The more things change, the more they remain the same

Back in the day there was no such thing as a military ombudsman. We had to state a complaint, "at the table", as a Captain's Requestman. (The procedure for the Royal Navy and Canadian Navy are identical).

When the military ombudsman became a fact of life there were two things we all hoped:

1. That the pressure of complaints and the means to provide redress would be somewhat relieved; and,

2. That some of the ongoing irritants which so regularly and consistently pissed-off sailors, soldiers and air-force personnel would be addressed.

It would appear, however, that such is not the case. In fact, given that we now have fairly regular casualties occurring in Afghanistan, "things" may have gotten worse.

The outgoing military ombudsman is criticizing Ottawa for failing to provide adequate support to families of fallen and injured soldiers, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Yves Côté said his office has dealt with many families who complain of too few answers after a death in Afghanistan or little help after loved ones return home with mental health problems.

Here's the point: PTSD is still treated as something embarrassing by the Canadian Forces and there is still a stigma attached to those who visit the "shrink".

The ombudsman was supposed to have provided a fast-track in the resolution of problems. From all accounts, that has occurred, but there are great gaping holes, one of them being the difficulties encountered by families and the ability of families to speak directly to the CF bureaucracy in the absence of the military member.

The article continues with something even more revealing than most people think. Do you know how difficult it is to get a special forces member to speak about anything?

A former member of Canada's elite special operations force told CBC News that while he was serving in Afghanistan, his wife haggled with the military in a dispute over $30,000 in moving expenses.

Brian, who did not want to give his last name, said he returned from his mission and witnessed the toll it took on his wife.

"She had lost a bunch of weight; her skin was grey. She looked sick," he said. "I was making my wife sick because of my job and their lack of support."

He quit the military last July, citing family stress.

"It was the greatest job I've ever had," he said. "It was fantastic, but I love my wife more, and I'm not going to let them treat her like that."

Cote gave it a good shot, but he was fighting a system that provides a lot of lip service to problems involving families. The bureaucracy would rather not hear from families or spouses at all, much less acknowledge their existence.

Côté said Ottawa should make sure families are not ignored or lost in the system, as they are "paying a huge price as a result of their dear ones having served Canada in Afghanistan."

He said he is presenting recommendations on how to address such issues in two reports his office is preparing, to be released this spring.

No one from the department of national defence was available for comment.

Taken in order, Cote is absolutely correct, the two reports will find themselves a place on the famous "shelf of dust" and, I'm not surprized.

Supporting the troops has nothing to do with being a cheer leader for a dubious mission.

H/T CC.