Anyone with Sailors/Soldiers/Marines in War Zones and Combat Areas

Victoria its so nice to know I wasn't the only one to think that way... Now I know better : )

Well, tomorrow my daughter will be graduating from AIT ... Man, now we have two..So she will leave in a few days for Airborne and then to North Carolina.. she is now a Combat Medic.. I thought it was suppose to be my turn.... At least that's what everyone seems to tell me..Hmmmmm Two deployed at the sametime is not my cup of tea..

I can't imagine the stress of two or more kids deployed in war zones at the same time! It seems to me that early on in this group, we did have one mom with 3 in Iraq at the same time. Read Debby's posts for how she's handled two in war zones for repeated deployments. We've had several with two over the last few years. How on earth do you sleep? 

Congrats to the new combat medic! and we'll be here with you as you watch her career move forward.

Somehow, I keep thinking valium...or maybe bourbon....and prayer. Blessings to you moms!!

I'm a little uncomfortable with allowing corporate promotions here. I do not endorse this package thing, nor would I send it to my son if he were deployed. The "free hour of internet" service makes me very nervous about people I don't know being able to pin point locations of deployed military personnel. I'm turning to the admins at Ning here on N4M's for their thoughts and their OPSEC coordinators to look at this. I also do not think our military needs a bunch of car swag to clutter up the mail when it's already so hard to get packages from families to them as it is.

Susan, first of all, I will call my son tonight after he's off work, and ask him his opinion on the first step to take. He feels very strongly about PTS victims getting help...and his concern started when he was deployed and the changes he saw in his Marines that were redeploying concerned him. He said about the same thing, that they were being told they'd never get a good job, that people would look down on them, etc...and he told me with all sincerity to "get your Navy moms on this, get them writing letters...." (before his actual deployment he had a tendency to poke a little fun at us...sorry...he's a guy. He changed his mind, he knows how support helps us now!) So we did. And others were doing the same thing.. a LOT has changed since my son returned in 08, he says there are signs up all over bases, encouraging these guys to get help. There are so much better programs in place. I would highly suggest you check out the Dept of Excellence link above and contact their 24 hour hot line to ask their advice as a concerned loved one.  Be aware, there is secondary PTS that affects family and friends of a PTS survivor. Another thing we can do is start a group, private if you like for those who need to talk about this. We can do it here, or on facebook, keeping it totally private. Here we can add links and discussions, so maybe that would be best. Let me know, I'll either start it or help you do so.

One of my son's assignments since deployement was with the Methadone Clinic at Lajuene. PTS is hand in hand with pain meds in addiction issues for returning vets....it was a real learning experience. The military works with those folks, and wants to get to these young warriors before it reaches this level.

And never ever worry about personal messaging me, or Debby or any of us when you need to talk...we are here, and you are not alone. We worry about the same things you do....and it doesn't stop after deployment.

Debby started this Transistions group...I think PTS is a transistions issue. Only 4 of us in the group right now, so a little privacy there. http://www.navyformoms.com/group/Transistions

Please check the links above, and if you find information on other sources, please share it with me so I can add the links. This is an issue that affects ALL of us, here on this group as moms and as Americans who do not want to see another group of vets sitting on street corners like so many of our Viet Nam vets. I am so sorry you are dealing with this, but thankful you are the intelligent woman you are, seeking help and sharing with us. There is help out there. We will help you find it. You are not the only one, and you are not alone in your search and battle.

Karen...I think any towels or washclothes would do....and I sent old soft pillow cases because it's HOT there!  Susan, wonder what your son thought about packages while on patrol? he had to carry it back to base? ha!!

Don't forget Foxsox.com...and there's another one (with even more expensive socks!) but I can't remember it right now. Those foxsox feel great!! and they wick the water and sweat away...but they are terrible in wet areas like rivers/ponds, etc. For those areas send the socks from Walmart...white to help with foot fungus issues ( just my thought from my mom who was a Navy wife who raised sons..). I'd also send some of those foot powders. Also maybe those Nike water sandals for times with no boots needed..?? feet need air!

Okay...did some research and picked the brains of a couple of military folks I know.

I was told that if any one is being informed by any military personnel, whoever it is, that a vet will be penalized, in any way, for being diagnosed with PTS, that person can be disciplined. Anyone. The person sharing this with me is vehement about making sure you moms and dads know that your son or daughter will NOT face discrimination or be punished in any way for getting the help they need. If you or anyone you know feels like this is happening, it needs to be reported up the chain of command. It has to stop. It has to stop with your child and with anyone else's child in the military, it is too critical for these young vets to get help. No matter what each of those vets think, there is help, it will not affect their permanent records with the military and it will not lower the respect of anyone with whom they serve or any of us who support each one of them I was on a cell with a shake connection, and if you need more info, this person will hunt down where to take it.

Second, I asked about Lori's son's situation. I was told PTS detection and screening are done in Germany and Bethesda on all wounded coming in from war zones. Lori, if you think your son needs more screening, treatment, please reach out to the links above and/or to the ones LyndaN shared. I attempted to use the 24 hour email thing, and was told :

Thank you for your inquiry.  However, we are not in a position to provide feedback.  If you need further resources through the DCOE please contact us.

