Coming from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, with an exceptional story and photos, journalist Andria Allmond dives into the milieu of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its treatment. Her story opens with... read more
Coming from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, with an exceptional story and photos, journalist Andria Allmond dives into the milieu of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its treatment. Her story opens with Senior Airman Brian Hafner, who as a U.S. Marine infantryman, saw action in the Battle of Nasiriyah during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Hafner was later diagnosed with PTSD as a result.<br />
Allmond did a fanatastic job interviewing Hafner, learning the details of his ordeal in order to paint a clear picture for the audience of just what PTSD sufferers endure. With an exceptional understanding of pace and timing, Allmond takes the reader on Hafner’s journey of recovery, first with the Airman’s struggles with various mental health professionals, and then his eventual introduction to Capt. Craig Bryan, a brain injury specialist.<br />
The writer then enters the world of the mental health profession. She allows Bryan to explain not only the problems with mental health programs as they relate to combatants, but also his own unique approach. Allmond’s work allows for the reader to become better educated about combat fatigue recovery, without dumbing it down to an audience-insulting level. Allmond then completes the story by bringing Hafner back into focus, allowing Hafner to explain how Bryan’s treatment is benefiting him.<br />
One of the key components of this story is its relevancy. Treatment of veterans is a hot-button media item. Mental health specifically is of particular interest due to the nature of the conflict and the commonality of head wounds.Accompanying quality photographs is key. Allmond provided three decently framed photos capturing both Hafner and Bryan. She should have provided even more. The more artwork presented, the greater the potential placements.<br />
No story is perfect, however, and this particular story lacks one major element: hometowns. Having the simple hometown of a interviewee in a story gives it an marketable edge ten-fold over a story that does not. Having a hometown allows the DVIDS Media Team to target specific publications for placement, and can help with developing follow-on media interaction. show less
