Skip to main content

Military Health System

Mental Stress is like a ‘Check Engine Light’ Flashing–Don’t Ignore It

Image of Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jason David talks about his  journey of recovery through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program during a video conversation with Defense Health Agency Command Sgt. Major Michael Gragg. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jason David talks about his journey of recovery through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program during a video conversation with Defense Health Agency Command Sgt. Major Michael Gragg.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Warrior Care | Warrior Care | Psychological Fitness

For one Air Force senior enlisted leader, the problem of “combat stress” and the toll it takes on warfighters – and often on their families, too – continues to be an issue that the military community struggles to fully understand.

“Sometimes they don’t feel right about only having mental injuries. They don’t think it’s a big deal, but it is,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jason David, the chief enlisted manager for the Defense Media Activity.

David spoke about his own journey of recovery through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program during a video conversation with Defense Health Agency Command Sgt. Major Michael Gragg at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Nov. 19. They were both attending Virtual CARE Week events as part of the DOD’s Warrior Care Month observance.

David was seriously wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom and said he “had a hard time with recovery in general.” He later was deployed to Afghanistan, and made use both times of mental health care services available to troops and veterans as part of his recovery.

“I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve seen a psychiatrist. I'm not ashamed to say I’ve been to behavioral or mental health care,” he told Gragg during their conversation during the Day of Healing events

David also spoke about the continued societal stigmatization of wounded warriors.

“Aside from the physical [injuries], the mental stress – they call it combat stress – that is a bizarre concept for folks that are not serving, who haven’t served, or don’t know anyone who has served in the armed forces,” he said.

The physical and mental recovery “takes a toll on yourself, your family, and your livelihood.”

And for those who have invisible wounds, the burden can even be bigger, David said.

He used the analogy of an automobile engine warning light to help explain the effects that psychological injuries can have.

“What happens when your check engine light turns on? Do you just ignore it until your engine stops or are you responsible because you’re thinking about the longer game, you’re thinking about the big picture?”

“You don’t know if it’s going to be a dramatic chain of events that’s going to ultimately hurt you in the long run.”

The priority placed on mental health and total force fitness reflects a generational change for many senior leaders, David said.

“Leaders should include Warrior Care in their toolbox,” David said. “You can’t be the leader you grew up with today in 2021. You have to evolve” in your thoughts and actions about wounded warriors and warrior care.

“You have to be a different leader. What worked 20 to 30 years ago won’t work today.”

Visit the Defense Health Agency Facebook page for more of the interview with David.

In addition to Warrior Care programs and each Service’s treatment programs, Military OneSource provides wounded warrior specialty consultation services to help eligible wounded, ill or injured service members, veterans and their families get immediate assistance for issues related to health care, resources, facilities and benefits. Service members and veterans injured in accidents or battling serious illnesses are also eligible.

For help with thoughts of suicide, contact the Military & Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 and select Option 1

You also may be interested in...

