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SOME HAVE IT EASIER

After reading the letter to the editor “War is for fighting” in the Dec. 7 edition of Marine Corps Times, my friends and I sympathized with the author whose son is on a difficult tour in Afghanistan, while others in Iraq have time for recreation and classes.

Is it fair that all troops receive the same pay, even though some come home with post-traumatic stress disorder and others come home with college degrees and trophies for “Guitar Hero” video game tournaments?

SOCIAL SECURITY EXPLAINED

We at Social Security are doing all we can to make sure members of the military service, and their families, understand just how Social Security disability benefits can help wounded service personnel. In fact, Social Security disability benefits are expedited for injured military service personnel, regardless of where or how the injury occurred.

Like most civilian workers, current military personnel pay Social Security taxes and earn Social Security coverage.

The number of credits an individual needs to qualify for Social Security depends on his or her age.

For example, if a person becomes disabled before age 28, then he or she would generally need only about 1½ years of recent work.

If the wounded service member has sufficient work, then Social Security must decide whether he or she meets Social Security’s definition of disability. Basically, if the person cannot work because of a physical or mental condition that is expected to last at least one year, then he or she may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

Even if the wounded service member is still receiving pay while disabled, he or she can receive disability benefits. For example, if a wounded soldier is recovering in a hospital and is expected to be unable to work for at least a year, he or she may be eligible to receive disability benefits even though military pay continues.

It is important to understand that our disability rules are different from those of private plans and other government agencies. Social Security provides benefits for total disability, not partial disability. The fact that someone qualifies for disability from another agency — such as the Department of Veterans Affairs — does not mean that he or she will be automatically eligible for disability benefits from Social Security.

For more information about the Social Security disability program or to apply online, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

QUALITY CARE AT LEJEUNE

I’d like to set the record straight regarding the excellent quality and ready availability of mental health care at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C. It’s unfortunate that my description of that care was taken out of context in a recent article [“Psychiatrist says he was fired for voicing concerns,” Dec. 7] and an accompanying editorial [“Investigate PTSD treatment”].

It is both our most important mission and our sacred privilege to care for Camp Lejeune’s wounded warriors and their families. When Marine Corps Times asked me if I felt that mental health care at Lejeune was “adequate” [in light of recent complaints made by Dr. Kernan Manion, a civilian psychiatrist who has since been dismissed from his position], I replied that it is more than merely adequate — in fact, we have had enormous success building a portfolio of very high quality mental health programs in response to the increasing demand associated with two ongoing wars. Our “Back on Track” program for treating PTSD sufferers is a model for other military medical facilities. We also work closely with senior Marine leaders to reduce stigma and improve access to needed mental health services.

When the Deployment Health program started here less than three years ago, there were just a handful of mental health professionals at the Naval Hospital. Today I am extremely proud that we’ve rapidly assembled a team of 37 dedicated psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and recreation and art therapists to serve our patients’ needs. Most of them are civilian contractors who, like Dr. Manion, are motivated by a sense of patriotism and a desire to contribute their expertise to support men and women in uniform.

The Deployment Health Center, one of the largest and busiest in the Navy, moved in to its state-of-the-art facility after a $5.5 million renovation was completed last September. Both the new center and the modular buildings where it was temporarily housed during renovation are miles from the nearest artillery ranges — although on this installation where tens of thousands of Marines train for combat, the sound of explosions can often be heard great distances away in headquarters buildings, at the commissary, in housing areas, and even off base. Modular trailers are commonplace at Camp Lejeune where more than $3 billion of military construction projects will build permanent new facilities to accommodate the Marine Corps’ plus-up to 202,000 active-duty Marines.

The readers of Marine Corps Times can rest assured that Marines and sailors at Camp Lejeune who risk their lives in the service of our nation receive top-quality health care when they return from the combat theater.