Sandbox Injuries

[GAP]

All to often lately we are bombarded with the news of new deaths and injuries in the Sandbox. The media chatter on about the deaths and here we give quiet condolances and hopefully, a little support to those that know of the board.

We never hear about the injured. I can only recall one article on Captain Green and one on another fellow (sorry, I can't remember the name). That's it.

Why can we not give support to many of those who are injured and returned to recuperate? Being the fine fellows they are, I am sure some are one these boards and would like to receive a quick pat, a nod and a well done

my 1.5 cents

 

[the 48th regulator]

Why can we not give support to many of those who are injured and returned to recuperate? Being the fine fellows they are, I am sure some are one these boards and would like to receive a quick pat and a well done[/b].

What is scary, is not the recognition of their injuries, but how they will be treated going forward.

Either way, I totally agree with your thread.  We don't hear about the wounded.  The ones that left their true self behind in the sandbox as well...

dileas

tess

 

[Red 6]

I would like to say thank you to everyone who is enduring the sacrifice of pain and suffering due to going in harm's way for us. As a disabled veteran myself, I understand what it means to cope with military injuries years and decades later. Especially to the Canadian service personnel who are serving in Afghanistan, I extend my and my family's humble thanks for a tough job well done. Your service is appreciated and important. Also, thanks to the loved ones who are living with separation from your Soldier. I had a very intuitive commander once who said, "When we deploy, it's all of us together. But our wives endure it by themselves."

 

[The Bread Guy]

Let's hope they do NOT get forgotten, either by capital-C Canada (continuing support and treatment for all the injured, even for the Reservists), as well as the rest of Canada (the people these folks are working, and making sacrifices, for).

 

[the 48th regulator]

I too hope that.

Canada has not been admirable in their treatment, previously, to injured troops. Especially the reservist.

dileas

tess

 

[paracowboy]

I too hope that.

Canada has not been admirable in their treatment, previously, to injured troops. Especially the reservist.

things are better now. With a minor effort, you guys can find the names of the wounded, and track their progress. Look up Franklin, for instance.

 

[the 48th regulator]

things are better now.

Really?  Maybe someone should let the staff at LFCA know that, specifically 32 Brigade.  11 Months for them to release my medical records to VAC, because the gal that does it was too busy.  Veteran Affairs had to demand it by going to their liason officer with DND, a rare occurance.

This delayed much of my treatment.  I won't even get in to the 4 years it is taking them to release me because of my "Special Medical" situation as they stated....

Sorry for the rant ona Sunday Morning..only had one coffee...

dileas

tess

 

[Red 6]

Sorry for the rant ona Sunday Morning..only had one coffee...

dileas

tess

That's your problem, you haven't had enough coffee yet. You need to tank up on at least TWO cups. That makes everything clearer! 

 

[paracowboy]

Tess,

I don't know what the problem is with your case, (Reserve vs Regs issue, LFWA vs LFCA, Bosnia vs A-stan, what have you), but I had no problems, and the troops coming back wounded (and I work with most of the 3 VP casualties) are being treated like gold. Especially when I compare the treatment of the guys who I saw get hurt 10 years ago.

 

[GAP]

Tess,

I don't know what the problem is with your case, (Reserve vs Regs issue, LFWA vs LFCA, Bosnia vs A-stan, what have you), but I had no problems, and the troops coming back wounded (and I work with most of the 3 VP casualties) are being treated like gold. Especially when I compare the treatment of the guys who I saw get hurt 10 years ago.

I would suspect that someone on high has passed the word down that there will be NO, repeat NO issues with the wounded, especially with the high visibility of the return of the KIA's.

 

[paracowboy]

might be as simple as the Army of the West actually gives a shit about it's troops, too. There seems to be a different mentality entirely out here, as compared to Central Area.

 

[GAP]

might be as simple as the Army of the West actually gives a shit about it's troops, too. There seems to be a different mentality entirely out here, as compared to Central Area.

+1...that would be nice.

 

[GAP]

Guys, I am not in the CF and have no contacts that would enable me to find out who the injured were. Is there a list somewhere, does it go by unit, etc. ? I do not know, but I think they should be recognized for their selfless duty.

 

[the 48th regulator]

Tess,

I don't know what the problem is with your case, (Reserve vs Regs issue, LFWA vs LFCA, Bosnia vs A-stan, what have you), but I had no problems, and the troops coming back wounded (and I work with most of the 3 VP casualties) are being treated like gold. Especially when I compare the treatment of the guys who I saw get hurt 10 years ago.

You see them getting the treatment now, as being gold, because they are at you battalion

Wait for the reservist to return home and in a year or two ask him if he is still getting treated like "Gold"

He will tell you like fools gold.

Trust me I see it, and I hear it.

"You are not a priority, in fact you are at the bottom of my list!"  This is the comment I get asking the Mcpl. in charge of records for Reservists, why the delay in paper work, which is halting treatment to my injuries....Today.

There is nothing special about it.  We can not be sitting here and applauding the immediate efforts, and allowing them to slack off when the heat is no longer on.

dileas

tess

 

[Gunner]

I would suspect that someone on high has passed the word down that there will be NO, repeat NO issues with the wounded, especially with the high visibility of the return of the KIA's.

GAP this is absolutely an incorrect statement.  Just because a soldier is wounded does not mean they give up their right to privacy.  Some soldiers want to mend in piece, some just don't want to be in the media spotlight.  Respect their right to privacy vice your curiousity.

might be as simple as the Army of the West actually gives a crap about it's troops, too.

The medical system (1 HSG) has some wonderful partnerships at U of A Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital and are providing top notch recuperations and rehabilitative care.

Wait for the reservist to return home and in a year or two ask him if he is still getting treated like "Gold"

We've come a long way since the 90s for everyones (Reg and Res) care and many systems are in place to help deal with any lingering issues.

"You are not a priority, in fact you are at the bottom of my list!"  This is the comment I get asking the Mcpl. in charge of records for Reservists, why the delay in paper work, which is halting treatment to my injuries....Today.

Tess, I never took you as not being a fighter.  I hope you didn't just shrug your shoulders when a MCpl said she was too busy. 

 

[the 48th regulator]

My Exact response was I wish I have the privialge to say those words when doing my job.  If I did, maybe I would not have been shot and dealing with you (her).

However, I do agree that there are some very good and helpful people, there is still the big red machine that grinds slowly for the reservist, in my opinion.  I am to tainted to beleive it has changed, as I see it right now happening to me.  My treatment is not like a box of milk, it has no expiry date.

dileas

tess

 

[Centurian1985]

Have to agree with Tess on this one - as long as the flashlight of attention is shining on those coming home injured from overseas, those who need their paperwork done in a timely and responsible manner will remain a high priority.  Once the flashlight moves away, the importance attached to treating a 3B drops like a rock in the lake.  This is not pessimism, this is based on how past injured soldiers have been treated.  

The situation has improved since 1992 but it is not good enough yet.  In my case, difficulties were caused by an RO who did not know how to handle my paperwork.  In another example, one infantry soldier I met in 2004 was being released on 3B.  He was entitled to a VRP program (Vocational Rehabilitation) that would allow him to use his last six months of service to go to school and learn new skills to improve his chances for a new job in the world because his physical injury limited what jobs he could work at (plus the fact that proficiency in the infantry does not qualify you for very many jobs out there).  He was denied access to the program by his Sergeant-Major who refused to forward his paperwork because he wanted the soldier for rear-party duties.  In the end he had to get support from the civilian coordinator and padre to get around the opposition that the SM put up.    

This is not the standard for all how releases are handled, but it is still occurring, which it should not be.    

 

[GAP]

GAP this is absolutely an incorrect statement.  Just because a soldier is wounded does not mean they give up their right to privacy.  Some soldiers want to mend in piece, some just don't want to be in the media spotlight.  Respect their right to privacy vice your curiosity.

I can appreciate that, and don't have a problem with it. This was not prompted by curiosity, but concern that they too deserve recognition, maybe not individually, but at least as a group.

 

[Gunner]

I can appreciate that, and don't have a problem with it. This was not prompted by curiosity, but concern that they too deserve recognition, maybe not individually, but at least as a group.

Some corporate groups have quietly been providing special events for the wounded soldiers.  One example that comes to mind is Ron Southern, who invited all of the wounded and their families to Spruce Meadows to watch the horse jumping competition in a special sky box.  Another, the AB Government opened its Spring Legislature and acknowledged several wounded soldiers in the gallery. 

The problem is that alot of the soldiers are critically hurt and will take years to fully recuperate.  Being recognized is not high on their list.  Significant senior leaderships conduct visits with the hospitalized patients all of the time.  Do we hear about it?  Why are we so cynical that we don't believe it is happening?

We have created an immense bureaucracy to offer services to soldiers who are injured in Canada or overseas.  Does it work perfectly?  Nope, probably never will either.  Does it properly capture the vast majority of problems?  Yep, sure does.  Soldiers need to educate themselves, they need to know their rights, use their assisting officers, use the chain of command, etc to ensure they are being taken care.  If you aren't happy about something, don't sit and complain, do something.

 

[GAP]

I am glad to hear there is a support system out there. This is the first I had heard about it, and I daresay...many others on this board  did not know how extensive it is. Being out of public view, there is nothing available  to the public to know they are being taken care of. That is both a good and a bad thing. It is good, because they ARE being taken care of; it is bad in that it allows the public to forget about them as a group.