Video tells Minn. guardsmen in Iraq of services - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Video tells Minn. guardsmen in Iraq of services

Minnesota National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq were able to hear from St. Cloud service providers during a live video link Thursday.

Providers of education, health care and employment services presented information to about 40 soldiers from St. Cloud City Hall. They communicated with the soldiers stationed in Iraq on a large video screen.

St. Cloud VA Medical Center spokeswoman Joan Vincent said organizers believe the video link is the first of its kind for providing reintegration information.

The goal was to provide soldiers with information before they return home, when their focus is on returning to their families and civilian jobs rather than learning about programs.

“Once they get home, they want to go home,” Vincent said.

The video link was done in coordination with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and Warrior to Citizen programs, which work to make the transition from deployment to home as smooth as possible.

Presenters gave soldiers information on returning to school, where to get help finding a job and resources available at the VA. Soldiers also had an opportunity to ask questions.

From Iraq, Gen. Gerald Lang of Sauk Rapids thanked the organizers for putting on the program. He said it will help soldiers when they return home in the next month or so.

“We’re going to sprint to the finish line,” he said.

National Guard Maj. Ed Suarez attended the event in St. Cloud. He is the executive officer for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program.

Suarez said many soldiers are reluctant to seek help and having programs like the video link is a great way to bring the information to them.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

The conference was co-sponsored by the Central Minnesota Warrior to Citizen Initiative, Times Media and the city of St. Cloud.

The idea of a live video link between soldiers and service providers was suggested during the planning of this year’s Veterans Day Parade. Times Media brought together the interested parties needed to put on the event.