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U.S. Marines Update Tattoo Policy

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tattoos

By Debbie Gregory

The United States Marines Corps has released a new tattoo policy that seeks to balance their rank and files’ desires to express themselves through body art with the high standards of professional military appearance and heritage.

This is the first update to Marine Corps’ tattoo regulations since 2010.

“There is a reason why Marine Corps Recruiting has remained so successful throughout the years, when you ask Marines why they chose the Corps, most will tell you because they wanted to be different,” said Sgt. Major Ronald L. Green, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. “They wanted to be part of something better than self.  They wanted to be a part of a team.”

According to the new tattoo regulations, Marines will no longer be able to have tattoos on the head and/or neck; 2 inches above and 1 inch below the center of the elbow; 2 inches above the wrist; on hands; and 2 inches above and below the kneecap. The lone exception for the hands is a single band tattoo on a finger, which cannot be larger than 3/8 of an inch.

While Marines can have an unlimited number of tattoos that are covered by the properly fitting standard physical training uniform (green t-shirt and green shorts) any tattoo, regardless of where it is, cannot express sexism, nudity, racism, vulgarity, or anything that is offensive as to discredit the Marine Corps or damage the nation’s expectations of them.

So-called sleeve tattoos that cover most, if not all, of an arm are no longer allowed.

Any Marine who has already been grandfathered will not be affected by the bulletin. Marines will be given 120 days from the date of the June 2nd bulletin to document existing tattoos that fall outside the parameters of the new regulations. After that period expires, those found to be in violation of the new regulations could be disciplined.

For a full list of the new policy, visit http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/788805/new-marine-corps-tattoo-regulations.aspx

Guard Your Mind and Body during PTSD Awareness Month

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guard your health

June is PTSD Awareness Month, a great opportunity to raise public awareness about PTSD, a behavioral health concern that impacts the lives of many Americans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that PTSD affects:

  • 11 to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans
  • 12 percent of Gulf War Veterans and
  • Approximately 30 percent of Vietnam Veterans

For those affected by a behavioral health concern, everyday tasks can sometimes feel overwhelming, but exercise can help. Incorporating regular physical activity can alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression by improving behavioral health, boosting moods, and improving sleep quality.

No matter your age or fitness level, regular exercise can positively impact both your mind and body. Working out releases endorphins, those “feel-good” chemicals that trigger feelings of happiness. Walking, jogging, swimming, biking, and other forms of exercise can help those with PTSD by providing a distraction from painful memories and reducing physical tension.

Regular exercise can also provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment, helping you gain confidence as you achieve your fitness goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults get 150 minutes of exercise each week, which is just a little more than 20 minutes a day.

There are a number of ways to achieve 20 minutes of daily exercise:

  • Take a brisk walk with friends or family members
  • Squeeze in a short online workout video, like Guard Your Health’s free #WarriorReady workouts
  • Go for a jog around the neighborhood

When taking control of your health, find a routine that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sound sleep patterns. Exercise can also be a valuable addition to a behavioral health treatment plan with guidance from a healthcare provider.

Remember, if you are struggling with a behavioral health concern, you are not alone. If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is only a phone call or text away. Dial the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (press 1), or send a text message to 838255 for immediate help.

Guard Your Health is a health and medical readiness campaign for Army National Guard Soldiers and their families sponsored by the Army National Guard Chief Surgeon’s Office. Guard Your Health provides Army National Guard Soldiers with the information, motivation, and support to overcome challenges and make healthy decisions for themselves, their families, and their units. To learn more about improving your health, visit the Guard Your Health website, like “Guard Your Health” on Facebook, and follow @ARNGHealth on Twitter. For more tips to max your APFT and stay mission ready, subscribe to FitText, Guard Your Health’s text message program, by texting FIT to 703-997-6747.

Citation Guide

Breene, Sophia. “13 Unexpected Benefits of Exercise.” Greatist, 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 May 2016.

“Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms.” Depression (Major Depressive Disorder). Mayo Clinic. Web. 19 May 2016.

“How Common Is PTSD?” PTSD: National Center for PTSD. US Department of Veterans Affairs. Web. 25 May 2016.

