Hi all,

It's taken me awhile to actually contribute here, I guess I had to read that a lot of others often feel the same as I do.

I'm a 2 time Iraq veteran as an Infantryman with the 101st ABN. I have been diagnosed with PTSD for about a year now. I'll be getting medically retired soon and returning with my wife to MN to try and get on with my life.

The biggest emotion that I usually have is anger, a lot of it, not just over the things that happend but why they happend and with the way that a lot of things were handled by the Army.

The brightest spot in my life is my wife, she has been so compassionate, understanding, and loving through all of this even if she doesen't understand it. The only reason I had sought treament in the first place was because she aked me to. I sometimes feel that she's the only reason I'm not dead or in prison. I owe so much to her for the rocky road I've put her on and I often feel as though I don't deserve her. She is my lighthouse in the storm.

Thanks, BigGun1

Welcome BigGun.......Thanks for all that you do to protect us......

Welcome Home, BG1 from a Desert Storm vet.
Yes, the Army is a screwed up place! I could talk all night about that.
I got a medical discharge too.
Apply for your VA benes now and trade your severence pay for monthly direct deposits from the VA because VA checks do not take out taxes, and I don't think they are taxed. Also, apply for Soc Sec Disability and you can get a full VA check and a partial SSI check, like I do. That is also not taxed. You deserve all the compensation you can get.
Make sure they add PTSD and maybe depression to your list of medical problems before you get medically discharged or retired. Every diagnosis helps you down the road when you have to deal with the VA and Soc Sec.
We are proud of you BG1!

Big Gun, welcome. I hope this forum is helpful. Sounds like your wife is very strong and caring. You are lucky. Keep up the good work.

biggun welcome stop for a chat sometime...mj

Welcome Biggun,

Thank you so much for being who you are and doing what you had to do............YOUR LIFE IS IMPORTANT HERE, AS ALL THE VETS.........THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Welcome to the forum biggun! And thank you from a fellow vet. I'm glad you made it back!

I hate the army! I did a tour in Bosnia in '96 and Iraq in '05! After 16 yrs I gave up the Army and joined the USAF to finish up my 20! I retire this summer! Oh yeah!

welcome big gun, i too am in a similar position that you are. (1) i'm brand new to this forum and (2) i have been on two deployments to iraq and am about to face a third very soon. even though i am not an infantryman, i am a medic that has worked with the infantry in the past. i agree that not every decision that the army makes is necessarily the correct one. it makes one question a lot of different things when it comes to our leadership. stay strong in the fact that you are a survivor! respectfully, shadowmedic

Hey all,

Thank you all for your support, it really means a lot to me. All I'm waiting on to get out of the Army is the final typing of my dictation for my med board packet. I still have to be seen by orthopedics because I'm claiming joint and back pain.

I'm claiming a whole laundry list of things: PTSD, joint and back pain, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and acid reflux (gerd). From what I've been told I should be getting 100% from the VA with all of the things that I'm claiming.

Also for all the vets here, last fall I did the VA's 6 week PTSD program. It's called the Cohort Program and I strongly recommend it for all vets who are eligible for it. It has really been a huge help to to me with learning coping skills. You can still be on active duty to attend the program, all you need is a diagnoses of PTSD and a referral from your behavioral health provider.

Again, thank you all for your support and I'll be sure to post back my progress as I go through the system and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions anyone has regarding how the system works now for any vets who are or maybe going through the Army's med board process.

Thanks,
BigGun1