Vet-to-vet counseling available in Montana

Vet-to-vet counseling available in Montana
8/22/2009, 12:27 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press

(AP) — FORT HARRISON, Mont. - In a large, sparsely populated state like Montana, it can be difficult to make sure that returning war veterans get all the help they need.

Ryan Ranalli joined the Army in 2001 and was part of the 2003 invading force into Iraq. He was eventually "med-boarded" home and struggled with anger, anxiety and alcohol.

Vet-to-vet counseling was helpful, despite some initial uncertainty on Ranalli's part.


"When I finally got back here, I came to a (vet-to-vet) meeting, and when I first walked into it, I thought I was at a retirement home," he told the Independent Record in Helena. "Regardless of the generation gap, those guys were in combat and I was in combat. I can come to them with whatever problems I have, and they can relate to it."

The shared experience makes a difference, Ranalli said.

"These guys really understand what I was feeling, and what I'm still going through right now," he said. "PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is hard for people who don't have it to relate to it. The people closest to us, we push them away."
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Vet to vet counseling available in Montana