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Afterwar : Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers 2.6 million soldiers are currently returning home from war, the greatest number since Vietnam. With an increase in suicides and post-traumatic stress, the military has embraced measures such as resilience training and positive psychology to heal mind as well as body. But the moral dimensions of psychological injuries - guilt, shame, feeling responsible for doing wrong or being wronged - still elude much treatment. In Afterwar, philosopher Nancy Sherman turns her focus to that challenge.Trained in both ancient ethics and psychoanalysis, and with twenty years of working with the military, Sherman draws on in-depth interviews with servicemen and women to paint a richly textured and compassionate picture of the moral and psychological aftermath of America's decade of war. Shermanexplores how veterans can go about reawakening their feelings without becoming re-traumatized; how they can replace resentment with trust; and the changes that need to be made by military courts, VA hospitals, and civilians who have been shielded from the heaviest burdens of war in order for this tohappen. Americans, from politicians on downward, solemnly intone our "sacred obligations" to our veterans. Written with empathy, humanity, and deep insight, Afterwar provides no easy answers for how we can fulfill these obligations, but instead makes the case that the work of healing moral injuries issomething that all of us, not just soldiers and psychologists, must do.
American Veterans To assist deserving children and grandchildren of veterans in attaining post-secondary education.
Bulletproofing the Psyche: Preventing Mental Health Problems in Our Military and Veterans This book presents the latest in neuroscience and resiliency research alongside the personal stories of military veterans to advocate for an empirically validated training protocol. * Proposes an empirically validated model for mental fitness training designed to curb an ever-escalating suicide rate among the Armed Forces * Presents a new approach that incorporates the participatory, hard-working ethos of military culture * Illustrates military mental health issues by adding veteran narratives to timely research and analysis * Details secondary issues affecting military mental health, such as the warrior subculture characterized by a high degree of community insularity and antipathy toward displays of emotion or need
The Civilian Lives of U. S. Veterans: Issues and Identities [2 Volumes] In this book, 50 experts study the lives of U.S. veterans at work, at home, and in American society as they navigate issues regarding health, gender, public service, substance abuse, and homelessness. * Considers the changing demographics of U.S. veterans as compared to previous generations of military personnel * Shows the impact that veterans are having on federal, state, and local government organizations * Describes how servicemembers transition from active duty to veteran status * Includes cross references for ease of use
Crisis in the American Heartland -- Coming Home Challenges of Returning Veterans Veterans in rural communities face unique challenges, who will step up to help? Beginning with a brief scenario of a more gentle view of rural life, the book moves through learned information about families, children, and our returning National Guard and Reserve civilian military members. Return experiences will necessarily be different in rural and frontier settings than they are in suburban and urban environments. Our rural and frontier areas, especially in Western states with more isolated communities, less developed communication and limited access to medical, psychological and social services remain an important concern. This book helps provide some informed direction in working toward improving these as a general guide for mental health professionals working with Guard and Reserve members and families in rural/frontier settings. An appendix provides an in-depth list of online references for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Specific areas of concern include: Morale, deployment abroad, and stress factors Effects of terrorism on children and families at home Understanding survivor guilt Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide Preventing secondary traumatization Resiliency among refugee populations and military families Adjustment and re-integration following the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Vicarious trauma and its effects on children and adults How rural and remote communities differ from more urban ones following war experiences in readjusting military members Characteristics important in therapists/counselors working with returning military Doherty's second volume in this new series "Crisis in the American Heartland" explores these and many other issues. Each volume available in trade paper, hardcover, and eBook formats. Learn more at www.RMRInstitute.org PSY022040 Psychology: Psychopathology - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder SOC040000 Social Science: Disasters & Disaster Relief HIS027170 Military - Iraq War (2003-)
Down Range: A Transitioning Veteran's Career Guide to Life's Next Phase Military veterans prepare for the next mission in their careers Written by veterans who have successfully made the transition, Down Range offers career planning guidance to U.S. military veterans coming off active duty. This is NOT simply a guide to transitioning from the military to the civilian world. This is NOT a guide to getting a job. This book IS a guide to developing a post-military career, not just for the first few days, weeks, or months after active duty, but for the rest of your employed life. This simple and effective planning process has been taught to more than 1 million business executives in companies all over the world. Explains how to build an adaptable long-range career plan called a Career High Definition Destination (HDD), across a spectrum of seven key areas Shows how business differs from military service, how to identify the resources needed to achieve the Career HDD, and how to develop strategic and tactical courses of action that drive you to executing towards your Career HDD on a consistent basis Author James Murphy is founder of Afterburner Inc. and is currently working with the U.S. Army at the highest levels to develop a transition program for the estimated 1.5 million veterans who will transition from active duty service to civilian careers by the year 2020 This book challenges veterans to change their mind-set and understand just how different the "wilderness" of civilian employment is from military experience. Down Range provides an appreciation for what's important to a business, helping you to become a valuable asset throughout your career.
