Carson will rescreen troops

Fort Carson's 4th Brigade Combat Team will be re-screening troops later this month in an effort to make sure every soldier returning from combat in Iraq gets the help he or she needs with medical or mental health issues, brigade spokesman Maj. T.G. Taylor said Tuesday.

Six soldiers from the unit, which returned from Iraq duty in December, have been convicted or suspected in homicides in Colorado Springs in the past year. On Monday, Spc. Robert Hull Marko was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and murder in the death of Judilianna "Judi" Lawrence.

Two months ago, commanders began requiring squad and team leaders to evaluate soldiers to determine whether they need additional help. Soldiers found to be at-risk will go through Fort Carson's post-deployment health risk assessment for a third time in late October, Taylor said.

"We're making every effort to identify problems before they occur," Taylor said.

Leaders know the brigade's veterans have been exposed to horrors during the "surge" offensive in 2007 to retake Baghdad from insurgents and remain wary of issues including post-traumatic stress disorder and marital problems caused by the 15 months in combat.

Before Marko's arrest this week, commanders were pleased with the program's progress.

"We've seen a pretty sharp decline in serious incidents in the brigade since mid-June," Taylor said.

There's no common cause, though, that can show why six men from the unit have been jailed in killings.

The brigade has worked to foster pride in its soldiers, who are readying for war in Afghanistan next spring.

"Criminal activity is the direct opposite of what we stand for in this brigade," Taylor said.

"Our soldiers are the American citizens who have stepped up in time of war and answered the nation's call."

Taylor said the screening helps make sure soldiers are healthy enough for the combat ahead.

Meanwhile, the brigade continues its training regimen that includes a field exercise for all of its soldiers later this month.

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Contact the writer: 636-0240 or tom.roeder@gazette.com