Author: AW1Ed

The Washington Post is reporting MDMA, known by its street name as Ecstasy or Molly, is emerging as a promising medication for the treatment of PTSD, and has been named by the Food and Drug Administration as “breakthrough therapy” putting it on a fast track for review and a possible approval.

Government and military leadership are both hesitant to accept psychedelics due to the stigma associated with the drug, and its classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We’re in this odd situation where one of the most promising therapies also happens to be a Schedule 1 substance banned by the [Drug Enforcement Administration],” said retired Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, who until 2010 was the highest-ranking psychiatrist in the U.S. Army.

Due to recent and ongoing wars, PTSD in the military has become epidemic, with estimates between 11 and 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from the disorder. It is typically triggered by experiencing violence, and can leave its victims with audio hallucinations, inability to sleep, and sudden panic episodes. Only Zoloft and Paxil are currently approved for treating PTSD. Both have been largely ineffective.

“If you’re a combat veteran with multiple tours of duty, the chance of a good response to these drugs is 1 in 3, maybe lower,” said John Krystal, chairman of psychiatry at Yale University and a director at the VA’s National Center for PTSD. “That’s why there’s so much frustration and interest in finding something that works better.”

MDMA is a favorite because of its effect on users of intense feelings of euphoria. A side effect of the drug includes reduced fear and a sense of love of themselves and others- exactly the therapy needed to counter PTSD symptoms. By giving controlled doses of MDMA during three, eight-hour therapy sessions, chronic PTSD patients have processed and moved past their traumas. In clinical trials conducted by the FDA, 61 percent had major reductions in their symptoms to the point where they no longer fit PTSD criteria; follow up studies a year later increased that number to 67 percent.

“If you were to design the perfect drug to treat PTSD, MDMA would be it,” said Rick Doblin, who three decades ago founded the California nonprofit behind the clinical trials. It is no accident that the group — the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) — chose PTSD as its argument for ending the government’s ban on psychedelics. “We wanted to help a population that would automatically win public sympathy,” he said. “No one’s going to argue against the need to help them.”

Large scale trials, “Phase 3” involving 200-300 patients will be conducted next year at 14 locations. If those trials produce like results, the FDA could approve MDMA as a treatment for PTSD as soon as 2021.

I hope for a successful Phase 3 trial and speedy approval by the FDA.

Fox News is reporting that the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced today that a ballistic missile was successfully shot down over the Pacific Ocean in a new test of its at-sea missile defense system, installed on USS John Paul Jones, DDG-53.

The test vessel fired an SM-6 interceptor missile to shoot down the target, and comes after a previous test last June, that failed.

Link

“We are working closely with the fleet to develop this important new capability, and this was a key milestone in giving our Aegis BMD ships an enhanced capability to defeat ballistic missiles in their terminal phase,” MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves said in a statement. “We will continue developing ballistic missile defense technologies to stay ahead of the threat as it evolves.”

The target missile was launched from Kauai, was detected and tracked with Jones’ AN/SPY-1 Aegis radar, and was successfully engaged with on-board SM-6 missiles.

This test follows North Korea’s Tuesday ballistic missile test. That missile was fired from North Korea’s capital Pyongyang, overflew the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and terminated in the Pacific Ocean. The missile flew around 1677 miles and reached an altitude of 341 miles. The overflight of a close US ally resulted in President Trump’s written statement repeating that all US options are being considered, and called for a UN Security Council meeting.

“Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime’s isolation in the region and among all nations of the world,” Trump said.

Perhaps next time NDtBF will be kind enough to provide the test target in a real-world Capabilities Test of the system.

Semper Paratus Coast Guard- 227 years young!

The Navy Times is reporting a Missile Defense Agency (MDA) review of a recent failed ballistic missile intercept test launched form USS John Paul Jones was a result of mistaken input, instead of a failure of the SM-3 Block IIA missile or an issue with the Navy’s Aegis combat system. A tactical data-link controller was programmed to identify the incoming missile as friendly, which caused the SM-3 to self detonate in  flight.

The head of MDA did not comment on the human error, but said in a statement that the ongoing review confirmed it wasn’t an issue with the SM-3 Block IIA missile or the Navy’s Aegis combat system. “Though the review is still in process, the SM-3 IIA interceptor and Aegis Combat System have been eliminated as the potential root cause,” of the failure, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves, the director of MDA.

“We are conducting an extensive review as part of our standard engineering and test processes, and it would be inappropriate to comment further until we complete the investigation.”

This is the fourth flight test of the SM-3 Block IIA, and the second time it has been launched from a ship. A successful ship borne launch to intercept was conducted last February. The finding of human error is a relief to the contractors and military advancing Ballistic Missile Defense technology in the face of current threats.

“As unfortunate as this might be, it’s a good thing that this wasn’t a technology issue or some deeper failure that needs to be investigated at great length and time,” Karako said. “There is no reason to believe the basic capability that has already been demonstrated has any new problems.”

