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Air Force updates mental health care policies, lowers barriers
May 2, 2024 — The Air Force’s mental health waiver policy in both the Air Force’s Medical Standards Directory and Aerospace Medicine Waiver Guide has been updated to allow for Airmen to receive 60 days of treatment for mental health concerns before a return to duty waiver to fly is required... MORE

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander, delivers remarks during the Phoenix Rally conference at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, April 29, 2024. Spring Phoenix Rally brought together more than 300 Total Force Mobility Air Force leaders and spouses to discuss Warrior Heart, Air Mobility Command's strategy and priorities, and how to work together to ensure the Mobility Air Force is ready to deliver Rapid Global Mobility across the Joint Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessica Do)

Department of the Air Force to review discharges of veterans with mental health conditions, experiences of sexual trauma
September 28, 2023 — The Department of the Air Force, or DAF, has agreed to review the discharges of thousands of veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, or other mental health conditions, or who experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment. The DAF will also implement administrative reforms for individuals who apply to have their discharge statuses upgraded in the future... MORE

All trauma can cause post-traumatic stress disorder
June 27, 2023 — Post-traumatic stress disorder is commonly associated with combat-related trauma, but service members may not know that PTSD can also be caused by experiences beyond the battlefield... MORE

Post-traumatic stress disorder is commonly associated with combat-related trauma, but service members may not know that PTSD can also be caused by many noncombat-related experiences. These noncombat-related trauma include car accidents, mass shootings, natural disasters, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. (Photo credit: Senior Airman Christian Clausen, Creech AFB)

PTSD survivor offers advice for understanding, healing
June 27, 2023 — June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day, a time to talk about PTSD to better understand what it is and how people who feel they may be experiencing it can seek help. ... MORE

Air Force secretary talks PTSD, mental health with medical leaders
June 30, 2022 — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall met with Air Force Medical Service leaders to discuss the Department of the Air Force’s approach to prioritizing post-traumatic stress disorder care and support June 24... MORE

Invisible Wounds Initiative helps build a supportive culture for Airmen, Guardians, and families through focused leadership
January 27, 2022 — The Command Team Campaign is a communications effort to increase knowledge and enable command teams to build connectedness, trust, and openness to tough conversations about cognitive, emotional, or behavioral conditions associated with trauma or adverse life events... MORE

An invisible wound is a cognitive, emotional, or behavioral condition that can be associated with trauma or serious adverse life events.

When PTSD hits home: A caregiver’s perspective
July 6, 2021 — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, not only impacts the caregiver but the family as a whole... MORE

It was August of 2019 when Master Sgt. (ret) Davie Hobbs began experiencing symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The severity of his symptoms became evident one morning when he had a PTSD episode during a group staff meeting. Not knowing what the future would hold, it was at that very moment when Davie’s wife and Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) caregiver, Misti Hobbs, knew PTSD had hit home and initiated the beginning of a new journey.

Tough Conversations: Dealing with the effects of PTSD
July 1, 2021 — Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider hosted their “Tough Conversation” forum on the topic of PTSD June 29 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month... MORE

Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller and Command Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider listen as a participant shares their experiences dealing with PTSD.

Living with PTSD: Family Style
June 30, 2021 — Many people have heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, and associate it with a tragic car wreck, military combat or sexual assault. Although those events can cause PTSD, there are hundreds... MORE

Master Sgt. (ret) Jonathan Session stands with his wife, Shevina Session. Jonathan, an Air Force Wounded Warrior Ambassador, witnessed many tragic moments throughout his military career and was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2018. Learning, coping and living with PTSD is hard on the person diagnosed and their family, but with the right resources and tools, conversations and understanding it can still be an amazing life. Remember to reach out when help is needed, to take a step back and never forget that you are loved and cherished. (Courtesy Photo)

PTSD: Seeking out mental health care is the first step to wellness
June 29, 2021 — Service members, family members and veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder may repeatedly re-experience their ordeal as nightmares, flashbacks or frightening thoughts, especially when exposed to events that remind them of their original trauma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... MORE

Image of an Airman with his hands crossed.

59th MDW: PTSD Awareness Month
June 22, 2021 — The month of June marks Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month.Many people know of PTSD, but may not fully understand how it affects people. It can affect those suffering from it differently,... MORE

According to the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, the term PTSD was introduced in 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition and has played an important role in psychiatric theory and practice. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman Joshua Rosario)

Shedding light on the invisible wounds of PTSD
June 4, 2021 — According to the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, more than 7.7 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from PTSD... MORE

The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has designated June as National PTSD Awareness Month. As stated by the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD is a mental health disorder that develops in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event like, combat, a natural disaster, an accident, abuse, or assault.

