A Few Military Spouses Protest Outside During Ryan's Fayetteville Visit

During Thursday's campaign visit to Fayetteville, around 12 protesters gathered at the end of the driveway leading into the PDI lab where Rep. Paul Ryan was greeted for a private gathering. Some protesters were military families from Fort Bragg. 

Jillian McCarthy, a military spouse at Fort Bragg for the past four years, says while she does not have to worry about health care, since her family is covered through the military, she has other concerns.

"What's important to me is my children and their education. Romney/Ryan want to cut infrastructure and spending in all areas and I don't agree with that," said McCarthy.

This military spouse feels strongly that the Romney ticket is not offering help that the military needs, particularly more funding for PTSD. McCarthy also mentioned the overstocking of the Veterans Administration hospital is an issue, and the strain the constant deployments have taken on both the families and soldiers. 

The McCarthy family has 18.5 years of active duty service, but they might have to stay in in order to send their kids to college, the way the economy looks right now. 

McCarthy would love to see a change in the mentality of the soldiers that cannot step forward because they need help, to include getting marriage counseling when needed. 

She said her spouse has been gone so much, though they've been relatively okay, others around them are falling apart.

The resiliency program in her opinion has not been a huge help to them after ten years at war. "Too little, too late," McCarthy said.

Another local military spouse, Tracy Mauro, has been a wounded warrior spouse caregiver since 2006. She hopes they will get more funding for PTSD and TBI support, but states there is nothing in Romney's budget for that.

"We do not have adequate support as a family, and we need the Army to recognize PTSD when they are chaptering soldiers out of the Wounded Transition Brigade," said Mauro. "We have to appeal his diagnosis after being diagnosed at the VA, because Bragg would not give him that diagnosis, thus not giving him a retirement. It happens more often than it should."

He was injured in 2006 and he has already transitioned out and works for a part-time job, all that he qualifies for. 

"I don't think this is a huge issue for most Fayetteville residents, it's not even on their radar what we go through," said Mauro.

Emily Uveretts, a military spouse at Bragg since 2009, with one deployment under her belt, is protesting because she feels that the government needs to provide more resources. 

"Sitting on the budget holds up our resources and schools on base," said Uveretts. "I think Obama and his wife have done a good job with Joining Forces thus far, but we need more support instead of stripping the benefits."