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On 2012 November 13, just two days after Veterans' Day, the day that our Nation pledged unilateral unwavering support for Veterans and ALL Service Members; the OIF/OEF Reserve Component Soldier and civilian Police Officer that inspired this petition was...
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"When we are losing more Soldiers (Reserve Component) to suicide than the Afghanistan war, it is an epidemic" -Suicide and the Military © by Amy Menna, Ph.D., LMHC, CAP & Gift From Within www.giftfromwithin.org
In July 2012, the Veterans Administration (VA) reported that 18 VETERANS a day will commit suicide and 950 per month will attempt suicide. "Suicide No. 2 cause of death (those still serving) in the US Military" http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-06-13/military-suicides/55585182/1
What are the mortality rates for the untreated/under-treated National Guardsmen and Reservists waiting to access VA Care that were eligible for care through Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) and Tri-Service Medical Care (TRICARE)?
National Guardsmen and Reservists are systematically DENIED access to the Health Care Benefits that they EARN. Despite the fact that the DOD created Medical Treatment Programs to ensure EQUAL access and standardization of treatment;National Guardsmen and Reservists are routinely Released From Active Duty (REFRAD) WITHOUT any of these criteria being met. www.armyg1.army.mil/wtu/docs/WTUConsolidatedGuidanceAdministrative.pdf
Medical diagnoses, access to care and treatment at these Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) is often based on the Service Member's Service Component Affiliation (Active/Guard/Reserve) and NOT the current DOD policy for assessing and treating the injury/illness. http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-08-09/army-suicides/57096238/1
When every physician in these Soldier Centered Programs begins an appointment with, "Are you (Active/Guard/Reserve) ?" Disparities between treatment are difficult to ignore and easy to explain. National Guardsmen and Reservists, remain misdiagnosed and untreated/under-treated" for what may potentially be life altering/threatening illnesses.
Given the current argument by DOD for keeping the "Feres Doctrine", when obligatory moral and professional Medical responsibility fails there is little regulatory incentive to bolster those shortcoming. http://www.stripes.com/news/the-argument-for-keeping-the-feres-doctrine-1.173370
A Service Member, that knows the regulations and has a supportive Senator or Representative, may wait several months to years before their Medical records are corrected and they still may not gain access to the Health Care and Benefits that they EARNED.
It took MORE than 1 year 5 months 13 days from the date of my redeployment from Afghanistan to correct parts of my Medical records; I am one of the "success stories". Most Service Members WILL NOT gain access to THEIR benefits.
Army National Guardsmen and United States Army Reservists wear the SAME uniforms, support the SAME missions, EARN the SAME Health Care."Demand EQUAL Access to Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) and TRICARE in accordance with current DOD Policy.
Plan would help National Guard access benefits
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
tweeted: Wednesday Nov 28, 2012 13:44:50 EST http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/11/military-senate-advisers-national-guard-benefits-112812w/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Every state would have a transition assistance adviser dedicated to helping National Guard members access benefits and health care under a proposal introduced Tuesday in the Senate.
The plan, unveiled by Sens. Robert Casey,...
See MoreSenator Ron Wyden Letter Prompts DoD to Change Policy Denying Injured Guard and Reserve Members Medical Assistance Friday, September 16, 2011 http://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-letter-prompts-dod-to-change-policy-denying-injured-guard-and-reserve-members-medical-assistance
Washington, D.C. – Coming on the heels of a letter sent to DoD undersecretary Dr. Clifford Stanley on Tuesday calling on the department to fix a policy severely inhibiting the access to healthcare...
See MoreIs your Congressional Representative on the list? S!O!S members have begun writing to their Representatives about our Cause! Please Join us. We are now more than 52,000 STRONG and GROWING!
The One Hundred Twelfth (112th) United States Congress convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January 3, 2013.
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel has jurisdiction over all (but not limited to) matters relating to Active and Reserve Military Personnel: Military...
See More"MILITARY REPORTS ALARMING BREAST CANCER RATES AMONG TROOPS" -Jon R. Anderson
(COMPLETE ARTICLE @ http://www.pnj.com/article/20121007/NEWS12/310070010/Military-reports-alarming-breast-cancer-rates-among-troops?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CMilitary )
"......BREAST CANCER striking relatively YOUNG military WOMEN at alarming rates, but MALE SERVICE MEMBER (Active/GUARD/RESERVE), VETERANS and their DEPENDENTS are AT RISK, as well."
".....military tend to have a lower risk for most...
During August, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were nine potential suicides (five Army National Guard and four Army Reserve): none have been confirmed as suicide and nine remain under investigation. For July, among that same group, the Army reported 12 potential suicides (nine Army National Guard and three Army Reserve); four have been confirmed as suicides and eight remain under investigation. For 2012, there have been 80 potential not on active-duty...
See Moreexcerpt from Leila Levinson: Time to Pay the Price of War posted 9/21/2012
Texas is home to the second-largest veteran population in the country behind California; but, as reported by the Austin American Statesman, veterans in central Texas, have the nation's longest average wait time for disability claims processing: roughly 393 days, according to the VA's most recent numbers. (Before a veteran can access services at the VA, they need a finding of disability.)
Simply put, the VA...
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