Afghanistan veterans news stories on Newser

Just 1 in 3 Vets Say Iraq, Afghanistan Wars 'Worth It'

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:57:25 CDT

Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan; with an eye on the decade-long effort, the Pew Research Center asks veterans: Were the Afghanistan and Iraq wars worth it? Just 34% of post-Sept. 11 veterans say yes, while another 33% say no (Afghanistan is considered slightly more...

Breathing Trouble Dogs Middle East Vets

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:05:05 CDT

Why do so many young, previously healthy soldiers come back from the Middle East with respiratory problems, some so bad they can no longer pass a physical required for active duty? The question was made more urgent with the results of a new study showing that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans...

Trail of Warning Signs Led to Soldier's Suicide

Mark Russell — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 08:01:38 CST

Staff Sgt. David Senft died not in the heat of battle, but alone and despondent in Afghanistan with a single gunshot to the head, an unsent text message typed into his phone that said, "I don't know what to say, I'm sorry." The US Army deployed Senft to Afghanistan despite...

For Returning Troops, an Even Worse Job Reality

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:51:47 CST

The job market is obviously bleak—but it's even worse when it comes to troops returning from war. The Washington Post takes a look at the 2 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, who spent as much as 10 years, on and off, in desolate war zones, racking...

College Bans Vet for 'Addicted to Killing' Essay

Rob Quinn — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:45:00 CST

An Iraq and Afghanistan veteran who wrote that he was "addicted to killing" in an essay about his war experiences was banned from campus after his essay was published in his college newspaper. The Community College of Baltimore County told Charles Whittington that his writings "raised red flags," especially in...

Obama: 'Solemn' Duty to Help Vets With PTSD

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 07:55:53 CDT

With the military fighting two wars, President Obama said today the country has a "solemn responsibility" to ensure that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder get the help they need. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is to announce new regulations Monday intended to make it easier for veterans with PTSD to...

Vets With PTSD May Have Been Denied Benefits

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:09:56 CST

The military is speeding up a review of the records of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder to determine whether they were improperly denied benefits. The agreement stems from a class action lawsuit filed by seven combat veterans who alleged the military illegally denied benefits...

Civilian Contractors Are the 'Vietnam Vets' of Our Time

Rob Quinn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:30:00 CDT

Thousands of Americans have come home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are veterans in all but name, writes T. Christian Miller—and the benefits afforded veterans. The military's unprecedented reliance on civilian contractors has left thousands injured and disabled with no safety net or public gratitude. Whether...

War Games Help Vets Cope With PTSD

Rob Quinn — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:02:18 CDT

Using realistic war games to re-create the sights, sounds, and even smells of combat is helping veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder in several clinical trials. Games like Virtual Iraq —modeled on Full Spectrum Warrior —help psychologists bring patients back to traumatic events and break down mental barriers. Researchers say the...