I’m aware of a number of modalities, tools and programs that will help our Veterans. Please let me know if there are other worthwhile programs I should list here.
New Mexico Military Order of the Purple Heart Mentoring Program
“The New Mexico Military Order of The Purple Heart intends to provide a Mentor to assist returning New Mexico OIF/OEF Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guardsmen, and Reservists to find and obtain the necessary requested resources to successfully reintegrate back to their Units and/or civilian life.”
Military Order of the Purple Heart (National)
“Chartered by Congress in 1958, The Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Although our membership is restricted to the combat wounded, we support all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers.”
Fatigues Clothesline Project
Offering MST survivors a change to be heard discreetly…
“Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Affects All Ranks, Gender, and all branch of service. It affects everyone. In unpublished data, 15.1% of women and men 0.7% have reported MST; and women are “4x more likely,” and men “3x more likely” to end up with PTSD as the result of an MST assault. If you know someone or are the person who has experienced Military Sexual Trauma, I am offering a chance to show the public in numbers and in a discreet way what happened while serving. We have a voice and that voice deserves to be heard.”
Horses For Heroes
“Cowboy Up! is a horse therapy wellness program based in Santa Fe, NM free to Veterans and active military who have sustained physical injuries or combat trauma (PTSD) during their time serving our country. From day one Veterans are hands on with our horses beginning with groundwork and progressing to riding, as well as participating in other aspects of ranch life, including working cattle and more importantly experiencing the camaraderie with cowboys who are Veterans themselves.”
Paws and Stripes
“On average, it can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 for a service dog. Health Insurance does not cover these costs for PTSD and other “cognitive” disorders, and veterans are more than likely unable to cover such a financial blow. Paws and Stripes provides these dogs interactively with no cost at all to the veteran.
“Every dog in our program originates from local shelters and foster homes rather than from breeders. There are enough homeless dogs in the country that need homes, and we strive to help alleviate this problem rather than add to it. This also allows the veteran to meet and actively choose what dog is right for him/her, regardless of breed.
“Providing service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and other psychiatric and mental impairments provides a sense of safety, stability, and camaraderie that help make society seem less threatening and stressful.”
Wounded Warrior Project
Mission
“The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.”
Purpose
- “To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women,
- “To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and
- “To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.”
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Warrior Resilience Training / Warrior Resilience & Thriving (WRT) |
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Here is some excellent material that may be very useful to families, veterans, and active Military. This program is by Major Thomas A. Jarrett, “an Army licensed clinical social worker, executive coach, rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) doctoral fellow, and former Special Forces noncommissioned officer”. Click on the links below to get a PDF file of either the paper or presentation.
- “Warrior Resilience Training …” is a paper published in the July-September 2008 issue of The Army Medical Department Journal.
- “Warrior Resilience & Thriving (WRT)” is a PowerPoint presentation in use by the Fort Sill Social Work Service & Outreach Program. (Updated May 20, 2010, and July 11, 2010)
Understanding the Causes of Combat Trauma
A New Tool in Overcoming the Effects of Combat Trauma…
More Effective Solutions to Overcoming Combat Trauma: A Primer on How to Use The Warriors Guide to Insanity… A White Paper
Dr. Rossi model
Overcoming Combat Trauma
COMBAT STRESS: Resilience and Restoration
Understanding Modalities (to be provided)
Grace After Fire
“Providing an online delivery of recovery support services, The Woman’s Heart has been operating since 2002, attracting hundreds of women in search of crisis support services. A significant data point was the frequency of women veterans disclosing their chronic use of alcohol and drugs as a means of coping or self-medicating their symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and military sexual assault. The online crisis ratio trends show 8 out of 10 women veterans are in crisis at the time of contact.
“This brought about our greatest initiative, Grace After Fire (“Grace”). Grace is designed to serve women veterans from all eras and branches of service (currently 1.8M), and is preparing to meet the high numbers of women (approximately 14 percent of the armed services) currently serving. Although women veterans represent less than 6 percent of veterans accessing VA healthcare, 71 percent of the women who do use the VA System have a mental health concern. Unfortunately, a challenge that can occur in offering VA services to women is providing accessible gender-responsive and trauma-informed care at all locations.
“Grace is a virtual organization reaching across the nation, and is already engaging with women veterans still in theater as they prepare to come home. Grace’s Board of Directors is comprised of 80 percent veterans, managed by women veterans; and our Clinical Advisory Committee is comprised of 100 percent women trauma experts, researchers, and addiction specialists.”
American Military Family
“Saluting the noble work of our courageous men and women of the Armed Forces is our mission. Freedom Hunters reflects the outdoor community’s appreciation to the troops by taking select active duty and combat veterans on outdoor adventures. With help from conservation groups, outfitters, corporations and land owners, Freedom Hunters honors individuals from all branches of the Military. Those interested in joining us on an up coming adventures should fill out an application on the Freedom Hunters website.
The Fisher Wallace Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) Device
From Charles (Chip) Avery Fisher, President:
The Fisher Wallace Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) Device is an FDA sanctioned medical device that works in a transcranial manner. The device operates on alternating current as well as three unique and patented frequencies; 15 HZ, 500 HZ and 15,000 HZ. Unlike direct current units, the Fisher Wallace Device operates in frequencies compatible with the human brain.
The CES unit has been sanctioned since 1991 and is in use around the country at many hospitals and drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. Top doctors at Columbia University Medical Center have prescribed the device to over 275 patients with an 80% success rate. The device has a strategic calming effect on the patient by stimulating dopamine and serotonin production and lowering cortisol without inducing traumatic recall…especially relevant to Combat Military Personnel. The device is effective in allowing uninterrupted sleep and dampening the tendency toward hyper-vigilance during waking hours.
“Studies are available to clarify questions and substantiate years of successful field applications. Recent acquisitions by the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for military applications are a direct result of the unit’s exceptional results.”
