Hi Kitty,

Welcome to the forum. Let me first say, the military is wrong, as you don't need to only serve in combat to get PTSD. The initial prerequisite for PTSD diagnosis is:

The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:

(1) the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others.
(2) the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.

As you can see, from your explanation, you fit within the prerequisites for diagnosis, even though you were locked in a room simulating and dealing with both real world and fictional events.

Yes, I am a veteran from operations, however; I have seen some of my soldiers get PTSD from non-operational service, merely just training was enough to give a handful PTSD. Some training events went wrong, some where just too close for comfort, but that is what being in the military is all about to begin with, training for war, hence the training is often as close as it comes to the real deal at times.

The military say what they said, because that is their rules to be applicable to claim for compensation through veterans entitlements, though Australia has a mirror agency of veterans affairs, for those who are not veterans, so similar compensation can often be achieved, though veterans are just entitled to more because of their service. I am not sure whether the US has that type of agency to help cover medical costs and compensation or not.

Your certainly not alone kitty, and all sufferers here can directly relate to what you are suffering with your symptoms. Regardless how we got PTSD, our symptoms are all the same.

We are here to just chat with, understand, relate and support you kitty... so I think you found the right place. Welcome and look forward to chatting more with you.