gage our resources, engage families, and solicit help from engaged family organizations (which means leader-ship MUST support Family Pro-grams, Chaplain Counseling and marriage support initiatives, and a cultural shift to make getting help a “GREAT EVENT” and not a taboo subject). We have to listen to, men-tor, teach, watch, and engage our personnel in all of these types of programs so that we can easily avoid future problems. Most of all, we must “WORK WITH” our personnel, so that great, well trained, expensive human assets, do not get lost be-cause they are considered assets instead of people. YOU ARE HUMAN and you have problems, too. Reach for your local resources first and best! The J-9 Joint and Family Services Directorate teaches, sup-port, engages, and empowers leader-ship with a huge toolbox of high energy tools, like: 1. Military Transition Assistance Advisors (MTAA) – Bene-fit and counseling support for retir-ing and transitioning personnel. Here you will also find educational assistance, VA benefits counseling, GI Bill for veterans support, and a connection to all J-9 and Army-wide Services for Vets and Retirees. 2. The Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP)– A versatile program of deployment support services, counseling, Job/Educational Assis-tance, and training for deployed, deploying and returning military personnel and their families. 3. The State Youth Ser-vices Program – Counseling for mili-tary youth, training for leadership and families, and support for mili-tary personnel concerning the unique issues of our youngest mem-bers of our service family. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...

The hardships of war, dysfunctional families, unintentionally poor leader-ship, PTSD . . . What is the reason for this chain of suicides and family breakdowns we are experiencing? We continue to hear the media hype about the myriad of issues causing the suicides. Among these are the trauma causing the PTSD, the deploy-ments causing the family failures, and ineffectual leadership. Beyond the media hype is the hearsay and rumor about leaders, units, mistakes in han-dling crises, and lack of funding and effort for care of the Servicemen and families. In a recent Time Magazine Article entitled "The Insidious Enemy: Why the Pentagon is losing the war against military suicide." (Mark Thompson & Nancy Gibbs, 22-31), some very sur-prising numbers are released con-cerning the loss of Military lives to self-inflicted wounds. In fact the title by-line on the cover of the magazine is “One A Day,” and one quote states that a U.S. Veteran dies by his or her own hand every 80 minutes. Numerous magazine articles, web quotes, and exposes’ on TV state al-most unbelievable statistics on PTSD issues, military marital failures, adul-tery, divorce, Soldiers and Marines attacking civilians, leaders killed or stripped of their ranks, and Service-members in pain. The common thread is lack of funding, lack of care, lack of engaged leadership, the un-emotional “You are weak if you need help” mentality, and improper appli-cation of services. The military has seldom, in its history, looked less compassionate and less proactive. The reality is somewhat different, however. Indeed there are leadership issues with understanding, compas-sion and emotion, but these are changing. Indeed we are not funding these issues as well as we should with a budget that is so cramped we can barely afford normal military opera-

tion or proper training sometimes. Indeed we need more emphasis in teaching personnel how to recognize our unique problems. Yet, we do have support, we have volunteers, we have avenues for safe and confiden-tial help, we have an incredible force for help and for reason, and we have services in place to engage outside support. Where is the problem, then? Can’t we help ourselves?

The problem is apathy, mission lag, fear of reprisal, misunderstanding among troops and leaders of the problem, and lack of interest in the process. The person with the “this will never happen to me” and “this is a weakness we cannot afford” men-tality, hinders our helping support. A Soldier should never wait on a hot-line for 45 minutes for a suicide call (as stated in the Time Magazine arti-cle) when there is a trained suicide counselor, and lots of partially trained fellow service-members available. Local communities have support channels, as well, but the message is not getting out. The poor example of our brothers and sisters, and leaders who may not understand how to show compassion hurts the outreach mission, as well. What is the answer to this dilemma? How can we reach the masses? How can we break the silence of ingrained fear or poorly placed loyalties, while reinforcing the values each Airman, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Coastie (and every Veteran), hold dear to their hearts? The answer is here already. The resources are our leadership, our families, our employers, civilian sup-port organizations, and (my favorite) our J-9 Joint and Family Services Directorate. The fancy names and odd organizational tiles will not con-fuse folks if we speak plainly, so here is the plain truth. Leaders, know that you might be in the same situation in which you find your personnel. All levels must en-

- Editorial: CW2 Barry D. Long

JOINT STAFF, GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

July 20, 2012 Volume 3, Issue 7

A Newsletter

Production of the J-9 Joint and Family Services

Directorate Special points of in-

terest:

HIDDEN PAIN

...Girls Allowed!

Traumatic Brain Injury

THE BUZZ!

