Sen. Udall Opens Regional Office, Talks PTSD and Afghanistan

Sen. Udall Opens Regional Office, Talks PTSD & Afghanistan

Posted: Sep 2, 2009 05:37 PM EDT

Updated: Sep 2, 2009 06:12 PM EDT

by Zach Thaxton
z.thaxton@krdo.com


COLORADO SPRINGS - Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) announced the grand opening Wednesday of his new Pikes Peak Regional Office. It's located inside the Pikes Peak Regional Development Center at 2880 International Circle near Memorial Park. During an afternoon press conference, Sen. Udall also announced the formation of and first meeting with a new 12-member military advisory committee made up of statewide leaders with a range of military expertise. The Senator will confer with the committee twice a year.

Sen. Udall also addressed the topics of Post-Traumatic Stress and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. A half-dozen Fort Carson have been charged in Southern Colorado murders committed after returning from conflict in Iraq. An Army report concluded combat stress may have been a contributing factor in their violent acts back on U.S. soil. Sen. Udall says enhanced diagnosis and treatment tactics were among the first topics discussed by his new committee. He told the gathered press Wednesday, "The mind is a marvelous organ. It's probably the most powerful human weapon that we have, but it's also very fragile. And we're increasingly aware of ways in which you can train troops before they go into theater as to how to maintain the health of your mind, how to deal with the inevitable stresses and strains of being in a combat setting."

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Sen Udall Opens Regional Office, Talks PTSD and Afghanistan


Senator to visit Carson, meet base officials

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 3, 2009 8:29:08 EDT

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., is meeting with Fort Carson military officials to discuss the role of soldiers from the base in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Udall will meet with Maj. Gen. David Perkins and other military leaders Thursday. A Udall spokeswoman says the senator and the military officials will discuss the soldiers’ training and making sure they have all the resources they need.

Udall is also expected to talk about health and behavioral care for soldiers, and helping returning veterans adapt to civilian life after their deployments.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_army_udall_carson_090309/