HIV/AIDS rate on the rise for Veterans

Often with every war that’s fought, there are unique sets of problems and illnesses that follow veterans home from the battlefield. Today, over 1.6 million men and women have served the U.S. in either Iraq or Afghanistan, with many coming home to face a multitude of challenges. Among these challenges are:

Homelessness:
With today’s veterans often coming home to an economy that was much worse than when they were deployed, there has been an increase in “homelessness.” Times and the Associated Press have both reported that on a given night nearly 200,000 veterans were homeless, a figure that represents roughly ¼ of the homeless population of the US. Often those left homeless are battling a few other battlefield related issues in tandem, most prevalent among them being mental illnesses and drug addiction.

Mental Illness/Alcohol/ Drug Addiction:
Of those homeless vets studied by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, it is estimated that as high as 45% percent suffer from mental illnesses, while another 75% are fighting drug or alcohol related addictions. The following link offers some answers to frequently asked questions with regards to vets with mental illnesses http://www.mirecc.va.gov/mirecc-faq.asp#6.

Suicides:
With the diminished coping skills that some veterans face, suicide among veterans have seen a dramatic spike, with rates among veterans being as high as twice that of non-vet (based on a CBS News Investigation). Interesting to note is the fact that the age group most affected, are recent US vets in the 20-24 age bracket. The following link offers a “Suicide Assessment” format (http://www.visn3.mirecc.va.gov/my_files/docs/Suicide_Risk_Assessment_presentation.pdf)

HIV/AIDS:
Perhaps more unique to this generation of veterans has been the threat of the HIV virus and AIDS. Partly related to the increase in drug addiction, HIV as a by product of sharing dirty needles or engaging in risky sex is also on the rise among today’s veterans. Some studies have estimated that homeless or veterans with drug addictions can be 2 to 6 times more likely to contract HIV. The US Department of Veterans Affairs though has not yet taken steps against the rise of this new threat, though the agency continues to monitor the situation. Currently though, the VA system is the nations largest provider of HIV-related care, with reports showing that the VA treats more than 23,000 HIV-positive veterans. The following link http://www.hiv.va.gov/ can be used learn more about HIV/AIDS and what the service the VA offers.

Orlando gets $650 million VA Hosptial

Though the city has enjoyed a rich connection to US Arm Forces in the past, to include the housing of a Naval Base, as well as a Base for B-52 bombers during the Cold War, Orlando Florida is only now receiving a much needed VA Hospital. Though the long wait should be worth it, giving that the Hospital will be a 1.2 million square foot facility that will serve a projected 400,000 veterans in the Central Florida area. The cost of the complex is estimated to be in the $650 million range, and the facility is slated to open in 2012.

This is great news to area veterans who for years have had to travel to various state facilities to take care of their medical needs. These locations have often been located a good distance from Orlando, and have ranged from outpatient clinics in Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the VA hospital in Gainesville and St. Petersburg. Given the aging population of Central Florida veterans, the long distances have often become major challenges for vets in need of care. In fact, Orange County (home to the city of Orland) alone has close to 80,000 veterans, making the county the largest county in the nation without direct access to a VA hospital.

It was then amid a mix crowd of veterans, politicians, and local citizens, that a ground breaking ceremony was held in October of 2008. Location for the VA Hospital is near Lake Nona in South Orlando, where the facility will enjoy a close proximity to the University of Central Florida’s new Medical Center. The VA hospital will benefit from its close distance to UCF by being able to integrate research and direct treatment with the school’s Medical Center.

This new complex will include the following features:

• 134 Inpatient Beds
• ER diagnostic Imaging
• Laboratory
• Pharmacy
• Multispecialty Care Clinic
• 120 Bed Community Living
• 60 Bed Residential Rehab Center

In keeping with its Mission Statement and Vision, this new VA facility will help “honor America’s veterans by providing exceptional care that will improve veteran’s health and well-being.” To do so, the Center will rely on a committed staff that will make it their goal to be a “patient-centered” organization. Aside, from being able to offer veterans better health care, the VA Hospital will also be a back-up hospital during National emergencies, which given the area’s propensity for Hurricanes, is a much welcomed by product of housing the hospital.

General Eric K. Shinseki has last laugh

General Eric K. Shinseki spent almost four decades of service in the U.S Army. That distinguished career abruptly ended in 2003 when Shinseki, then Chief of Staff of the Army clashed with the Bush administration over the war in Iraq.

Shinseki’s major crime? He testified before Congress that it would take several hundred thousand U.S. troops to control Iraq after the war; a statement that came to pass in light of the highly praised surge that was used in 2007 to keep Iraq from spiraling into greater chaos and unchecked violence. Along the way, his tenure (1999-2003) as a Chief of Staff were marked with periodic sparring with then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, often times over the strategies being used to develops today’s Army.

