By Terry Gildea, TPR
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-908963.mp3
San Antonio, TX – The U-S Army is holding a special conference in San Antonio this week designed to examine how it cares for wounded soldiers. More from Texas Public Radio's Terry Gildea.
This is the sixth year that Army brass have invited wounded warriors and their families to sit down and discuss what they think the service branch is doing right and wrong when caring for soldiers. Colonel Jim Rice is director of the Army's Wounded Warrior Program.
Col. Jim Rice: This event is about listening to those who have been through it and learning about ways we can continue to improve how we care for our most severely wounded and injured soldiers, veterans and their families and take action.
Service members take off their uniforms for the conference and talk openly about their struggles to get well. Among the many challenges they face, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the most common. Regina Hill is married to Sergeant Allen Hill who is suffering from debilitating PTSD, but he still doesn't have access to the kinds of benefits that soldiers with physical injuries get.
Regina Hill: We do not qualify for housing assistance that would allow us to move away from the rock quarry a mile from our house that blasts everyday and makes him think that there are incoming mortars. We also do not qualify for any type of respite care that would allow me to leave the house for errands or for a job of my own. All of these things we get denied for because they can't see his wounds and this just fuels his PTSD, the depression and the self-harm feelings that go along with it.
Colonel Jim Rice says recommendations made by soldiers and their families will be considered Army Medical Command officers.