National Guard soldiers should all receive post combat screenings

There is always a lot of talk about how well our troops and citizen soldiers (National Guards and Reservists) are equipped and trained to go into combat, but there was never enough talk about how to bring them home and what we were going to do with them when they got here. This is one of the best and greatest things the military can do and must do.

While it is not possible to "catch" all of them within the 30-60-90 days, it's a good start. Some may not see changes inside of them until years later but at least with this knowledge, they will be ready to deal with it when the symptoms do begin. There is something called a "secondary stressor" and this is what happened to a lot of veterans with mild PTSD symptoms. Most of them figured they had dealt with their wound and "got over it" only to discover years later, they were in such a state that they were dealing with PTSD on steroids.

The symptoms hit harder and smacked them all at once leaving them in a state of shock wondering "what the hell just happened" to them. Back when Vietnam veterans came home, there was an excuse of the lack of knowledge, but now, if they are all aware of it, treated as soon as possible when they do show signs, their futures are a lot brighter. They will be in a lot better position if they face a secondary stressor years later. This is a great thing. kc

Post-combat mental health screenings available for National Guard soldiers

ALBANY - The New York State Division of Veterans Affairs and New York State Office of Mental Health are teaming up with the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs to provide mental health screenings to National Guard soldiers returning from war zones.

The screening process was plugged into the existing reintegration program thanks to a coordinated effort between the state agencies and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

The new initiative began Friday with the soldiers of Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, based in Rochester.

Troops meet with clinical representatives to receive medical screening for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury. The VA's vet centers across the state will support the effort with trained and licensed staff to help returning Guardsmen make the transition from soldier to citizen soldier.

The company returned home this spring from a one-year mobilization and combat tour in Afghanistan.

The VA started this program with returning National Guard soldiers in New Hampshire in 2004 and have since extended it to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine, said Dr. James Garrett, deputy regional manager for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center Northeast Region.

"This program has been very successful in several New England states in identifying soldiers with readjustment problems and we are happy to expand it to New York," Garrett said. "We consider it a real privilege to be able to speak with these soldiers," he added.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal such as combat operations. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is related to the effects of combat action or wounds impacting a soldier's head, especially in the vicinity of improvised explosive devices, artillery or rocket fire.

Michael F. Hogan, PhD, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, said, "As with all health problems, mental health issues are best dealt with early and close to home. Offering mental health screenings as part of the reintegration process will lead to early identification and support for those returning soldiers who are struggling to deal with the stresses of deployment and war."
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