Dear service members,

     We would like to thank you again for your service to our country and remind you that we stand ready to assist you.

     Returning from a deployment and re-uniting with family is a joyous occasion for many soldiers. However, it can also be stressful to meet the challenges of blending back into the normal routines of work and family life.  Readjustment concerns of returning soldiers may include: difficulty sleeping, troubling dreams, anger and anxiety, difficult memories, and excessive use of alcohol or drugs.

     For some veterans these readjustment concerns will go away on their own within a few months. However, some veterans find these issues linger longer than expected or cause them to feel more dissatisfied or unhappy than anticipated. If you are having any of these concerns, seeing a counselor or someone who knows about the readjustment process will be doing yourself and your loved ones a favor. It will very likely spare you more complicated troubles in the future.

     The State of Washington, Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Medical Centers and Vet Centers) are interested in helping each and every veteran who has returned home.  Our agencies have skilled counselors who understand how to help with deployment-related stress reactions and family problems that may result. If you are unsure whether you should seek these professional services, we are available to provide an initial evaluation that will help find answers to any of your questions. These services are free to honorably discharged veterans.

     Thank you again for your service and please let us know if we can help by calling either of these numbers for more information: Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (800-562-2308) or VA Medical Center Deployment Health Clinic (800-329-8387 ext 62636 or 206-764-2636). Just tell them that you were deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), or Operation Noble Eagle (ONE).

Sincerely,

John E. Lee
Director