Let me begin by explaining my position in this insane society, I am a mother of two boys ages 13 and 6. My husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan. This is his second tour, and this is my story of trying to maintain my objectivity in a position that is so close to my heart.
My husband and I met at a birthday party for a mutual friend fourteen years ago. We dated for two years, and then we married on June 12th. Then so began my life as a military wife. Not long after our marriage he was deployed to Iraq, and few months after I realized I was pregnant with my first child.
Being a veteran of the military, he has experienced a variety of situations where mental illness comes into focus. The most common illness being PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder among the veterans. Forty four percent of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans have been treated with some form of this disorder. The astonishing revelation of this is that only a small amount of these veterans are receiving their disability. The men he has served beside who were injured in some sort of fight are not receiving the disability, and help they deserve. Many of these men are heroes, putting others' lives ahead of their own.
Some of these men have been dishonorably discharged, and for this reason cannot receive help from the VA. Not only do they not receive help, but they cannot seek employment elsewhere because of the disability.
These soldiers voluntarily enlist in the military to serve their country, and defend it with their lives. They deserve the help they were promised when they enlisted. Thankfully, the soldiers have been able to receive help from a group of lawyers who are fighting to get them honorable discharges, so they can receive their benefits.
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