G.I. Bill of Rights On June 22, 1944, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the G.I. Bill of Rights.
Haunted by Combat Across history, the condition has been called soldier's heart, shell shock, or combat fatigue. It is now increasingly common as our service men and women return from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other ongoing combat zones. Since 1990, Veterans' centers here have treated more than 1.6 million affected men and women, including an estimated 100,000 from the Gulf War and an untallied total from the Iraq front and fighting in Afghanistan. The number also includes some 35,000 World War II veterans, because PTSD does not fade easily. Regardless of the months, years, and even decades that have passed, the traumatic events can flash back as seemingly real as they were when they occurred.In Haunted by Combat Paulson and Krippner range across history and into current experiences and treatments for this haunting disorder.
Healing Stress in Military Families Based on the latest scientific research and best practice guidelines developed through thirty years of combined research and clinical experience, Drs. DeCarvalho and Whealin offer pertinent, practical and unique help for military families. The steps and exercises laid out in this book will assist clinicians and the military families they treat as they navigate challenges and maximize their potential for resilience and wellness.
Homefront 911: How Families of Veterans Are Wounded by Our Wars The hallmarks of America’s War on Terror have been repeated long deployments and a high percentage of troops returning with psychological problems. Family members of combat veterans are at a higher risk of potentially lethal domestic violence than almost any other demographic; it’s estimated that one in four children of active-duty service members have symptoms of depression; and nearly one million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan require increased care due to physical or psychological trauma. But, despite these staggering trends, civilian America has not been mobilized to take care of the families left behind; the American Homefront, which traditionally has been rallied to support the nation’s war efforts, has disappeared. In Homefront 911 Stacy Bannerman, a nationally-recognized advocate for military families, provides an insider’s view of how more than a decade of war has contributed to the emerging crisis we are experiencing in today’s military and veteran families as they battle with overwhelmed VA offices, a public they feel doesn’t understand their sacrifices, and a nation that still isn’t fully prepared to help those who have given so much. Bannerman, whose husband served in Iraq, describes how extended deployments cause cumulative, long-lasting strain on families who may not see their parent, child, or spouse for months on end. She goes on to share the tools she and others have found to begin to heal their families, and advocates policies for advancing programs, services, and civilian support, all to help repair the broken agreement that the nation will care for its returning soldiers and their families. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Life After the Military: A Handbook for Transitioning Veterans Hundreds of thousands of military members are making the transition to civilian life each year. This transition is a move into unfamiliar territory, and can be an extremely uncomfortable process. But there are resources in place that can relieve much of the stress of the challenging situations that may arise. In Life After the Military: A Handbook for Transitioning Veterans, authors Janelle Hill, Don Philpott, and Cheryl Lawhorne collect all the information needed to settle into life after the military. The book discusses the many issues that transitioning veterans are faced with such as finding employment, going back to school, managing finances, special benefits available to veterans, and a host of other issues the transitioning veteran is likely to face when making the move to civilian life. It also discusses the emotional and psychological challenges that come with leaving the military and settling into life as a civilian. This book is essential for all who are transitioning out of the military and their loved ones.
Military-To-Civilian Success for Veterans and Their Families Each year nearly 250,000 servicemembers transition to the civilian world. Faced with numerous forks in the road, most servicemembers and their families want useful advice on making smart re-careering, relocation, and retirement decisions. Representing the most comprehensive treatment of the subject, this book is jam-packed with essential information on the details of finding employment, relocating to great communities, and starting a business. Includes timeless tips on identifying skills, setting goals, writing resumes, networking, conducting an online job search, attending job fairs, contacting military-friendly employers, interviewing, accepting job offers, advancing careers, and much more.
