Pentagon ignors actual signs and symptoms of stress in returing troops.

When I read this--the Pent. is ignoring the actual signs and symptoms found in the troops and instead uses a screening tool which just picks up some broad indicators (as these psy screnning tools are designed to do).
The effect of this is that actual symptoms (daily lives of these soldiers) are not addresssed/treated (ignored).
Makes their health reports look good on paper!
Horrible way to treat our troops!!


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060511/us_nm/iraq_usa_stress_dc;_ylt=Ahhc.4_5OrNeLIrW3tfhbcKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-

Pentagon faulted over stress help for troops

By Will Dunham Thu May 11, 7:08 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

.....The report said the Pentagon did not identify the factors that its health-care providers used in determining which troops merited mental-health referrals.

Experts say the disorder's symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response. A person may initially respond to the trauma with horror or helplessness, then may persistently relive the event.

William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, took issue with the report's suggestion that some troops who might have needed help did not get it.

In a statement included as part of the report, the Pentagon said a negative reaction to the stress and trauma of combat is "just a part of human nature."

I think what concerns me more is those that so quickly condemn the troops here. The pain these men and women suffer is very real, but, depending on their position regarding the war, it depends on how they will be treated by some here.

The real problem is not the "keyboard commandos," but the government that will not "follow-up" for their people. However, those who denigrate our troops, based on this illegal war, are just as guilty, IMO.

part of Pentagon. It effectively says--There is no problem-or there are only a few problems. It allows them not to make referrals (cuts down medical costs).

It is no different than insurance companies not willing to pay up in NOLA! "The damage wasn't hurricane, it was flooding...NO, it was flooding, but not covered, because a small zebra didn't run thru your living room at midnight, on an odd day. Didn't you read you policy?"

You understand that what the Pentagon is doing is wrong. Do you not also understand what some here are doing is just as wrong? While we don't make policy, some here are just as much a problem as the government.

I check DU everyday; sometimes, many times. I see "more American troops killed in Iraq." The death toll continues to rise. And, let's pretend more a moment that I am completely ethnocentric and ignore the horrible posts of the deaths of innocent Iraqis. Why should I continue to see anti-troop posts here? Personally, that disgusts me!

We have DU members who have lost family members or had family injured there. Why are some so content at making the "troops" the guilty party? I don't support this "war," and I am guessing you don't either, so why is their the assumption that all the troops, mostly National Guard, support this "war?" And, what if they do? Do their deaths still not diminish us?

it's not just a part of human nature - its pathology that needs to be treated and its a disability that warrants compensation.