Director of Policy for Veterans for America
Director of Policy for Veterans for America, a group addressing service-connected needs of active-duty military personnel, veterans and their families (formerly known as Vietnam Veterans of America)
PROFILE
Jason Forrester
Guest
FROM Jason Forrester
To the Point
Iraq and PTSD Pentagon policy calls for equal time on and off duty, but troops in Iraq spend 15 months in combat with just 12 months on leave. If President Bush decides to maintain the current build-up, tours may be extended. A military report says the constant threat of death and exposure to atrocities leads to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Mental health issues may be more severe than they were during Vietnam or World War II. Senior commanders, veterans and their doctors agree that civilians don't understand the mental health consequences of combat and its aftermath. We hear about flashbacks, panic attacks, fearful wives and frightened children. Are Marines and soldiers getting the help they need when they have to return to combat or when they finally come home to adjust to civilian life?
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