Military Finances: Personal Money Management for Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families This book provides a one-stop guide to navigating the many financial questions facing today's military in all phases of service: Active dutyPreparing for transition or retirementPost-military lives and careers It covers general financial planning as well as specific aspects of money management vital to military members and their families.
Military Mental Health Care : A Guide for Service Members, Veterans, Families, and Community Too often American veterans return from combat and spiral into depression, anger and loneliness they can neither share nor tackle on their own. Military Mental Health Care: A Guide for Service Members, Veterans, Families, and Community seeks to aid our troubled, returning forces by dissecting the numerous mental health problems they face upon arriving stateside. Don Philpott and Cheryl Lawhorne-Scott, co-authors with Janelle Hill of the highly successful Wounded Warrior Handbook, detail not only each issue's symptoms, but also discuss what treatments are available, and the best ways for veterans to access those treatments while readjusting to civilian life. In addition, they connect and explain many alarming trends, such as joblessness, poverty and addiction, appearing in our nation's veteran population on a broader scale. PTSD and struggles with anxiety affect far more than veterans themselves, as sobering phenomena like homelessness, suicide, domestic violence and divorce too often become realities for those returning from war. Military Mental Health Care is both a resource for struggling veterans and a useful tool for their loved ones, or anyone looking for ways to support the veterans in their lives.
Military Mental Health Care: A Guide for Service Members, Veterans, Families, and Community Too often American veterans return from combat and spiral into depression, anger and loneliness they can neither share nor tackle on their own. Military Mental Health Care: A Guide for Service Members, Veterans, Families, and Community seeks to aid our troubled, returning forces by dissecting the numerous mental health problems they face upon arriving stateside. Don Philpott and Cheryl Lawhorne-Scott, co-authors with Janelle Hill of the highly successful Wounded Warrior Handbook, detail not only each issue's symptoms, but also discuss what treatments are available, and the best ways for veterans to access those treatments while readjusting to civilian life. In addition, they connect and explain many alarming trends, such as joblessness, poverty and addiction, appearing in our nation's veteran population on a broader scale. PTSD and struggles with anxiety affect far more than veterans themselves, as sobering phenomena like homelessness, suicide, domestic violence and divorce too often become realities for those returning from war. Military Mental Health Care is both a resource for struggling veterans and a useful tool for their loved ones, or anyone looking for ways to support the veterans in their lives.
Operation Job Search: A Guide for Military Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Careers Operation Job Search is the ultimate guide for US military veterans seeking employment after discharge. It provides information about the civilian workforce, rubrics for navigating one’s career, and a list of essential resources to consult during the job search. Also included are sections dedicated specifically to suggestions and resources available to female veterans. Weiss explains that hiring managers and human resources directors hire veterans who make the effort to build a professional relationship. He discusses the importance of leaving the house and meeting employers at venues such as job fairs, trade shows, office parks, and even Starbucks. Weiss offers practical instructions and crucial tips, such as: Establish an operations center (home office) for job hunting Don’t be afraid to make cold calls Dress appropriately for job interviews and practice communicating in civilian-speak, not military jargon Target military-friendly companies that value the skills of returning military personnel If you are a US military veteran searching for a job, Operation Job Search will guide you every step of the way--from translating your skills into civilian-speak to negotiating your contract.
Red, White, and True Stories from Veterans and Families, World War II to Present Even as we celebrate the return of our military from wars in the Middle East, we are becoming increasingly aware of the struggles that await veterans on the home front. Red, White, and True offers readers a collection of voices that reflect the experiences of those touched by war—from the children of veterans who encounter them in their fathers’ recollections of past wars to the young men and women who fought in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. The diversity of perspectives collected in this volume validates the experiences of our veterans and their families, describing their shared struggles and triumphs while honoring the fact that each person’s military experience is different. Leila Levinson’s powerful essay recounts her father’s experience freeing a POW camp during World War II. Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tracy Kidder provides a chilling account of being a new second lieutenant in Vietnam. Army combat veteran Brooke King recounts the anguish of raising her young children by day while trying to distinguish between her horrific memories of IED explosions in Baghdad and terrifying dreams by night. These individual stories of pain and struggle, along with twenty-nine others, illustrate the inescapable damage that war rends in the fabric of society and celebrate our dauntless attempts to repair these holes with compassion and courage.
