Hello everyone.
I am new to the forum. I live in Charlotte, NC with my wife and two kids. Currently, I am an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Army officer getting ready to work at an Army Reserve unit stationed on FT Jackson, SC. I have been in the Army for a total of 24 years, 15 of those in the active AGR program. I have worked with Army Reserve units pretty much my entire career. After joining the AGR program in January 2003, I was cross-leveled and deployed to Iraq with a Direct Support Quartermaster Reserve unit in February 2003 for 14 months. While in Iraq, I was involved in an IED attack as my unit was traveling from our base in Al Habbiniya to Fallujah in August of 2003. The IED hit my vehicle directly. I suffered an injury to my left ankle at the time. Today, I still have pains in my ankle and both knees.
I experienced the first signs of PTSD in 2005 when I was supposed to deploy again. Our unit was watching a video of convoys being hit with IEDs. I had to leave the room when the first convoy got hit. I was not diagnosed with PTSD until January 2009 when my commander ordered me to go to the VA hospital. I initially started counseling at the VA in Ann Arbor, MI, then Pittsburgh, PA, now at the Vet Center in Charlotte, NC. Today, I am still receive counseling.
I joined this forum because I am going through some hard times right now.
I hope I can receive some guidance as to what to do with my military career and deciding whether retirement should be an option.
Chad Byas
I am new to the forum. I live in Charlotte, NC with my wife and two kids. Currently, I am an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Army officer getting ready to work at an Army Reserve unit stationed on FT Jackson, SC. I have been in the Army for a total of 24 years, 15 of those in the active AGR program. I have worked with Army Reserve units pretty much my entire career. After joining the AGR program in January 2003, I was cross-leveled and deployed to Iraq with a Direct Support Quartermaster Reserve unit in February 2003 for 14 months. While in Iraq, I was involved in an IED attack as my unit was traveling from our base in Al Habbiniya to Fallujah in August of 2003. The IED hit my vehicle directly. I suffered an injury to my left ankle at the time. Today, I still have pains in my ankle and both knees.
I experienced the first signs of PTSD in 2005 when I was supposed to deploy again. Our unit was watching a video of convoys being hit with IEDs. I had to leave the room when the first convoy got hit. I was not diagnosed with PTSD until January 2009 when my commander ordered me to go to the VA hospital. I initially started counseling at the VA in Ann Arbor, MI, then Pittsburgh, PA, now at the Vet Center in Charlotte, NC. Today, I am still receive counseling.
I joined this forum because I am going through some hard times right now.
I hope I can receive some guidance as to what to do with my military career and deciding whether retirement should be an option.
Chad Byas
