The Illinois National Guard is starting to teach a series of reintegration programs. Today's was at Highland Community College in Freeport. There, they discussed how to handle being a regular civilian without the dangers of war. About 20% of soldiers who return suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the same amount have traumatic brain injury. Returning troops are required to attend these seminars for very good reason.
"It's hard to flip that switch and go back to being a civilian and going back to your normal day to day, 9 to 5 job, coming home to your wife or husband and their kids, and it takes a bit of an adjustment, but we're giving them the tools to accomplish that in a successful manor," says Army Sergeant Dale Matteson.
About 3000 Illinois National Guard soldiers returned from Afghanistan in the last three months, and there are more expected this winter. The next reintegration program in our area is December 5th at Rock Valley College.