USS John Paul Jones has replaced the original missile defense ship, USS Lake Erie, which is currently deployed to the Asia-Pacific area.

The military branches are like a family, but that doesn’t mean everyone always gets along. With different missions, uniforms, and mindsets, troops love to make fun of people in opposite branches. Of course when it counts in combat, the military usually works out its differences.

Still, inter-service rivalry is definitely a thing. We Are The Mighty has already showed you how everyone usually makes fun of the Navy and Air Force. Now, they’re taking on the U.S. Marine Corps.

For the easiest way to make fun of the Corps, why to actually hate the Corp, and what to love about the Corps, read on. Semper Fi!

We Are The Mighty

The Navy Times is reporting President Trump’s intent to reverse the 10-month-old Pentagon policy that allows transgender troops to serve openly is likely to set the stage for a legal battle between the Defense Department and those troops at risk of involuntary separation, legal experts say.

‘“We’re going to raise all holy hell that this is intolerable and say we’re not going to go away quietly on this issue,” said Matt Thorn, executive director of OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), an organization that represents the transgender community in the U.S. military.’

Trump posted tweets Wednesday morning baring transgender people from serving in the military “in any capacity.” While having no legal bearing, Trump’s tweets may precede executive orders formalizing changes to the Pentagon’s policy.’

Thorn says his advocacy group has already identified several potential plaintiffs from among the estimated 7,000 transgender troops on active duty. The group would file a lawsuit almost immediately should a ban be enacted, he said.

‘However, a quick lawsuit might not lead to a quick decision, warns Greg Greiner, a partner at Tully Rinckey law firm and head of its Military and National Security Law Practice Group.

Like litigation regarding the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, Greiner says that a court case against a transgender military ban would likely drag on for years. But the process could begin soon.

“I get the impression that the Secretary of Defense [Jim Mattis] had been considering [the ban],” said Greiner. “If the president has it the way he wants, it will probably be sooner rather than later.”

Advocates would likely ask the courts to stay the policy change, which would effectively prohibit the Pentagon from implementing the ban until the litigation is resolved.

The ultimate outcome of a lawsuit is unclear. Traditionally the federal courts have given the military wide latitude to conduct its affairs. But there are instances where lawsuits have been effective: Advocates for gay and lesbian troops successfully blocked enforcement of the “don’t ask, don‘t tell“ rules in 2010.

According to Trump’s tweets, healthcare costs and internal disruption were the driving forces behind the decision.

 

Last weekend I posted up a link to “We Are The Mighty’s Complete Haters Guide to the US Navy.” You didn’t think I’d leave it at that, right?

The branches of the U.S. Military are like a very large family. They deal with one another because they have to, not because they always get along.

The differences don’t stop at uniforms. Each branch has its own goals, mission, and its own internal culture. At the upper levels of the services, they compete for funds and favor from civilians in DoD. In the lower ranks, they compete for fun and favor from civilians in bars and strip clubs (especially in North Carolina). The branches are like siblings, competing for the intangible title of who’s “the best” from no one in particular.

Of course, when it comes to joint operations downrange, a lot of that goes out the window. But when the op-tempo isn’t as hectic and frustration has time to build, the awesome Army platoon who saved your ass last month become a bunch of damn stupid grunts who steal everything you don’t lock down and leave their Gatorade piss bottles everywhere. Parsing out the best and worst of our services isn’t hard if we’re honest with ourselves.

Here’s how the other branches hate on the Air Force, how they should actually be hating on the Air Force, how the Air Force hates on the Air Force, and why to really love the Air Force.

I can’t actually hate the Air Force- seems son #1 is a member (associate?). It does on occasion bring up some interesting topics of conversation, though. Without further ado, here’s the link to WATM’s Complete Haters Guide to the US Air Force, enjoy!

We Are The Mighty

 

 

 

“The Soviets are our adversary. Our enemy is the Navy,” General Curtis LeMay, United States Air Force.

Folks over at “We Are The Mighty” have been posting hater’s guides to the various military branches.  Cut me and I bleed Navy Blue, and I could go off about Jar Heads, Zoomies, Mud Ducks, and Doggies, but I’ll post the link of we of the Nautical Service Arm, the United States Navy, and what’s good, bad and ugly about us. And with luck, some truth and humor as well.

Ward Carroll penned this; he’s a former F-14 RIO, author of several very cool books (check out his Punk series on Amazon), musician, and an editor at WATM.

So here’s a teaser, click on the link for the entire article.

The branches of the U.S. military are like a very large family. They deal with one another because they have to, not because they always get along.

The differences don’t stop at uniforms. Each branch has its own goals, mission, and its own internal culture. At the upper levels of the services, they compete for funds and favor from civilians in DoD. In the lower ranks, they compete for fun and favor from civilians in bars and strip clubs (especially in North Carolina). The branches are like siblings, competing for the intangible title of who’s “the best” from no one in particular.

We Are The Mighty

You all are my brothers and sisters, one big family. And fear not- your service branch gets the same treatment, written by those who know it well.