Photo by John Temple Ligon U.S. Army Chief of Staff General George Casey shared his concerns of post traumatic stress disorder, including suicides, at a reception in Columbia July 29. Army Chief of Staff General George Casey attended an invitation- only reception in his honor last Wednesday, July 29, at 300 Senate Street. Also in attendance were Major General Russell Czerw (pronounce "surf"), commander of Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, and Brigadier General Bradley May, commander of Ft. Jackson.

Among the other attendees were dignitaries at all levels, including S.C. Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster, Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, former Columbia mayor Patton Adams, Roxanne Wilson (wife of Congressman Joe Wilson), Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce CEO Ike McLeese, and Citadel Knob Chelsea Marsh from Lexington County.

General Casey, the Army's top four- star general, shared his concerns and his actions on the issue of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including suicides. The American Army soldier of every rank will soon be more prepared mentally for combat and its sporadic psychological wounds. Every combat veteran suffers something mentally, some just more than others and some just show it more than others. Every soldier is getting the updated guidance.

Major General Russell Czerw, commander of Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas After WWI it was called shell shock, and after WWII it was called battle fatigue, but only now and only in the U.S. will the prevention and the treatment of PTSD be taken to such a sophisticated and widespread level. The program, expected to begin this October, will be a combination of mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical fitness.

General Casey predicted most of the Army's expansion, recently announced as another 22,000 soldiers on top of the current 547,000, will matriculate through Ft. Jackson, the Army's largest basic training post, over the next year to 18 months.