MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Col. James B. Seaton, base commander in 2008, designated June as “Combat Operational Stress Awareness Month,” shedding light on an important issue affecting thousands of Marines and sailors aboard Camp Pendleton.
“At first, it felt like every negative emotion I’d ever felt all combined into one,” said a lance corporal with three combat deployments undergoing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment, who preferred to remain anonymous. “I started drinking heavily and got a (Driving Under the Influence). Now, with this counseling, it’s getting easier to cope.”
Camp Pendleton is the only installation in the Marine Corps to take on the month-long initiative to raise awareness and to overcome the perceived negative stigma.
“When 9/11 happened, and subsequently we were fighting two wars, we experienced more service members coming into our facility with combat stress issues,” said R. Barry Francke, assistant manager and clinical supervisor, Counseling and Behavioral Health Services, Marine Corps Community Services. “We knew that for every one person that came in there were several more that needed to hear it was okay to get help.”
By Cpl. Jenn Calaway
Combat Awareness Month gives hope to war fighters
No comments:
Post a Comment