To start off I am not trying to debate PTSD, how or why it happens, or in what level it exists, nor am I referring to any one incident. My intent here is not to start an argument or a debate. I am just using it as a reference to what I have begun to see as a side effect.
I live in Washington State, the Seattle area. The news media for some time here has been very involved in the PTSD debate. With several current events that have happened here as well as the Sgt. Bales case, since he was based at JBLM, PTSD had dominated the news. Add to all this the Senate investigation into Madigan Hospital over reversal of many PTSD diagnosis, the stories have been on the front page almost everyday.
The stories are about either current soldiers or prior service soldiers. Recently a prior service soldier shot 4 people at a New Years Eve party and killed a Park Ranger the next day. The press emphasized his one deployment and the possibility of PTSD. After further, but much smaller articals it became apparent this person had problems way outside the military service. His deployment was in a non combat MOS.
There have been other stories involving everything from domestic disturbance, domestic abuse, and even theft that all seem to highight PTSD.
Now with the Sgt. Bales case PTSD associated with deployments is dominating the news.
I only used these cases as an example to what I see becomming a trend. As a business owner I am involved in networking with many other business owners. I often bring up the merits of hiring Veterans. The last opportunity I had to speak with other business owners I started to hear things that made me concerned. Because of the stories lately and the focus on deployment and PTSD, many of the employers I spoke with were starting to shy away from hiring veterans. Some employers have actually stated that when interviewing a possible employee who happens to be a veteran they are starting to ask them if they have been deployed and how many deployments. Some have admitted that they lean toward not hiring vets that have had multiple deployments out of a fear they will somehow snap and that they must have PTSD, "The news media said so, right?" is their comment.
I know this borderlines on discrimination and I have told them as much, there answer is that they don't make it part of the application, they just bring it up when discussing the applicants military service.
I fear that the high rate of unemployment among veterans will only go higher due to a precieived fear some employers have over hiring vets who have been deployed. The comments I hear sometimes are based more out of ingorance and fear then the facts.
I have read articals quoting senior officers sharing the same concern, that instead of a public feeling grateful for a veteran's service they are feeling pity for what they go through, and that they are somehow broken.
This new case with Sgt Bales will drag on in the media for a long time and will continue the perception that every soldier that deploys will somehow be damaged. A lot of the employers I have spoke with are beginning to feel this way. I try and educate them the best I can but it is beginning to be an uphill battle.
So I guess I am asking, those that are current veterans have you been finding this to be true. Employers have you seen this in your business community. I see this becoming a bigger problem as more soldiers leave the service, I hope we can find a way to avoid it.
I live in Washington State, the Seattle area. The news media for some time here has been very involved in the PTSD debate. With several current events that have happened here as well as the Sgt. Bales case, since he was based at JBLM, PTSD had dominated the news. Add to all this the Senate investigation into Madigan Hospital over reversal of many PTSD diagnosis, the stories have been on the front page almost everyday.
The stories are about either current soldiers or prior service soldiers. Recently a prior service soldier shot 4 people at a New Years Eve party and killed a Park Ranger the next day. The press emphasized his one deployment and the possibility of PTSD. After further, but much smaller articals it became apparent this person had problems way outside the military service. His deployment was in a non combat MOS.
There have been other stories involving everything from domestic disturbance, domestic abuse, and even theft that all seem to highight PTSD.
Now with the Sgt. Bales case PTSD associated with deployments is dominating the news.
I only used these cases as an example to what I see becomming a trend. As a business owner I am involved in networking with many other business owners. I often bring up the merits of hiring Veterans. The last opportunity I had to speak with other business owners I started to hear things that made me concerned. Because of the stories lately and the focus on deployment and PTSD, many of the employers I spoke with were starting to shy away from hiring veterans. Some employers have actually stated that when interviewing a possible employee who happens to be a veteran they are starting to ask them if they have been deployed and how many deployments. Some have admitted that they lean toward not hiring vets that have had multiple deployments out of a fear they will somehow snap and that they must have PTSD, "The news media said so, right?" is their comment.
I know this borderlines on discrimination and I have told them as much, there answer is that they don't make it part of the application, they just bring it up when discussing the applicants military service.
I fear that the high rate of unemployment among veterans will only go higher due to a precieived fear some employers have over hiring vets who have been deployed. The comments I hear sometimes are based more out of ingorance and fear then the facts.
I have read articals quoting senior officers sharing the same concern, that instead of a public feeling grateful for a veteran's service they are feeling pity for what they go through, and that they are somehow broken.
This new case with Sgt Bales will drag on in the media for a long time and will continue the perception that every soldier that deploys will somehow be damaged. A lot of the employers I have spoke with are beginning to feel this way. I try and educate them the best I can but it is beginning to be an uphill battle.
So I guess I am asking, those that are current veterans have you been finding this to be true. Employers have you seen this in your business community. I see this becoming a bigger problem as more soldiers leave the service, I hope we can find a way to avoid it.