The Daily caller published this article yesterday, and it alleges (with compelling audio evidence) that in order to reduce the backlog, employees at the VA simply deleted or destroyed records older than a certain date.
Now I have to admit that when I get really, really far behind on email (and yes, it does happen) that I have been known to take anything older than six months and move it to an archive folder (where it's still searchable if I need to find it) so I think I understan....
no wait, I don't understand this at all.
A few years ago when I was trying to get the medical care I needed for my back injury at the Bob Dole Regional VA Center in Wichita Kansas, the doc said I needed to get a series of injections in my back at the pain clinic. When I called to get the appointment I was told my appointment could not be scheduled at this time because there was a two week backlog - and they would get back to me when they could schedule me within two weeks.
I said, "OK, put me on the waiting list" and the reply was "We can't maintain a waiting list, by Congress we have to see veterans within two weeks."
So I guess the VA way of thinking is if we don't put you in the system then you aren't really waiting. Makes their "backlog" seem pretty reasonable. No wonder VA execs continue receiving fat bonuses in spite of their ineptness.
And no wonder veterans continue killing themselves at a rate greater than any time in history.
How do VA executives look themselves in the mirror?
Does this get you angry reading this? It gets me angry writing it.
So the VA runs its care of our injured and wounded veterans kinda like I manage my email - only worse. God help us all.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
75th Ranger Regiment Throw Available for Pre-Order
75th Ranger Regiment Memorial throws are now available for purchase from the Regiment's FRSA and at $50 these are a great deal. The first order will be placed NLT March 7th, so get your order in now!
Download the .pdf order form here.
Friday, February 14, 2014
GallantFew and Chili Off The Grid
On Saturday February 9th, 2014 I got to go on a goose hunt with experienced hunter and Marine veteran Aaron Childress. Aaron is producing a hunting show that supports veterans that have been injured in combat. His main goal is to raise awareness for veteran issues like PTSD, suicide, and joblessness. I was invited to represent GallantFew, Inc. and to talk about what I want to do after I graduate in May. This was a great honor and an even better opportunity for me. Most hunting shows exploit injured veterans to get better ratings but do nothing for veterans other than allow them to hunt. The fact that I was able to raise awareness for veterans and get to talk about my future goals says a lot about what Aaron is putting together.
Aaron is part of GallantFew's many success stories. He left the Marines and like many others had no idea what he wanted to do. He struggled during his transition. While Aaron was attending school, GallantFew helped get Aaron a job and provide him with a strong network to allow him to succeed. Now Aaron is giving back to GallantFew by using his own success to guide veterans on hunts and letting veterans talk about their goals on his new hunting show Chili Off The Grid. Episode 1:1 is airing on Hunt Channel 266 (basic package) on DISH April 1, 2014. Its going to be a very entertaining series, I recommend this show to any veteran or hunter.
The guys that helped put this hunt together were a very fun and entertaining group of guys. Kansas Game Chasers David Williams (can call birds like no other) and Scott McFadden (knows about every aspect their is to know about hunting), these guys are definitely Pro's! Bill the Personnel/Safety Manager at C-Tech/Blackburn Construction hosted a breakfast before the hunt where they gave me my very own goose call (that I will figure out). Bill invited me to talk with the owner of the company he works for about a possible job prospect in the near future, an outstanding opportunity.
We ended up getting 10 geese, I think I shot at all 10 birds, me hitting one is a different story. I had a blast! Thanks Chet, Troy, and Chili! Hope to do it again.
Aaron Childress can be reached at aaron@chilioffthegrid.com
Rangers Lead The Way
-JD- <2>
Aaron is part of GallantFew's many success stories. He left the Marines and like many others had no idea what he wanted to do. He struggled during his transition. While Aaron was attending school, GallantFew helped get Aaron a job and provide him with a strong network to allow him to succeed. Now Aaron is giving back to GallantFew by using his own success to guide veterans on hunts and letting veterans talk about their goals on his new hunting show Chili Off The Grid. Episode 1:1 is airing on Hunt Channel 266 (basic package) on DISH April 1, 2014. Its going to be a very entertaining series, I recommend this show to any veteran or hunter.