FOUNDING FATHERS SE-

RIES

2012 BACK-TO-

SCHOOL BRIGADE

Inside this issue:

EDITORIAL:

HIDDEN PAIN

1,3

From S1Net: ...GIRLS ALLOWED!

2

Traumatic Brain Injury

2

ARTICLE:

THE BUZZ!

2

Founding Fathers:

John Adams

3

OPERATION

HOMEFRONT

LAUNCHES 2012

BACK-TO-

SCHOOL BRI-

GADE

4

ALARACT 182/2012, MOD

01 TO ALARACT 193/2010

HQDA EXORD 253-10,

MANAGEMENT OF CON-

CUSSION / MILD TRAU-

MATIC BRAIN INJURY

(MTBI) IN THE DEPLOYED

SETTING, DTG 052029Z

JUL 12. This message modi-

fies medical guidance in both

the deployed and clinical

settings. See the message for

these changes and an up-

dated POC list. https://

forums.army.mil/

communitybrowser.aspx?

id=1787854&lang=en-US

** In order to read this

entire message you

should join the S1 Net

military forum and you

must have a CAC. **

Note: You must have Army Knowledge Online access to register for this site. Civil-ians will require a military sponsor to get AKO access.

If you receive a bee sting,

quickly scrape the stinger with

a blunt-edged object such as

the edge of a credit card to re-

move it from the skin. Never

squeeze it or remove it with

tweezers, as this will release

more venom. Treat a sting

from a wasp, hornet, yellow

jacket, or ant by skipping this

step.

Monitor for signs and symp-

toms of anaphalaxys. These

include itching, hives, swelling,

wheezing, difficulty breating,

and weakness. This can pro-

gress rapidly. If the victim has

a known allergy to stings and

has an EpiPen, assist them with

administering it. Call 911 im-

mediately. Medical attention is

urgently needed for stings in-

volving the nose, mouth, lips,

tongue, or throat, or for multi-

ple stings.

Wash the area with soap and

water, and apply a cold pack.

Georgia is home to a great

number of species of ants, bees,

and wasps. As families try to

enjoy the last weeks before the

kids return to school, many

people will find themselves

crossing paths with these in-

sects. While most stings cause

only minor problems, stings

from these insects account for

more deaths in the United

States than from any other

envenomation, including spi-

ders and snakes.

Bees, such as honey bees, are

only capable of stinging once

since they leave the stinger

behind. The bigger danger is

that bees often attack in a

swarm. Wasps, including hor-

nets and yellow jackets, can

sting again and again because

they do not lose their stingers.

Yellow jackets actually cause

the greatest number of allergic

reactions. Fire ants can also

sting multiple times. They

latch on with their mouth and

then sting as they rotate. You

may have also seen large, fuzzy

black and red ants. These are

known by many names such as

velvet ants and cow killers,

however they are not ants at

all. Rather they are flightless

wasps, and pack a powerful

sting.

If the sting in on an extrem-

ity, elevate to reduce swelling.

Take care, and enjoy

the rest of the summer!

Traumatic Brain Injury - 9 July 2012. (from S1 Net)

Duty, Honor, Country.

Those three hallowed

words reverently dictate

what you ought to be, what

you can be, what you will

be.

- Gen. Douglas

MacArthur

Build me a son, O Lord, who

will be strong enough to know

when he is weak, and brave

enough to face himself when

he is afraid, one who will be

proud and unbending in

honest defeat, and humble

and gentle in victory.

- Gen. Douglas

MacArthur

Page 2

...GIRLS ALLOWED! ARMY DIRECTIVE (AD) 2012-16 (CHANGES TO ARMY POLICY FOR THE ASSIGN-MENT OF FEMALE SOL-DIERS), 27 JUN 12. This AD advises that, effective 14 May 12, the portion of the 1994 DOD Direct Ground Combat Defini-tion and Assignment Rule that permits the Services to bar the assignment of women to units and positions doctrinally required to physically collocate and re-main with direct ground combat units was rescinded. Thus, effec-tive 14 May 12, AR 600-13 is revised to remove references to and information regarding appli-cation of the collocation provi-sion, and better to align Army policy with that of the DOD as indicated in this Army Directive. See the AD for specifics. https://forums.army.mil/SECURE/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=1783535 ***MUST BE A MEMBER OF S1 NET and USE CAC***

