Veterans and Volunteerism: New Report claims Possible Cure for "Inner" Demons of PTSD might be the "Outer" Cure of Helping Others

"Recognize our usefulness.  We are not charity cases. We are an American asset." - A veteran from Iraq and Afghanistan 

America’s “Sea of Goodwill” in the form of volunteerism still exists … but it’s missing its most valuable asset: veterans. So claims the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, in the foreword of a recent report: All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service.

It makes sense. After all, veterans are not only armed to the teeth with survival and other practical, battle-honed skills. They’re also used to laying down their lives for others. In fact, you could call them “The Ultimate Volunteer.”

That desire to serve, to give sacrificially for their country doesn’t go away when they’ve traded the battlefront for the home front. Far from it. In fact, studies show that most veterans, if given the opportunity, will happily don the uniform of civic service. After all, these boots are made for walking … not resting.

PTSD: "Mental Illness or Physical Wound? The difference in diagnosis could mean PTSD stigma will one day be erased.

If they only had a brain...that could be measured, that is.

Latest news on the PTSD medical research front reveals that a specific region of the hippocamus portion of the brain known as the CA3/dentate gyrus is more than 11 percent smaller on average in those veterans with PTSD.

What does that mean, exactly?  You can read the full article (or the actual study if you're so inclined), but I'd be happy to do you a service and give you  the right-brain thinkers' version of it, a.k.a:  "Hippos, Dental Floss and Greek Gyru Sandwiches for the Medically Ignorant."

So, here—after much stretching of my own pea-sized "dentate gyrus"—is my take on the results of this massively funded study (courtesy of your tax dollars):

1. CA3/dentate gyrus is the region in the hippocamus region of the brain. Hippocamus, for those of you who weren't paying attention in Biology class, is the finger-joint size structure found in both hemispheres of the brain. It is essential for laying down memories, as well as for retrieving them. In other words, you can survive a hip replacement, but if you lose, hurt, or damage your hippocamus (on campus or otherwise) you'll become an instant walking amnesiac.

Homefront Heroes: Wings for Women Founder Talks about the Stresses of Military Life

Guest Blogger Alane Pearce talks about the trials and tribulations of military life––except she does more than talk. As the founder of the military spouse support group, Wings for Women, she offers real solutions for military spouses and their families who have a critical need of  networking and support when facing the battle of isolation, loneliness and stress on the home front.


When Mama Ain’t Happy...
By Alane Pearce Military Spouse and Founder of Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences

Military life can be hard. Our military personnel make great sacrifices to protect our country and others around the world. They work long hours and spend extended periods of time away from their families to fight for the freedoms that allow us to enjoy an American lifestyle. What many don’t realize is the stress and strain that this puts on the military spouse.

Military spouses are strong, but they can’t bear the burden of military life alone. The pressures of deployment, single parenting while married, tight budgets, lack of continuity and other stresses bear down on this strong woman’s soul.

This is why I founded Wings for Women Military Spouse Conferences--to help military spouses deal with the stresses of military life. The Wings for Women Conferences--two-day events that will run in military cities across the nation (as soon as we have funding for them) feature general sessions, dynamic speakers and military lifestyle breakout workshops designed to inspire and encourage military spouses towards emotional healing.