Soldier assures mental health as U.S. troops train Bulgarians

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 | 8:48 a.m.

The son of a Las Vegas resident recently assisted in an effort to help military forces of a new NATO ally learn to fight alongside U.S. forces to thwart threats in 21st century war on terrorism.

According to the Army & Air Force Hometown News Center, Army Staff Sgt. George Harwick, son of Elisa Sadoian of Las Vegas, is a mental health manager who helped train Bulgarian troops during Exercise Bulwark at the Novo Selo Training Area there.

The U.S. forces Harwick was with trained the Bulgarians during the three-week exercise on light infantry tactics, urban warfare strategies, close air support, medical evacuation of casualties, field artillery and mortar fire, and protection of vehicle convoys.

"I am the mental health supervisor attached to the medical task force for this exercise," Harwick said. "I provide mental health support to those who need it. During deployments, there can always be issues that crop up that cause stress to the soldiers -- I'm there for them if they need my services."

Bulwark was the first exercise of this size in Bulgaria for the United States, with more than 1,100 American soldiers taking part in the event. About 660 of the Americans were reservists or National Guardsmen from Illinois and Alabama, while the rest of the troops were from several support units based in Germany.

"I prepared for this exercise by working hard to take advantage of the training the Army has given me," Harwick said. "I have four years of inpatient psychiatric care experience at an Army medical center and four years' experience helping troops at mental health clinics. Last year I deployed to Baghdad International Airport in Iraq to provide mental health support to the soldiers there."

Harwick has been on the move since reporting to his assignment in Germany. "Our unit has been busy the last couple of months in support of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy landings, this exercise in Bulgaria and upcoming deployments of our soldiers in the support of the global war on terrorism," he said. "I am stationed in Miesau, Germany, and I have only been with the unit for a couple of months. During that time I have been to Normandy, an equal opportunity leader's school and here in Bulgaria. I have spent only three weeks at my home station."

In brief