PTS is what it was shortened to about ten years ago and yup, it's gives you disability seperation and medical benefits. They took the disorder part of it off to make it more user friendly since soldiers aren't to fond of being told they have a disorder. The whole diagnosis procedure and thought process around dealing with PTS has changed completely in the last decade and now it's a lot easier to get help. Before doctors were slow to use it because it was often thought that people faked it to get out of service. Now, if you do want help and are willing to talk with a specialist they will try to get you the help you need. In talking to friends of mine still in the mental health career feild on the actoive duty side it is only getting better. We hear about isolated incidents of soldiers not getting the help they need but in general they are one side of the story and are very rare. Now, VA coverage for PTS is something I'm not as familiar with but again talking to friends who have made the switch from active duty to VA mental health professional they say that the biggest issue to getting treatment is when vets are unwilling to talk about it.

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Well, sounds like I'm just talking out my ass about veteran medical coverage, and I apologize for making statements I knew too little about. I wish that combat veterans were given medical coverage without having to have a disability.

As far as the "serving the country" language, I get what you're saying DF, I do. But I still feel a little torn about it. I think it puts the military on a bit of a pedestal that they deserve, but that others might also deserve. Being a soldier is, after all, a job. It's a volunteer army, but people do get paid to be in it, and often it's the best economic opportunity available to them. I think that for many, the military presents a great option, but it's not a completely altruistic choice they make to join. It's a choice they get something out of for themselves and not just one they make to serve. Do they make bigger sacrifices than most everyone else for their job? Hell yeah. But I don't think joinning the service is necessarily as heroic as dropping everything and living life for others like Mother Teresa, and it's often presented that way.

So...did you go to Letchworth?

Hey man. I don't mean to say military service is on a pedestal. My point is simply that when you sign up they promise benefits and changing them after you serve your contract is wrong. Cut and dry. When you start a civilian job and you are told you get a pension, what would happen if after you retired you hear that the government is going to take some of it to balance the budget?

And nope...never made it out there. I got bogged down in homework while I was home....I hate "vacations" where you have nothing but work to do. I did get out and see a home game with Phil and Jay though!!!

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Unfortunately, this is exactly what most coporations in trouble want to do or have done: renege on their pension promises. It's disgusting, but that's what some corporate types want. I talked to this guy last week about California's budget, and he brought up that either the state budget, or some company's budget would be using 20% of revenue on pensions. He clearly felt that was an unfair burden and that people should have to "help" the companies by taking care of themselves in retirement. It made me furious. Workers should not be promised something their whole working career, and then have it taken away to help the bottom line because management never factored their true expenses into their longterm budget.

And DF, as far as your trip goes, I thought it was anniversary-related. The Sabres game wasn't her present was it? That would get me in trouble.

Hahaha.....I was thinking about it but I've been married for ten years...I know better. Dude, Phil got two tickets in a suite for thirty bucks a piece!!! Popped my home game cherry! We only got to go out for lunch and shopping for our anniversary....not the best but it was kid free at least.

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