FORT HARRISON — Upon returning home to Helena from active duty in Afghanistan, Army National Guard Col. Bob Sparing made a stop at the Veterans Administration hospital at Fort Harrison for a screening session.

“You go in there a little apprehensive,” he recalls. “But when you came out, it was a good feeling. It made you feel comfortable that they’re trying to do everything they can for you.”

Sparing is one of 3,000 Iraq and Afghanistan military veterans who’ve gone through the screening process, which was set up by VA Health Care at Fort Harrison last year to assess any health problems they might have — and acquaint them with what the health care system has to offer.

Soldiers returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan are automatically eligible for VA health care for five years.

The screening process at Fort Harrison includes a medical exam, which checks for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.

For soldiers diagnosed with either affliction, as well as other health problems, the VA staff makes sure they get the recovery care they need and arranges it, be it at Fort Harrison or in their home town.

It could involve physical therapy, mental health counseling, or standard medical care.

“We set up all the consults so that everything is in place when they get home,” said Phay Lloyd, a nurse and the VA Montana health system’s program manager for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The health system also follows up to make sure the vets who need care are going to appointments and getting what they need.

“If they’re not (making appointments), we call and ask if it’s a good fit for the (health care) provider,” she said. “It not, we find another one. It’s a pretty tight-run ship.”

A visit with the VA medical staff is essentially required for any Montana solider returning from active duty in the Middle East, be it with the regular armed forces, National Guard or armed forces reserves.

The VA also is following up with veterans who returned home several years ago, before the current program was in place, to see if they’re getting the care they need for any service-related injuries or mental-health problems.

For most soldiers going through the process, it’s a chance to see the VA health-care system for the first time and see what it has to offer.

Lt. Col. Major LaRowe, an Army National Guardsman who returned home to Helena this May after six months in Afghanistan, said he spoke for nearly two hours with a nurse practitioner who walked him through the system and talked about his health.

“I found it was extremely educational and extremely caring,” he said, adding that he has returned to the facilities at Fort Harrison for health care. “I thought it was outstanding care. They have very experienced doctors and nursing staff.”

Sparing said the physician’s assistant who did his screening later called him at home to see if he needed anything else.

“To me, it was above and beyond,” he said. “When I went away (after the screening), I felt like I was covered.”