Governor Brian Schweitzer's Task Force on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is currently preparing their recommendations for how the state should address the PTSD injuries of Montana's service members and combat veterans.

The flaws in the current system became evident through the events surrounding my step-brother Chris Dana's suicide.

Upon Chris's death, the National Guard's persecution and less than honorable discharge of this injured soldier became fatal evidence of the glaring problems in the state's treatment of its soldiers that suffer from PTSD. In order to fix this problem, Governor Schweitzer and his Task Force should weigh the opinion of Chris's battalion commander, a man who knows first hand how challenging it is to effectively deal with PTSD issues in Montana's soldiers.

On April 1, 2007, the Independent Record extensively quoted Lieutenant Colonel T.J. Hull for its article, "PTSD: Hidden Wounds." As Chris's battalion commander, LTC Hull undoubtedly played a significant role in National Guard's negligent treatment of Chris's injury. At the time, I was shocked that the National Guard would use LTC Hull as a spokesman on Chris's fatal PTSD, but in retrospect I admit that no one is better qualified to speak on the challenges Montana faces in dealing with its PTSD-injured soldiers. LTC Hull knows first hand what it feels like to fatally rely on the voluntary PTSD counseling system to determine which of our soldiers suffer from PTSD. We would be foolish not to heed his warning.

LTC Hull talked about an implied military culture where injury or illness is often seen as a weakness and its negative impact on the voluntary counseling system. He said that "[a]t times, that implied culture may discourage a soldier from getting help." The combination of the stigma of that implied culture and the self-isolating symptoms of PTSD make it highly unlikely that an injured service member will be able to reach out for help.

LTC Hull also spoke about the wide impact that the injury has on combat veterans. "[W]e all have some kind of issues at some point. If you see somebody killed or their arms blown off, it's going to be an issue." LTC Hull suggested that the solution was to "treat it like any other injury."

While I have many issues with how LTC Hull dealt with my step-brother's PTSD, I cannot argue with his overarching solution. The National Guard should treat PTSD in its soldiers like it deals any other injury -- by making the treatment mandatory. A soldier with a broken leg does not have the option of whether or not to receive treatment. It is required. The rules regarding a PTSD injury should not be any different. While the National Guard cannot guarantee that these wounds will heal, they can ensure that each injured soldier or airmen receives effective treatment. When dealing with wars where every service member who served in combat has "some kind of issues at some point," the only answer is to mandate PTSD counseling for every service member returning from the combat zone.

I pray that Governor Schweitzer and his Task Force heed LTC Hull's advice by implementing mandatory PTSD counseling. If they do not, then it will be only a matter of time before we read about another battalion commander wishing that the State of Montana would have implemented an effective PTSD counseling program in time to save another injured soldier.

Matt Kuntz is a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. He currently practices law in Helena.