Army Wellness Center treats troops, families at Carlisle Barracks

(Carlisle) -- A first-of-its-kind health center in Cumberland County is helping current U.S. military troops and veterans improve both their physical and mental well-being.

The so-called "Army Wellness Center" at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle is not only the first such facility in the state, but it's also only the third center like it in the nation.

Director Cory Erhard says one of the biggest goals is to help clients manage stress. "We'll go through guided imagery, we'll teach them about what's called 'heart rate variance,' and, in addition, we'll talk about deep breathing and some other techniques. The goal here is just to educate them on what may be the triggers for these stressors and how they can work to keep this stress under control."

Erhard says counselors will also meet with clients to help maintain or improve their physical fitness and alert doctors of any medical issues, such as heart disease.

The facility is open to current and retired military members and their families in addition to Carlisle Barracks employees.

The other two Wellness Centers are at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Hood in Texas. Up to 30 more could open across the country within the coming years.