Returning from the War on Terrorism According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 26 million veterans in the United States. In recent years, more than 1.6 million U.S. servicemen and women had tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. When not on active duty, more than 20 percent of these vets do not have health care coverage, and many more are unaware of the hundreds of benefits to which they have access. As a result, many are suffering financial strain during and after deployment. This is a discouraging statistic because the federal and state governments, as well as private foundations, have scholarships and military discounts available only to veterans. There are billions of dollars in aid available, waiting to be claimed, but the problem is finding and properly applying for these programs. This groundbreaking new book will provide help to those heroic Americans who have answered our government s call to duty. You will find all contact information and Web sites included, making it easy to apply for the benefits you are entitled to, while meeting the requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations and private institutions. Here is a small sampling of what you will learn about: the GI Bill, scholarships, grants, companies that offer military discounts, GI Bill eligibility, details of VA loans, National Guard GI Bill, benefits after service, veterans employment, education, and training programs, VA-guaranteed home loan, GI Bill Apprenticeship and OJT Program, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E), Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP), disability compensation, employment and training, frequently asked questions, asking for local discounts, GI Bill education programs, homeless veterans programs, state veteran benefits directory, survivor benefits, VA appeals process, VA benefits explained, VA hospitals and facilities, veteran disability compensation, veterans health care, veterans life insurance, veterans pension programs, vocational rehabilitation, burial and memorial benefits. If you are in the military now, a veteran, or a military family member, you will find this resource invaluable. Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company presidentâe(tm)s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.
Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan: Assessment of the Readjustment Needs of Military Personnel, Veterans, and Their Families As of December 2012, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq have resulted in the deployment of about 2.2 million troops; there have been 2,222 US fatalities in OEF and Operation New Dawn (OND)1 and 4,422 in OIF. The numbers of wounded US troops exceed 16,000 in Afghanistan and 32,000 in Iraq. In addition to deaths and morbidity, the operations have unforeseen consequences that are yet to be fully understood. In contrast with previous conflicts, the all-volunteer military has experienced numerous deployments of individual service members; has seen increased deployments of women, parents of young children, and reserve and National Guard troops; and in some cases has been subject to longer deployments and shorter times at home between deployments. Numerous reports in the popular press have made the public aware of issues that have pointed to the difficulty of military personnel in readjusting after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of those who have served in OEF and OIF readjust with few difficulties, but others have problems in readjusting to home, reconnecting with family members, finding employment, and returning to school. In response to the return of large numbers of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan with physical-health and mental-health problems and to the growing readjustment needs of active duty service members, veterans, and their family members, Congress included Section 1661 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008. That section required the secretary of defense, in consultation with the secretary of veterans affairs, to enter into an agreement with the National Academies for a study of the physical-health, mental-health, and other readjustment needs of members and former members of the armed forces who were deployed in OIF or OEF, their families, and their communities as a result of such deployment. The study consisted of two phases. The Phase 1 task was to conduct a preliminary assessment. The Phase 2 task was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the physical, psychologic, social, and economic effects of deployment on and identification of gaps in care for members and former members, their families, and their communities. The Phase 1 report was completed in March 2010 and delivered to the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the relevant committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The secretaries of DOD and VA responded to the Phase 1 report in September 2010. Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan: Assessment of Readjustment Needs of Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families fulfills the requirement for Phase 2.
