Chiropractic and the US military

-Doctor Soldier Serves, Fights, and Adjusts
Lt. Col. Mark Losack of the United States Marines is no stranger to the Middle East. He served in the first Gulf War as an infantry officer and, as an intelligence officer, he was part of the forces entering Baghdad last year a week or so after the fighting began. As of this writing he’s back in the States, but was scheduled to depart at the end of February to begin his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Inside the Colonel’s uniform, however, beats the heart of a chiropractor... (full story)

-Doctor Soldier Appreciated, Honored, but not Commissioned
According to Dr. Robert B. Hatcher II (SSgt. USMC), he adjusted Marines for a whole year in Iraq after he got off the roads everyday, along with the Commanding Officer.  He also helped the Army with their back patients in the Dominican Republic and received an Army Achievement Medal for it.

-Soldier Guaranteed Chiropractic Coverage, Has to Pay Out of Pocket

Due to the nature of their work and for force security many of our Special Forces troops can’t reveal their identity.  One such is this veteran of the war in Afganistan.  He is a Staff Sgt. and served in Afganistan from 2001 to 2002. 

The US Military does an excellent job of making sure that all their soldiers are in peak condition because a unit can only move as well as its slowest component.  When asked about his training he said, “We train hard, and we’re in good shape.”  However even these soldiers after all that training can get injured, especially when they are carrying their daily load of 150 pounds with ammo.  When asked if he and others in his unit suffered any musculoskeletal injuries his response was, “oh yeah, but we don’t complain.” 

This soldier never received treatment for his back and knee injuries from the military.  When he came home his injuries were still present so he sought chiropractic care at ALIGN Rehab and Wellness Center, a Provo Utah based clinic.  Because the military doesn’t cover chiropractic outside of the designated locations, he had to pay out of his own pocket.

Dr. Christopher Duncan, a chiropractor at ALIGN where this soldier was treated, comments on the injuries that are seen with these returning soldiers and the success that they have had with chiropractic treatment.  “Most of the injuries that we see are overloading or repetitive stress injuries.  These types of problems are the bread and butter of chiropractic.  It’s what we do.  We have seen a great success with the soldiers who come to us with these problems.  In fact these soldiers are in such good shape beforehand that their recovery if not delayed is faster than normal.  It really is a shame that Tricare doesn’t extend coverage to local chiropractors in the same manor that other insurance plans do.  That way, if these soldiers don’t live near a designated military facility they could go to their local doctor, get the care that they need and still be covered for it.”

If chiropractors were commissioned they could be stationed with the troops in the field offering the care they need before they come home, and the sooner treatment is begun the better.

The US military is the finest in the world, with soldiers well trained and well armed.  Congress has already granted all active duty soldiers chiropractic coverage in their health care package.  Now we just need to make sure they can actually use it.  Lets commission chiropractors!

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