We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:10:34 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:31:16 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95769 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95769 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:25:52 -0600 But it's more of a loop than a simple hierarchy.

Reminds me of something said at the Leadership panel at the veterans conference I attended:  Something along the lines of the idea that Man & Mission could not both be first (nor could you always have one over the other), but that leadership was a string of decision points wherein you have to temporarily put one over the other according to the current needs.  I thought that was a good explanation...

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95764 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95764 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:21:06 -0600
Same goes for the leaders. Self awareness is a necessary leadership trait. A leader who doesn't keep up with his own self-inventory aint a good leader. A leader who can't take care of himself can't take care of his men either.

The usual order of importance is:
Mission First
Your Personnel Second
Yourself Last

But it's more of a loop than a simple hierarchy.

If your men are going over the edge into darkness, you can't accomplish the mission. If you're not walking the walk on keeping yourself away from that edge, you can't keep your men from it and therefore, can't accomplish the mission.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95761 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95761 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:54:43 -0600
I knew a guy who hit a bad patch and were in some pretty heavy debt.  He went to command and was up front about it.  "Sir, I'm in over my head and need help."  That guy kept his clearance.  The dude who bounced checks and LIED about it?  Yanked.  I'm almost certain that if you seek counselling for PTSD, and tell the TRUTH about it on your paperwork, you'll keep the clearance.  They'll only worry about you if they think you've got something to hide.  Because THOSE are the guys who are at risk of being blackmailed.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95755 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95755 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:04:39 -0600
Of course, if the lottery tickets ever come in, I've *done* my last update.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95753 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95753 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:24:49 -0600
Mental health counseling in and of itself is not a reason to revoke or deny a clearance.  In the last seven years, have you consulted with a mental heath care professional regarding an emotional or mental health condition or were you hospitalized for such a condition?  Answer "no" if the counseling was for any of the following reasons and was not court-ordered:  (1) strictly marital, family, grief not related to violence by you; or (2) strictly related to adjustments from service in a military combat environment.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95752 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95752 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:54:46 -0600 Yes, and no.

My brother went through a mental rough spot a few years ago that nearly got him kicked out of the Air Force.  Saying it was a "mental rough spot" is putting it mildly, but one of the things that made it worse was losing his clearance.  He lost his clearance to do his job, because his personal life was in shambles and he couldn't handle it.  It made things worse for him, knowing that his work life was also now in shambles.  We all understood they didn't want someone as distracted and angry working on airplanes, but it was hard to take none the less.  However... he fought back, and has even been promoted since then.

When you talk to senior officers about the mental health issues faced by their soldiers, *most* are more concerned with getting them the help they need rather than kicking them to the curb.  The attitude seems to be "get the help they need to return them to duty- both at work, and on the homefront."  It still takes a lot of courage to be honest and speak up, but the military is much more open and understanding about mental illness than ever before, imho.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95751 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95751 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:23:22 -0600
The plural of anecdote is...blah, blah. In my personal experience only (20+ yrs. of varied clearance levels),  shrinkage is not a clearance killer. Perhaps in the Cold War days of the 600 ship Navy, when Sailors were expendable, this was true but no longer. Add to that the stated intentions of the service chiefs that careers will not be affected for those who ask for help and I think we can lay that old sea story to rest.

r/

Chris

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95747 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95747 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:21:39 -0600
No need to apologize, it happens to everybody, and in truth, it's pretty much never the commenter's fault.

It's server gremlins that are apparently unkillable.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95746 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95746 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:16:15 -0600
Context matters, as does the particular problem and whether or not there is progress.  The problem, of course, is sorting out the Major Hasan's from the Major Hall's.

But in reality - who's judgement is most suspect - the guy who won't seek help, or the guy who does?

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95744 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95744 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:05:25 -0600 "would ruin their careers and cause them to lose their security clearances," Question: Doesn't it? I know the doctors want the visits to be confidential, but don't the forms pointedly ask "Have you been treated for mental illness?" "have you at any time in your past been treated for depression, anxiety or seen a mental health professional?" If yes, please explain the circumstances. List the professional. Attach additional sheets if necessary. "Are you currently being treated for depression, anxiety, PTSD, hypochondria, faith in GAIA, beief in the tooth fairy, et.c, etc., etc." (Made that one up I think. It has been a long time.) (been away from all things secure for decades) But, when I had a clearance, that was the whispered truth. See a shrink, lose your clearance. I don't know if that was a truth or not, but there sure appeared to be a lot of "friend of a friend knew someone who lost their clearance and was escorted out" after seeing a counselor. Just wondering.... (And the answer is: "NO" despite the online email moniker. I may be crazy but I ain't totally stupid... even when posting questions like that in the comments section on a blog. Heh.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95741 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95741 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:24:32 -0600
Several things lately have had me thinking about how the Marines have dealt with mental health issues in recent years, and it's so great to see the Army stepping up with a strong, high-profile campaign, too.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95740 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/here_at_fort_le.html#comment-95740 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:13:50 -0600