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 1 – April 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Leishmaniasis in relation to service in Iraq/Afghanistan, U.S. Armed Forces, 2001 – 2006; Hospitalizations among members of active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006; Ambulatory visits among members of active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006; Absolute and relative morbidity burdens attributable to various illnesses and injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006; Reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006; Acute respiratory disease surveillance update.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 2 – May 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Hospitalization Experience within One Year after Returning from Afghanistan or Iraq, January 2002-September 2006; Outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis Due to Norovirus, Fort Dix, New Jersey, December 2006; Heat-related Injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006; Acute Respiratory Disease, Basic Training Centers, U.S. Army 1997-2007; Reportable Medical Events, Active Components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 7 – November 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: "Indicator" infectious illnesses, staphylococcal infections, and penicillin resistance among active component members, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2002-June 2007; Mental health-related clinical experiences in relation to responses to health assessments after returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, U.S. Armed Forces; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-October 2007; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, November 2005-November 2007; Reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, January-September 2006 and January-October 2007.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 13 No. 1 - January 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Relationships between abnormal findings during medical examinations and subsequent diagnoses of significant conditions, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, January 1998-October 2006; ARD surveillance update; Epidemiologic consultation (EPICON): Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcal infections among trainees, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, 2006; Update: Malaria, U.S. Armed Forces, 2006; Pre- and post-deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-December 2006; Sentinel reportable events.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 5 – August 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Traumatic brain injury among members of active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 1997-2006; Heterotopic ossification, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2002-2007; Routine screening for antibodies to HIV-1, U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and civilian applicants for U.S. military service, January 1990-June 2007; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-July 2007; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, August 2005-August 2007; Reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, July 2006 and July 2007.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 13 No. 2 – February/March 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: The MSMR: The First 100 Issues and the Future; Relationships between the Timing and Causes of Hospitalizations Before and After Deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan, Active Components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2002-2005; Stressors Prior to and Methods of Suicide, U.S. Air Force, 2000-2005; Concordance of Measles and Rubella Immunity with Immunity to Mumps; Enlisted Accessions, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2004; Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, Military Members and Other Beneficiaries of the U.S. Military Health System, 2005-2006; Update: Pre- and Post-Deployment Health Assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-January 2007; ARD Surveillance Update; Sentinel reportable events.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 8 – December 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Korea-acquired malaria, U.S. Armed Forces, January 1998-October 2007; Diagnoses of "envenomations" in relation to diagnoses of skin and soft tissue infections due to staphylococci/penicillin resistant bacteria, U.S. Military Members, January 2002-October 2007; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-November 2007; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, December 2005-December 2007; Sentinel reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, January-November 2006 and January-November 2007.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 4 – July 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Mental health encounters and diagnoses following deployment to Iraq and/or Afghanistan, U.S. Armed Forces, 2001-2006; Hormonal contraceptive use among female service members, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2004-March 2006; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-June 2007; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, July 2005-July 2007; Reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, June 2006 and June 2007.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 3 – June 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: "Healthy deployers":Nature and Trends of Health Care Utilization during the Year prior to Deployment to OEF/OIF, Active Components, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2002-December 2006; Update:Deployment Health Assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-April 2007; Acute respiratory disease and streptococcal pharyngitis rates, basic training centers, U.S. Army, June 2005 - June 2007; Reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, May 2006 and May 2007.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 14 No. 6 – September/October 2007

Report
1/1/2007

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Routine screening and referrals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, U.S. Armed Forces; Relationship between influenza vaccination and subsequent diagnoses of Group A Streptococcus-related illnesses, basic combat trainees, U.S. Army, 2002-2006; Cold weather injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, July 2002-June 2007; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-September 2007; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, October 2005-October 2007; Reportable medical events, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, January-September 2006 and January-September 2007; Surveillance Snapshot: Carbon monoxide poisoning, by year, U.S. Armed Forces, January 1998-September 2007.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

Mental Health Task Force Update

Presentation
12/5/2006

Mental Health Task Force Update to the Defense Health Board presented December 5, 2006

Recommended Content:

| Psychological Fitness

Joint Publication 4-02, Health Service Support

Policy

Uniform Policy for Meeting Mobilization-Related Medical Care Needs at Military Installations

Policy

MSMR Vol. 12 No. 9 – December 2006

Report
1/1/2006

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Body Mass Index (BMI) among 18-year old Civilian Applicants for U.S. Military Service 1996-2005; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, U.S. Armed Forces, January 1998-September 2006; Incident Abnormal Findings Within 30 Days of Medical Examinations, Active Components, U.S. Armed Forces, January 1998-October 2006; ARD surveillance update; Pre- and post-deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2003-November 2006; Sentinel reportable events.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 12 No. 7 – October 2006

Report
1/1/2006

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Post-deployment health reassessment (PDHRA) program, U.S. Armed Forces: responses by service and component, September 2005-August 2006; Cold weather injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, July 2001-June 2006; Hepatitis A immunity among enlisted accessions to the U.S. Army, Fort Benning, GA, April-August 2006; Incidence of mumps in relation to universal MMR vaccination versus vaccination after serological screening of U.S. military recruits, 2000-2004; Pre- and post-deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2004-September 2006; Sentinel reportable events; ARD surveillance update.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health
<< < ... 41 42 43 44 45  ... > >> 
Showing results 661 - 675 Page 45 of 52
Refine your search
Last Updated: July 21, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery