Congressional Committee Hear From Veterans

Arkansas soldiers spoke with a congressional committee about their experience as a soldier returning from war. Todays discussion focused in on life after the war zone and what improvements they would like to see in the transition phase. A congressional committee comprised of Congressman John Boozman and Senator Mark Pryor listened to personal accounts from Arkansas soldiers home from Iraq. Senator Pryor says its critical to keep in touch with the soldiers as they are the ones on the front line. Pryor opened the floor to suggestions from soldiers in the National Guard about the transition period from being stationed in a war zone to their return to American soil. Specialist John Rothwell was one of them. "Once we got back and were released it was a difficult adjustment because I didnt have that support network around me". Specialist Rothwell says while in Iraq it was very intense and after coming back felt some what overwhelmed with the debriefing period. Senator Pryor is trying to improve the transition period, wanting to focus on the employment, housing and education opportunities for these soldiers after they return home. Specialist John Rothwell says he is suffering from back injuries after a road side bombing as well as some post traumatic stress disorder. Still, Rothwell says he hopes to return to Baghdad. The state of Arkansas has deployed over 35 hundred National Guard members in the global war on terror in the last twelve months.