Veteran pushes his limits on the Iditarod and Everest

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 17:40:37 -0400

Army veteran Steve Watkins Jr. is going to the ends of the Earth and the top of the World as he copes with PTSD. An inspiring story . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/sports/wp/2015/03/06/healing/?hpid=z1

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2015 9:25 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 21:25:20 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, that is quite a story. I think it's great that Watkins is exorcising his demons by pushing himself in the Iditarod race and then climbing Mount Everest. His story reminds me of LT Franks, who had a similar disposition, but he chose a path that landed him in prison:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2876352/US-Army-officer-deserted-join-French-Foreign-Legion-glittering-career-jailed-four-years.html

And here is a discussion of LT Franks on RallyPoint:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/army-officer-sentenced-to-four-years-for-desertion-after-joining-the-french-foreign-legion

US Army officer who deserted to join the French Foreign Legion jailed

Lieutenant Lawrence Franks, pictured, graduated second in his class from West Point Military Academy just one year before he deserted the US Army to join the French Foreign Legion.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 1:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 01:53:46 -0400

This is crazy. He has PTSD so does contract work in combat zones after getting out of the Army. Now he is 90% disabled but can physically and mentally compete in the longest and toughest sled dog race not to mention weeks later attempt a climb on Everest?!

Who is paying for all of this and for him to sit at home and not work so that he can train up for these two events?

Think I am going to get out and collect disability and have someone pay for me to compete in snowmachine races and hunting trips then have everyone rave about how amazing it is that I am conquering PTSD.

Response by SPC Jonathan Sellers made Mar 9 at 2015 2:21 AM

SPC Jonathan Sellers — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 02:21:27 -0400

I had to tell my VSO three times that I don't have PTSD because she wanted me to get the money. What they don't tell you is that because of PTSD, corporate America is less likely to hire you because they are afraid of the "workplace fallout" like going postal on your coworkers.

I have also talked to many people who have been discriminated against simply because of their status as veterans. After they quit telling people they were veterans, bam, hired! Wow, PTSD seems to really be an enemy but not because of any limitations on your ability to work, but because of the stigma associated with it.

It's amazing that the psychiatric community wants to isolate these people who actually have issues of some sort, that fall under the blanket description of PTSD. Instead, these people who suffer are rewarded for their inability to cope with their inner demons with drugs, money, and fame. Whereas the veteran community is actually much more capable of giving the proper aid simply by being available to talk, visit, and identify with the people who have been isolated from their peers by their therapists.

Then there is the stigma that society places on veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD. Propaganda outlets are constantly filling their broadcasts with how awful it is that the USA has promoted freedom in the Middle East. Corporate America protects the non-veterans from the veterans by discriminating against the veterans in the hiring process, and then the VA itself sits on its hands while something like 22 veterans shoot themselves every day waiting for the only treatment the government says they can get.

Sounds like a big picture worth pulling off the wall and buring up in a blaze of glory. The system we were sworn to defend has run us through the meat grinder in the sausage factory of political/corporate incest/fornication. I would have happily made a career out of my service but the modern American institutions have quit serving the people who make their existence possible and they have rewarded the counter culture leeches on the system.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 9 at 2015 8:40 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:40:46 -0400

Awesome story GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad thank you for sharing. Good luck to Steve Watkins Jr. in his feat.