Program for sexual assault survivors available at JBSA
April 2, 2021 — Joint Base San Antonio has been home to an intensive outpatient program for survivors of sexual assault since 2014, and now that program has been selected as a pilot site for an evaluation study of TRICARE’s Sexual Trauma Intensive Outpatient Programs... MORE

For more information about the Sexual Assault Intensive Outpatient Program or the pilot study, contact the Psychological Health Intensive Outpatient Program patient care coordinator at 210-539-1066.

Brooke Army Medical Center Soldier ready to run to raise suicide awareness
May 21, 2020 — Sgt. 1st Class Maité Bengoa, the enlisted advisor to the deputy commander of health readiness at Brooke Army Medical Center, is prepared to run for a good cause... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Maité Bengoa (kneeling in blue running shoes), the enlisted advisor to the deputy commander of health readiness at Brooke Army Medical Center, and the members of her team, called “Don’t Get in a Van with Strangers,” pose before a practice run.

Month of the Military Caregiver: Hidden Heroes
May 20, 2020 — May is recognized as the Department of Defense’s Month of the Military Caregiver. This time is used to honor, commend and show appreciation for those that care for wounded, ill and injured service members. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, known as AFW2, has a Caregiver Support and Family Program to assist caretakers in multiple ways,... MORE

May is recognized as the Department of Defense’s Month of the Military Caregiver. This time is used to honor, commend, and show appreciation for those that care for wounded, ill and injured service members. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) has a Caregiver Support and Family Program to assist caretakers in multiple ways,

5th Medical Recruiting Battalion hosts PTSD lecture in New Orleans for physician residents
August 30, 2019 — The 5th Medical Recruiting Battalion at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston partnered with residency programs throughout the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas to conduct didactic lectures on post-traumatic stress disorder Aug. 9... MORE

Dr. (Lt. Col.) Christian Schrader, Army psychiatrist and program director of Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center’s Psychiatry Residency at Fort Hood, Texas, conducted a didactics lecture Aug. 9 on post-traumatic stress disorder for medical residents affiliated with Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Medicine at Ochsner Medical Center, Kenner, Louisiana.

Informational campaign at JBSA-Randolph focuses on PTSD studies
June 21, 2019 — A federally funded, multi-institutional research group focused on combat post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions in active-duty military members will soon conclude a monthlong informational campaign at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph... MORE

A federally funded, multi-institutional research group focused on combat post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions in active-duty military members will soon conclude a monthlong informational campaign at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
A Mental Health Month initiative, the campaign of the South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience, also known as STRONG STAR, strives to raise awareness about the availability of participation in research studies testing treatments for PTSD, said Amanda Flores, STRONG STAR community outreach coordinator.

A Day That Resonates
September 17, 2018 — By looking at him you wouldn’t know it, but Tech Sgt. Trevor Brewer, 72nd Security Forces Squadron flight chief at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, has deep scars from a day that took the lives of two fellow Airmen and severely wounded two others. His wounds are invisible. He has post-traumatic stress disorder from a terrorist attack many may have heard news reports about and forgotten. But, Brewer has not forgotten that day … he relives those moments constantly... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Trevor Brewer, 72nd Security Forces Squadron assistant flight chief, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2018 South Central Warrior CARE Event at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, Jan. 8, 2018. Brewer suffers from invisible wounds, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from a terrorist attack that took place overseas in March 2011.

Service dog rescues veteran from despair of PTSD
June 29, 2018 — After battling night terrors and the pain and anxiety of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for decades, an Air Force veteran found his lifeline at the end of a dog leash. (Editor's Note: This is part 2 of Ryan Kaono's story about living with PTSD.) ... MORE

Ryan Kaono's work area at the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center clearly shows his cube mate and service dog Romeo belongs there too.

Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; a veteran's story
June 22, 2018 — Post-Traumatic stress disorder carries him into the depths of fear and pain; reliving images of death and destruction. Closing his eyes to night terrors at sundown and fighting through daily anxiety attacks eventually pushed him to the brink of suicide so he could put an end to the never-ending cycle. It wasn’t until his second suicide attempt that Air Force veteran and Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center support agreement manager Ryan Kaono took steps to face his invisible scars and reach out for help... MORE

Ryan Kaono, a support agreement manager with the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, shares a laugh with a videographer during an interview while his service dog Romeo keeps a steady eye on the photographer. Romeo helps Kaono quickly recover from bouts of anxiety and night terrors related to enemy attacks while he was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq.