NASCAR fans won’t be seeing an Army car after this season.

The Army-sponsored car, driven by Ryan Newman since 2009, has been a fixture in NASCAR for a decade. The Army, once a primary sponsor of NASCAR, is ending sponsorship in NASCAR altogether starting next season, according to a story in The Military Times.

Newman drives for Stewart-Haas racing.

“The U.S. Army has been a great partner of Stewart-Haas Racing since the team’s inception,” said Brett Frood, executive vice president of SHR. “It has been a mutually beneficial relationship, with the U.S. Army introducing training regimens that improved our pit crews while instilling the mental, physical and emotional strength of the U.S. Army soldier in all of us.”

As military budgets are being sharply reduced, some are questioning whether the military should sponsor sports. U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., and Jack Kingston, R-Ga., are pushing an amendment that would ban military sponsorship of sports.

Valdosta announces job training in construction

Recently discharged veterans have an opportunity to seek a career in construction under a pilot program in Valdosta.

Those selected will get GI Bill training and housing both for the student and the student’s family.

According to a release, the program is a partnership between the Veterans Innovation Center, Wiregrass Technical College, community leaders in Valdosta, the regional Military Officers Association of America Chapter and other veteran organizations.

The six-month program will launch a demonstration model in October with 50 veterans and 125 family members.

Those who are interested should visit www.Valdosta4Vets.org.

Report: Improve PTSD treatment

The government’s services for combat veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder should be expanded, especially in certain areas, according a new study.

A panel of experts recommended Friday that the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs increase PTSD services, particularly for those in rural areas, for those serving in the Guard and Reserves, and in combat zones, according to a New York Times News Service story.

The report by the Institute of Medicine is the first comprehensive review of PTSD treatment. The 400-page report covers the first half of a multi-year review. A second report is due to be released in 2014.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.