“Combat to cul-de-sac”: Non-profit provides mental health services for returning soldiers

This morning Give an Hour held a news conference in conjunction with the American Psychiatric Association and the Lilly Foundation, a foundation that gives grants to philanthropic organizations . The presentation highlighted the work of Give an Hour, an organization which seeks to provide mental health services to military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and military families.

Dr. Barbara Romberg said she founded Give an Hour in September 2005 to supplement mental health services already provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Romberg cited studies which stated that 20 percent of the 1.6 million soldiers that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, or complications due to traumatic brain injuries. Romberg mentioned soldiers’ loss of self upon return to the United States, a loss that has caused an increase in divorce rates within military families and 18 suicides a day among the United States's 25 million veterans.

Romberg said that Give an Hour is comprised of licensed professionals in the mental health field and includes psychologists, psychiatrists, professional counselors, and social workers. Members are asked to volunteer one hour a week in which they provide free services to members of the military and others affected by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also stated that 1,200 health care professionals participate and that the program hopes to recruit a total of 40,000 members.

Romberg said that Give an Hour continually works to expand services across the United States and to increase public awareness of the mental side effects of warfare. An informational video stated that Give an Hour hopes to erase a stigma that appears within military personnel which suggests that seeking professional mental help will harm one’s career in the armed forces. Steven Paul, the president of Lilly Research Laboratories, said that Give an Hour, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Lilly Foundation seek to form a network of local support for a national issue.

Andrews Air Force Base hosts Joint Service Open House

This weekend, Andrews Air Force Base held the Joint Service Open House. Friday was only open to the Department of Defense and their families, including school groups and media while Saturday and Sunday were open to the public. The event was free and in previous years has attracted almost half a million people in a weekend.















This year, in conjunction with displays of military machinery and aerial performances from numerous groups including the Navy Blue Angels, the event was also held in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Citing the events program, it stated "1948: American servicemen and their allies save more than two million people in the city of Berlin with the airlift. A friendship is reborn. Today: More than 15 million Americans have lived in Germany while they or their family members served in the U.S. military. The friendship endures."

The U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team was also took part in the weekend, however on Friday due to inclement weather, their performance was canceled. Battling the weather the entire day, the Blue Angels decided to take to the air to give their much anticipated performance. Not only was the aerial show amazing, the precision of their take-off procedures and landing procedures was incredible; that in itself was a show. With a highly trained ground crew, the Blue Angels took to the air to entertain the crowd. First they began by making passes head on at each other. Some of these passes were made with one plane upside down and one right side up, while some of the passes ere made with both planes turning ninety degrees as they approached each other, avoiding collision by what seemed to be a hair length. Next, the six Blue Angel fighters performed stunts as a group, at times surprising the crowd as to which direction they were coming from. The show, completely narrated by a fellow Blue Angel, was done by heart and with his back to the actual performance and was truly a show that I think will be remembered by all in attendance.

There were planes and military machinery on display from the World War II era to today. With mostly planes on the tarmac that are still in use, this was truly a unique air show as it had current and modern
aircraft ranging from the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. Most of the crowd in attendance at the Friday show were Department of Defense personnel. After having a conversation with a long-time vendor of the show, he informed me that the Friday shows used to be attended by Congressional members and high-ranking members of the government as a display of the Department of Defense's work and military power. Now he says the show is mostly attended by civilians and military enthusiasts and not so much my government officials. Irregardless, the show is overall a tribute to the military and a show of respect to those who serve in the armed forces. It is a chance for personnel to show a glimpse of what the military is about and is truly an amazing experience.

For more photos and details please visit our Flickr site and jsoh.org

Murtha criticizes Bush Administration on five years of Iraq war

Congressman John P. Murtha (D-PA), chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, discussed the five years of violence in Iraq after President Bush declared “Mission Accomplished” in 2003, in a discussion at the Center for American Progress today.

Murtha talked about the wars in Vietnam, Lebanon, Beirut and Somalia and compared them to the current situation in Iraq. Similar to the military actions taken in those countries, in Iraq the U.S. went in without an exact strategy, the mission remained undefined and the U.S. military ended up becoming nation builders without a clear exit strategy.

“We learned throughout the last century that political, economic and diplomatic challenges are equally, if not more, important to achieving stability on the ground,” Murtha said. “And as we’ve learned over the past five years, we must ultimately win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.”

Iraq is facing crippling problems today with a government “riddled with corruption and paralyzed by incompetence,” sectarian violence, Iraqi refugees, ethnic zones and unemployment at 50 percent in certain areas, said Murtha. The United States is dealing with oil production remaining at pre-war lows, thousands of military deaths and poor military readiness levels.

Murtha concluded his remarks by urging the Bush Administration to look to the future at threats down the road the U.S.’s “faltering economy, skyrocketing energy prices, rising food costs and a significantly weakened dollar.”

Gen. Obering and his colleagues confident their budget works

The House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the fiscal year 2009 National Defense Authorization Budget Request of Missile Defense Programs.

Witnesses from high ranking Defense positions fielded questions about the budget request, including Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Obering talked about how the budget ensures America will not only continue to have strong short term military capabilities, but will protect us in the “long term as well.”

Obering said the budget request by President Bush for missile defense programs is “extremely modest” in comparison to what it does for our country. Obering mentioned that he hopes the military’s success in doing things with missiles like shooting down satellites continue while still being “operationally affordable” in coming years.

Senate Armed Services Committee grill Gates, Mullen on future of Iraq

This afternoon the Senate Armed Services Committee gave strong recommendations to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen after interrogating them through questioning. Senator Carl Levin, perhaps the most diligent and pressing in his questions, was profoundly concerned about the amount of money being spent and that will be spent on Iraq in the future. It was the view of multiple senators that Iraq needs to be paying for far more and that they are using the US as a crutch.

"The Iraqi forces will shoulder more of the burden as we reduce our forces over time," says Gates. He continued to discuss Iraq's economic and legislative successes as of recent. But he goes on to say, "just as there is real progress to report, there are also substantial reasons to be cautious."

There is also a deep concern about the large drug industry in Afghanistan and that the large amounts of money being transferred from drug trade may be going toward weaponry purchases which end up being used against US and coalition forces.


As senators continued to ask pressing questions, Gates and Mullen had most answers, but at times they were rather different that what the senators would have preferred to hear. It's evident that the senators are looking for a different direction than where the war is going.