Mont. Guard says help for troops strengthening

[unhappycamper]

Mont. Guard says help for troops strengthening
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 1, 2009 10:10:12 EST

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Montana National Guard is strengthening support for soldiers and airmen deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Beginning in January, the Montana Yellow Ribbon program will hold workshops for National Guard service members before, during and after deployment. The workshops also will be available to family members.

Officials say the goal is to improve access to an array of services, such as health care and assistance in finding civilian work after time in the military.

“Basically, we want to take as much stress away from them as possible,” said Capt. Adam Karlin of Helena, deployment cycle support program manager. “Before, soldiers had to kind of go around different places . Now, we’ve got it coming to them.”

The Yellow Ribbon program is the latest addition to the National Guard’s program to support soldiers, created after the March 2007 suicide of 23-year-old Christopher Dana of Helena, who had served in Iraq.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_montana_guard_123108w/%2e