“How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need?” Physical Activity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 04 June 2015. Web. 20 May 2016.

Khazan, Olga. “For Depression, Prescribing Exercise Before Medication.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 May 2016.

“Mental Health By the Numbers.” NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Web. 18 May 2016.

“Physical Fitness Training Year-Round Boosts Resilience.” Real Warriors. Web. 18 May 2016.

Weir, Kirsten. “The Exercise Effect.” American Psychological Association. Web. 20 May 2016. December 2011, Vol 42, No. 11.

What Does Clinton Have Planned for Military Families?

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By Debbie Gregory.

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton plans to strengthen services and support for military families who serve alongside our service members.

“It is little wonder that service members’ concern for their family’s well-being is a top consideration in whether troops stay in or leave the force,” according to Clinton’s military families agenda.

Mrs. Clinton said that members of the military should be able to easily switch between active-duty, National Guard and reserve service in order “to make decisions good for their family and maintain a career with the military.”

She believes nobody should have to choose between serving their country and taking care of their family.

Hugh Rodham, Mrs. Clinton’s father, was a chief petty officer at Naval Station Great Lakes during World War II. He instilled in her, at an early age, the importance of supporting our men and women in uniform, military families, and veterans, and empathy for the challenges that many service members and veterans face.

Additionally, since the number of married couples who both are in uniform has vastly increased, Mrs. Clinton wants the duty assignment process overhauled so that more spouses can serve near each other without either of them losing ground in their careers.

Several other elements of her military family platform include improved child care, both  on and off base; expand maternity and paternity leaves; and expanded employment assistance for civilian spouses of service members.

Mrs. Clinton wants to ensure that the men and women who risk their lives for our country have access to a good education and good jobs when they come home by solidifying services and programs that connect veterans to jobs after their service.

“I believe in making sure that people who sacrifice for us are given all the care and the benefits and support that they need. And I believe strongly that taking care of our veterans is part of our solemn duty as Americans.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Specialist Argues for Recognition of Sleep Disorder Linked to Combat

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TSD

By Debbie Gregory.

Col. Vincent Mysliwiec, a sleep-medicine specialist for the U.S. Army, believes there is a new syndrome affecting young combat veterans.

Trauma-Associated Sleep Disorder, or TSD, is similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and REM Behavior Disorder (RBD.)

Those who have TSD commonly act out their dreams with screaming, thrashing kicks and punches, and also sleepwalk, sleep-talk, and snore loudly.

Around 2008, Mysliwiec, who is based at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, began observing sleep disturbances among veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He outlined the diagnostic criteria for TSD in a 2014 article in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Unlike in RBD, TSD nightmares are usually replays of a traumatic combat experience, rather than generalized scary dreams.

Mysliwiec said that giving this cluster of symptoms a formal diagnosis is important to patients. Servicemembers and veterans have been going to doctors with these symptoms and being told, “We don’t really know what it is,” he said. “The anxiety with not having a diagnosis after seeing a medical professional … is very concerning for patients.”

And it would be of obvious help to doctors treating such cases.

Clonazepam, a drug which treats PTSD, doesn’t seem to work on TSD symptoms. TSD sufferers have responded well to a hypertension drug called Prazosin. Cognitive behavioral therapy and sleep hygiene interventions, like regular sleep and wake times, also seem to be working.

Aside from any such treatments, however, those who suffer from TSD must institute “safe sleep practices,” according to Mysliwiec . That could mean couples temporarily sleeping in separate beds, a safeguard that can be a hard sell, he said.

Mysliwiec hopes that if the American Academy of Sleep Medicine accepts this diagnosis, more resources can be directed towards its study and treatment.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Study Reveals Huge Economic Loss Due to Unemployment of Military Spouses

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milspouseemp

By Debbie Gregory.

Military spouses have been and continue to be the backbone of military families. Unemployment and underemployment of military spouses not only affects individual families, but it’s costing the U.S. economy — to the tune of about $710 million to $1 billion a year, according to a new report

The cost is calculated by adding up lost federal income tax, unemployment benefits, and health care costs.

Military spouses face hurdles in their job search that their civilian counterparts do not.

