COLUMBUS — A new dormitory is being opened at a county jail in west Georgia for inmates who are military veterans.

Veterans in the dorm will have access to a variety of community services, such as a treatment program for post-traumatic stress disorder, officials said.

Muscogee County sheriff's officials announced the opening of the new jail unit on Monday, The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported (http://bit.ly/JlW199 ).

The dorm can house 16 veterans, Muscogee County Sheriff John Darr said. He said it's the only program of its kind in a county jail that he's aware of. The jail in Columbus is near Fort Benning and in a metro area that's home to many veterans.

Jail officials are partnering with community agencies to offer mental health counseling and assistance with housing options for previously incarcerated veterans.

Ret. Col. Roy Plummer is involved in the new jail unit through the Plummer House, which provides housing for homeless and previously incarcerated veterans. Inmates in the veterans' dorm will be able to talk and share their experiences with each other, Plummer said.

"Soldiers will find a way to link together," he said. "They'll find a way to revisit some of their experiences and share it."