Operation Recovery OLD
In Defense of Spc. Jeff Hanks
IVAW and the Civilian-Soldier Alliance deliver Article 138 to Jeff Hanks' command at 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division headquarters. Captain Jason Ambrosino, C 1-32 CAV commander is threatening to deploy Jeff on Jan. 9 without providing him adequate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
AWOL Soldier fighting for his Right to Heal returns on Veteran Day
Spc. Jeff Hanks has turned himself in after refusing to return to Afghanistan when the Army denied him medical care. Jeff has served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division and was due to receive medical evaluation and treatment during a leave from his tour in Afghanistan. But his military command effectively canceled his medical appointments to send him back to combat. Jeff made the difficult decision to go AWOL to get the care he so desperately needed. With the help of Iraq Veterans Against the War's Operation Recovery Campaign, Jeff is getting the medical care, and moral and legal support he needs.
Thousands of soldiers like Jeff are being denied their right to heal by the U.S. military so it can continue its ongoing occupations. Approximately 20% of the current fighting force are suffering from un-treated trauma. Our Operation Recovery Campaign will to stop the deployment of traumatized troops and hold those accountable who send them back into war. Sign the Pledge to support Operation Recovery to end the deployment of traumatized troops.
Jeff now awaits the decision of his command and could face an Article 15. He is hoping that instead of punishing him, the Army gives him the medical treatment he so desperately needs.
Donate to Jeff's legal defense fund
To make a donation to Jeff's legal defense fund, click here and type "JH Legal Defense" in the Special Project box, or make a check out to IVAW and put "JH Legal Defense" in the memo line. Send your check or money order for Jeff's legal defense to: IVAW, 630 Ninth Ave., Suite 807, New York, NY 10036
Read and Share The Associated Press article AWOL Soldier Returns on Veterans Day
AWOL soldier Jeff Hanks said he walked away from the Army in the middle of a deployment to Afghanistan because his problems with anxiety and stress from combat have been ignored. On Veterans Day, he returned to face the consequences. Read more about Jeff in the Associated Press article here.
Read and Share the Truth Out article AWOL Soldier Refusing Deployment Because of Severe PTSD
"I am just trying to get help," insisted Jeff Hanks, active duty US Army infantryman, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "My goal in this situation is to simply heal. And they wonder why there are so many suicides." Jeff spoke rapidly over the phone from Virginia, where he, his wife and his two young daughters are staying while he is AWOL from the military. Days earlier, Jeff had walked out of an airport, refusing to board a plane headed for Kuwait, which was to be his first stop on his way back to Afghanistan. Read more about Jeff in the Truth Out Article here.
Recent Articles about Operation Recovery and Jeff Hanks
- CBS News
- NBC News
- Washington Post
- Salon.com
- Veterans Today
- Huffington Post
- The Tennessean
- The Jackson Sun
- WAVY TV- Channel 10 Portsmouth, VA
- Kentucky.com
- Knoxnews.com
- Channel 7 News Denver
Veterans Day: A Week of Outreach Nov. 8th - 15th
The Campaign Team and Chapters from across the nation are starting an effort to do regular outreach on and around military bases and universities.
The Campaign is in the popular research and base building phase. To win this struggle, hundreds of IVAW Members, Veterans, Service Members, and Allies are needed to help organize. Service Members and Veterans are in our communities and looking to be part of a community of people that understands them.
If you are a member of IVAW and want to learn more about how to get involved and do outreach click here.
The Issue
Thousands of troops are being sent to war despite suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Many of us within IVAW have faced or are currently facing deployment as we try to recover from the severe trauma we have already experienced.
While we recognize that we must stop the deployment of all soldiers in order to end the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, we see the deployment of soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Military Sexual Trauma as particularly cruel, inhumane, and dangerous. Military commanders across all branches are pushing service members far past human limits for the sake of 'combat readiness.' We cannot allow those commanders to continue to ignore the welfare of their troops who are, after all, human beings. There is a problem, a basic right is being denied, and we will organize to get it back. This issue affects all of us. Everyone needs to recognize that the improper standards of care in the military and VA are harming our brothers and sisters, our nation, and only furthers the cycle of dehumanization and destruction of these wars.
Service Members have the Right to Heal
Because the military is desperate for warm bodies in the field, and the VA doesn't have the resources to serve all those in need, too often service members are conveniently denied care or access to quality mental health screenings. We say, service members with PTSD, TBI, MST, and combat stress have the right to high quality health care. They have the right to seek care and pursue treatments in the best interest of their health and well-being.
Service members have the right to receive medical care and advice from medical professionals.
A commander's orders always supersede the opinion of military medical professionals when it comes to the well-being of our troops. We say, no military authority shall override the advice of medical professionals regarding the health of service members.
Service members who experience PTSD, TBI, MST, and combat stress have the right to exit the traumatic situation and receive immediate support, and compensation.
Too often, service members are forced to redeploy back into dangerous combat, or train in situations that re-traumatize them. We say, individuals suffering from trauma have the right to remove themselves from the source of the trauma. Service members who are not physically or mentally healthy shall not be forced to deploy or continue service.
- We will support service members standing up for their right to heal, and we will stand against those responsible for violating them.
- We will expose those responsible for the deployment of traumatized troops. Those responsible will do everything they can to hide the truth, but Operation Recovery will expose the truth.
- We will demand those responsible for the deployment of traumatized troops end this inhumane practice, and back our demands up with collective action.
- We will end these wars by winning our Right to Heal. We know that without the repeated use of traumatized soldiers on the battlefield, the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan could not continue.
Take Action
Join our campaign now by making a Pledge of Support.
Educate your community about the issue by reading and sharing these articles
Join IVAW
IVAW is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reservists who have served since 09/11/2001. You are not alone.