Signature Wounds : The Untold Story of the Military's Mental Health Crisis The surprising story of the Army's efforts to combat PTSD and traumatic brain injury The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken a tremendous toll on the mental health of our troops. In 2005, then-Senator Barack Obama took to the Senate floor to tell his colleagues that "many of our injured soldiers are returning from Iraq with traumatic brain injury," which doctors were calling the "signature wound" of the Iraq War. Alarming stories of veterans taking their own lives raised a host of vital questions: Why hadn't the military been better prepared to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Why were troops being denied care and sent back to Iraq? Why weren't the Army and the VA doing more to address these issues? Drawing on previously unreleased documents and oral histories, David Kieran tells the broad and nuanced story of the Army's efforts to understand and address these issues, challenging the popular media view that the Iraq War was mismanaged by a callous military unwilling to address the human toll of the wars. The story of mental health during this war is the story of how different groups--soldiers, veterans and their families, anti-war politicians, researchers and clinicians, and military leaders--approached these issues from different perspectives and with different agendas. It is the story of how the advancement of medical knowledge moves at a different pace than the needs of an Army at war, and it is the story of how medical conditions intersect with larger political questions about militarism and foreign policy. This book shows how PTSD, TBI, and suicide became the signature wounds of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, how they prompted change within the Army itself, and how mental health became a factor in the debates about the impact of these conflicts on US culture. The surprising story of the Army's efforts to combat PTSD and traumatic brain injury The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken a tremendous toll on the mental health of our troops. In 2005, then-Senator Barack Obama took to the Senate floor to tell his colleagues that "many of our injured soldiers are returning from Iraq with traumatic brain injury," which doctors were calling the "signature wound" of the Iraq War. Alarming stories of veterans taking their own lives raised a host of vital questions: Why hadn't the military been better prepared to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Why were troops being denied care and sent back to Iraq? Why weren't the Army and the VA doing more to address these issues? Drawing on previously unreleased documents and oral histories, David Kieran tells the broad and nuanced story of the Army's efforts to understand and address these issues, challenging the popular media view that the Iraq War was mismanaged by a callous military unwilling to address the human toll of the wars. The story of mental health during this war is the story of how different groups--soldiers, veterans and their families, anti-war politicians, researchers and clinicians, and military leaders--approached these issues from different perspectives and with different agendas. It is the story of how the advancement of medical knowledge moves at a different pace than the needs of an Army at war, and it is the story of how medical conditions intersect with larger political questions about militarism and foreign policy. This book shows how PTSD, TBI, and suicide became the signature wounds of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, how they prompted change within the Army itself, and how mental health became a factor in the debates about the impact of these conflicts on US culture.
Suicide Among the Armed Forces : Understanding the Cost of Service Not since the great military suicide epidemic of the American Civil War have we seen so many of our heroes, our soldiers and veterans, die by suicide. Why? War is violence. There is intent to cause death, or serious injury, or threat to the physical and psychological integrity of others. War stress is unforgiving. Suicide is an all too frequent response. Today, one member of the military dies by suicide every day. This is a new epidemic. This book addresses some tough questions: What do we know about suicides in the military? Are rates high? Or low? Is military suicide the same or different in the United States and Canada? Is military culture relevant? Do we know the causes, patterns, and associations? Is suicide among the armed forces similar to or different from suicide among civilians? Can it be altruistic? Through individual case studies and general/population approaches, we attempt to understand the cost of military service. It is especially through the personal stories of the great Civil War hero General Emory Upton, Admiral of the Navy Mike Boorda, and Hospital Corpsman Chris Purcell that we find answers. We learn there is a relative lack of understanding about military suicides, mainly due to the very complexity of suicide. The nature of suicide is not monolithic--it is multi-determined. Military service, we find, is a risk factor for suicide and suicidal behavior. Military veterans are twice as likely as civilians to die by suicide. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain Injury (TBI) are especially noted to be huge risk factors, but so are other physical and psychological injuries. Sadly, the aftershocks of war include not only suicides but also incarceration, motor vehicle accidents, homicides, homicide(s)-suicides, and many more faces of violence. And there are many more, uncounted, wounded and dead. The families of traumatized soldiers and veterans, too, are indirect victims of their traumatic experience and, for some, their suicides; there is secondary traumatization. Yet, as this book shows, we must not forget that despite the unbearable pain of war, soldiers, veterans, and their military families, including children, are typically resilient. They can survive! Without question, our vulnerable heroes and veterans are at risk for suicide. But there is secrecy surrounding this, which may well be the biggest barrier. The government, the Department of Defense, the military, veterans groups, survivors, health providers, and other stakeholders need to develop and support more research, more programs, and more care for suicidal and disabled armed services personnel, veterans, and survivors. This war stress needs to stop.
