Snitch!
I’ve closed the comments on both my posts about Major Awad.
I have a new e-mail address for CWO4 Walker. I also have his sworn testimony on the incidents in Iraq.
In one of my posts, a commenter calls Walker a “snitch”. That is not correct. Walker had a duty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice [UCMJ] to report a crime. He did so.
The UCMJ prohibits romantic relationships between officers and enlisted personnel. It also prohibits adultery.
Please understand that nothing I have written about Major Walker should be read as excusing any of his choices. I believe he has PTSD. I also believe that he has some control over his choices. He violated the UCMJ and was properly charged for those actions.
The law is harsh. It allows very little excuse for mental problems. If you knew that your actions were wrong, you can be charged. If you can assist with your defense, you can be tried. Right or wrong, the law provides little ability to excuse actions influenced by mental illness.
Major Awad deserves all the help that the VA can provide. He and those like him have paid a difficult price for their service. We owe them some help.
That said, everyone is different. Many people with PTSD also have other psychological issues. Many make or made bad choices. Their treatment, and our allowance for their behaviors, must be individualized. In Awad’s case, I do not believe PTSD is the sole reason he committed adultery. I do not believe that is what Major Awad is trying to say.
I do disagree with Walker. Awad has PTSD, a more severe case than many have. I do not envy him his daily existence. I hope that my interview with him will inform you, my readers, and provide a little help to him and his comrades.
Who Is Major Gamal Awad – Surprising Answers
Table of contents for PTSD
- Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
- PTSD, Mild TBI Chain Teaching Begins at Pentagon
- Treatments for PTSD
- Who Is Major Gamal Awad – Surprising Answers
- Victory Clinic Combats Stress, Anxiety
- Dealing With Brain Injuries
- Snitch!
- Battlemind training
- A Woman on a Mission
- Helping Soldiers Cope With PTSD
- Purple Heart for PTSD?
- Little Miracles in Treating Combat Stress
- America’s Heroes at Work
- SEALs Spearhead Resiliency Program
- Elmendorf Medics Treat TBI Victims
- Combatting Stress in Iraq
- More on Army Suicide Prevention
- New PTSD Program at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
- Soldier conquors suicide thoughts
- Marines go to the dogs
- Progress in the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Fort Hood massacre survivors cope in Iraq
- National Naval Medical Center’s psychological health – traumatic brain injury team
- One Airman’s PTSD Story
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Original writing, Commentary, Military, Original writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
