The message in Patrick J. Murphy’s OpEd below is exactly why the National Criminal Justice Association has instituted its Returning Veterans Internship Program. Recognizing the desire many returning vets have to continue to serve their country and communities, our internship provides insight into the broad scope of potential careers in the justice system. Please take a moment to read his OpEd below.
Wharton Lecturer - Vetrepreneur - Emmy Award Winner - Board Chairman - 32nd Army Under Secretary
Hoping you could read/share my MilitaryTimes Online OpEd published today and this quick tv clip. For my generation of veterans that came of age in the aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and subsequently fought in the longest wars in American history, there is a signature injury that has impacted nearly three in ten of us — post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is not just a medical diagnosis but a poignant symbol of a collective, enduring struggle. While we’ve seen resources and treatments provided for PTSD increase as well as a broader acceptance for those impacted by this injury, we’ve also seen these men and women viewed as though they’re broken. Veterans who embody the ethos of post-traumatic growth — the positive psychological change experienced as a result of overcoming highly challenging and stressful life situations — push back against that “broken” narrative. I urge you to mark today June 13th as National Post-Traumatic Growth Day with other members in our military veteran community. We have seen examples of post-traumatic growth throughout history, where significant adversity can spark substantial progress and change. Since our nation’s founding, waves of American veterans have demonstrated how they’ve become incredible civic assets after their military service. From George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower, John McCain and Colin Powell, these veterans became icons of American statesmanship. John F. Kennedy was once asked what actions led him to become a war hero, which launched his career in public service. “It was involuntary – they sank my boat,” he said. My post-traumatic growth occurred in the same vein. I returned from an Iraq deployment with the 82nd Airborne Division’s Falcon Brigade in 2004 with the burden of 19 paratroopers killed in action. So I appreciate your support financially, online, and always with action on trying to make a difference. Please share and keep up the good fight! -Patrick https://lnkd.in/etSCNyuK #PTG #PTSD #HappybirthdayUSArmy #Vetrepreneurship Blake Hall Dawn Halfaker Boulder Crest Foundation