There are those who think that military spouses don’t need to work. Some do. Some want to. But that should be their decision.

They move. A lot. The average military spouse will move 8-12 times over the span of a 20 year career. This could easily be seen as a problem when an employer looks at a resume.

Often times, military bases are in the middle of nowhere, making jobs scarce. Remote military locations have limited types of jobs, not all of which are suited for military spouses.

Military spouses are often filling the role of both parents.

It doesn’t get much easier post-transition. As the drawdown continues, transitioning military families need new incomes. In some cases, transitioning military families need dual incomes to replace the pay and benefits from the military service, and in others, the service member may not be able to work, due to school attendance, disability, addiction or PTSD.

The answer to this problem? For starters, employers need to be educated on the qualities that military spouses and veteran spouses have, and the skills they bring to prospective employers.

Employees who are part of the Military Spouse Employment Program understand the added benefits that military spouses can bring to the table.

If you are in a hiring position, we hope that when military spouses and veteran spouses come across your radar, you give them a fair chance.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Survey Reveals Increase in Post-9/11 Veterans who have Considered Suicide

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By Debbie Gregory.

A new survey of more than 3000 post-9/11 veterans by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) revealed an increase over a previous study in the number who contemplated suicide since joining the service. IAVA is the nation’s first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

The survey found that 40 percent of veterans polled had considered suicide at least once after they joined the military, up from 30 percent in 2014. Many of those survey also expressed feelings that the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments aren’t doing enough to address the suicide problem, as well as addressing mental health injuries, with 80 percent believing their peers aren’t getting the care they need.

“It shows that mental health challenges and access to care continue to impact veterans in all facets of their lives,” IAVA CEO Paul Reickhoff said in a release accompanying the survey results.

The statistic on veteran suicide is typically quotes as 22 veterans each day, which is a national tragedy.

Nearly 60 percent said a family or friend suggested they seek mental health treatment and 77 percent said they sought help because of these suggestions.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of non-profit organizations that are working to address veteran suicides and eliminate them. Many of them have been formed by veterans who are looking out for their brother and sisters. Many of them are working to destigmatize mental health issues and show that asking for help is truly courageous.

The passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act of 2015 was a landmark, bi-partisan effort that showed America its politicians can work together, and that veterans’ issues are everyone’s issues.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Does PTSD Jeopardize Insurability for Veterans?

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life insurance

By Debbie Gregory.

Can you qualify for life insurance if you have PTSD? It depends on each individual’s circumstances, as well as the insurance company’s policies. There are many variables to evaluate when choosing a life insurance policy, including the age at which you choose to purchase, if you are single or have a family, and your medical status.

Life insurance options for military families include:

  • Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI) may be purchased by any active duty military, members of Reserves and ROTC, and other groups such as employees of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.
  • Veteran’s Group Life Insurance (VGLI) offers a natural transition from an active duty policy to a retired veteran’s policy. VGLI and SGLI both serve group policies in which the enrollees collectively keep premiums low.
  • The Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA) offers a range of insurance terms and policies for all five military branches who are active duty, reservists, or retired service members. ROTC members may also purchase an AAFMAA policy under certain provisions.
  • The Navy Mutual Aid Association (NMAA) offers a selection of life insurance and financial planning tools to active and retired military. Contrary to the name, these policies are not restricted to Navy service members; Army, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel, as well as employees of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration are also welcome.

Insurers will look at whether the applicant has a VA disability rating, since decisions are made based on the risk. While Post-traumatic stress itself is not an automatic disqualifying diagnosis,  applicants may still be denied or have to pay more for insurance.

All this leads to one conclusion: the best time to think about purchasing  life insurance is prior to transition.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Deshauna Barber- Not Your Average Miss USA

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miss usa

By Debbie Gregory.

For the first time in 14 years (and only third time in history), Miss District of Columbia took home the crown at the Miss USA pageant

Newly crowned Miss USA, Deshauna Barber, is a 26-year-old Army officer from the District of Columbia who gave perhaps the strongest answer of the night when asked about women in combat.

“As a woman in the United States Army, I think … we are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I’m powerful, I am dedicated,” Barber said. “Gender does not limit us in the United States.”

