But for many returnees, the haunting visions of serving in Iraq or Afghanistan only get worse. A just-released report estimates 30 percent of soldiers develop stress-related problems within months of coming home. Help is limited and not easily obtained.

Soldiers leaving a war zone now receive mental health evaluations, but that should be only the beginning. The disruptive nightmares and flashbacks may not surface for months. Timely follow-up screenings, counseling, and treatment should be easily accessible.

Unmanageable Demands?

Extended tours and a changing mission from liberation to occupation heighten stress levels. Insurgents can strike anywhere. Once-safe assignments such as convoy duty are dangerous.

Reservists, who make up more than a quarter of our forces in Iraq, face unique situations. They've made an abrupt transition from civilian life to the dangers of war. Back at home, they're expected to pick up where they left off without missing a beat.

The military advises stressed-out soldiers to get help quickly, but there's a fear of being ostracized. In fact, war-related stress illnesses may not disrupt lives for months or even years.

Insufficient Support

Deactivated reservists may encounter more obstacles in getting help than their active-duty counterparts. State and county agencies often fill the void. And the outreach seldom extends to families coping with readjustment.

Funding cutbacks at the Veterans Administration (VA) have been counterproductive. Veterans depending on the VA for treating stress-related illnesses may face delays. Congress can help by allocating enough dollars to cover the higher costs associated with caring for returning service personnel.

The nations obligation to those who fight our battles goes well beyond the flight home.