Many of today’s troops are returning with two major disabilities caused by the war in Iraq, the silent epidemic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the signature injury of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It is said that 1/3 of all Iraqi war veterans have some degree of PTSD and 1/5 returning service members report that they have experienced a possible Traumatic Brain Injury. Along with those numbers 1/10 reported of having both PTSD and TBI. These numbers are a low estimate because many go untreated and undocumented.

PTSD is caused by a traumatic event such as combat where death, carnage, explosions, incoming fire, and more are visualized. Many service members say they do not seek treatment for psychological illness because they fear it will harm their careers. But even those who do seek help for PTSD, only about half receive treatment.

TBI is caused when the head moves rapidly back and forth causing the brain to bounce off the sides of the skull; this then damages the tissue throughout the brain. This is caused by the mass amounts of blast endured in Iraq. Although the blast created by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) manufactured by insurgent forces in Iraq are similar to explosives of past wars, today's troops survive them at a much greater rate due to better armor and more rapid medical treatment. This leaves our military personel with invisible injuries from war.

Medical treatment is both long and grueling for both disabilities, but a big portion of treating them is exercise. There are three psychological theories as to how exercise may exert its antidepressant effects (PTSD). First, it may serve as a distraction from stressful input. Second, exercise is a form of mastery or control, which allows a person to regain control over his/ her body and life; it has been suggested that depression is a result of a perception of a loss of control over one’s life. The third theory suggests the antidepressant effects are due to the psychological benefits derived from social interaction that accompanies group activity.

The benefits of exercise for individuals with TBI is that exercise helps nerve impulse travel faster to the brain, which improves how quickly you process or think. Exercise decreases health-risking behaviors such as smoking and depression, it increases focus and ability to stay on task, improves mood and memory, increases blood flow to the brain, increases body awareness, adds a positive effect on balance, and increases heart and lung efficiency.

So with the information stated above you can assume how big exercise is for veterans returning from Iraq. Our veterans have volunteered to lay down their life’s to protect our rights and freedoms to prosper in life, and now they must suffer as a disabled veteran, not knowing what is wrong with their self’s. As a facility that helps people with health, body and mind, I ask your company to promote to these veterans with a discount that fits the services they have done to protect and serve our country. In return our office the Veterans Resource Center at Butte College will direct our veterans to your facility to retain memberships. Thank you for your support and remember our troops served for you and our country. God Bless America and those who protect it.