The Foreign Service Journal, May 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2019 33 FOCUS A s the United States continues to fight its longest wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, more Americans have become familiar with the terms post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury. Unfor- tunately, these two invisible wounds affect thousands of U.S. warfighters engaged in conflicts overseas. But PTSD is not reserved for members of the military. Anyone who has survived a traumatic situation can experience PTSD, including State Department employees, who often work in dif- ficult and stressful conditions. I learned this firsthand. James Eusanio is a paramedic and combat veteran who has served his country since 1989. He has focused on treating casualties in combat and tacti- cal law enforcement operations. He joined the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Office of Mobile Security Deployments (MSD) in 1999. In addition to sup- porting MSD operations around the world, he introduced tactical combat casualty care into DSS medical training programs. He is currently the medical program manager for MSD. The recipient of several merit awards, he is part of Diplomatic Security’s Peer Sup- port Group and works closely with Employee Counseling Services. If you have symptoms of PTSD, don’t wait to get help. Take it from an FS member who’s been there. BY JAMES EUSAN I O ON PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMATS: LEADERSHIP & LESSONS Learning Firsthand How toManage Treating PTSD