A Logistics Commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit at Fort Meade, MD, Barber was uniquely qualified to answer the judges’ question. Barber is the first-ever military member to win Miss USA.

Barber said she plans to use the pageant’s spotlight and her title to support veteran’s causes and tackle the issue of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder among military members.

“Making sure they have what they need when they return from deployment,” she said when asked what she was most excited about after winning. “My best friend is currently deployed in Afghanistan and I want to make sure when she comes back, she has the resources she needs to heal any internal mental scars she has.”

The 26-year-old lieutenant said she plans to take a break from the Army Reserves, a move she had previously discussed with her superiors, should she win the title.

“Two days a month is definitely not active duty. It is an obligation that I signed up for but they are very flexible in the United States Army Reserves.”

Barber, who graduated from Virginia State University in 2011, joined the military at age 17. Her parents and siblings also serve; her father was deployed overseas to Iraq after the Sept. 11 attacks.

On the subject of military service, Barber said, “It’s something that runs through our veins — patriotism and service for this country.”

The new Miss USA was not all business though. When asked about her favorite part of the process, Barber said, “Swimsuit was probably my favorite part; I worked hard on this body.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

NPR Journalist David Gilkey and Translator Zabihullah Tamanna Killed in Afghanistan

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gilkey

By Debbie Gregory.

David Gilkey, an NPR photojournalist, and his interpreter, Zabihullah Tamanna, were killed while on assignment in Afghanistan.

Gilkey, 50,  and Tamanna, 38, were traveling with an Afghan army unit in southern Afghanistan when the convoy came under fire and their vehicle was hit by shellfire.

NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR producer Monika Evstatieva, who were also traveling in the convoy in a separate vehicle were unharmed.

Gilkey had worked at NPR since 2007, and in 2011 was named the still photographer of the year by the White House Photographers Association.

“I was saddened to learn today of the death of an NPR photographer, ‎David Gilkey, and his colleague Zabihulla Tamanna, who were part of a crew reporting on Afghan forces in the southern part of the country,” said Secretary of State John Kerry. “This attack is a grim reminder of the danger that continues to face the Afghan people, the dedication of Afghan national defense and security forces to securing their country, and of the courage of intrepid journalists — and their interpreters — who are trying to convey that important story to the rest of the world.”

Gilkey covered stories around the world, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, Gaza and Iraq.

“Ultimately, he felt it was really important to tell those stories and to tell them to a society that can very often forget that we have people in harm’s way on a daily basis,” said Keith Jenkins, the general manager for digital at the National Geographic Society who edited David at NPR.

Zabihullah, who leaves behind three small children, worked as a photojournalist for the Chinese news agency Xinhua. More recently, he wrote for Turkey’s Anadolu News Agency.

When the journalists’ remains arrived by helicopter at Camp Shorab in Helmand Province, where the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division has a training mission, an honor guard of “dozens and dozens” of U.S. soldiers stood at attention and saluted.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Proposal to Grant Full Practice Authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

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Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

By Debbie Gregory.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing a rule to grant full practice authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) when they are acting within the scope of their VA employment. The change would allow APRNs to assess, diagnose, prescribe medications and interpret diagnostic tests.

APRNs are nurses with advanced degrees (masters, post-master or doctoral ) and training who provide primary, acute and specialty health care services. They work as Certified Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Certified Nurse Midwives.

VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin said, “The purpose of this proposed regulation is to ensure VA has authority to address staffing shortages in the future.” He continued, “Implementation of the final rule would be made through VHA policy, which would clarify whether and which of the four APRN roles would be granted full practice authority. This is good news for our APRNs, who will be able to perform functions that their colleagues in the private sector are already doing.”

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is completely behind this idea, especially given that many of these nurse professionals received their initial training in the military. “VA will be able to more effectively meet the health care needs of our nation’s Veterans,” said ANA President Pamela Cipriano. “This proposal removes barriers that prevent APRNs from providing a full range of services and will assist VA in its ongoing efforts to address staff shortages and improve Veterans’ access to care. APRNs are critical members of the health care workforce and an integral component of the health care delivery system with a proven track record of safe quality care and high patient satisfaction.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

 


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