HELENA (AP
The Montana National Guard has developed a plan to implement m o r e t h a n a d o z e n recommendations made by a task force to identify and help soldiers who return from combat with mental health issues. “Our intention is to now move forward with these recommendations and begin implementing them to ensure that members of the Montana National Guard receive the support and assistance they deserve,” said Maj. Gen. Randy Mosley, who is scheduled to discuss the plan with the State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee on Friday at the State Capitol. The Post Deployment Health Risk Assessment Task Force told the Guard it needed to monitor its soldiers for postcombat stress longer and more of ten, and make sure al l returning soldiers receive an evaluation and that they and t h e i r fa m i l i e s r e c e i ve information about available help. The task forc e al so r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t commanders receive training on mental health issues such as combat s t ress, anxiety, depression and traumatic brain injury. Mosley commissioned the task force after the suicide of Chris Dana, an Iraq war veteran from Helena who shot himself in March. Dana’s family said he had become depressed and withdrawn and the military failed to help him. Dana’s stepbrother, attorney Matthew Kuntz of Helena, said Dana became unable to attend National Guard drills and was released with a less-thanh o n o r a b l e d i s c h a r g e, a demotion that haunted him. The Guard said i t has implemented a policy that eve r y s e r v i c e member considered for discharge who has served in Iraq or other post-Sept. 11 operations must f i rs t undergo a medical evaluation. Additionally, a crisis response team will contact service members who fail to attend drills after deployment to assess their mental health.
