At the military base Fort Hood in Texas, U.S. soldiers return home daily from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some soldiers return with physical wounds from combat, while others face severe mental illnesses as a result of the perils of war. Fort Hood helps facilitate these soldiers through the Wounded Warrior Transition Brigade. The brigade's objective: to help rehabilitate both minds and bodies back to health.
Across the country nearly 10, 000 soldiers are a part of 29 warrior transition brigades. Nearly one-third of Fort Hood's warrior transition brigade has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental illness that results from the trauma of battle.
The brigades give soldiers time to heal as they transition back to civilian life and in some cases even return to duty. The program attempts to make up for the controversies surrounding the Walter Reed Army Medical Center where it was discovered that vets returning from war received dismal care.
"The first time I was wounded, I didn't have a nurse case manager. So, in some ways, it was stressful, because I not only had to manage my treatment, my appointments and all that," said Sgt 1st Class Karl Pasco. Pasco added that the Wounded Brigade has improved his treatment dramatically.
However, some soldiers at Fort Hood still believe they're not receiving adequate help. A soldier who did not wish to be identified told the NewsHour's Ray Suarez that he's seen multiple doctors and still has yet to receive a proper diagnosis.
And last fall, Fort Hood was the scene of a bloody rampage by a soldier who was also a psychologist treating returning veterans. That man, Army Major Malik Nadal Hasan, shot and killed 13 fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. With soldiers returning to Army bases all across the country from combat, assisting wounded vets is an issue that will remain as the military efforts overseas continue.
Quotes
"Our mission is to heal the soldier to the maximum extent that healing can be done."--Col. Paul Hossenlopp, commander of the Fort Hood Wounded Warrior Brigade
"I'm not asking for anything, other than to get fixed. That's all I want. I understand I might not ever be 100 percent, but get me as close to it as you can."