By CW2 Jennifer Long,

A Co CO, 4/1 GSDF

4. ANG Family Assistance – Family Guidance, Counseling and Support for our Air Force Specific personnel and their unique circumstances. 5. Family Assistance Specialist (FAS) – Family Guidance, Counseling and Support for all of our military personnel, but specifically tailored to Army National Guard Units and their leadership. These are your local, regional Family Assistance Centers (FACs), and they are your primary contact/resource at the regional level to train, support, and assist unit leader-ship and military families in building a terrific bond. Look here for the keys to all of our re-sources. 6. Family Readiness Support Assis-tants (FRSAs) – These personnel support the Major Subordinate Commands (MSCs), also known as Brigades, Troop Commands, Major Headquarters, and Staffs in providing the re-sources of the J-9 across the board. These team members are dedicated to engaging sen-ior leadership in the mission of solving the “HIDDEN PAIN” crisis, and ensuring that lead-ers remain connected to both the unit level FAC/Family Readiness Group (FRG)/Training mission, and the State Level Resourcing/Leader Training/and resources for Service Member, family and youth care. 7. The Georgia Sexual Assault Coor-dinator (GA-SARC) – This is your resource for help when you, or your loved one, is experi-encing, or has recently experienced, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or a questionable situation of sexually charged origin. 8. The Georgia National Guard Fam-

ily Support Foundation (GNGFSF) – If you read the last issue of the “J-9 FOCAL POINT!” you al-ready know that this organization provides finan-cial relief to get Soldiers and Families through a short term crisis, counseling, and direction for receiving assistance long-term financial crises. That direction may be as simple as a referral to our next tool in the toolkit (#9). 9. The Joint Services Family Assistance Program (JSFAP) – The State-Level link to the huge variety of Family, Suicide, Financial Coun-seling, Personnel counseling, and military unique total health and behavioral resources available to all members of the Georgia National Guard, all U.S. Military Services, their families, their chil-dren, and their loved ones. 10. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) – This is the poorly used link between leadership at every level, the civilian employers of our personnel, and the military personnel we all support and serve. This ten-piece toolkit for Military Members, Families, leadership at every level, civilian em-ployers, military benefits, and much, much more, is here now! The “HIDDEN PAIN” must not con-tinue. We can train our units and take them to war. We can encourage a “no fear and no emotion” atti-tude. We can hide our weaknesses to maintain a status quo, and preach values without truly living them by an acceptable standard. All of these things lead to failure. People will eventually suffer because of this, commit suicide, commit crimes, quit, watch marriages fail, and distrust their leadership. We must keep the Home-Front working well, and maintain a direct, face-to-face

mentoring and leadership engagement with our personnel. We should also maintain an empathic and sometime sympathetic ear and visage, a willingness to make accommodations to maintain the hardest workers in best work-ing condition by supporting special needs, and a willingness to be human in front of our per-sonnel so that they can truly follow the exam-ple of human leaders with real-world values. Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Coasties, Vets, and Families must also change. The val-ues don’t stop at the door when you leave duty. The help that is available will not get stronger and more effective if you do not use it. You cannot fix the broken parts of lives, hearts, children, families and careers if you do not seek help. Reach out! The resources are here, today. They may not be as strong as we would wish them to be, but we can improve them by using them, engaging them, and proving that they work. We are always here and ready. Do not suffer, do not be ashamed (there is no shame in seeking help), mend the broken pieces, and know that you are special. Know that where you are weak, another is strong. Do not hide the pain anymore! Article Reference: Mark Thompson, Nancy Gibbs. "The Insidious

Enemy: Why the Pentagon is losing

the war against military suicide."

Time Magazine. 23 July 2012: 22-31.

Print.

the stirring language of the document itself, would forever change the world and its concept of liberty and equality.

Over the next decade, when he wasn't busy writing and

assisting with the war effort at home, Adams conducted official business abroad. Then, in 1785, he was named America's first ambassador to England. During these long periods away from home, Adams exchanged frequent letters with his wife, Abigail. These published letters and Adams's diary paint a delightful picture not only of John and Abigail and their family, but of their candid reactions to the historic events of the time.

In 1789, Adams received the second highest number of

electoral votes in the bid for the presidency, hence he became vice president to George Washington's first presidency of the United States of America. After serving eight years as vice presi-dent, in 1797 he succeeded Washington as president. During these years, a debate raged over the proper size and function of the federal government, and two political parties emerged to battle the issue. Adams aligned himself with the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, who favored a stronger central govern-ment. The opposing Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, were more egalitarian, and favored a sharply limited federal authority. Eventually Adams alienated members of both parties, and left the presidency in bitter disappointment. Adams retired to his Massachusetts farm and quickly regained his stat-ure as one of this country's elder statesmen and a founder of American democracy. However, Adams took particular pleasure

John Adams was a leading advocate for the separation of the American colonies from England. A native of Braintree, Massachusetts, he received an education at Harvard before studying law. As a young attorney in Boston, Adams saw grow-ing political unrest in New England and throughout the colonies. He frequently fueled anti-British sentiment

with newspaper editorials and other writings that defended the rights of colonial citizens against the distant authority of the British Crown. In 1774, after serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Adams was appointed a delegate to the newly formed Continental Congress.

