As it turns out, (a) although my service was during peacetime (I was stationed in New Mexico, and we aren't at war with Mexico ... yet) I am considered a fully-fledged Veteran with all the whatchamacallits and doohickeys thereunto appertaining, etc. Whatever those are. (b) I have been told by fellow veterans at Essentia "well of course you're eligible," which is nice. Eligible for what, I don't exactly know.
I've had several moments of "flying off the handle," as the saying used to go When I Was A Boy. It was at best extremely unpleasant to those impacted by my behavior, including me. Likely this was due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. The VA appears to have concluded that I actually suffer from PTSD. I'm not particularly shy about it. Four years with the 148th Tac Recon Group, which I gather now is the 148th Fighter Wing, last I looked. A little Inactive Reserve time and most of another two years active USAF, making up my 6 year obligation. If I hadn't been discharged (don't get me started ... no, really, DON'T), I'd likely have retired more than 20 years ago.
I spent the last several days in the Essentia Psych wards trying to find out what the term actually means, what I should watch for and what I should expect. As to who else was there, those are not my stories to tell. In older terms, none of your damn business, and for that matter, none of my damn business either.
I'm going to do what I might have done before I sent myself to the Psych wards and do a bit of Googling to learn some more. I knew (from movies and TV) that combat veterans could be subject to PTSD, and it looks damn serious there. I do keep getting asked whether the VA is covering my care -- but of course their coverage of my PTSD only applies to that, not the cancer, glaucoma or other conditions that did not arise from my service. I am not entirely baffled by it -- only mostly baffled. Oh, well, once more into the breach dear friends, once more...
Griz
PS. Mike McLaughlin from the St Louis County CVSA... call me if you can. Not sure if my one remaining VOIP line can get inbound calls. (sigh)
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