I walked in the shop yesterday and Alex (one of our new guys and former Marine combat vet) had his head in his hands. I said: “What’s up?” he said “another one of my seniors just killed themselves, that’s three this month”
F*ck that. Get off your ass and help. We have. First things first, all new hires at Tactical Shit are vets. Secondly we talk about PTSD openly but only amongst those that can relate or have experienced it. I myself at 23 was diagnosed with “mild PTSD” after I was the first uniform on the scene of an officer shot in the head. Days later, I experienced the pressure on the chest, the shaking, the fear of death, the arm numbness. This came and went for years. I experienced the family just thinking I was crazy. The department heads looking at me like I was a pussy. I experienced the doctors saying; just take this pill. The pill made me worse so I fucking stopped that real quick. All this as an uncontrollable, uninvited guest in my brain simply because of triggers set off by imagery that at the time did not seem to bother me at all. I found that the best way to get over it was to move forward and do what I do. All this as a cop. NOT A WARRIOR. Now imagine that times 1000 with no ability to just get back on the horse. Loosing buddies. Explosions. Mind F*cking Rules of Engagement that cause fear of legal prosecution for doing your job. Then you’re home and like “what the f*ck do I do here?”
At Tactical Shit we support missions to reduce the 22. I personally support The Gallant Few.
GallantFew’s mission is to prevent veteran isolation by connecting new veterans with hometown veteran mentors, thereby facilitating a peaceful, successful transition from military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose.
We do this by creating and supporting a nationwide network of successfully transitioned veterans that engage locally with new veterans with the same military background now going through transition and by motivating communities all over the nation to take responsibility for veterans returning – welcoming, connecting, and including. We believe this will prevent veteran unemployment, homelessness and suicide.
–TJ Kirgin
I wrote this today because I was motivated by the following rant provided to me by another Tactical Sh*t Admin from our Instagram page. Here’s Brian Compton:
Going to take a moment to put my thoughts out on this. Please first know that I have lost a couple guys I know to this stat but have not lost anyone close. I have befriended and “worked with” (the right word is escaping me right now) who suffer from PTSD.
Since taking on this page as the admin I have gotten to talk with a lot of great people and heard some amazing things people have done and are doing. I have gotten a stage from which to voice my opinion about a broad range of topics. I have been able to support charities that I believe in through helping forward their mission to help veterans. For this opportunity I am thankful.
It is this opportunity though that has brought on responsibility. I have grown to get to know many of you and have gotten lots of messages regarding how much people like what I’m doing. This same responsibility leads me to want to do more. To this end I would call on everything to look in the mirror and really gut check yourself. About two weeks after starting this I did just that. I found that just supporting something by liking a pic our talking about something with friends is not enough. I told the owner that I wanted to use this page as my voice. As part of my voice I wish to help reduce this number #mission22.
But what can I do? I just some guy living in the midwest, wife, kids, job… life. In addition to my existing life I took on this. Now 5 weeks later I am here calling on my almost 13,000 strong now and everyone who sees this. As an American own up to your responsibility to support those who go into harms way for you. One of you alone won’t be enough but with more of us our efforts amplify. You don’t need to give money if you don’t have it. You don’t need to talk to a veteran with PTSD if yiu haven’t the opportunity or conform level to do so. Anything you do to help is more than doing nothing.
Do something. And start now.
Learn more about how you can help at Mission22.com
-BC