As many other’s before him, Shinseki’s service to this country might have faded away into an obscure footnote in US history, if the current Obama Administration had not tapped him for the role of Veterans Affairs Secretary. The position puts Shinseki at the head of the organization that oversees the nation’s veteran’s hospitals, benefit programs and national cemeteries. With a budget in excess of $90 billion dollars, the VA is responsible for the health care, pensions, education, and rehabilitation programs.

Shinseki’s tenure will receive a boost from the Obama administration, whose first proposed budgets for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will expand health coverage to another 500,000 veterans. (http://ericshinseki.org) The increase budget will help Shinseki realize his vision of making the Department a dynamics and pro-active people centric organization.

Despite the increase budget, Shinseki remains aware that he is a “steward of the tax payers”, and as such, that his Department must have the proper metrics in place to safe guard the effectiveness of the programs that he his organization will be undertaking.

Among those happy to see the Shinseki at the head of the Department is the AFGE, the union of over 600,000 (150,000 in the VA) federal employees. J. David Cox, the union’s national-secretary treasurer, echoed the sentiment when he said "The federal employees of the VA have been waiting for someone with the type of courage and strength of character that General Shinseki has shown throughout his career; to say we are excited is an understatement."

Such lofty expectations though might be tempered with a dose of reality in the face of a sagging economy and a climbing unemployment rate. Still, Eric Shinseki at least is no longer relegated to the sidelines of service to his country. This patriotic war horse is back in the limelight he was forced to abandon 6 years ago, and it seems that it will be he, and not his former administration nemeses, who will ultimately have the last laugh.

How should we define Combat?

In the past, going to 'battle' was cut n' dry. If you held a gun and fired at the enemy and return fire was all around you, well, you were in battle. The truck driver who delivered goods may have never seen the first hint of action.

The war on terrorism, as commonly known, is a bit different. Roadside bombs, mortar attacks and so on have changed the way we can look at who was truly 'involved' in combat. In a sense, every American soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan is under a constant threat.

Because of his, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental and physical ailments have plagued veterans who were never involved in direct battlefield experience.

Thankfully, the VA is recognizing this and lawmakers are going to meet on how to define certain benefits that were previously only available to those who were involved in direct combat. These rules were outlined during World War II. Obviously, a lot has changed since then.

Ohio to Vote on Cash Benefits for Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans

On November 3rd, Ohio voters will head to the polls to decide whether or not Iraq and Afghanistan veterans should receive cash bonuses from the state. The ballot addition passed the Senate in February, but was added to the ballot after a 92-3 vote in the House. However, despite the overwhelming support for the ballot initiative, there was much disagreement as to what would be the most fiscally responsible way to implement the plan.

If the vote goes in favor of the plan, it would provide $100 a month – up to $1,000 – for veterans who served in the conflicts and bonuses of $50 a month — up to $500 — for veterans who served elsewhere during the conflicts. Families of those killed in action would receive $5,000. In order to pay for the bonuses, the state would borrow money by issuing up to $200 million in bonds. This is the same approach that has been used in previous wars.

Rep. Gerald Stebelton (R-Lancaster) was one of the few that voted "no" on the issue. Stebelton sees it as a "dishonor" to the veterans if they borrow the bonus money and thinks it would be like "asking them to pay for their own bonuses."

However, Rep. Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown) said he was "flabbergasted" by talk of fiscal responsibility after the federal government had sent American troops to a war that was "perhaps ... based on fictional information."

Regardless, American citizens and especially veterans need all the help they can get. Many provisions are being taken to help everyone out, including loan modifications and much more, but the main thing is that no matter the state of the economy, our veterans are treated well.

Head Injuries and Headaches common among Iraq Veterans

Below is a recap on this article I found on Science Daily. As it turns out, problems for Iraq and Afghanistan are bigger than many realize.

Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, several soldiers have reported headaches as a result of mild head trauma or a blast exposure. This, according to a study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle.

The study was conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington and involved nearly 1000 U.S. Army soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan in 2008. All of these Army veterans experience a head injury or blast exposure while deployed.

The headaches typically started within one week of the injury for 37 percent of the soldiers and within a month for 20 percent. The majority of the soldiers with headaches within one week had migraine-like symptoms and 40 percent reported that the headaches interfered with their ability to do daily activities.

"Mild traumatic brain injury is occurring in 15 to 25 percent of soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan," said study author Brett J. Theeler, MD, of Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "The associated headaches can be a source of impaired occupational functioning. These findings should alert health care providers, especially those affiliated with the military or veteran health care systems, to the need to identify and properly treat headache among soldiers."

This is just another major issue that our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have to deal with. As a society and culture, we must remain cognizant of the sacrifices our veterans have made and do what we can to help out.