From The Leaf-Chronicle:
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – When Caleb Keller was honorably discharged from the Army in 2011, he had a number of options in front of him.
He wanted to be a pilot, a physicist, just about anything. But Keller couldn’t settle on any one direction.
Eventually, the former infantryman in the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry, “Golden Dragons,” at Fort Drum, found his way into drugs. Anything that could get him high, Keller said, he was for.
“I was addicted to anything, weed, pills, whatever it may have been,” he said. “Whatever I could get my hands on, that’s what I wanted. Anything to numb the feeling of the pain.
“I was good at it. That’s all I ever did man, was get high, and it wasn’t living life.”
PTSD, Keller said, contributed to his downward spiral, and in 2013, his bad habits caught up to him. Keller, who had moved back to Clarksville, his hometown, faced drug-related charges and found himself in front of Judge Ken Goble, Jr., who oversees the Veterans Treatment Court.
On Tuesday at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Goble presented Keller with a certificate of graduation for completing the treatment court program.
Veterans Treatment Court is designed to help active duty and retired military who have ended up on the wrong side of the law. Some end up in the program as a result of DUIs while many others deal with some sort of addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs.
Many who help with the program are volunteers, including the mentors, who offer confidential guidance and advice to those going through the program.
John Schuler, who spent 30 years in the military himself and another six as a civilian contractor, has been the program’s mentor coordinator for about two years. He said the mentors are there to be a “sounding board” for the veterans and offer them help with VA appointments or rehab help.
“They’re in denial that it’s their fault or that they have issues,” Schuler said about when the veterans first enter the program. “But those who apply themselves and embrace it, will succeed.”
Keller was joined at Tuesday’s graduation by Jason Bean, Michael Cromar, John Dorch, Javonne Love, Christopher Najdowski and Shawn Williams. All graduates are veterans, except for Cromar, who is still in active duty with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell.
Austin Peay State University professor Cynthia Marsh and student Macon St. Hilaire presented a banner to the court made by Marsh’s class to hang in the courtroom. The banner is designed to look like the American flag and features quotes such as “I knew in order to live a normal life, I would have to face the music.” The quotes come from each one of the member’s essays they write throughout their time in the program.
The graduation, while it marks completion of the program, isn’t the final step. The program offers consistent guidance to the veterans, so when they’re out of the program, the change can be a little daunting.
But as Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett said during Tuesday’s ceremony, their attitude can go a long way.
“It’s about attitude and attitude adjustment,” Durrett told the graduates. “I really believe that 95 percent of what you do in life is based on your attitude, so I encourage you to keep that strong, positive attitude no matter what situation you’re in, wherever you are.”
For someone such as Keller, he’s a little worried about what’s next.
“I’m a little scared because it was like big brother watching you, or like a mom (saying), ‘Hey son, how are you doing,’” Keller said. “At the same time, Veterans Treatment Court has taught me how to deal with my emotions, deal whenever I’m having a craving or itch.”
If that craving or itch comes, Keller said he’s confident he now knows how to handle his issues. And if Keller needs help, Goble told Keller he knows where to find it.
“As long as this program is in place, you will always have a place to go back to.”
Ray Howze, 931-245-0750
Military affairs reporter
raymondhowze@theleafchroncile.com