When the national news stations send reporters into the battle zone, there is a lot of preparation and work that goes on behind the scenes. There are psychological screenings, background information given, lists of safe zones and other helpful information. That wave of preparation is followed by more assistance when a reporter returns from the war zone. At that point, the media member goes through debriefings, has psychological screenings and goes through counseling. With all that being done for media workers you would assume that our troopers get even more assistance when they return – but that’s not the case.

A solider who is off in war is often times set back into the heart of daily living with little or no preparation given. They were given a mission, the mission is complete and they are no longer needed. They are not run through tests, forced to go through counseling or even informed about the programs that are available to them in some cases. Instead they are handed brochures, like ones you might see for apartments for rent in Seattle, on ways to get a job after being a solider and sent on their way.

Our soldiers deserve a more intensive preparation period before they are sent on their way. They deserve to have someone sit down with them and walk them through what options they have, what programs are available and just basically guide them back to normal living. It can’t be easy to have to spend every day fighting for your life and your country’s freedom and then be dropped unexpectedly back into the real world.

After all, we spend thousands of dollars to make sure our media workers don’t suffer while they are in the war zone. Why not do the same for our troops who are making sure our rights are protected?