Treating Young Veterans : Promoting Resilience Through Practice and Advocacy " The editors of Treating Young Veterans and the authors of the individual chapters provide] practitioners with essential information about the needs, desires, and possibilities for veterans'and their families. This book represents a thoughtful, sensitive, and sensible approach to working with military personnel and veterans who have been deployed to wars in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Peter B. Vaughan Dean, Graduate School of Social Service (From the Foreword) Fordham University, New York, NY Many veterans unsuccessfully attempt to self-manage their mental and physical health needs. This volume examines the multiple challenges awaiting the new generation of young veterans returning to civilian life, and provides strategies for mental health professionals to assist them in the process of readjustment. It incorporates multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art research to present practice and advocacy opportunities that facilitate a healthy and socially engaged reintegration into society for both traditional veterans (enlisted and career military personnel) and nontraditional veterans (reservists, national guardsmen, and women) aged 18 to 40 years. The volume is divided into three sections: Assessment and Practice Approaches to Promote Resilience; Outreach and Practice With Special Communities, and Advocacy Practice to Promote Young Veterans' Well-Being. Each section includes an introduction highlighting the chapters, and an epilogue delineating important steps in practice, outreach, and advocacy. Key Features: Targets the specific needs of veterans of the Iraqi and Afghani conflicts Includes chapters on women and sexual trauma in the military and homeless combat veterans Addresses the special needs of children of veterans and the nature of ambiguous loss as veteran-by-proxy, employment issues, and equity issues related to reservists Authored by recognized experts including military officers, attorneys, and Veterans Affairs administrators Designed for both general and scholarly readers "
Veterans' Policies, Veterans' Politics "Provides a much-needed interdisciplinary approach to the study of the important intersection of veteran policies and political arguments that have helped to define the modern American state."--Robert Saxe, author of "Settling Down": World War II Veterans' Challenge to the Postwar Consensus "An outstanding collection of essays that will engage anyone interested in the veteran experience in modern America. It should be read by political leaders and the general public who want to develop better ways to reintegrate veterans of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq back into American society."--G. Kurt Piehler, author of Remembering the War the American Way The study of military veterans and politics has been a growing topic of interest, but to date most research on the topic has remained isolated in specific, unconnected fields of inquiry.           Veterans' Policies, Veterans' Politics is the first multidisciplinary, comprehensive examination of the American veteran experience. Stephen Ortiz has compiled some of the best work on the formation and impact of veterans' policies, the politics of veterans' issues, and veterans' political engagement over the course of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the United States.           By examining the U.S. government's treatment of veterans vis-#65533;-vis such topics as health care, disability, race, the GI Bill, and combat exposure, the contributors reveal how debates regarding veterans' policies inevitably turn into larger political battles over citizenship and the role of the federal government.           With the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq now the longest military operations in U.S. history and the numbers of veterans returning from overseas deployment higher than they've been in a generation, this is a timely and necessary book.
Veterans' Rights Congress established the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to review claims decided by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
The Wounded Warrior Handbook: A Resource Guide for Returning Veterans The typical wounded soldier must complete and file twenty-two forms after an active-duty injury. To soldiers and their families coping with the shock and reality of the injuries, figuring out what to do next—even completing tasks that seem easy like submitting paperwork—can be overwhelming and confusing. Covers policies, benefits, procedures, and changes to insurance, including traumatic injury insurance and social security disability insurance.

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After the War Zone : A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families Two experts from the VA National Center for PTSD provide an essential resource for service members, their spouses, families, and communities, sharing what troops really experience during deployment and back home. Pinpointing the most common after-effects of war and offering strategies for troop reintegration to daily life, Drs. Friedman and Slone cover the myths and realities of homecoming; reconnecting with spouse and family; anger and adrenaline; guilt and moral dilemmas; and PTSD and other mental-health concerns. With a wealth of community and government resources, tips, and suggestions, After the War Zone is a practical guide to helping troops and their families prevent war zone stresses from having a lasting negative impact.
Combat-Related Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD : A Resource and Recovery Guide As more veterans return from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, more are needing care for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and combat-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI). While there are several treatment and recovery options, outlets for support, and other resources, understanding and gaining access to them is often difficult or confusing. In Combat-Related Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD: A Resource and Recovery Guide, authors Cheryl Lawhorne and Don Philpott offer guidance for returning veterans, from treatment options, to diagnostic criteria and techniques, to resources for rehabilitation and support. The authors begin discussions of TBI and PTSD by offering definitions of each, outlining the risk factors, and exploring the relationship between the two. They then move on to provide explanations of diagnostic criteria, treatment options, prevention techniques, and barriers to seeking care. Sections on the important role that insurance and health care plays, and on the support of family and friends, round out this useful and accessible volume. This is an essential guide for returning veterans, their families, and all who work with veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI.
