From the sun-scorched Iraqi desert with deadly enemies all around to a misty forest glade surrounded by silent trees — the transformation sounds too good to believe.
But it’s among benefits belonging to the state’s Veterans Conservation Corps, designed to help vets return to civilian life.
It started three years ago for Vietnam War vets with post-traumatic stress disorder but has widened to include all veterans, whether or not they are disabled.
And the program of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs could get bigger and better still.
Ed Bowen of Lake Ozette is Clallam and Jefferson counties’ VCC field coordinator, and Jeff Reyes is his Kitsap County counterpart, although he lives in Clallam County.
Both are high on the program that can put vets to work outdoors and — if they want — to take nine months of environmental training that can lead to higher employment.
