Skip to main content

ATTENTION: This site is no longer active but remains as an archive.

Iraq Veterans Against the War has become About Face: Veterans Against the War. About Face can be found at aboutfaceveterans.org

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Join IVAW

Donate to IVAW

  • About
    • Founding of IVAW
    • Mission, Values, and Vision
    • War in Afghanistan
    • Why We Are against the Wars
    • Resolutions
    • IVAW Timeline
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Committee
    • Staff
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • Operation Recovery
    • Winter Soldier
      • Breakdown of the Military
      • Civilian Testimony
      • Corporate Pillaging
      • Cost of War at Home
      • Crisis in Veterans Healthcare
      • Future of GI Resistance
      • Gender and Sexuality
      • Legacy of GI Resistance
      • Racism and War
      • Response to DoD
      • Rules of Engagement
      • Press Coverage
      • Press Releases
    • Right to Heal
  • Members
  • Resources
    • AWOL
    • Active Duty
    • Conscientious Objector
    • Depleted Uranium
    • History of Resistance
    • IRR Reactivation
    • Lariam
    • PTSD
    • Profiles of Resisters
    • Resources for Veterans
    • Stop Loss
    • Women's Resources
    • Mesothelioma
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Press
    • Speaker Request

Fort Hood soldiers suggest overhaul of mental health treatment to the President

published by IVAW National on 04/09/14 1:53pm
Posted to: 
Staff

More than 4 years ago Iraq Veterans Against the War in conjunction with out friends down at Under the Hood Cafe responded to the recent shooting by Major Hassan at Fort Hood by attempting to hand President Obama a letter outlining the way that he could live up to his commitment of giving service members the health care they needed. 

Under the Hood Cafe community member and an active duty soldier at the time, Mike Kern, was stationed in the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) due to the PTSD and traumatic brain injury he struggled with after his deployment to Iraq. Hearing that the WTU, where recent victims of the shooting were also being treated, was about to receive a photo op with the president, Mike Kern reached out quickly to IVAW members to help draft a letter he intended to deliver to the president. 

After waiting in formation for hours Kern finally had his opportunity and as the president reached out to shake his hand he dipped into his pocket to deliver the letter. He was immediately grabbed by Secret Service and was sent directly to his command where he was told to take the next few days off.  Soon he found himself on calls with his immediate supervisors who were determining how they could discipline him but they were unable to determine what they could possibly charge him fo . As Mike puts it "As far I was concerned I was handing a letter to my boss". 

In the letter are a series of recommendations to improve the mental health care situation at Fort Hood and the Army in general that still hold as true to this day as they did when the letter was drafted. As the President speaks to the Fort Hood community today about yet another shooting we suggest that he read this letter (attached below) and start doing something about these important recommendations pulled from the letter:

"We ask that:

  1. Each soldier about to be deployed and returning from deployment be assigned a mental health provider who will reach out to them, rather than requiring them to initiate the search for help.
  2. Ensure that the stigma of seeking care for mental health issues is removed for soldiers at all levels-from junior enlisted to senior enlisted and officers alike.
  3. Ensure that if mental health care is not available from military facilities, soldiers can seek mental health care with civilian providers of their choice
  4. Ensure that soldiers are prevented from deploying with mental health problems and issues.
  5. Stop multiple redeployments of the same troops.
  6. Ensure full background checks for all mental health providers and periodic check ups for them to decompress from the stresses they shoulder from the soldiers they counsel to the workload they endure."

On Memorial Day we will release a report informed by outreach we did to more than a thousand soldiers at Fort Hood including 31 in depth testimonials. Stay tuned for more.

Documents: 
PDF icon 2009 Letter to Pres. Obama Re: Fort Hood Shooting

IVAW and Afghans for Peace Lead Historic March on NATO: Veterans Hurl Global War on Terror Medals towards NATO Summit As Thousands Cheer

Like our work? Donate now to our growing movement. Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans, hand-in-hand with Afghans for Peace, made history this Sunday when we led a march of thousands against NATO then returned our Global War on...

Convention 2012: Save the date!

Everyone, This year's IVAW annual convention will be held July 5 - 8, 2012 in Austin, Texas. Save the date! Based on the positive feedback from the 2009 convention in Maryland, we have reserved McKinney Falls State Park...

On the Ground in Basra: An Interview with Hashmeya Muhsin al-Saadawi

May 2, 2012 - Iraqi unions demonstrated yesterday on May Day 2012 at a difficult historical moment. Still operating without a labor law that sanctions their organizing, and under the consolidation of Prime Minister Nouri al-...

This is Where We Take Our Stand

This is Where We Take Our Stand is now broadcasting on PBS. Check your local listings, and if it's not on, let your local station know you want to see it. Follow the film at http://www.thisiswherewetakeourstand.com. In March...

Arredondo Family Mourns Death of Second Son

Dec 22, 2011 - IVAW is deeply saddened to learn about the death of Brian Arredondo, son of Carlos and Melida Arredondo. Brian chose to end his life on December 19th, the day the Iraq war ended. Veterans for Peace reports, "...

IVAW Recognized on The Nation's 2011 Progressive Honor Roll

Dec 21, 2011 - (New York) Iraq Veterans Against the War is excited to be recognized in The Nation's 2011 Progressive Honor Roll today as the "Most Valuable Rapid Reponse" to the Scott Olsen incident at Occupy Oakland....

Pages

  • « First
  • ‹ Prev
  • …
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • …
  • Next ›
  • Last »

Supporter Newsletter!

Donations

Make a single donation or become an IVAW sustainer by making your donation a recurring one. Please consider making your generous gift right now.
Donate Online Today!

Speaker Request

Please be advised that we get many speaker requests, but regret that we are sometimes unable to fill them.
Speaker Request

Joining IVAW

Iraq Veterans Against the War is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reservists who have served since 09/11/2001.
Join IVAW

Navigation

  • About
  • Events
  • Campaigns
  • Committees
  • Chapters
  • Members
  • Resources
  • Contact