Do Veterans Receive Adequate Health Care? Primary and secondary sources address a variety of perspectives on health care for veterans.
The Wounded Warrior Handbook : A Resource Guide for Returning Veterans The typical wounded soldier must complete and file 22 forms following an active-duty injury. To many soldiers and their families coping with the shock and reality of the injuries, figuring out what to do next--even completing tasks as seemingly easy as submitting paperwork--can be overwhelming and confusing. Written with these men and women in mind, The Wounded Warrior Handbook provides our wounded heroes and their families with quick, straightforward answers to the questions they suddenly face and guides them through the deluge of processes, procedures, and policies they must adhere to in order to receive the care they deserve and need. Comprehensive and easy-to-use, the Handbook compiles information regarding medical treatment, rehabilitation, counseling, support, and transition, including Symptoms, treatment options, and information resources of common injuries Programs to help families reach and care for their injured soldiers Definitions of the seven classifications of "casualty" and the notification process for next of kin Documents family members should carry when traveling to see their loved ones Challenges of reintegrating into everyday life, and tips and resources for succeeding Guidance for finding a job that matches an injured soldier's physical abilities and skills Organizations offering advocacy and legal assistance Locations of Veterans Affairs hospitals, medical centers, and clinics Whether you work with members of the military or support a community that does, you can help our embattled men and women make the transition from active duty to post-war domestic life with this time-saving and life-restoring book.
Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace This poignant collection, compiled from Kingston's healing workshops, contains the distilled wisdom of survivors of five wars, including combatants, war widows, spouses, children, conscientious objectors, and veterans of domestic abuse. Vetrans of War, Vetrans of Peace includes accounts from people that grew up in military families, served as medics in the thick of war, or came home to homelessness. All struggle with trauma - PTSD, substance abuse, and other consequences of war and violence. Through their extraordinary writings, readers witness worlds coming apart and being put back together again through liberating insight, community, and the deep transformation that is possible only by coming to grips with the past.
Veterans Rights and Benefits As soldiers return from war, they begin the difficult process of re-assimilating into society. Veterans' Rights and Benefits is written for the returning and active soldier and his or her family in an effort to clarify those rights available to them, as well as explain some of the obstacles they may encounter in seeking them. Author, Margaret C. Jasper explains in detail rights and benefits such as basic health care, including specializations including PTSD or amputation therapies; education and vocational rehabilitation, which spans from college education and funding to basic reintegration rehabilitation; compensation and pension benefits, applications, qualifications, and spousal support; home loans, applications, qualifications, and rate details; life insurance, terms of applications and extent of coverage; and burial and survivor benefits. This Almanac serves as a one-stop resource for accessing the most up-to-date information on the rights and benefits of Veterans in an easy-to-read format.
The Trauma Tool Kit : Healing PTSD from the Inside Out 2013 Nautilus Silver Award Winner!. In 2010 the Department of Veterans Affairs cited 171,423 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans diagnosed with PTSD, out of 593,634 total patients treated. That's almost 30 percent; other statistics show 35 percent. Nor, of course, is PTSD limited to the military. In twenty years as a therapist, Susan Pease Banitt has treated trauma in patients ranging from autistic children to women with breast cancer; from underage sex slaves to adults incapacitated by early childhood abuse. Doctors she interviewed in New York report that, even before 9/11, most of their patients had experienced such extreme stress that they had suffered physical and mental breakdowns. Those doctors agree with Pease Banitt that stress is the disease of our times. At the 2009 Evolution of Psychotherapy conference Jack Kornfield noted, "We need a trauma tool kit." Here it is. Most people, Pease Banitt says, experience trauma as a terminal blow to their deepest sense of self. Her techniques restore a sense of wholeness at the core level from which all healing springs. The uniqueness of her book lies in its diversity and accessibility. She assesses the values and limitations of traditional and alternative therapies and suggests methods that are universally available.