The guys that helped put this hunt together were a very fun and entertaining group of guys. Kansas Game Chasers David Williams (can call birds like no other) and Scott McFadden (knows about every aspect their is to know about hunting), these guys are definitely Pro's! Bill the Personnel/Safety Manager at C-Tech/Blackburn Construction hosted a breakfast before the hunt where they gave me my very own goose call (that I will figure out). Bill invited me to talk with the owner of the company he works for about a possible job prospect in the near future, an outstanding opportunity.
We ended up getting 10 geese, I think I shot at all 10 birds, me hitting one is a different story. I had a blast! Thanks Chet, Troy, and Chili! Hope to do it again.
Aaron Childress can be reached at aaron@chilioffthegrid.com
Rangers Lead The Way
-JD- <2>
Thursday, February 6, 2014
1st Ranger Battalion & Gold Star Families 40th Anniversary Reunion
Rangers and Friends:
Below is the information for the 20-23 Aug 2014, 1st Ranger Battalion & Gold Star Families 40th Anniversary Reunion. The “Originals” will host a Kevin Barry’s Pub Social on the 20th; 1/75 will host an Organizational Day Picnic on the 21st; and the Original 1974 Plankholders will host a Dinner at the Marriott Riverfront on the 22nd.
Get your registration form here and we'll see you in Savannah!
RLTW!
Saturday, January 25, 2014
ARITS SGT Aaron Barr
There is a tradition in the Ranger Regiment to assign new soldiers an "Airborne Ranger in the Sky". These Airborne Rangers in the Sky are reminders of the Ranger Creed, the deadly serious nature of our business, and a way to ensure the legacy continues and those who went before are never forgotten.
The father of a Ranger who was killed in a hit and run accident after he left active duty reached out to me and asked that we honor his son's service. I immediately realized that while we rightly focus on remembering those who gave their lives in combat or in training are always remembered and recognized, that those who pass on later but are disconnected from the community are not always remembered. This is the first of a series we intend to publish about Airborne Rangers in the Sky. Please don't send us information just yet, we are working on an SOP for submission, approval and posting. Rest assured we will do it right and there will be no advertising or expense associated with submitting an ARITS. If you are interested in volunteering with this team, contact me. Ranger veteran Jay Erwin compiled this first ARITS piece. RLTW Karl
SGT Aaron Barr served with 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. He completed four tours of duty, one to Iraq and 3 to Afghanistan. As a veteran, I take it upon myself to never forget my brothers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As veterans it is our duty to honor our brothers and sisters that have stood in the face of evil. There are veterans who have served honorably but were killed after they served. Not getting the respect owed to them for their honorable service. Aaron Barr stood before our country and said, "send me," for I am willing to fight, his sacrifices should never be forgotten.
As we pay tribute to this young Ranger we remember those that have served before us. SGT Barr was a hero to his family, to his brothers, and to the United States, and especially to his dad. As Aaron's dad writes, "Aaron was very private about his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I know he was an E-5 Team Leader on his last deployment to Afghanistan." In 2006 Robert Barr moved to be closer to his son Aaron who was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.
"I would know when he left, and he would write me and when able he would call. Then he would call me when he was home and thats when we really got to spend a lot of time together. We fished and hunted together whenever we could," Robert writes. He goes on, "His replacement, SGT Justin Allen was KIA soon after Aaron's discharge...Aaron had a really hard time dealing with Justin's passing."
(Here is a picture of Aaron, team leader, and Justin on the right. Justin became team leader after Aaron's discharge....they were very close friends)
(Picture of Robert Barr and his son SGT Aaron Barr)
Aaron was ran off a road in Macon, Georgia which ultimately cost him his life. We honor this soldier, this Ranger, this hero. Robert would love to hear from Aaron's teammates and fellow Rangers to learn more about his son's service. If any Rangers or friends that have stories to share about SGT Aaron Barr please feel free to do so in the comments section below, and you may post them anonymously. Inappropriate comments will be removed. Help us allow his family to hold Aarons prestigious legacy as a United States Army Airborne Ranger closer in their hearts. His sacrifices should not and will not be forgotten. One for the Airborne Ranger in The Sky!
