Carry on with a program supporting returned soldiers

WILMINGTON -- Having served in combat in Vietnam and Iraq, I know first-hand the burdens our returning soldiers bear. In 2003-2005, I was privileged to lead North Carolina's largest reserve deployment since World War II. We deployed the 30th Brigade Combat Team, including over 3,000 North Carolina Guardsmen, to serve alongside our active-duty brothers in the Iraq War.

Within the first 72 hours in Iraq our units were hit with roadside bombs, car bombs and direct fire resulting in one dead and several wounded. As the deployment continued, our units were attacked almost daily. We suffered more casualties, always giving the enemy better than received. By the end of our tour we had approximately 130 soldiers physically wounded, along with several killed.

The visibly wounded were evacuated and received excellent treatment. For those with invisible wounds, the fight continued as they remained in combat. When we returned to our homes and civilian jobs, some of our soldiers brought with them the invisible wounds of this war -- wounds that in many cases now affect their families, and their civilian jobs.

Our nation and state have responded to returning veterans with a number of valuable programs: Yellow Ribbon and Wounded Warrior are two names that come to mind immediately. The Citizen Soldier Support Program based at UNC-Chapel Hill too, despite recent criticism, continues to provide crucial training and support for identification and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).

The portion of the Citizen Soldier Support Program that I have personally been involved with is providing immeasurable value to North Carolina's combat veterans. In my opinion this program must be continued if we are to honor our commitment to our returning soldiers and their families.

Beginning two years ago, the program partnered with the VA, the nine North Carolina Area Health Education Centers, the Mental Health Association in North Carolina and military mental health experts with the goal of training at least 1,000 civilian behavioral health providers annually in understanding military culture and the psychological issues facing service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have accomplished those goals but have much more to do.

Speaking as a combat veteran and as an active volunteer with the Citizen Soldier program, I understand the well-documented needs of our returning soldiers and enthusiastically support the wonderful opportunities offered by the program. Working closely with Bob Goodale and physicians from the VA, I have participated as a volunteer trainer in many of the training sessions and have seen the worth of this valuable program.

The training is scalable, cost-efficient and replicable. Following North Carolina's example, organizations in Virginia, South Carolina, Florida and Missouri trained hundreds of civilian providers in 2009 using the Citizen Soldier program's content and technical assistance, always at no cost to those organizations.

While there has been criticism of the overall program and there is arguably room for improvement, the value of this portion of the program far exceeds flaws elsewhere. Let us now fix the flaws and retain the productive elements of a program that does so much to help our veterans. Thanks to this program, thousands of health-care professionals have now been equipped with the ability to recognize and better treat the invisible wounds afflicting some of our returning veterans.

Our state and nation can never fully repay our active and reserve soldiers for their sacrifice. But as a society we are morally obligated to do our best to help restore normality for these dedicated patriots. The Citizen Soldier Support Program is an essential component in addressing problems our veterans face which only grow larger with each passing month.

Thousands of veterans and their families have risked everything and sacrificed much. They ask so little in return -- can we now deny these patriots the best we have to offer? Continue the Citizen Soldier Support Program.

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