Support/Counseling Resource - Kabul, Afghanistan and Beyond


Like many of you, I was incredibly angered, frustrated, saddened by the loss of life and incompetence suffered in Kabul, not just for our brave service members, but everyone else as well.

Exposing the situation was important. Providing an opportunity for healing and resolution is just as important now. Here is one possible resource:
A Letter from Ron Prosise, CAPT (CA)
Command Chaplain
California State Guard

SUBJECT: Support Available: Healing from Afghanistan

Fellow Guardsmen,

We have all been distraught with what has happened in Afghanistan. It is a heartbreaking situation that is taking an emotional toll. Like many of you, I have served downrange in combat and after that served two tours at the hospital in Germany where wounded warriors from Afghanistan and Iraq were brought. Some of you may have lost friends or family members over there, and your grief has been greatly intensified by recent events. All of us are distressed with what we have seen and heard. Feelings of shock, confusion, anger, and anguish are understandable.
One of the lessons we learned from the Vietnam War is that no one should have to face these issues alone. Talking with someone is an important way that the mind processes strong emotions. In the California State Guard, we have one another to reach out to, including chaplains and psychologists who trained in counseling and are available anytime – that is why we are here. (You don’t have to be a certain faith or even have any spiritual belief to talk with a chaplain.) There are also other resources, listed at the link below. One veteran with 20 years of combat experience put it this way, “We’re resilient, we know how to suck it up, and we know how to power through it. But there’s going to come a time where you won’t be able to do that.” He now encourages everyone not to try to go it alone when it comes to dealing with difficult issues. Based on a past experience with personal trauma, I wrote a book that addresses the different emotional responses, such as shock, anger, question, instability, anguish, and so on. If you are going through a difficult time because of this or some other crisis and would like a copy of this book, I will be happy to send you one free of charge. You can see a preview here at the button below.
We are a team, we are here for one another, and we are better together.

Ron Prosise, CAPT (CA)
Command Chaplain
California State Guard