Rick Bulman knows first-hand that a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis doesn't have to mean the end of a productive and happy life for veterans.

He's been through it, and knows there is hope for those struggling with PTSD.

"PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation," said the former Marine sergeant who spent time in Vietnam.

Bulman struggled with PTSD for years after returning home from the war. He drove fast. He drank often. He suffered a failed marriage.

"I was trying to numb myself out," he said. "I still didn't realize that I had any issues. I tried to pretend like it didn't exist."

Fast-forward to today, where the 64-year-old Bulman now serves as a volunteer coordinator who heads up Point Man Ministries affiliate chapters in Federal Way and Tacoma. Point Man, an international organization, is involved in group meetings, publishing, hospital visits and conferences. It also supplies speakers for churches and veterans' groups as well as support for welcome home projects and community events. All services it offers are free of charge.

Bulman leads weekly groups that minister to veterans and help them work through their struggles with PTSD.

"We've prevented suicides, we've saved marriages, we've gotten people off drugs and alcohol," said Bulman, who spends his days working as a chaplain for the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

Although Point Man is a faith-based organization, there are rules that govern the weekly meetings. Everything shared in the room stays in the room, and there are no political or theological discussions.

"We're not there to preach to people," said Buhlman, who's led Point Man groups for nearly 20 years. "We don't do bible study or praise and worship. We're there to deal with our issues."

While active duty troops may have fears about talking to health professionals on base because of the effect it might have on one's military career or the fact that the counselor might not know exactly what their going through, that's not an issue in the Point Man group dynamic.

"We feel (troops and vets) are going to come and find a place where they belong," Bulman said. "We're different because we're their peers."

The backgrounds of those in Bulman's groups range from Vietnam veterans to those from more recent military conflicts. But the bottom line is the same.

"War changes people," he said. "You lose your innocence. There's no way you're going to come back home the same."

And while a troop or a veteran may never be able to forget certain traumas that happened during their military experience, Bulman strives to heal them as much as he possibly can.

"I get excited when I find somebody in trouble because I know we can change their life," he said, "because it changed my life."

For information on local Point Man groups, e-mail Rick at sgtrambald@aol.com.