Support Our Troops: Treat them right

The Mainstream Media Project is working a one week media release about soldiers rights and veterans rights. With the Bush Administration's surge in troops, many stop loss soldiers continue fighting, not able to return home to visit their families. The "backdoor draft" has pulled in many military personnel who are being repeatedly deployed, some on 3 or 4 tours of duty in Iraq.

Many veterans are returning home from the battlefield with mental health problems, particularly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These vets may not be diagnosed for several reasons, including military perception of mental health treatment as being for the weak. Also, many vets are being misled about their benefits and are being waitlisted for treatment.

During this last week of March, Mainstream Media Project takes an in depth look at how our soldiers are being mistreated and how our vets' health and well being are falling through the cracks. Some 1,400 Iraq and Afghanistan War Vets are said to be homeless in the United States at this time.

How can we truly support our troops? How will the surge in troops affect the mental and physical health of our military? How will it affect morale? Are we prepared to deal with the vets who are returning home?