thedrifter
01-19-07, 01:15 PM
New Kensington serviceman discusses extreme stress of Iraq
By Charlie Ban
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Friday, January 19, 2007
Anthony Bruni, of New Kensington, knew how harmful normal stress can be, but after 11 months in Iraq he has seen what extreme stress can do.
Bruni, a social worker from New Kensington who has a practice in Oakmont, was imbedded with infantrymen and Marines to treat post-traumatic stress disorder quickly as part of a Combat Stress Company.
He spent 11 months in Iraq, from January to November 2005, after being called up with the Army Reserve's 55th Medical Company based in Indianapolis. While soldiers ran security checkpoints, searched houses for insurgents and protected convoys, in Baghdad's Green Zone and Ramadi, about 60 miles west., Bruni, 34, and a team of medics and psychiatrists were available to treat soldiers experiencing combat.
"Basic training is supposed to be more difficult than being in combat, exposing soldiers to the loud noises, smells, frenzy of combat, but there are some things that are unexpected, like people you know being wounded or killed," Bruni said.
He prepared soldiers and Marines to return to their units following traumatic events. Combat Stress Companies would hold interventions with the patients, sometimes as quickly as an hour after a combat incident. The troops were invited to talk about it with their peers to avoid blocking the events out. Follow-up treatment included group therapy, psychiatric treatment and medication.
"It's against human logic to send someone back into a traumatic situation, but that's the nature of war," he said. "At least we made them a little more prepared to handle trouble later on."
These advances give Bruni hope that the miliary is shedding its tough-guy image in order to meet the emotional needs of its soldiers.
"In Vietnam, they didn't have these services, they didn't have anyone to fill this need and a lot of veterans suffered," he said." There are still guys coming back who have problems, but it will be less than otherwise. I think it is a good effort toward that goal, but you can't prevent it entirely. It's a good start, though."
The Green Zone was targeted more because of all of the embassies and U.S. State Department personnel, but it was well fortified, and most attacks were interrupted early. When a mortar hits, even 100 yards away, Bruni said, it is dangerous. It was a lot more precarious in Ramadi.
"You don't have to be infantry or military police unit to be a target," he said. "You are considered to be in a combat zone anywhere in Iraq, you are always subject to mortar fire."
While in Iraq, Bruni was a contact point for a number of local outreach organizations including the Cookies For Our Troops campaign managed by Sam Lombardo of Sam's Pop and Beer Shop in Arnold.
"A lot of local benefactors sent things to us and we were very well supplied by the time we left," he said.
Bruni and a friend decided to bring flags that had flown in Iraq to present to their hometowns. Bruni gave one to Lombardo and another to the New Kensington city council, which will be flown in Memorial Park starting this spring.
"One of my goals was to bring something positive to the city," he said. "It's good to know that there are citizens who support the military and I wanted to show my appreciation for it."
"It was very smart for the military to realize how important mental health is," he said. " In general, military health care has improved so much since Vietnam. You can treat a wound and you know what course it will take, but keeping your mind healthy is what keeps you functioning."
Charlie Ban can be reached at cban@tribweb.com.
Ellie
By Charlie Ban
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Friday, January 19, 2007
Anthony Bruni, of New Kensington, knew how harmful normal stress can be, but after 11 months in Iraq he has seen what extreme stress can do.
Bruni, a social worker from New Kensington who has a practice in Oakmont, was imbedded with infantrymen and Marines to treat post-traumatic stress disorder quickly as part of a Combat Stress Company.
He spent 11 months in Iraq, from January to November 2005, after being called up with the Army Reserve's 55th Medical Company based in Indianapolis. While soldiers ran security checkpoints, searched houses for insurgents and protected convoys, in Baghdad's Green Zone and Ramadi, about 60 miles west., Bruni, 34, and a team of medics and psychiatrists were available to treat soldiers experiencing combat.
"Basic training is supposed to be more difficult than being in combat, exposing soldiers to the loud noises, smells, frenzy of combat, but there are some things that are unexpected, like people you know being wounded or killed," Bruni said.
He prepared soldiers and Marines to return to their units following traumatic events. Combat Stress Companies would hold interventions with the patients, sometimes as quickly as an hour after a combat incident. The troops were invited to talk about it with their peers to avoid blocking the events out. Follow-up treatment included group therapy, psychiatric treatment and medication.
"It's against human logic to send someone back into a traumatic situation, but that's the nature of war," he said. "At least we made them a little more prepared to handle trouble later on."
These advances give Bruni hope that the miliary is shedding its tough-guy image in order to meet the emotional needs of its soldiers.
"In Vietnam, they didn't have these services, they didn't have anyone to fill this need and a lot of veterans suffered," he said." There are still guys coming back who have problems, but it will be less than otherwise. I think it is a good effort toward that goal, but you can't prevent it entirely. It's a good start, though."
The Green Zone was targeted more because of all of the embassies and U.S. State Department personnel, but it was well fortified, and most attacks were interrupted early. When a mortar hits, even 100 yards away, Bruni said, it is dangerous. It was a lot more precarious in Ramadi.
"You don't have to be infantry or military police unit to be a target," he said. "You are considered to be in a combat zone anywhere in Iraq, you are always subject to mortar fire."
While in Iraq, Bruni was a contact point for a number of local outreach organizations including the Cookies For Our Troops campaign managed by Sam Lombardo of Sam's Pop and Beer Shop in Arnold.
"A lot of local benefactors sent things to us and we were very well supplied by the time we left," he said.
Bruni and a friend decided to bring flags that had flown in Iraq to present to their hometowns. Bruni gave one to Lombardo and another to the New Kensington city council, which will be flown in Memorial Park starting this spring.
"One of my goals was to bring something positive to the city," he said. "It's good to know that there are citizens who support the military and I wanted to show my appreciation for it."
"It was very smart for the military to realize how important mental health is," he said. " In general, military health care has improved so much since Vietnam. You can treat a wound and you know what course it will take, but keeping your mind healthy is what keeps you functioning."
Charlie Ban can be reached at cban@tribweb.com.
Ellie