Personal wellness is a recurring issue within the military community. Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression are issues that trouble veterans, whether they fought in the jungles of Vietnam or served in the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Exposure to intense combat, the loss of colleagues, as well as sexual abuse can leave a negative impacton the psyche. Unlike physical wounds, these scars are not always visible. Furthermore, due to the stigma surrounding mental health, many veterans are reluctant to speak up about their issues.
Deployments can be traumatic on family members as well, especially young children who may not get regular exposure to parents. Then there are the spouses who find their partners changed by their deployment, struggling with invisible issues that they may not fully understand.
It is our hope to make a difference in the struggle for mental wellness by raising awareness of the mental health issues affecting the military community as well as the resources available to aid veterans locked in this struggle.
Bu Pete Scherer Are you a service member or veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Regardless of your answer, you may be able to help the VA’s ongoing effort to treat the condition. The VA Biorepository Brain Bank (VABBB) is looking for volunteers to donate brain tissue for their research efforts. “If you suffered a blast or other
By Matt Scherer Soldiers will see an influx of phone calls, text and visit from their officers and noncommissioned officers under Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll’s holiday directive to lower the service’s influx of holiday suicides. The directive starts now until Jan. 15. It’s something veterans can consider, especially for their friends and comrades during this holiday season. Secretary Driscoll’s policy
By Pete Scherer Dementia, in its many forms, is becoming a growing cause of concern in our country. Today, over 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a number that is expected to double within the next 25 years. Veterans are at increased risk of developing one of these conditions. According to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, 451,000 veterans
Mark Overberg, a frequent contributor to our website, just posted this LinkedIn article about a change in the TRICARE For Life benefits. “As of Aug. 31, 2025, the TRICARE pharmacy benefit doesn’t cover weight loss drugs for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries, individuals with direct care coverage, and certain other groups when treatment of obesity is the primary diagnosis. These include
Quiet people have the loudest minds. (S. Hawking) When Darren Tidwell, a Military Transition Roundtable alum, shared this Dr. Christian Poensgen LinkedIn post on introverts, it was something we wanted to share and archive here. 4 ways to help introverts thrive at work: 1/ Create private spaces ️ ↳ Provide calm zones beyond noisy open offices. ↳ Use
By Matt Scherer Introduction At a recent town hall, the Fort Sam Retired Affairs Council invited representatives from the Defense Health Agency, TRICARE, Medicare, and Social Security to brief on medical benefits. More than 300 retirees attended, eager for clarity on their promised care. Some answers addressed retirees’ concerns to a satisfactory level. To cut through confusion, our team compiled
Do you know of a veteran who is facing a barrier to employment? The VA has a Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program designed to help veterans regain their confidence in the work place. “”Employment is a critical protective factor against suicide, homelessness and substance use. CWT is a vital employment and therapeutic work program assisting Veterans with job
When Rick Lipsey began his medical battle with the Amyotrophic lateral disease, his friends formed Rick’s Raiders as his support group. According to the ALS, between five to six thousand Americans like Lipsey, a retired Air Force colonel, are diagnosed with the ailment. is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Texas Parks and Wildlife will host their annual TPDW Veteran Suicide Awareness Ruck Hikes in September. The effort takes a statewide effort to bring together veterans of all ages and ranks to bring awareness to mitigate the threat of veteran suicide. Active duty military can obtain a Texas Parklands Passport which provide free entry to all state parks. The program
At the Military Transition Roundtable, we believe transition never ever ends. For all veterans and their families, one of the key issues after leaving the military lifestyle, it’s to find a mentor. In a recent LinkedIn article, Daniel Collins came up with 14 reasons to find a mentor or two. For those attending a TAP course, that’s the first step
You’re invited to join the fifth annual PTSD Awareness Virtual Walk—an easy way to show support for Veterans and others affected by PTSD. Whether you walk, roll, or move at your own pace, every step helps raise awareness. If you want to register for this virtual event, please click on the graphic below. By joining, you’re helping to reduce the stigma around
For those facing PTSD and mental health has an ongoing mission to serve wounded military services, Project Healing Waters provides outings and other resources to assist them. Andy Weiner, a new contributor to our website, shared how veterans can discover more about this. Want to know more? Click on the graphic below.
Over the years, the Military Training Roundtable has worked with a lot of veterans facing their departure from military service. One of the things that our MasterMind groups have discussed is the need to get a medical diagnosis during their discharge medical exam. I thought of this key transition topic when I read a Tyrone Hewitt post. Hewitt posted: “Get
My HealtheVet will be moving to VA.gov effective June 4, 2025. From that point onward all users will be required to go to the new location in order to manage health records, medications, appointments, and to view messages. This change will allow veterans to manage healthcare in the same location as other benefits – allowing for a one-stop site
“Almost half of those rating their mental health as poor said they’re likely to look for a new job in the next six months (49.2%).” When our MILTrac team, read this Tyrone Hewitt post, it made us think of the many we have helped in the Military Transition Roundtable make the departure from military service. That’s why we want to
ACTS Mission will host a weekend retreat June 26-29 at the Saint Anthony Retreat Center. The MILTrac editorial team has led and participated in these retreats. We know firsthand how this retreat can help people, especially with spiritual and PTSD issues. The program welcomes retirees, active duty, military National Guard and Reserve, and veterans . RELATED: MILTrac calendar info The
“20% of your life is being stolen,” posted Dr. Heather Maietta, in a recent LinkedIn post. “…And you’re the cause.” With May as the official month for Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to share her post on social media’s impact, especially for military professional in transition. Want to improve your mental health during this month? Please click on the
Veterans with an Other-Than-Honorable (OTH) discharge have faced significant barriers when seeking benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Many believe they are ineligible for VA healthcare and support, leading them to forgo critical services – especially mental health care. However, the VA has taken major steps to address this gap, expanding mental health services for
The ACTS Military Mission team will host a women’s retreat April 10-13 at the Saint Anthony de Padua Retreat Center. The non-denominational retreat will begin April 10 with a 5 p.m. check-in at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, 501 North Street, in Converse, Texas. The weekend will end with a Mass at 11 a.m. A reception will be held
If you are a veteran or a military family with PTSD concerns, the team at MilTRAC want to share this Garret Biss video with you. After watching this 11-minute TED video, we hope veterans of all ranks, age and experience will take the time to watch it or while they’re working out, listen to it. Better yet, share this with
If you are a veteran or a veteran family member, Endeavors is looking for help in researching a study on depression and anxiety for people with hearing or mobility disability. Selected participants will be eligible for a 8-week study cognitive behavioral therapy that could improve your mental health. A stipend will be paid for each selected person. Research participant qualifications
By Pete Scherer On January 21, 2020, Private Second Class Caleb “Smitty” Smithers was found dead in his barracks. A 19 year old native of Lubbock Texas, the young man had aspirations of serving the U.S. Military since childhood and hoped to ultimately join the 82nd Airborne Division. Unfortunately, these dreams would be cut short by his tragic death. The
By Pete Scherer May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States for over 70 years. This is often an opportunity to discuss mental health trends and educate the public on issues such as depression, schizophrenia and suicide prevention. The U.S. Military is no stranger when it comes to addressing mental health concerns. According to the
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