The military culture has a long history of stigmatizing mental health care and many may see it as a sign of weakness. Because of that, many servicemembers prefer to suffer in silence rather than get treatment because they believe it will harm their military career. Fortunately, many leaders now promote the use of mental health services. Some, myself included, have received treatment for PTSD in the hopes of sending an encouraging message to others.

Former NFL players, Marines and their families watched the New England Patriots take on the Baltimore Ravens at a "Game Day" event hosted by the Real Warriors Campaign Sunday. Hosted at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., the event helped open a dialogue about coping with reintegration, as players shared their own stories about transitioning out of the NFL, and encouraged service members and families to reach out for support when times are tough.

While soldiers and football players have different work experiences, the injuries they sustain can sometimes carry the same symptoms - and the same stigma, which can be a deterrent to the injured seeking help.

A "Game Day" event was hosted by the Real Warriors Campaign, an initiative of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and traumatic brain injury, to help former NFL players join Marines, sailors and their families to watch football, socialize and discuss the importance of reaching out for support during life transitions.

For an NFL player, a multi-million dollar contract may seem like it takes care of everything in comparison to the average Marine's daily lifestyle and pay check. What some may not realize, however, is that the lifestyle of a professional football player and a service member are not as different as they seem.

2011 was a banner year for Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. As one highlight, former NFL players Ken Harvey, Eric Hipple, Ricky Erwins and Mark Washington visited JBAB to chat and watch an NFL playoff game with Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Coast Guardsmen and Marines. NFL Game Day was presented by JBAB's Morale, Welfare and Recreation in partnership with the Real Warriors Campaign and the NFL Player’s Association.

A Game Day with former NFL players and service members is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Sunday at the Pacific Views South Mesa Club. The Real Warriors Campaign and the NFL Players Association will discuss common reintegration challenges facing service members as well as the tools and resources available to address them.

One type of hero offered a helping hand to another brand of hero Sunday at Fort Carson, when four former NFL players visited with troops to help spread the word about a support program for soldiers.

A service member puts on a headset with a screen for each eye. He's given a joystick that's built with low-frequency vibrations and sounds, mirroring the vehicle he drove while on the battlefield. This is the new Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) being studied by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, a Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury center.