Hello New Guy

[themccrady]

Hello Folks,

I found this site in the internet today and just wanted a place to come get some information. My name is Jeff, and I just hit 18 years of active duty n the USAF. I work in the communications field and have deployed to the SWA AOR multiple times. My current assignment has me sitting behind a desk at Fort Huachuca, and my former assignment was under Air Force Central Command. I thought that I would be happy to come out of the high ops tempo and be away from deploying but that has proved false for me. be fore, whenever I started to feel ancy at home it was very easy for me to take a deployment to get back out there and feel normal if that makes any sense. Now I am stuck in a "corporate environment" with no where to go. I had some depressing changes with my family situation this past summer, and started to feel really bad and couldn't get out of the funk. I went to mental health and they diagnosed me with Chronic PTSD, and Major Depressive disorder. I also had a major complain about my sleep, ( or lack of) and had a sleep study done. To stop it all off i was issued with a Sleep Apnea Diagnosis. Honestly, I am ready to throw the towel in on this military gig. With the years I've put in, I do not want to miss out on a retirement. I also feel that i am falling apart very fast and want to get out with my honor too. Any suggestion or does anyone knows what the road may have for me in the future?

 

[atilla]

Welcome to the forum Brother, lots of good people here, either going through what you are now or have already been through it. Take a knee and check out the articles and the media section. There's a wealth of information here on "The Beast", our name for PTSD. Again Welcome Brother, you are not alone.

 

[combatgoldfish]

Welcome.

In regards to your situation it sounds like you're making steps to address those issues you're having which is a step in the right direction. My suggestion is to keep up with that.

Consider the next two years your mission until you've reached you twenty then start seeing an exit plan.

 

[Grizzly]

Welcome. what @combatgoldfish said makes a lot of sense. As you know 2 years isn't shit! Enjoy your desk job for a while. Maybe that will give you a chance to get some good treatment and get your problems manageable.

 

[Spock]

Hey Jeff...I've been where you are now. I completely agree with the above suggestions to finish your time. You have no idea how much of an advantage it will be later especially removing a few more sources of stress you don't need in your life. I highly suggest that you start planning your retirement NOW, so that you are filing your paperwork at the earliest possible date and have more time for all the transition actions & planning. It will go fast and if you focus on treatment than the pain of work will be easier.

And that is more important -- start focusing on a full treatment plan, getting your medical records together and figuring out how you are gonna cope with things while you are still in what you know best, the military, BEFORE you have to deal with the bigger challenge, moving into the civilian world. Figure out all the other medical issues you should have noted in your records from 20 yrs of AD. The military teaches us to suck it up and move on so we can still do our job in combat but you are not in war now so let go of the warrior stigma that everything is fine. You will likely figure out there are some other issues you've been ignoring: tinnitus, broken bones, injuries, mild TBI, chronic pain, migraines, etc.

First, contact Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program: http://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/
Make sure they fully enroll you into their program. it gives you some leverage in case you have anyone in the chain of command that starts to be a dick about you pursuing your right to get better and take care of yourself. They really only need to know that you will be seeking more time on medical affairs before you retire. You should be given time to pursue all your treatment options. Since you are retiring I would STAY AWAY FROM dealing with a Med Board and Medical Retirement. You won't need it if you retire at 20.

Also, if the program is still in place, you can start your VA claims while you are still on active duty and limit the waiting period after you retire. Get started on the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program:
http://benefits.va.gov/predischarge/claims-pre-discharge-benefits-delivery-at-discharge.asp

You should get your own advocate for free from any State Vet Affairs office or the VFW or DAV:
Link Removed

Stay safe, stay strong

 

[dutchiedelta]

Welcome.

 

[vikingr24]

All of the above, especially Spock, who is one the best we have here.

I was AF too, a PJ. But I go back a ways. I was in SOCOM when they first got off the ground, right about 'Nam time. 20th SOS. It is very difficult to be in the Air Force and have PTSD. The stereotypes about the Air Farce are almost sickening and now, boring to hear. People don't believe someone in the AF could get PTSD.

Stick with them and get your 20. Huachuca is a plush assignment. Sierra Vista, and especially Tucson, are great cities. Hit the mountains there and get up around Santa Fe if you can. God lives there somewhere, although She hides from you. Great for PTSD. Wish I could do it more.

Meanwhile, drop a knee here, grab some coffee. We got work to do..........

 

[BaMuoiBa]

Welcome brother!

Not much to add, Spock bagged it, Fly your desk into retirement, use the next two years to plan your next 20, in the mean time we're to lean on.

Ba

 

[Jimmy1]

Gidday mate