The father of a Ranger who was killed in a hit and run accident after he left active duty reached out to me and asked that we honor his son's service. I immediately realized that while we rightly focus on remembering those who gave their lives in combat or in training are always remembered and recognized, that those who pass on later but are disconnected from the community are not always remembered. This is the first of a series we intend to publish about Airborne Rangers in the Sky. Please don't send us information just yet, we are working on an SOP for submission, approval and posting. Rest assured we will do it right and there will be no advertising or expense associated with submitting an ARITS. If you are interested in volunteering with this team, contact me. Ranger veteran Jay Erwin compiled this first ARITS piece. RLTW Karl
SGT Aaron Barr served with 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. He completed four tours of duty, one to Iraq and 3 to Afghanistan. As a veteran, I take it upon myself to never forget my brothers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As veterans it is our duty to honor our brothers and sisters that have stood in the face of evil. There are veterans who have served honorably but were killed after they served. Not getting the respect owed to them for their honorable service. Aaron Barr stood before our country and said, "send me," for I am willing to fight, his sacrifices should never be forgotten.
As we pay tribute to this young Ranger we remember those that have served before us. SGT Barr was a hero to his family, to his brothers, and to the United States, and especially to his dad. As Aaron's dad writes, "Aaron was very private about his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I know he was an E-5 Team Leader on his last deployment to Afghanistan." In 2006 Robert Barr moved to be closer to his son Aaron who was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.
"I would know when he left, and he would write me and when able he would call. Then he would call me when he was home and thats when we really got to spend a lot of time together. We fished and hunted together whenever we could," Robert writes. He goes on, "His replacement, SGT Justin Allen was KIA soon after Aaron's discharge...Aaron had a really hard time dealing with Justin's passing."
(Here is a picture of Aaron, team leader, and Justin on the right. Justin became team leader after Aaron's discharge....they were very close friends)
(Picture of Robert Barr and his son SGT Aaron Barr)
Aaron was ran off a road in Macon, Georgia which ultimately cost him his life. We honor this soldier, this Ranger, this hero. Robert would love to hear from Aaron's teammates and fellow Rangers to learn more about his son's service. If any Rangers or friends that have stories to share about SGT Aaron Barr please feel free to do so in the comments section below, and you may post them anonymously. Inappropriate comments will be removed. Help us allow his family to hold Aarons prestigious legacy as a United States Army Airborne Ranger closer in their hearts. His sacrifices should not and will not be forgotten. One for the Airborne Ranger in The Sky!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Ranger Creed Still Applies
I had a phone conversation with a Ranger veteran today. We talked about his continuing transition, which has been fraught with struggles and instances of the "system" working against him so much you'd think the system was run by the Taliban.
He made an interesting comment which I quote here:
But when he was suffering, he did what his quote said. He went into isolation mode, because he didn't "want to burden" his Ranger buddies.
Or is it because his character, his makeup, his training all told him to suck it up, drive on, handle this yourself?
The true Ranger paradox.
The Creed says: "I will never leave a fallen comrade..."
The Mentality says: "I'll deal with this myself, regardless of how difficult or how much the cost."
We Rangers are a unique breed, and we all internally are very much alike. We all are very adept at hiding pain - a trait that can serve us well on the battlefield, or in an athletic competition - but one that ultimately can cause greater harm if we continue hiding that pain at home.
Harm to relationships, harm to employment, harm to emotional health.
It's OK to reach out to a Ranger buddy and give them a SITREP - and even if you don't feel pain now, maybe he does. So reach out. Especially if you haven't heard from him in awhile. Maybe he doesn't want to burden you.
RLTW
He made an interesting comment which I quote here:
"When you stop hearing from us, it's because we are sucking but don't want to burden our Ranger buddies"Yet he has personally dropped everything to help one of his Ranger buddies, and would do so everytime one of his Ranger buddies had a need.
But when he was suffering, he did what his quote said. He went into isolation mode, because he didn't "want to burden" his Ranger buddies.
Or is it because his character, his makeup, his training all told him to suck it up, drive on, handle this yourself?
The true Ranger paradox.
The Creed says: "I will never leave a fallen comrade..."
The Mentality says: "I'll deal with this myself, regardless of how difficult or how much the cost."
We Rangers are a unique breed, and we all internally are very much alike. We all are very adept at hiding pain - a trait that can serve us well on the battlefield, or in an athletic competition - but one that ultimately can cause greater harm if we continue hiding that pain at home.
Harm to relationships, harm to employment, harm to emotional health.
It's OK to reach out to a Ranger buddy and give them a SITREP - and even if you don't feel pain now, maybe he does. So reach out. Especially if you haven't heard from him in awhile. Maybe he doesn't want to burden you.
RLTW
Monday, January 20, 2014
THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS IN SADR CITY
By: Boone Cutler (original strong language slightly edited)
Check this out. Blast wave injuries. I have this crazy theory about blast wave injuries.
I have Traumatic Brain Injury relative to Post-Concussive Syndrome ... Blah, blah, blah ... Basically, I got blow'd up.
It goes like this: BIG WHITE FLASH from know-where while simultaneously feeling HIT hard in the nose, throat, gut and nuts all at the same time. Breath taking really because its instant but really slow too, "lights out" moment that you are unaware of simply occurs, then a "WTF" feeling like no-other, followed by a "God sent me back to my body in a flash" rush mixed with "did that just happen and is my body intact".
It was not scary; it happened too fast to feel any emotions. After that I was definitely more fearless. I knew what it felt like to be dead. It was a fearless sensation of simply no sensation at all. I've never been the same and my life before the blast seems like somebody else's life. In a way, it was the birth of who I am now. That explosion was my *road to Damascus.
So to recap it goes like this:
1. BIG WHITE FLASH - HARD HIT
2. lights out
3. Suddenly.... Zap
4. "WTF .... did God just send me back to my body, wow ... did that just really happen."
What happens next depends on how f*ed up you are but for a flash it's as good as being dead. I felt like I had died.
I wasn't bleeding other than a tad from the nose and I was able to drive on. I wasn't in a vehicle, no helmet and it wasn't a large mortar but it was close enough to ring my bell.
I didn't know about blast wave injuries. Soon after I experienced symptoms that were primarily memory and sleep related with headaches, neck pain and poor balance. I even fell off a platform while on a raid and f*ed up my head again. Life became harder and I gradually felt worse.
At Walter Reed they kept asking about IED's and I said no. At that time "Roadside Bombs" were just all the rage with those silly fellas trying to kill us in Iraq. IEDs got a lot of air-time at home so I think a lot of folks assumed all blasts were IEDs.
They kept asking and I said no; then finally they said I didn't remember it. I called my team and asked if we took an IED blast and we hadn't.
I was getting worse and couldn't remember s*** accept from what I had in my notes and they sent me to a poly-trauma unit in Tampa.
I thought my injury was from the fall until I was asked specifically about being near any "mortar blasts" and I answered, "Yes, but only one got close". And there it was. The doctors pressed the issue because I displayed a blast-wave injury. Truthfully, as I write this I should be more thankful the Docs didn't give up and less bitter about how long it took.
I felt so dumb for not correlating an IED and a Mortar both were categorized as; blasts. However, that was also part of my injury. The question needed to be very specific to find the answer in my brain. Again, symptom of my blast wave injury. I call it "indexing". If I don't get the right stimulus; I'm frozen inside and nothing exists in my memory. I'm always planning. If I don't need the memory to complete a plan or mission, it doesn't exist.
Here comes some intellectual s*** so pay attention and answer the questions for yourself. The "BIG WHITE FLASH" moment I described, I later found out was caused by how a blast wave isn't repelled my the human skull and it damages the brain. It zero's you out in some ways, like turning off a computer.
The "back in my body" sensation was the reboot. The computer is working but the hard-drive struggles. Blast waves tear the s*** that connects s*** to other s*** in the human brain.
Imagine how f*ed the reception of a radio would be if all the wires inside were instantly corroded but not completely broken. No damage to the outside but now you find yourself being creative with coat hangers to try and improve the signal.
QUESTION: What if the reboot doesn't boot up everything and there's a glitch?
We know the brain finds ways to learn what it needs by re-attaching neuro-pathways and brain s*** gets re-wired.
Those with TBI / PTSD combination seem to have more intensified PTSD symptoms than those without TBI.
Having PTSD and no TBI seem to have less-intensive agoraphobic behavior in the civilian environment. Same frustration in public; hell yes, but less barricading at home.
I also recall having concussions in the civilian environment from being; lets say, "various forms of an Irish ego". I don't recall a re-boot like I did from TBI caused by a blast wave injury while in war. Maybe concussions occur in various degrees of severity. Getting a bump on the head is different than the mechanism of a blast.
According to Wikipedia regarding blast waves, "High-order explosives produce a supersonic overpressure wave ..... A blast wave generated by an explosion starts with a single pulse of increased air pressure, lasting a few milliseconds. The negative pressure (suction) of the blast wave follows immediately after the positive wave". Well, that explains a lot; supersonic overpressure followed by supersonic suction in milliseconds. Like I stated earlier,"Blast waves tear the s*** that connects s*** to other s*** in the human brain".
Here is my theory; when our brains rewire themselves during combat, our drive paths per se, become what it took to survive, complete missions and protect one another in a wartime situation. It's intense and the other behavior important to a civilian environment gets wiped out. All priorities from combat norms become the overall norm.
This explains why those with single diagnosis of PTSD can cope better outside the house in a civilian environment and are less agoraphobic. They haven't had to relearn the "how" part. TBI requires re-learning.
I stayed in-country for a long time after my injury. Months and months of missions. Is my brain now hard-wired to think as I lived in Sadr City?
Is my human brain the product of the Military Decision Making Process now?
If you went through something similar, does this help explain other things?
All the way, Boone
Written: January 19, 2014
* road to Damascus:
(idiomatic) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
**I'm just a guy trying to figure it all out and I believe we can if we work as a team.
As a side-note, add Mef Tox to TBI / PTSD and symptoms intensify yet again.
READ MORE ABOUT BLAST INJURIES FROM POPULAR SCIENCE:
http://www.woundedwarriorhomes.org/about-us/our-mission/articles-on-traumatic-brain-injury-and-post-traumatic-stress/shock-to-the-system/
Check this out. Blast wave injuries. I have this crazy theory about blast wave injuries.
I have Traumatic Brain Injury relative to Post-Concussive Syndrome ... Blah, blah, blah ... Basically, I got blow'd up.
It goes like this: BIG WHITE FLASH from know-where while simultaneously feeling HIT hard in the nose, throat, gut and nuts all at the same time. Breath taking really because its instant but really slow too, "lights out" moment that you are unaware of simply occurs, then a "WTF" feeling like no-other, followed by a "God sent me back to my body in a flash" rush mixed with "did that just happen and is my body intact".
It was not scary; it happened too fast to feel any emotions. After that I was definitely more fearless. I knew what it felt like to be dead. It was a fearless sensation of simply no sensation at all. I've never been the same and my life before the blast seems like somebody else's life. In a way, it was the birth of who I am now. That explosion was my *road to Damascus.
So to recap it goes like this:
1. BIG WHITE FLASH - HARD HIT
2. lights out
3. Suddenly.... Zap
4. "WTF .... did God just send me back to my body, wow ... did that just really happen."
What happens next depends on how f*ed up you are but for a flash it's as good as being dead. I felt like I had died.
I wasn't bleeding other than a tad from the nose and I was able to drive on. I wasn't in a vehicle, no helmet and it wasn't a large mortar but it was close enough to ring my bell.
I didn't know about blast wave injuries. Soon after I experienced symptoms that were primarily memory and sleep related with headaches, neck pain and poor balance. I even fell off a platform while on a raid and f*ed up my head again. Life became harder and I gradually felt worse.
At Walter Reed they kept asking about IED's and I said no. At that time "Roadside Bombs" were just all the rage with those silly fellas trying to kill us in Iraq. IEDs got a lot of air-time at home so I think a lot of folks assumed all blasts were IEDs.
They kept asking and I said no; then finally they said I didn't remember it. I called my team and asked if we took an IED blast and we hadn't.
I was getting worse and couldn't remember s*** accept from what I had in my notes and they sent me to a poly-trauma unit in Tampa.
I thought my injury was from the fall until I was asked specifically about being near any "mortar blasts" and I answered, "Yes, but only one got close". And there it was. The doctors pressed the issue because I displayed a blast-wave injury. Truthfully, as I write this I should be more thankful the Docs didn't give up and less bitter about how long it took.
I felt so dumb for not correlating an IED and a Mortar both were categorized as; blasts. However, that was also part of my injury. The question needed to be very specific to find the answer in my brain. Again, symptom of my blast wave injury. I call it "indexing". If I don't get the right stimulus; I'm frozen inside and nothing exists in my memory. I'm always planning. If I don't need the memory to complete a plan or mission, it doesn't exist.
Here comes some intellectual s*** so pay attention and answer the questions for yourself. The "BIG WHITE FLASH" moment I described, I later found out was caused by how a blast wave isn't repelled my the human skull and it damages the brain. It zero's you out in some ways, like turning off a computer.
The "back in my body" sensation was the reboot. The computer is working but the hard-drive struggles. Blast waves tear the s*** that connects s*** to other s*** in the human brain.
Imagine how f*ed the reception of a radio would be if all the wires inside were instantly corroded but not completely broken. No damage to the outside but now you find yourself being creative with coat hangers to try and improve the signal.
QUESTION: What if the reboot doesn't boot up everything and there's a glitch?
We know the brain finds ways to learn what it needs by re-attaching neuro-pathways and brain s*** gets re-wired.
Those with TBI / PTSD combination seem to have more intensified PTSD symptoms than those without TBI.
Having PTSD and no TBI seem to have less-intensive agoraphobic behavior in the civilian environment. Same frustration in public; hell yes, but less barricading at home.
I also recall having concussions in the civilian environment from being; lets say, "various forms of an Irish ego". I don't recall a re-boot like I did from TBI caused by a blast wave injury while in war. Maybe concussions occur in various degrees of severity. Getting a bump on the head is different than the mechanism of a blast.
According to Wikipedia regarding blast waves, "High-order explosives produce a supersonic overpressure wave ..... A blast wave generated by an explosion starts with a single pulse of increased air pressure, lasting a few milliseconds. The negative pressure (suction) of the blast wave follows immediately after the positive wave". Well, that explains a lot; supersonic overpressure followed by supersonic suction in milliseconds. Like I stated earlier,"Blast waves tear the s*** that connects s*** to other s*** in the human brain".
Here is my theory; when our brains rewire themselves during combat, our drive paths per se, become what it took to survive, complete missions and protect one another in a wartime situation. It's intense and the other behavior important to a civilian environment gets wiped out. All priorities from combat norms become the overall norm.
This explains why those with single diagnosis of PTSD can cope better outside the house in a civilian environment and are less agoraphobic. They haven't had to relearn the "how" part. TBI requires re-learning.
I stayed in-country for a long time after my injury. Months and months of missions. Is my brain now hard-wired to think as I lived in Sadr City?
Is my human brain the product of the Military Decision Making Process now?
If you went through something similar, does this help explain other things?
All the way, Boone
Written: January 19, 2014
* road to Damascus:
(idiomatic) An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
**I'm just a guy trying to figure it all out and I believe we can if we work as a team.
As a side-note, add Mef Tox to TBI / PTSD and symptoms intensify yet again.
READ MORE ABOUT BLAST INJURIES FROM POPULAR SCIENCE:
http://www.woundedwarriorhomes.org/about-us/our-mission/articles-on-traumatic-brain-injury-and-post-traumatic-stress/shock-to-the-system/
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