Wounded Warrior Regiment promotes basewide discussion of combat stress

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

01.17.2013

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va., - Stress is a part of everyday life. However, due to increases in operational tempo and multiple combat deployments many Marines face a greater risk of developing combat stress, post traumatic stress disorder and survivor’s guilt.

To promote awareness and reduce negative outcomes, the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment is spearheading efforts for a basewide discussion on the rigors of “Combat Stress, PTSD and Survivor's Guilt.” The discussion will be held at Little Hall Auditorium, Jan. 24, from 1-3 p.m.

The lecture was initially established by the Wounded Warrior Regiment’s MED Cell to provide a strong foundation for all Marine Corps Base Quantico leaders as they seek to clearly understand the factors surrounding combat stress, PTSD and the underpinning of survivor's guilt. Understanding these subjects fully may prove beneficial for optimal support to injured Marines returning from theater facing a new battle -- the one from within.

My experience with the Wounded Warrior Regiment for the past five years confirms many combat weary Marines are assigned to Quantico as they fulfill their mandatory B Billet requirement. For some, there may be an underlying element of combat fatigue, coupled with a family under stress, which may set the stage for undiagnosed combat-related stressors to become apparent for the first time to their command leadership, their medical team and for supportive family members.

Promoting the continued health and resiliency of service members and their families remains a top priority for the Regiment’s Med Cell and is essential to preserving the foundation of our nation's fighting forces. Marine leaders must ensure that one message is clear: Seeking help for issues such as combat or operational stress in not a sign of weakness. It takes courage and strength to ask for help.

The lecture is open to all military and civilian medical providers, Navy case managers, interested family members and Marine Corps leaders aboard Quantico-- those primarily charged with supporting their Marines’ successful transition back home from war. Speakers have been selected from the Wounded Warrior Regiment, Wounded Warrior Battalion East, Weapons Training Battalion and Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Established in 2007, the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment was created to provide and facilitate non-medical care to combat and non-combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, and sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Regimental Headquarters element, located in Quantico, Va., commands the operations of two Wounded Warrior Battalions located at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., and multiple detachments in locations around the globe.

For more information about the Wounded Warrior Regiment go to: www.woundedwarriorregiment.org, http://Facebook.com/wwr.usmc or call the Sgt. Merlin German Wounded Warrior Call Center 24/7 at 877-487-6299.

• Date Taken: 01.17.2013
• Date Posted: 01.17.2013 09:08
• Story ID: 100637
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US