I had asked them to visit our group and perhaps leave some information here. Each vet or family member needs to contact them yourselves.

Welcome, Kelly! Is your son a corpsman? it sounds like it with the ship deploy and now Afghan....we are a rag tag bunch, some come and go...but the spirit is the same of all that are here, we know your fear and your sleepless nights and we know your joy when home coming is around the corner. Please do take a look at the back posts, the discussion area and the links above, and know that if  you have a question, or a thought..or a scream, someone will appear shortly to share it with you. You are not alone, when it comes to this group, we're a bunch of busy bodies and we appear as soon as the notification is seen.

Hey, Nancy...we're glad you found us, it's good to have some back up during a tough time. My son is an FMF corpsman, not currently serving greenside, he's an instructor at the moment, so not deployed.

Yes, your emotions will run the whole gamut, just know that it's normal...normal to cry, normal to be afraid when your child is in a war zone, normal to get a little ticked at those who do NOT know what it's like, no matter how well meaning they are....and normal to jump up and down screaming like a teenager when you get a call or skype (LUCKY CHIEF88!), and normal to not sleep at night when it's been weeks since you've heard from your kid.

To the new moms, we remind you to take care of you....stay busy, good time to paint bedrooms, dig the new garden, walk the dog twice a day, join a gym....and keep a list of things to talk about by the phone or computer...home stuff...like the dog next door had puppies, or the drunk down the street took out the mail box again...HOME stuff. Keep those emotional topics until the end...and remember, please, that things your child tells YOU he is telling his mom, he's not speaking to anyone in any group, including ours. Remember to not share his/her name, specific locations, arrivals or departure times. We'll remind you if you forget. We are always around, you are not alone. Remember that most of all, you are not alone.

Susan, Hotflashes, Linda Thank you for the warm welcome my Seabee is a construction Mechanic what is yours Hotflashes? I don"t know anything about Skype so I will have to learn.

Chief if you find a good cake in a jar recipie will you share? I never even thought about their laundry I just thought someone did it for them or they had a laundromat, that makes me sad to think of them washing their clothes in a bucket reminds me of POW's during WW2. I guess laundry detergent is another thing to add to my list.

Chief, once those new underwear and socks get there, there will be no washing, they will be garbage!

I bet youtube has cake in a jar how to video...

Once new stuff is there, they won't wash the old stuff, they'll toss it and wear the new stuff....

I found this article PTS on the job after leaving the military  on a facebook page I subscribe to called Brain Line.org  Link to Facebook Brainline.org 

Another I subscribe to is Reclaiming yourself for good PTSD 

Inga, my son graduated 5/7/10. Is your daughter one of the instructors in this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWt1gQ5rLD8&feature=player_detai...

I'm sure many of you have seen this in previous years, this year was tough for him, he had a broken wrist!

oh, chief...you're where I was that day I wrote that blog that's up in discussions now, "for you". I don't know what to say to you...I had to get out of the house, I'd go to the library to work on family history and dig around in the 1800's in Tennesse...or I'd go to the Animal Shelter and pet and walk the dogs....just get out of the house. Put those boxes down, wash your face....call a friend or go alone, but get out of the house! to the gym? maybe? I go to all women's gym, those "old" ladies (even older than me!) were such a huge support for me, they'd done this thing and they'd tell me stories about how their sons were doing now, 40 years after Viet Nam. It really helped me to remember that there will be a future for my son...he would come home to me. He told me he would. And he did.

Everyday brings you closer to homecoming, my friend....you are not alone, I'm in your corner....as are all these other good women and men in this group.

I wanted to share a quilt I just finished this last week.  Its made from scrapes I had leftover from one of the pillowcas project's that HAE does.  I donated the quilt to the veteran hosptial here in my area.

Meet Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Amilcar Rodriguez – He recently was awarded the fourth highest military honor, the Silver Star, during a ceremony at U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command on board Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Navy Corpsman Receives Silver Star

My Seabee daughter - who is in the Afghan sandbox got her first care package and she loved it.  It took 2 weeks.  The first package has a mix of snacks, games, book, personal care stuff. A real mixture and I'm sure she had fun just going through all of the different things. The second box (still in route) is a towel and toiletries with a large package of noodle/soups.  The next box will be more snacks (at her request) and some drawing stuff.  The list  on N4M was very helpful.

Susan - What TDM said is so true... He is missing his mom and can't wait till he gets home... That's sounds like a great idea to see if you can find someone in his group ..

we are all here for you : )

Miller Beer for Vets

Miller giving back to our vets in a pretty awesome way!!!

John, here's the info passed on Molly's Adopt A Sailor: My Military Life
I have recently gotten word a soldier injured in combat, is currently en route to either Bethesda or Walter Reed (triage likely at Langley). I need help from people in the area. He is a 21 year old single Soldier, no support system out here or dependants. If you can help, please let me know. ASAP
Email me at: marla@mymilitarylife.com so I can pass on your information! Thanks everyone! ♥ Marla

Your niece's husband would be perfect, I'm a little concerned about him being overwhelmed with well meaning but not military experienced folks...let us know if he gets in touch. thanks!