If you can't come to them, they will come to you

Photo By Capt. Monika Comeaux | Tech. Sgt. Laurie Wienclawski, Spc. Christopher Truax and Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Wiser (left to right), three of the four smiling faces of the Combat Stress Control Detachment, in front of their office at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan.  

JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN

12.31.2007

Story by Capt. Monika Comeaux 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Army 2nd Lt. Monika Comeaux
173rd Brigade Support Battalion

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan – Mechanics repair vehicles, small-arms repairmen fix weapons and dentists fix teeth. Members of the Combat Stress Control Detachment working with Company C, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, help set your mind straight.

A small team of Airmen and Soldiers work hand-in-hand to assist deployed service members battle stress at Forward Operating Base Fenty and approximately 20 surrounding forward operating bases.

The issues troops seek help with vary.

"It depends a little bit on where the individual is based out of," said Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jeffrey Wiser, a psychiatrist with the CSCD. "I think a lot of people in the forward locations deal with combat stress reactions. FOB Fenty and some of the areas south and east of here tend to be more operational stress, home front issues and difficulties within the unit."

Assisting troops in a deployed environment allowed Air Force Tech. Sgt. Laurie Wienclawski, a mental health technician on the team, to help troops hours or days after they have witnessed tragic or shocking events.

"The 173rd has lost a lot of people. Being back home, you hear about Soldiers being killed and wounded in action. Until you are deployed, and actually live it and see it and hear about it, it doesn't seem real until you are actually there," she said.

Service members don't always come out to seek help with their problems either. Some internalize it and only people who really know them notice a change in their behavior, daily routine or sleep patterns; therefore, it is important for everyone to know the typical behavior of their battle buddies, or to know their "baseline" as the experts would say.

Wienclawski was hoping being a female would make it easier for troops to talk to her. When she hit the ground, she found out that was not the case. She can best relate to troops by finding things, like having a family, in common.

Since not everyone comes running with their issues, CSCD sends out a small team to surrounding FOBs to "canvas" the neighborhood and see if someone needs their assistance. According to Weiser, Spc. Christopher Truax, a mental health specialist with Company C is great at "mixing with Soldiers and engaging them in conversation and prompting them to come in for evaluations or a more extensive interview."

Truax, who studied psychology in college, found and chose his military occupational specialty on the internet. He finds his job rewarding. "We don't wait for someone to come and see us – we go see them," said Truax.

He usually travels with Army Capt. Bryan O'Leary, the 173rd Airborne Brigade psychologist working with the Combat Stress Control Detachment.

"We support a lot of people, and we go where the action is because that is where the help is going to be needed a lot," explained Truax.

They are out for three to four weeks at a time, visiting remote locations. Since some places are really hard to get to, the team spends a lot of their time at flightlines and trying to jump on convoys. There is no way to give out actual appointments, but they always notify command elements and aid stations they are on the way so service members can get the word.

Soldiers at Fenty are more fortunate. They can actually book appointments.

Wiser warns, just because someone is not being shot at doesn't mean they don't get stressed out. He calls the 16-hour a day, seven-days-a-week schedules chronic and encourages everyone to relax and take time off, if the mission permits. He also urges troops to remain engaged in hobbies, work out, and keep in touch with friends and family as much as possible.

"I just think it is important for people to know we are here, and I would encourage them to use the services," Wienclawski said. "There is a stigma related to mental health, and sometimes that keeps people from going to mental health. That is true back in garrison – back in the home state as well. I just want people to get help early on so it doesn't progress and get worse."

CSCD handles most cases with full confidentiality. The only times they have an obligation to report anything to the chain of command is if they feel that the individual's life or others lives are in danger.

• Date Taken: 12.31.2007
• Date Posted: 12.31.2007 13:36
• Story ID: 15093
• Location: JALALABAD, AF