Mad Dog Mattis former Marine boss, takes on PTSD

Damn I like a man who said, to paraphrase, Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet. That’s a warrior.

Can I expound–most of the people claiming PTSD never were Combat Arms–Combat Arms people are MEN, GET IT, MEN.
Weenies worry about the explosion that they heard or the anxiety that they suffered when the base was under attack from mortars that couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.
Enuff, don’t piss me off.
I have a friend who worked for the VA and did intake for PTSD claimants, and found that most of them were support, logistics, never saw a live fire incident of any significance.
And I am also reminded that real warriors, down range kick ass soldiers, are fine–and not whining about anything at all because they are men–goddam heroes and they are moving on.
I will not ever denigrate the service of those who suffer from what they saw, I know their stories and cringe to consider their suffering and sadness.
I can live with the fact that for some there are the lingering and terrible memories, but I will not accept the idea that people can’t gain from or profit from terrible challenges and benefit from their accomplishments–we are not victims.
Dunn out.

Here’s some up close commentary from real men and their friends.
I concur with Mattis. Most men coming out of combat are stronger than they were before the experience.
GD
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: DISPATCHES #4010: Destroying the Victim Myth
Marine Del Vecchio sent the following. It is well written and speaks to issues I think are valid……….
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Military 1
29 April 2014
General Mattis’ next mission: Destroying the PTSD victim myth
by William Treseder
The appropriately nicknamed Mad Dog took aim at a dangerous moving target: Post-Traumatic Stress
General Mattis’ next mission: Destroying the PTSD victim myth
Milford, Mass., native, Pfc. Jailene Delacruz, an embarkation
specialist with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167,
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, reads a quotation from a Marine
describing the painting on the wall and what it means to them.
Paintings by Marines and sailors who attend art therapy to relieve
post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were displayed at an art
expo May 3.
Retired Marine General Jim Mattis, the most beloved and feared military leader in modern history, is not happy with the state of the nation. Last Wednesday night, at San Francisco’s Salute to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, he explained why.
Standing in front of an uproarious crowd in San Francisco, General Mattis spoke from the heart about his country, his Corps, and his fellow veterans. He covered two main topics: the need for America to stay engaged with the rest of the world; and the role of our shrinking military in the 21st century.
There were no wasted words, per usual. General Mattis’ sharp mind and quick tongue were on full display. He tore apart the cowards who swell the ranks of Al Qaeda and fund Hezbollah (we’re all looking at you, Iran). He described the dedication of our Middle Eastern allies in the fight against extremism, and how we cannot leave them stranded as we finish the drawdown. He lamented the growing national debt that will “enslave future generations.” He even stopped long enough during the Q&A to slap down any notion that he supported women in the infantry.
And then he got controversial.
The appropriately nicknamed Mad Dog took aim at a dangerous moving target: Post-Traumatic Stress. “You’ve been told that you’re broken,” said Mattis, “That you’re damaged goods” and should be labeled victims of two unjust and poorly executed wars. The truth, instead, is that we are the only folks with the skills, determination, and values to ensure American dominance in this chaotic world.
To a now-silent theater full of combat vets he explained how the nation has a “disease orientation” toward combat stress. Mad Dog’s death blow was swift: “In America, victimhood is exalted.”
So what’s the problem? We fought, we got a little screwed-up, and now civilians try to get us to talk about it a lot. Big deal.
Except that it matters to General Mattis, and we should probably care what he thinks because chances are he’s right.
The problem, he contends, is that eventually we start believing it. We start seeing ourselves as broken. We buy into the myth.
The alternative is something so obvious that it is pathetic we don’t talk about it more. “There is also Post-Traumatic Growth,” Mattis told the crowd. “You come back from war stronger and more sure of who you are.”
This concept resonates strongly with me, and several other combat vets with whom I spoke/mumbled late into the evening over drinks. After all, it’s a process we’ve all been through many times in the military. Growth after trauma is how we train to become physically fit and mentally capable of working together as a combat-effective team.
Break down, repair, break down, repair, break down, repair. It’s a natural cycle, which offers a well-trod path to progressive improvement.
