Specialist Luel Bekele Launches Peer Support Program for African-Born Service Members. Specialist Luel Bekele, an Ethiopian-born soldier stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, is leading an initiative to improve mental health awareness among African-born service members in the U.S. Army. Luel, who moved from Addis Ababa to the United States at age 14, understands the cultural stigma around mental health that exists in many African communities. After losing a fellow African-born soldier to suicide, he decided to take action. Partnering with his unit’s behavioral health team, Luel helped design a peer-to-peer support group that addresses the unique cultural challenges African immigrants face while serving in the military. “Our community often sees mental health struggles as a weakness,” Luel e...