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MCLB prepared for an attack
Posted: 11.06.2009 at 8:20 PM
Romney Smith

Romney Smith joined FOX 31 in August 2009, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland.

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The MCLB has numerous services and programs available to Marines who need help
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The MCLB have a wealth of counseling services to help prevent an attack from one of their own

Read more: Local, Military, MCLB, Preparation, Shooting, Fort Hood, Counseling, Therapy, Marines

The MCLB says they're prepared is a similar attack to Fort Hood happens on their base.

Yesterday evening the MCLB beefed up security and alerted all Marines to the tragedy that happened at Fort Hood.  MCLB officials say their thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends and family of those involved in the shooting.

The Marine and Family Services building houses counselors and therapists available to all Marines for their emotional health.

MCLB counselors say they do outreach to all Marines to make sure they are doing okay.  Any marine alerted about a future deployment will go through a mandatory pre-deployment brief which includes a visit to the counselor to discuss stress and the unknowns of going into combat.

Many are still wondering why the Fort Hood therapist went on a killing spree and MCLB therapist Eric Ashley says it may have been compassion fatigue.  "Compassion fatigue is essentially the stress and sometimes the trauma therapists deal with dealing with those who are dealing with trauma’s.  It's the old cliché - people with problems go to counselors, but who do counselors go to" says Ashley.

The MCLB encourages all marines to keep the lines of communication open whether its with a professional counselor, friends, or family.

MCLB officials say they are working their hardest to protect the marines and civilians on base.