So why do we think that the story of our personal development ends when we go to war? The myth of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder tells us that we are now broken and cannot be repaired. We are a threat to ourselves and others. We need medication to be stable. We will be constantly challenged by the civilian world as we stumble along, out of phase with the safe and boring environment back home.
What if instead we could look forward to rapid growth as we heal from our wounds stronger than ever before? What if we could rebuild ourselves, and all we needed was the loving support of those around us and a little bit of time? Progress, evolution, healing, restoration – these are watchwords of Post-Traumatic Growth.
You have not heard the last of this, from General Mattis or others. A new domestic front is opening up for the veteran community even as the final combat operations feebly draw to a close.
We are now fighting to take control of the narrative that will define the collective military and veteran community. Americans who have never served and lack any empathy for us sit on the sidelines, labeling us “heroes” or “broken” or both, depending on their mood or the latest news reports.
Veterans know that we are neither of these things. Leaders like General Mattis are challenging us to find a voice, and tell America who we really are – proud of our service, not defined by it.
[William Treseder, Military1 Advisor, writes about well-designed approaches to national security issues ranging from technology to veteran careers. He co-founded BMNT Partners, where he helps start-ups grow by solving government problems from advanced manufacturing to veteran employment. William enlisted in the Marines in 2001 and served until 2011, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. A Rising Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution where he studies 21st century conservatism, William also contributes to other national outlets such as Foreign Policy, TIME.com, and Breaking Defense.]
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I served two WestPac cruises with Jim Mattis. He was in our Marine Amphibious Unit’s* (31st MAU) sister battalion. On the first cruise, he use to hang out in our ready room to observe our commanding officer, who was the reincarnation of “The Great Santini”. Interesting times and people. Not always pleasant times, but interesting to say the least. [At least that is what I tell my psychiatrist during our weekly sessions! J]
Locally, I have occasionally been asked to address issues some of our young Marines are dealing with after coming back from Iraq (and more recently) Afghanistan. Many had issues before they even joined the Marine Corps. Most, however, have worked through their personal challenges and moved on. But some have embraced the “victim” mentality. In the course of raising three great kids, my better half would occasionally tell me I was impacting my kids “self-esteem”—especially when I would exercise some tough love. My response was always that the only person who can allow you to lose self-esteem is yourself. My kids don’t have “esteem” issues! They are tough, compassionate, happy, and considerate individuals—as I am sure the majority of dependents of those on this distribution are.
* For those non-Marines on the distribution, the Marine Corps’ air/ground task force (MAGTF) was originally set up in three flavors. Starting at the smallest organization, it went: Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB); and Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). In the late 70’s some functionary in the Administration thought the word “Expeditionary” smacked of colonialism, therefore “Expeditionary” was changed to “Amphibious. Later, it went back to “Expeditionary”. I continue to wonder how much that little change cost in terms of time (and expense) into bringing documents and manuals up to speed! Just a little history for your information.
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Feedback….
Navy vet Dick Pittman on Phyllis Galanti (POW Crusader): “I attended the Memorial Service for Phyllis on Tuesday April 29 at the First Presbyterian Church near their home here in Richmond. Needless to say it was a packed house with standing room only and a service fit for a Queen which Phyllis was IMHO. Both Virginia Governors’ were there, past and present, Senator Tim Kaine, the retired editor of the editorial pages of the Richmond Times Dispatch, Ross McKenzie, who gave a very moving part of the service: Memories Shared. At least nine former POWs were in attendance. Phyllis will be sorely missed. We pray for Paul and their family.
Marine Ray Shelton: “As warriors we are accustomed to being among those who display courage and valor, but courage can be found thousands of miles far away from the battlefield! A courageous lady indeed who displayed deep moral courage and commitment when much of our nation’s population turned their backs!”
Marine John Bates: “Jim and Carole Hickerson are close friends. Carole is the one that designed the POW/MIA flag. The image on it is of her first husband, USMC captain aviator who was KIA. Small world.”
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And with that, I’m calling it a night! I will probably be off the net until Friday as I have a business trip to D.C. area about to commence. Until then, have a good one.
greg out…