Transcript
I came back from Afghanistan and one
of my major pieces was I thought that if I went
and saw counseling or went and sought treatment
that I wouldn't be able to get promoted which actually turned
out to be false because my Squad Leader
at the time had been going and seeing somebody.
He actually started seeing somebody while we were
in Afghanistan.
He actually went to the promotion board
and got promoted to an E6.
And so I saw that and I realized, "Well,
maybe they make special exceptions and I just have
to work a little bit harder."
So I went to treatment.
I kind of figured out some techniques that worked for me,
some techniques that didn't work for me.
Shortly before we went to Iraq, I was actually promoted to E5
so I became a Team Leader.
And then while I was in Iraq I was promoted to E6,
which I became a Squad Leader at that time.
I was accountable for millions of dollars worth of gear,
11 lives and I realized that looking back on it,
I realized that seeking out that treatment did nothing.
It probably helped me actually because I was able
to counsel my troops, my soldiers and to teach them
about some of the things that I had learned.
It made me a better professional.
So it didn't stop me.
It didn't hinder my professional career.
It actually enhanced me.