Air Force Lt. Col. Alicia L. Tschirhart is the commander of the Kalsu Combat Stress Control Center and a psychiatrist. The center is one of three throughout Iraq that serve a number of provinces.
“We are able to see any service member that is stationed at Forward Operating Base Kalsu and anyone who needs assistance is sent here to this location,” said Tschirhart. “I have two enlisted personnel here as well that do individual counseling, screen patients and do outreach to the community.”
The Kalsu Combat Stress Control Center sees around 25 to 30 patients a week with issues ranging from anxiety and depression to marital problems.
“Relationship and sleep issues are the most predominant cases I see,” Tschirhart said. “Problems that arose during deployment or were occurring back in garrison can be related to issues that we work on.”
Confidentiality is important to patients and coming to the center is voluntary unless a Soldier is sent for a command-directed evaluation. Soldiers may also be worried about a lengthy evaluation or treatment that could cause them problems at work or bring out their personal life to the command, but Tschirhart said they shouldn’t allow these fears to keep them from seeking assistance.
“For the most part, a Soldier is treated right here at Kalsu with little interruption to their work schedule,” said Tschirhart.
“We try to protect the patient’s confidentiality as much as possible,” she added.
Air Force Master Sgt. Dolores Ross, 733rd Expeditionary Support Squadron, is available to work with service members on anger management issues and holds scheduled sessions. Tobacco cessation assistance is also available at the center.
The center is open Monday through Saturday and is on call for emergencies. Walk-in patients can come in on Saturdays and patients who make an appointment are seen within a week.
“For the most part, thoughts of harming themselves or others passes with time,” said Tschirhart. “Most people just need assistance in managing their thoughts and we do offer therapy as well as prescription medicine treatments.”
