“My Journey to Overcoming PTSD”

                                                                           Ben Dye

Benjamin Ryan Dye was born into a military family following in his father’s footsteps by becoming a third-generation veteran as well as a fourth-generation firefighter. Ben’s fire service career began in 2001 with the Bureau of Whitehall Township Fire Department, PA.  With the Whitehall Township Fire Department, Ben experienced his first fatal motor vehicle accident.  In 2003 Benjamin enlisted in the United States Army. Ben served a total of 17 years and was medically retired in 2020. Ben obtained the rank of Sergeant First Class and deployed to various countries conducting combat operations and support operations during the twenty years on the global war on terrorism.

In 2008 he was hired by the City of North Charleston Fire Department. Ben has been assigned to engine, truck, and the city’s heavy rescue company. In 2016 Ben was promoted to the rank of Engineer where he was reassigned to the city’s heavy rescue company.  Ben has been assigned to the special operations command since 2010. Ben holds all technical disciplines including dive rescue specialist. Ben also serves as a part time firefighter with Horry County Fire Rescue.

In 2013 he joined the South Carolina Task Force – One Urban Search and Rescue and holds the position of search manager. Ben is a member of the Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team and serves as a rescue swimmer for South Carolina Task Force One. Ben has been able to take part in local and out of state deployments.

Ben is a respected instructor with experience teaching for the Charleston County Recruit School. He is also a peer team member for the Low Country Firefighter Support Team and an instructor for OnScene Training Associates.

Ben will share his story about how he has gone from PTSD, Suicidal Ideation, Depression to “Overcoming” his symptoms. His recovery is attributed to the help of family, therapy, medication and attending Shatterproof, which he contributes to saving him and his family. Shatterproof is a program specifically designed for military and first responders. Ben offers his story to influence others within the community of First Responders. You can “Overcome” and not be ashamed to ask for help. PTSD is a silent killer, and it is not so much the wounds you see on the outside but the wounds you cannot see on the inside. It is time to put our egos aside and seek help. When you do this, we can achieve the greatest feeling in the world and that is peace.