Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Sgt. Major of the Army Chandler: My wife told me to get help for my PTSD

I think it is important for leaders to speak out about getting help with mental health, so I was impressed to see Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III tell sergeants at Fort Bragg that, "I had some experiences in Iraq that I didn’t really deal with very well — kind of suppressed ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
army.mil
army.mil
army.mil

I think it is important for leaders to speak out about getting help with mental health, so I was impressed to see Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III tell sergeants at Fort Bragg that, "I had some experiences in Iraq that I didn't really deal with very well -- kind of suppressed my feelings ... It took awhile for me to come to terms with that. About three years after I got back is when my wife said, 'You need to get some help.' "

I think it is important for leaders to speak out about getting help with mental health, so I was impressed to see Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III tell sergeants at Fort Bragg that, "I had some experiences in Iraq that I didn’t really deal with very well — kind of suppressed my feelings … It took awhile for me to come to terms with that. About three years after I got back is when my wife said, ‘You need to get some help.’ "

It also was the first time Chandler, a career armored soldier, had ever visited Fort Bragg — after 30 years in the Army. I am always kind of surprised at how separate the different branches of the Army can be.

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On Military

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.