How do you help a reservist with severe PTSD who doesn't want his chain of command to know?

You have got to bring it up to the CoC, so they can assist with getting him help. This can escalate into a lot of things that will be worse if no one is made aware. In the long run after he has gotten the help he needs, he and his family will be grateful that a friend was there to ensure he got help. If it continues on the path he is headed right now it can/will result in injury or worse to others and himself and that is not what any of us want to see.

As every leader will tell you in your career, we can't fix, what we don't know is broken. We can't always see everything and I can only imagine in the NG and Reserve these situations are tougher because of the distances between unit members. Your CoC expects you and every other Soldier to take care of each other whether at drill or not. Let's get him some help.

Good luck and thank you for not turning the other cheek, As an NCO you can't give up on anyone regardless if they want help or not! Suggestion is maybe get the Unit Chaplin involved. If not maybe seek assistance from VA as much as that maybe a waste of resources.

Sounds like he needs to go to the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). Take it to the CoC. Everyone is a leader in the Army.

Airman Wolf. Self-medication with alcohol is common with people with PTSD. He need to go and tell the chain of command ASAP. It is a horrible thing to live with. When I was active duty, they didn't even recognize I had a problen. I did tell everyone, it fell on dead ears. It's a different Military you are in now. They do recognize it. He needs to speak up otherwise he will be fighting the war in his head alone. It's not easy but you are a good friend so please do the right thing. Number one thing is he has to stop self medicating and get help. Mention it to your first shirt if he refuses.

Refer the troop to one of the help lines for confidential assistance, here's one [login to see] . You're in a tight spot, the guy told you something in confidence and by discussing his issue you stand to loose a buddy.
The consequences of not discussing his issue with the CoC and enlisting their aid could be far greater for the troop then being ticked off at you. Personally I'd seek out the 1SG or Commander they will be the most mature, experienced, trained and should have the outreach capabilities to get them help. Normally I'd say see the SQD Leader but that's a crap shoot judging by some posts on RP lately.

Use outside sources such as AA meetings to help with the drinking and most YMCA have counseling that obviously report to no one in the armed forces. Churches offer counseling well some due, it's not to far fetched to think a local minster etc would be willing to listen and not judge or report to anyone. Sometimes just having someone willing to listen is a good start and you can build off of that as time goes on.

This is something the chain of command needs to know. He might be drinking in His "down time" but having said that, we must remember our "jobs" are around the clock and we must be ready to to deploy. A soldier with this type of problem needs medical detox under close supervision. He needs to address the issues that he is drinking to forget (there may be more effect ways) his budget may be in shambles, but you made it sound as though he is isolating. This is a recipe for disaster. You have identified a serious problem that is beyond the your scope of duties other than watching and buddying up. This soldier needs professional help and by going up the chain, duties may be modified and perhaps one of the "22" will get his problems addressed in a safe environment as possible and not add his Name on the list. I would suggest that you get counseling also. The burden of another's life is too heavy to carry alone

TAKE CARE OF THE TROOPS!

Help the soldier, do the right thing, for the right reason. If you don't, you have left the fallen comrade behind. My question is, could you live with that...

You can let his CoC know but they won't have the same authority over him like the way active military would over their SM.