Messages Home: Feb. 11, 2009

From Loretta Jasper, CSJ, who is working for a month at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany. To learn more about her mission, click HERE.

Yesterday–my Tues., 2/10–was a day for introducing myself to the spouses of the Wounded Soldiers:physical and emotional damaged soldiers. There is one battalion just for the wounded soldiers in Vilseck. The intent is to re-train, re-assign or transition to release from the Army. A new department for these folks has just been started for the brain injured. Spouses are tending to the household concerns at times with the soldier at home because of the loss of memory and varying levels of impairment. On and on…

I also stopped into another school to offer services for the teachers, parents and students. It is a skiddish kind of happening for any of the above to reach out for assistance because of fear of repercussions w. military status of the soldier. That is the benefit of how me as a subcontractor comes in. We do no documentation; our contact is short-term and action directed. We do have to route a person for assistance if there is suicidal ideation, threat to self and/or other.

It is not uncommon for this generation of soldier/spouse to come into the army already having been in the mental health/legal system…so the level of trust is rather low.

We have a lovely layer of snow these couple of days. The wind last eve. made itself known in sound as well.
Blessings to each.

Loretta Jasper