Month: October 2013

Nellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

USAF SealNellis major faces trial Tuesday on sex abuse charges

Nellis Air Force Base officers will proceed Tuesday with prosecuting and defending one of their own for alleged sex abuse. The case of Maj. Charles Cox comes as military leaders are cracking down sexual offenses in the wake of a surge of such cases reported by the Pentagon earlier this year.

Cox, a nurse assigned to the 99th Medical Operations Squadron at Nellis is charged with abusive sexual contact on an unconscious person, assault by battery and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The Air Force has made little public about the case, which was reported through the base’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

Read more: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nellis-major-faces-trial-tuesday-sex-abuse-charges

Living through nine suicides: After the deaths of so many friends, sailor determined not to lose another

On By AdministratorIn PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, SuicideLeave a comment

Veterans Crisis Line

Living through nine suicides: After the deaths of so many friends, sailor determined not to lose another

WASHINGTON — The first suicide was in 2007. Mike Little was preparing to head to Iraq for a year when he heard that his close friend, a National Guardsman who had inspired Little to join the military, had killed himself.

The second was before Little deployed to Afghanistan, about two years later. He couldn’t go to the funeral because he was due on a plane. The next three came during the naval reservist’s yearlong deployment in Afghanistan. Another suicide happened just as he got home, in late 2010. He’s up to nine now.

“At this point, I’m taking it personally,” he said. “I deployed twice, I came home, I struggled. I feel responsible that I didn’t reach out to them. Maybe if I had …”

Little, a petty officer 2nd class in the Naval Reserves, fought his own battle with suicidal thoughts and won, as much as any person still struggling with depression and post-traumatic stress can say they’ve won.

He has trouble sleeping. He calls the Veterans Crisis Line almost weekly.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/living-through-nine-suicides-1.240240

Insider outrage: Staff Sgt. Andrew Britton-Mihalo, 25

On By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Non Combat DeathLeave a comment

US ArmyInsider outrage: Staff Sgt. Andrew Britton-Mihalo, 25

Britton-Mihalo, a Green Beret, was slain April 25 by an elite counterpart with the Afghan special forces on a base the two sides shared in Kandahar Province. But those circumstances haven’t played much of a part in Mihalo’s grief. “We just accepted it,” she said.

Britton-Mihalo’s father was a Marine, his stepfather served in the Army and his two half-brothers are also in the Army.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/insider-outrage-staff-sgt-andrew-britton-mihalo-25-1.191954

Insider outrage: Sgt. Joshua Born, 25

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US ArmyInsider outrage: Sgt. Joshua Born, 25

The soldiers who came to the door in Florida told Beth Croft that her son was killed in a green-on-blue attack, but the only word that held any significance to her was “dead.”

It didn’t matter that an Afghan soldier had shot him while they monitored a local protest. Her only child, Sgt. Joshua Born, was gone forever.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/insider-outrage-sgt-joshua-born-25-1.191942

Insider outrage: Pfc. Jon Townsend, 19

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US ArmyInsider outrage: Pfc. Jon Townsend, 19

It turned out that on Sept. 16, the newly married 19-year-old had been gunned down by an Afghan ally. The International Security Assistance Force had sent out a press release announcing that the incident was an insider attack, but when Nelson asked the Army about it, the service refused to confirm the reports or offer any details, saying that no information would be released until the investigation was complete.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/insider-outrage-pfc-jon-townsend-19-1.191945

Insider outrage: Maj. Phil Ambard, 44

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USAF SealInsider outrage: Maj. Phil Ambard, 44

The U.S. military didn’t call the shooting a “green-on-blue” or “insider” attack. On April 27, 2011, when Linda Ambard’s husband and eight other Americans were gunned down by an Afghan ally, the only label the military put on it was “anomaly.”

The Afghan who opened fire at the Kabul airport snapped, the military said, in what was an event too rare to be considered anything more than an isolated tragedy.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/insider-outrage-maj-phil-ambard-44-1.191939

Ashley Ard, US Army, Left Newborn Baby in Park to Die (2013)

On By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Army, Child Abuse, Felony CrimeLeave a comment

Ashley Ard, Army

*Outcome of case is unknown at this time.

Police: Soldier mom left newborn in park to die
Grand jury indicts mother of dead newborn
Alaska soldier charged with murder in newborn’s death
Soldier originally from Portsmouth charged with murder in newborn’s death in Alaska
JBER Soldier Accused in Newborn’s Death Makes 1st Court Appearance
In case of abandoned newborn, mom pleads not guilty to murder
JBER soldier pleads not guilty to 2nd-degree murder
Alaska soldier pleads not guilty in newborn’s death
After abandoned baby’s death, state invests in spreading word about “safe surrender” law

PTSD – Safe, Natural, and Effective Treatments

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CannabisPTSD – Safe, Natural, and Effective Treatments

In the times of our ancestors, the fight or flight nervous system was very important for helping us avoid predators.  Our digestions stops so blood can go to our muscles, our reactions become very abrupt and emotional so we don’t think too long before deciding to run away from the tiger, we become hyper-aware of our environment, which makes it hard to concentrate on one thing… you get the picture.

People who suffer from posttraumatic stress get stuck in that branch of the nervous system.  It’s as if the trauma gets stuck in their bodies, and until they release the trauma the nervous system continues to operate in fight or flight mode.  Remaining in this state for too long can lead to a number of mental and physical problems, ranging from poor digestive health, to pain, to anxiety.  It can also predispose people to re-traumatization because they are seeing the world through the eyes of “something terrible is going to happen.”

Read more: http://integr8health.com/ptsd-safe-natural-and-effective-treatments/

Command Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

On By AdministratorIn Military Policy, Navy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

US NavyCommand Influence to Figure in Navy Rape Case

Congress didn’t waste any time weighing in on the case either. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., served notice that she will cite the Naval Academy sexual assault case in her efforts to legislate a major overhaul of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to take away commanders’ authority to refer charges and overrule decisions in courts-martial.

“It is time to move the sole decision-making power over whether serious crimes go to trial from the chain of command into the hands of non-biased, professionally trained military prosecutors — where it belongs,” Gillibrand said.

Read more: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/10/14/command-influence-to-figure-in-navy-rape-case.html?comp=700001075741&rank=1

Gillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

On By AdministratorIn Felony Crime, Military Policy, Sexual AssaultLeave a comment

Kirsten GillibrandGillibrand won’t quit on sexual assault bill

Gillibrand hasn’t yielded, recruiting flag officers and members of the judge advocate general corps to her side. She now has 46 senators, including Sen. Charles E. Schumer, the chamber’s No. 3 Democrat, publicly endorsing the amendment to the Defense Authorization Act containing the reforms. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a 1958 Annapolis graduate, is not among seven Republicans supporting Gillibrand.

Don’t call it a women’s bill. It reaches to the very heart and soul of our armed forces, to their sense of decency, obedience and honor – to our war fighters’ ability to win conflicts.

Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/douglas-turner/gillibrand-wont-quit-on-sexual-assault-bill-20131014