Blog Post

IAVA Daily News Brief 07.12.12
Posted by Gretchen Andersen on July 12 2012

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings that IAVA is tracking. Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom and click here to get the News Brief delivered to your inbox every morning.

MUST READS

1.) The War on Suicide?

This week in TIME Magazine, Nancy Gibbs and Mark Thompson report the stories of Captain Mike McCaddon, M.D. and Captain Ian Morrison through the eyes of their widows. "These are always tough stories to report and write, which may explain why they are so rare," Thompson writes in the Battleland blog, where he details an overview of the cover story. Last month the Associated Press reported that suicides were outpacing war deaths, averaging one a day.

2.) Study reveals top reason behind soldiers' suicides

A Pentagon-funded study by the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah has found that the top reason for soldier suicide is intense psychological suffering and pain. USA Today reports that when researchers asked 72 soldiers at Fort Carson, Colo., why they tried to kill themselves, out of the 33 reasons they had to choose from, all of the soldiers indicated the desire to end intense emotional distress. Army Col. Carl Castro, who is coordinating $50 million in research into suicide prevention and treatment, said the findings support the premise behind new therapies underway which break with traditional approaches toward dealing with suicide that treat underlying illnesses such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

3.) The Arts Can Save Veterans’ Lives

Founder & Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff and President of the Lincoln Center Reynold Levy wrote that the arts can serve as a healing process for veterans, highlighting the accomplishments of IAVA Veteran Member and ballet dancer Roman Baca. IAVA and the Lincoln Center recently announced a partnership offering veterans and their families complimentary tickets to performances and career opportunities. Click here to read more about the partnership. 

AFGHANISTAN

• Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, commander of Regional Command-Southwest, said U.S. troops are draining out of southwest Afghanistan, while those set to remain will begin to focus on training Afghan security forces.

IRAQ

• The Syrian Ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf Fares, has defected joined the opposition, what he calls the “people’s revolution in Syria.”

MILITARY AFFAIRS

• A DOD spokesperson said the Pentagon may establish a medal specifically for service members who operate drones and unmanned aerial vehicles from remote locations.
• According to a university news release, a University of Texas team proved that they were able to divert an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from its flight path from about a kilometer away, raising questions about the security of civilian and military UAVs.
• Similar to the Army, the NFL is now is testing a range of helmet sensors that it hopes to install in players’ helmets to gather data on the causes of concussions.
• An Army spokesperson said Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will face an Article 32 Hearing, similar to preliminary hearing in civilian court, on Sept. 17.

THE NEW GREATEST GENERATION

• Melissa Stockwell, the first woman soldier to lose a limb in Iraq, is a paralympic swimmer who will be featured in a new documentary, “Warrior Champions.”
• Jay Roundtree was so eager to join the military that he lost 200 pounds through a strict diet and exercise regimen. 
• No politicians will be allowed to speak at the Ground Zero memorial ceremony this fall.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

• Depending on the severity of the defense cuts, the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce will decrease. The question is -- by how much?

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA.

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