Post Tag: "Combat to Community"

Women Veterans Cultural Competency Webinar

On April 22nd, 2013 by Admin

Combat to Community began in 2009 as a project to help the community understand the landscape of veteran transitional issues, especially those that are particularly difficult and lead to homelessness, drug abuse, incarceration, etc. among the veteran population. The purpose of this tool is to promote an understanding of the challenges service members face [...]

Veterans Adjust to Life Back Home

On April 18th, 2013 by Rob Kane

The San Francisco Chronicle interviewed five veterans who have struggled with transition back to civilian life. They have endured trying situations in the military in their deployments and have made huge strides since leaving the military. They have seen the vagaries of war and continue to deal with its impact in their lives. Their [...]

Veterans Rebuild Civilian Selves

On October 1st, 2012 by Rob Kane

Veterans are coming back to a world that has become slightly foreign. Expectations in the civilian world do not value the behavior and tendencies that improve the chance of survival on the battlefield. We understand that our vets face a tough transition with few jobs awaiting them in a depressed economy, bureaucratic delays in [...]

President Obama Announces “Reverse Boot Camp”

On July 25th, 2012 by Megan Klein Zottarelli

Advocates have long argued for an overhaul of the military’s Transition Assistance Program (TAPs), which briefly covers the basics of preparing the service member’s transition from the military to civilian life. Although every branch has a unique program, it is generally a three-day venture which many say is both too brief and too general. [...]

A Plan to Rebuild the American Ethic of Service

On June 6th, 2012 by Rob Kane

On this day 68 years ago, thousands of young Americans stormed the beaches of northern France to begin the final assault on Hitler’s war machine. My own grandfather had recently returned with a hole in his thigh from an explosive round that blew out the windscreen of his B-17 bomber. He came home wounded, [...]

Combat to Community Cultural Competence Training Prepares Law Enforcement

On January 19th, 2012 by Jordan Towers

Responding to Recent Violence Perpetrated by Iraq Veterans SAN FRANCISCO (January 19, 2012) – The tragic violence recently perpetrated by Iraq veterans is being met with widespread response. Reports by friends and family indicate that Benjamin Barnes, who fatally shot a Washington State park ranger, and Itzcoatl Campo, who is accused of stabbing four [...]

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TOPICS: Afghanistan • Combat to Community • Deployment • Iraq • iraq veteran • OIF/OEF • Policy • PTSD • Suicide • TBI • VA claims • Veteran Policy • Vets • Women in combat • Women Veterans

Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judge Come Together Save a Veterans Life

On December 5th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Staff Sgt. Brad Eiffert, a veteran of the war in Iraq, found himself in the woods behind his house with a .45 caliber pistol pressed to his head. Meridian Township police were deployed in various defensive positions around Eiffert’s home and in the woods. The stand-off was nearing 3 hours when the officers heard [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • PTSD • Suicide • TBI

Portrait of Veteran Wounded at Occupy Oakland

On October 27th, 2011 by Rob Kane

Scott Olson served two tours in Iraq and faced the most danger at home as he exercised his first amendment rights. This tragic incident will motivate more veterans to participate in protests and ultimately put them in harms way. Law enforcement must be better prepared to deescalate situations like this so that no more [...]

Traumatic Brain Injuries Double Dementia Risk for Veterans

On July 20th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Research findings presented at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris found that veterans who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) had twice the risk of developing dementia over time than those who never suffered a TBI. The research conducted by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs included medical records of nearly 300,000 veterans [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • TBI

Veteran Killed, Deputies Forced to Fire

On July 5th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

July 4th represents a time when the country celebrates its independence, and pays tribute to the veterans that have made sacrifices which afford us the freedoms we cherish. However, Sacramento Deputies were forced to shoot and kill Bill French, a 49 year old Marine Corps veteran, in front of his house after responding to [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • police shooting • PTSD

Iraq Veteran Killed by SWAT Team

On May 18th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Jose Guerena, a former marine and Iraq veteran was killed in his home by Pima County SWAT in Tucson, Arizona. An attempt to conduct a narcotics search went tragically wrong when Mr. Guerena, a veteran of two tours in Iraq, awoke to a SWAT team breaching his front door. He mistook the SWAT team’s entrance for [...]

Military Reports: Alarming Increase in Suicidal Thoughts

On May 11th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Recent reports show that over the past five years there has been a 7,000% increase in the number of service members hospitalized for suicidal thoughts. The Military has been criticized harshly over the past few years for their record keeping and incident reporting on the subject of suicide. It’s thought that the dramatic increase [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • PTSD • Suicide

PTSD Flashbacks Lead to Critical Stand-Off in San Diego

On April 26th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Michael Foster, an Army medic and veteran of the Gulf War and deployment to Bosnia, found himself in a five hour stand-off with San Diego SWAT teams at his home in Alpine. Considered a hero by most in the area for his rescue of a neighbor from her burning home, Mr. Foster armed with a handgun [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • police shooting • PTSD

Afghanistan Veteran Takes on Police in Last Mission

On April 25th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Brandon Barrett returned home from Afghanistan to a warm reception from parents that couldn’t have been prouder. They now wonder if there was some change they should have noticed in their son that would have helped them reach out to him before such a disastrous event. In addition, they feel the military did not [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • police shooting • PTSD • TBI

Number of Veterans Involved with Police Standoffs Grows

On April 12th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

Over the past few years, law enforcement has encountered veterans in crisis at an alarming rate. Often, these encounters end poorly. With additional training, however, we believe that better outcomes will result. Recent events involving soldiers and veterans in police standoffs: August 2006 Elio C, San Bernadino, Air Force, Iraq veteran December 2006 James [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • police shooting • PTSD

Combat Veteran Shot and Killed by Glendale Police Suffered from PTSD

On April 11th, 2011 by Keith Boylan

PHOENIX – The parents of a 24-year-old Glendale man shot and killed by a Glendale police officer Friday night told officers they believe he was suffering from severe post traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Jeremiah Pulaski’s parents told police that he had returned from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan two months ago, according to [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • police shooting • PTSD

Three Deadly Encounters Between Vets and Police

On February 9th, 2011 by Rob Kane

Anthony McDowell. Thomas Higginbotham. Nikkolas Lookabill. Three men who served in the military. Three encounters with law enforcement officers. Three lives ended by gunfire. These cases, which occurred in three separate Portland-area jurisdictions within the last five months, have alarmed observers. “It’s really difficult for everyone,” said Gresham Police Chief Craig Junginger, whose officers [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • police shooting • PTSD

Iraq War Veteran Accused of Going on a Suicidal Rampage

On January 20th, 2011 by Rob Kane

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the veteran was medically discharged from the Army last year with post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury. He is accused of going on a suicidal rampage in North Dakota. WATFORD CITY, N.D. — An Iraq war veteran accused of going on a suicidal rampage in North Dakota has [...]

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TOPICS: Combat to Community • iraq veteran • PTSD • TBI