During the next few years, Adams became deeply involved

in the steady colonial march toward separation from Britain. Once the Continental Congress officially voted for independence on June 7, 1776, Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and two others were chosen to draft a manifesto declaring independence. After a lengthy debate in which Adams vigor-ously defended the document before his fellow delegates, Congress accepted and ratified the final version of the Declara-tion of Independence on July 4, 1776. By denouncing the au-thority of the Crown, the signers of the declaration were commit-ting a dangerous act of treason. Nevertheless, their actions, and

in living to see his son, John Quincy Adams , elected president in 1825.

This spotlight article obtained in full from the Smithsonian

Institution at http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/spotlight/july4.html

...Continued from Page 1.

Page 3 Volume 3, Issue 7

As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may

be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean

by the Revolution? The war? That was no part of

the revolution; it was only an effect and conse-

quence of it. The revolution was in the minds of

the people, and this was effected ... before a

drop of blood was shed.

- JOHN ADAMS, letter to Thomas Jefferson,

Aug. 24, 1815

Laws for the liberal education of youth, espe-

cially of the lower class of people, are so ex-

tremely wise and useful, that, to a humane and

generous mind, no expense for this purpose

would be thought extravagant.

- JOHN ADAMS, Thoughts on Government

NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU Family Programs (NGB-FP) Mission: To establish and facilitate

ongoing communication, involvement,

support, and recognition between Na-tional Guard families and the National

Guard in a partnership that promotes

the best in both.

Family Programs Web Sites

GuardFamily.org - The National Guard

Family Program

GuardFamilyYouth.org - The National

Guard Family Youth Program

Newsletters

Air National Guard Family Guide [PDF]

Contact Information

Phone: (888)777-7731 Fax: 703-607-0762

Email: ngb.J1.fp@ng.army.mil

being short-handed because

one parent may be deployed.

At the events, kids receive a

free backpack and enough

school supplies to get them

started on their first day of

school.

We hope you will consider

supporting our back to school

program this year. Here are

ways you can help:

volunteer to pick up supplies

help distribute supplies at

an event (more details coming)

donate to the event

become a national corporate

sponsor (if you would like to

support a local event, click here

to find your local office)

Operation Homefront is ex-

cited to launch the 2012 Back-

to-School Brigade, our pro-

gram that provides school sup-

plies to military kids. Through

distribution events around the

country, military families are

given supplies to help them get

ready for the upcoming school

year.

Today, the context of military

service includes a higher op-

eration tempo, increased de-

ployments, relocations, and

family separations. In short,

military families are facing

more stress than ever before.

This program can relieve some

of the financial stress and the

expense of having to get ready

for school in the middle of

PCSing, financial struggles or

If you have any questions

or would like to discuss other

sponsorship levels or oppor-

tunities, please contact Nata-

sha Carter at 800-722-6098.

Find out more about the pro-

gram.

If you are a military family

interested in receiving back-

packs and supplies, you can

learn when events open for

registration by visiting your

local office website and/or

follow them on Facebook. If

you have any other questions

about the Back-to-School Bri-

gade, contact our Programs

Department at 800-722-6098.

OPERATION HOMEFRONT

LAUNCHES 2012 BACK-TO-

SCHOOL BRIGADE

— From OperationHomeFront.org

Serving the Georgia DoD, The U.S. Military, and our Veterans, One Family at a Time.

We are on the web:

www.georgiaguardfamilyprogram.org

J-9 JOINT AND

FAMILY SERVICES

DIRECTORATE

Georgia Department of Defense

1388 First Street, Bldg 840 (Finch Bldg)

1000 Halsey Avenue, Bldg 447,

Mailroom

Marietta, GA 30060

Point of Contact:

CW2 Barry D. Long

Human Resources/Systems/ATSO/

Safety Officer

barry.long@us.army.mil

“Military Personnel, Families, and Veterans First!”

Our directorate services the military community of Georgia, providing those

services, support and information that are vital to their care. Our staff is com-

mitted to providing the best care, in a timely manner, and followed-thru to a

successful conclusion so that Military Personnel, their families, and Veterans in

Georgia will have the resources, help, and information they need to thrive.

The J-9 Joint and Family Services Directorate and The Georgia Guard Family

Program: