As a critical care nurse, Air Force Lt. Col. Mary Carlisle’s focus always has been on helping others. It wasn’t until a harrowing deployment to Iraq that the tables turned, and she became the one in need of aid. Full story.

Army wives whose husbands deploy seek mental health services at a higher rate than others, and the longer the deployment, the greater the impact, according to a new study. Full story.

Suicide is a growing problem in the military community, and its leaders must be committed to reversing that trend, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today. Full story.

Start now to avoid holiday weight gain. Here are some ideas.
Full story.

TRICARE now covers gastric bypass, gastric stapling and gastroplasty procedures commonly known as Lap-Band surgery Full story.

The Department of Defense’s TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) announced they will waive all referral and authorization requirements for the H1N1 flu vaccine. TMA suspended the requirement for TRICARE Prime enrollees to have a referral and authorization from their Primary Care Manager (PCM) to receive the H1N1 vaccine from a non-network provider. This allows TRICARE Prime enrollees to receive the H1N1 vaccine from any TRICARE-authorized provider without being subject to point-of-service charges for visiting a non-network provider. This action ensures TRICARE Prime enrollees will receive the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as possible. It is important to note that the H1N1 vaccine must be administered in a doctor's office to be covered by TRICARE. Flu vaccines administered in a civilian pharmacy, drugstore, or other location are not covered by TRICARE. TMA suspended the referral and authorization requirement from October 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. To learn more, see http://www.myarmyonesource.com/news/2009/11/H1N1Vaccine. Full story.

“Simply stated, it is not a single problem with a defined set of symptoms or markers,” said Army Gen. Chiarelli. “There are no easy answers or solutions.” Full story.