| Everyone seems concerned about what we can do | | | | and the other stress related disorders when our |
| for the service members returning from the war to | | | | service members return why aren't we training them |
| help them reintegrate and cope with stress. New | | | | from the start to recognize and deal with stress on a |
| programs, increased emphasis on families and more | | | | daily basis? Professional athletes utilize a training |
| open discussion about Combat/Operational Stress, | | | | model that focuses 60% of their training on mental |
| ASD (Acute Stress Disorder), and PTSD | | | | preparation which yields exceptional results, even in |
| (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) have become the | | | | business this model has proven to be very successful. |
| order of the day. | | | | What I propose is to train our service members upon |
| While I am pleased to see that there is concern, a | | | | entry to the service in stress management and give |
| recognized need, and action being taken to help our | | | | them the skills and opportunity to use and hone them |
| service members I feel that we are still missing the | | | | as well as the other skills necessary to be a warrior. |
| mark. When an individual enlists in the military we go | | | | It only makes sense that someone trained in |
| to great ends to provide the very best possible | | | | recognizing and dealing with stress will cope much |
| training to teach these individuals how to be warriors | | | | better than someone who is untrained. If you look |
| and use the tools of war; hand to hand combat, | | | | closely at the training our special forces receive you |
| close quarters combat, pistol and rifle marksmanship, | | | | will notice that how well they can deal with stress in |
| and physical training to ensure that they have the | | | | one of the primary focuses of their training and |
| stamina for the very demanding rigors of combat. | | | | selection. |
| Not only are they well trained, their job in peacetime | | | | We can take this one step further by including the |
| is to hone those skills to a fine point and practice | | | | families of our service members in this process and |
| these skills so that they become second nature. | | | | help empower them to deal with the stressors of |
| If we are truly committed to ensuring that our | | | | war, deployment and separation. It only stands to |
| service members are prepared for war shouldn't that | | | | reason that if the families can cope better the there |
| also include mental and emotional preparation as well? | | | | will be even less stress for the service member to |
| Instead of dealing with Combat/Operational Stress | | | | deal with and increase their abilities even more. |