search [...]

]]> By: Armed Services Must Share Burdens of War(s) http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/14/military-spouse-and-family-suicide-attempts-need-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-34850 Armed Services Must Share Burdens of War(s) Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:16:30 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/?p=10147#comment-34850 We at Veterans Today believe the simple solution is to cut down the number of Army (and Marine) deployments, increase dwell time (time at home with military families), increase the number of deployments from services not traditionally used as ground forces (Air Force and Navy) to not only spread the burden sharing of ground force JOINT operations but allow Army units more time at home with less deployments. <p>The ideal would of course to either implement the draft (Selective Service) or end the war(s) in Iraq and Afghansitan, but that is not going to happen. </p><p>Burden sharing by all military services is the only solution to avoiding the draft. </p> We at Veterans Today believe the simple solution is to cut down the number of Army (and Marine) deployments, increase dwell time (time at home with military families), increase the number of deployments from services not traditionally used as ground forces (Air Force and Navy) to not only spread the burden sharing of ground force JOINT operations but allow Army units more time at home with less deployments.

The ideal would of course to either implement the draft (Selective Service) or end the war(s) in Iraq and Afghansitan, but that is not going to happen.

Burden sharing by all military services is the only solution to avoiding the draft.

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