U.S. Veterans Return To The Front Lines

Published December 30, 2014 at 12:40 PM CST

The BBC accompanied a group of veterans from both wars -- part of a program to help veterans come to terms with their physical and mental injuries -- back to the frontline in Afghanistan (screengrab/BBC).

The U.S. war in Afghanistan may be over, but for hundreds of thousands of veterans who served in that conflict, the scars may never heal.

There are physical wounds, of course, but many are also suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Troops who served in Afghanistan are among the estimated 20 veterans who kill themselves every day.

It would seem that the last place a veteran of the Afghanistan conflict would want to return is the front lines of battle. But that is exactly what some U.S. military veterans did recently.

BBC International Correspondent Ian Pannell went with them and explains the program that is helping them come to terms with their wounds.

Note: This BBC interview can be heard in the Here & Now podcast or with the WBUR app.

Watch Pannell’s full report here

Reporter

Ian Pannell, international correspondent for the BBC. He tweets @BBCiPannell.