CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After two tours in Iraq, 36-year-old Michael Martin knew he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, but he didn’t immediately seek treatment.

Martin was stationed at Fort Campbell at the age of 17.

“I had a general sense of duty to country; both my grandfathers were World War II veterans,” he said. “I remember watching Clinton as a kid bomb Baghdad, Iraq, and I said I’m going to go help those people.”

Martin said on his first Iraq tour he did make it to Baghdad. “On my second deployment, we took casualties, but the mission had changed, and we all felt like our hands were tied,” he said. “We had gone over there and taken casualties for a war that was already gone. It was more a show of force and political obligation than a battle.”

He left the 101st Airborne Division as an infantryman after serving five years. “That didn’t happen until 2020, but I was having major issues with PTSD.”

Martin said it was something he tried to hide.

But two hospitalizations and a psychiatrist’s recommendation finally led Martin to get help, and he got it from Soldiers and Families Embraced (SAFE).

“It was a great program. Having someone to talk to that has the experience to offer advice and give the right tools to deal with your stress (is important),” he said. “I was a  pretty miserable person when I walked in.”

Helping others

Martin said since his completion of the program, he’s been able to get help for his family as well. “My child had some mental health issues and is in the hospital in a program,” he said.

He was also been able to assist a neighbor who had similar issues.

“I think it is important for people to know this program exists,” Martin said. “Part of what helps me is I can reach down and help pull my brother out of the hole he was in.”

Martin said he is not the same person today that he was.

“I was accepted into a vocational rehabilitation program for veterans and learned architectural drafting,” he said, noting he now works from home for Frankie Food Systems.

He also competed in a Skills USA State Championship and brought back a bronze metal in architectural drafting.

“I don’t feel like the same person I was even a year ago,” he said.

SAFE expanding program

Christina Watson, executive director for SAFE, said the program, which started specifically to help soldiers and their families, is slowly expanding.

“In 2020, we expanded to include first responders, then in 2021 we began to include their family members,” Watson said, adding that this was in part because so many veterans were transitioning into civilian law enforcement, firefighting and paramedic work.

SAFE services include confidential individual counseling, youth counseling and couples counseling, serving about 300 new clients each year.

“There is no reporting to insurance, and we keep minimal records. We don’t share their records with anybody else,” she said, noting these policies make clients feel safe to seek services.

Watson said a lot of times those in the military will avoid seeking services in order to prevent their superiors from finding out.

“It costs approximately $65 per session and each client receives 12 sessions,” she said.

The nonprofit holds several fundraisers per year and runs primarily on donations.

For more information, including on how to donate, go to the SAFE website, call 931-591-3241 or visit them at 117 N. Third St.

For crisis help, call 1-800-273-8255, go to MilitaryCrisisLine.net, or text 838255.