Poll & Fort Drum sees a 253% increase of PTSD treatment

If this figure is accurate about what IS being reported, it scares the hell out of me about what is NOT being reported. The stigma attached to seeking mental health help in the Army is still alive and well for career NCO's and Officer's. To have it in your record that you have been treated for mental health issues, regardless of the reason will reflect on promotions, security clearances etc.

The warrior society sees it as a sign of weakness, they are taught to "suck it up, and drive on", I know I was one of those NCOs, I told hundreds of soldiers over my career to suck it up, while I was spending the evening getting blitzed so I could even fall asleep myself. I refused to acknowledge I had a problem for more than 30 years, and 4 divorces and 2 DUIs later.

In a news  report from Fox news in NewYork this was stated

Over a two year period, Fort Drum saw a 253 percent increase in the number of soldiers seeking treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The local post says more troops are coming back from war in Iraq and Afghanistan with mental and emotional scars because of their exposure to combat.

This is a tremendous explosion of reported symptoms, I am curious as to what the medical retirement rates have been, what are the rates of Personality Disorder Discharges etc.

This has been the most deployed Army unit in the nation since Sept 11, 2001 and they have seen the most combat of any units, the Third Infantry Division from Fort Steward Georgia is a close second.

What I do know personally about PTSD is that there are far more soldiers suffering in silence and not reporting it due to the fact it would affect their careers, or potential careers in law enforcement after military service.

This medical problem will continue to expose itself for decades to come, just as Max Cleland finally sought mental health help for PTSD 2 years ago, almost 40 years after he was in Vietnam, many of the 18 year olds today will not admit they have a problem like myself or Senator Cleland until late in their lives late 40s, 50s and even their 60 or 70s, hell their are WW2 veterans seeking help for "shell shock" now, so all these chickens have not come home to roost, and the soldiers deserve better treatment and care than the VA and DOD have been providing to date.

They can't say they didn't see this coming, they learned it in WW2, Korea and Vietnam  this was NOT a surprise.