Mideast edition, Wednesday, August 22, 2007
VICENZA, Italy — Army leaders are striving to spread the word about identifying and treating post-traumatic stress and brain injuries as quickly as possible.
The Southern European Task Force (Airborne) began doing its part Tuesday by training leaders in three countries simultaneously via a videoteleconference session headed by SETAF Commander Maj. Gen. Frank Helmick.
Soldiers in multiple locations in Italy as well as Bamberg, Germany, and Mihail Kogaliceanu Air Base in Romania listened to Helmick’s message, a mix of his own words and a script supplied by the Department of the Army. SETAF, and other Army commands around the globe, have been told to get the message across to all soldiers and report back by October.
Those listening in on Helmick’s message, distributed by the 509th Signal Battalion, will now in turn train those who fall under their commands.
Helmick actually delivered several messages centered around a theme of first identifying and then treating trauma that soldiers may encounter both in and out of combat.
“All soldiers who deploy to combat are affected in one way or another,” he said. “We’re all being affected. We all handle it differently. There is no one way to handle it.”
Helmick admitted that soldiers of his generation often used to brush aside those suffering from stress-related conditions as weak and not suited to wearing the uniform. That’s no longer the case, he said, and that attitude runs contrary to the best interest of the Army and its soldiers.
“There is no shame,” he said. “There is no stigma in seeking help. Nobody has to go it alone. That’s what we’re all about. We’re an Army family.”
Helmick said that leaders — both officers and noncommissioned officers — are responsible for monitoring the condition of their troops. Soldiers need to watch out for each other. And soldiers of all ranks need to be honest with themselves.
“If you need some help or see a soldier who needs help, let’s get some help,” he said. “We have the programs to do that.”
The videos and slide show provided contacts for getting more information or assistance. They also detailed some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Soldiers could be suffering from either or both conditions and show no obvious physical wounds.
MTBI involves a concussion. Soldiers might not show an obvious sign of a head wound, but display lingering effects such a loss of hearing or balance. According to a video from the presentation, soldiers often just need a couple of days or rest and simple medical treatment to recover.
If they don’t receive attention, though, they’re in danger of suffering permanent damage. And they often pose a danger to themselves or their buddies if they’re not treated, because they’re not performing at their best.
PTSD occurs as a result of some sort of traumatic episode or series of events someone experiences. If untreated, the condition may last for years. Some of those suffering from it have sleep disorders, shifts in personality or a variety of other problems. Some appear to readjust to normal life, but experience flashbacks when encountering specific triggers.
Helmick said the Army has facilities and programs to treat all those suffering such problems, but they have to be identified first. Leadership calls for helping those who need it, he said.
“This is no joke,” he said. “This is very, very serious. We have to have our soldiers take care of each other. Every soldier is at risk.”
