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Fort Knox opens new behavioral health clinic
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It is purely coincidence that Fort Knox opened a new counseling center for soldiers, one day after the horrific shootings at Fort Hood. Exactly 24 hours after the first shots were fired in Texas, there was a moment of silence and prayers.

"I hope it tells them they are in our thoughts and prayers," said Maj. Matt McCollum, Fort Knox soldier formerly assigned to Fort Hood.

Maj. Matt McCollum transferred from Fort Hood last summer. He wondered if he knew any of the dead and injured from the shootings.

"Being in the Army, it doesn't matter what patch you're wearing, you're part of one team. So you all feel the loss of the family member because we're all in that one team in the army," said Maj. McCollum.

The remembrance ceremony comes as Fort Knox opened their Behavioral Health Center.

The Army has spent more than $5 million to refurbish old barracks and hire new people to help soldiers who come home from war, or might go again.

"They're used to going super fast, all the time, always being on the lookout for whatever," said Maj. Sarah Mason, Behavioral Health Center.

It's less of a stigma to ask for help in that adjustment from always being on alert and anxious.

"It's hard to leave behind this adrenaline-filled lifestyle and all of a sudden be here where everything seems kind of flat in comparison. We do have to help them transition. A lot of them have trouble sleeping, it's probably one of our biggest problems with the soldiers here," said Maj. Mason.

Soldiers also deal with substance abuse and other physical and mental ailments.

"The entire Army is stressed right now. So I think to the extent we can provide the service to those affected individuals, I think this is a great step in that direction," said Maj. Gen. James Milano, Fort Knox commander.

The Behavioral Health Center is part of a larger overhaul of the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Knox. That's where soldiers stay during prolonged medical treatment before they go back to their units.

The Army made changes in personnel, procedure and facilities after a soldier from Indiana was found dead in the unit two years ago.

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Fort Knox opens new behavioral health clinic

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