Raise PTSD Awareness – June 2012
The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has selected the month of June to raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
The Center's website offers very useful information about PTSD, it causes and effects. As the website states 'After a trauma or life-threatening event, it is common to have reactions such as upsetting memories of the event, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping. If these reactions do not go away or if they get worse, you may have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).' However, this is not always the case. Sometimes it may take years before the upsetting memories appear all of a sudden. In one case, a Police Officer, began experiencing PTSD symptoms 2 years after experiencing a life threatening event.
In the military, Servicemembers are more likely to get exposed to PTSD and are more likely to be punished because of some misconduct resulting from PTSD. Today, a significant number of Servicemembers has deployed and served in combat. Many experienced multiple deployments away from their families exposed to IEDs or constant sniper fire. The horrific combat experiences remain with many Servicemembers. When they re-deploy and later test positive for drugs, develop addictions, or go AWOL, they are administratively chaptered from the Armed Forces despite the honorable service in a combat zone under very difficult circumstances.
In Porter v. United States (2009), the Supreme Court recognized that sometimes PTSD may be evidenced by some type of misconduct. This conclusion goes against the traditional thinking that there is nothing wrong with outstanding Servicemembers who served honorably in Iraq, but upon redeployment become alcoholics and must be chaptered. The Supreme Court recognized that there are many symptoms of PTSD.
If you believe that you received an unfair military discharge because you have PTSD, which has not been diagnosed, visit http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ and seek help. If at some later point you would like to upgrade your discharge based on PTSD military law type issues, military attorneys at The Federal Practice Group will be ready to assist you at 202-862-4348 or info@www.fedpractice.com.
This information does not constitute legal advice. It is intended for general public only. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact an attorney.
