{"id":2020,"date":"2010-04-23T19:31:41","date_gmt":"2010-04-24T01:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sgtbrandi.com\/?page_id=2020"},"modified":"2010-09-06T09:54:11","modified_gmt":"2010-09-06T15:54:11","slug":"united-states-army-combat-warrior-support-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/sgtbrandi.com\/?page_id=2020","title":{"rendered":"US Army Combat Warrior Support Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Warriors walking off the battlefields of war are far stronger than before walking on.\u00a0 They must only remember their strength.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Unknown<\/p>\n

With ever increasing numbers of Troops and their loved ones becoming victims of War Trauma<\/em>, this Nation is rapidly approaching a crisis of major proportions.\u00a0 The following Program will greatly assist the Military\/Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs in overcoming this challenge.<\/p>\n

The Combat Warrior Support Program<\/strong><\/em> is focused on Active Duty Military Personnel, and yet will shape the future of all Combat Veterans and their Families.\u00a0\u00a0 It is critical for our Wounded Warriors<\/em> to understand the destructive impact of combat stress and in so doing, develop lifelong adaptive tools that will productively shape their future.<\/p>\n

At present, there are simply not enough professionally trained combat trauma clinicians and not enough time for \u201cconventional approach\u201d training of the numbers needed to stem the rising tide, the impending Tsunami of burgeoning Combat Stress injuries being sustained by today\u2019s Warriors.<\/p>\n

Our young Soldiers will not and cannot<\/em> come forward for help.\u00a0 \u00a0Like it or not, there exists a prevalent stigma (disgrace) of \u201cPsychological Weakness\u201d in anyone seeking assistance for Combat Stress Reactions.\u00a0 Soldiers depend upon each other, willingly die to protect each other and will not break their Trust Bond<\/em>, nor risk the disgrace of dishonor by admitting a psychological wound. They are left to endure this suffering while longing for an answer to their pain.<\/p>\n

Army Rangers and Marines share the slogan, \u201cLeave no one behind!\u201d\u00a0 We now have the Mission of bringing our psychologically wounded Troops home, all of them.\u00a0 And since they cannot come to us, we must<\/em> go to them.\u00a0 The Combat Warrior Support Program<\/em> does just that.<\/p>\n

The concept of this program is to \u201cReach Combat Soldiers through \u00a0Combat Soldiers<\/em>\u201d; to use their Warrior Trust Bond as a means of breaking down and transforming<\/em> the misperceived stigma of PTSD-Weakness into the acceptance of Normalcy<\/em>, while reinforcing and building upon their individual strength as a Warrior.<\/p>\n

In so doing, our Soldiers will develop the understanding of how to overcome and adapt to \u201cWho\u201d they have now become.\u00a0 War changes everyone.\u00a0 How a Soldier lives his or her life after walking off the battlefield depends on self-awareness, self-acceptance, dependable\/professional support and implementing the proper psychological tools.\u00a0 Once firmly in place, these skills result in a clear understanding of \u201ccause\u201d and effectively addresses the sources of destructive, emotional responses.<\/p>\n

Two Available Resources:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Newly Enlisted Soldiers.<\/li>\n
  2. Seasoned Combat Soldiers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Newly Enlisted Soldiers: (Those selected for the program)<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Complete Basic Training.<\/li>\n
    • Complete Advanced Individual (Combat Arms) Training<\/li>\n
    • Attend a 3 week (21 Day) intensive psychological training program in Combat Trauma.<\/li>\n
    • Soldiers are then given a designated MOS specialty identifier as a Combat\u00a0 Trauma Specialist<\/strong>. (CTS<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Seasoned Combat Soldiers: (E-5s and up, \u201cMandatory or Senior NCOs<\/em>\u201d)<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Attend a 3 week (21 days) intensive psychological training program in Combat Trauma.<\/li>\n
      • Training will be accomplished during the Pre-Deployment readiness period.<\/li>\n
      • Soldiers are then given a designated MOS specialty identifier as a Combat Trauma Specialist<\/strong> (CTS<\/strong>).\u00a0 The \u201cTITLE\u201d will break the stigma of combat stress as a weakness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Assignment and Duties of Combat Trauma Specialist:<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • The program begins with one CT Specialist EMBEDDED<\/em><\/strong> into each Platoon (approx. 60 to 80 Soldiers) and actively participating in combat duties, as do the Platoon\u2019s Medics, assigned to and working closely with those Medics<\/em> to care for their Platoon Members\u2019 Psychological Health Issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          • Eventually, one CT Specialist will be assigned to each Squad. Ideally one CT Specialist for each Medic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Combat Trauma Specialists communicate directly<\/em> to a Trained and licensed Team Leader: \u00a0A \u201cLicensed\u201d Psychiatric Physician\u2019s Assistant, Psychologist, Psychiatric Nurse, Chaplin via a Real-Time, Secure, Teleconferencing <\/em>communications link.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

                \n
              • Note:<\/em> This com-link will be with the Base from which the Soldiers were deployed and will return. Thus establishing and reinforcing the Trust factor between Combat Soldiers and Clinicians.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                  \n
                • In Severe Trauma cases, the Down-Range Soldiers (clients\/patients) may communicate directly with the Licensed Team Leader in real time, Secure Teleconferencing at the bases from which they were deployed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  The Advantages of having a Seasoned Combat Soldier as a Combat Trauma Medic:<\/h3>\n

                  This program includes Company level Line Officers as Combat Trauma Specialists, to handle Warrant and Commissioned Office Combat Stress cases.\u00a0 This maintains the balance of enlisted talking with enlisted.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • An unparalleled Trust Bond is \u201calready\u201d established within every military unit.\u00a0 The unit\u2019s Medic and, by extension, its Combat Trauma Specialist will be already accepted and respected; i.e.: there will be no Trust Bond barriers to break.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                      \n
                    • Existing Combat-Experienced Enlisted and NCO personnel will be easier to recruit due to a prevalence of survivor guilt<\/em> and\/or an overwhelming desire to help their Brothers and Sisters<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                        \n
                      • Seasoned Troops understand, first hand, the results of Combat Stress and consequently their opinions will be respected when emotions that are related to Combat are being discussed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                          \n
                        • At the Squad Leader (E-5) level, the program will greatly assist in reducing their own Combat Stress<\/em>.\u00a0 This applies to Line NCOs and Officers as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                            \n
                          • Combat Trauma Specialists will have the authority to communicate on a confidential bases with Line Officers and Senior NCOs without consequence<\/em> when the CT Specialist evaluates that an Officer or NCO\u2019s judgment is impaired due to Combat Stress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                              \n
                            • The program gives immediate assistance to those responsible for the lives of others; E-5s through Senior NCOs. This is a critical concern at this time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                \n
                              • With Senior NCOs on board as Combat Trauma Technicians, the full spectrum stigma most commonly associated with Combat Stress Reactions (aka: PTSD) will be quickly eliminated. The NCO\u2019s Promotions will depend on performance reviews.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Please Note: Actual day by day course lesson plans for this Pilot Program<\/em> is now in progress by expert military consultants in this field.\u00a0 We invite your comments.<\/p>\n

                                Combat Warrior Support Program Course Outline:<\/h3>\n
                                  \n
                                • Primal Side of Human Nature:<\/strong> Brain physiology and discussion of what emotions are involved.\u00a0 How the Primal Side is nurtured in boot camp, unleashed in battle in order to survive and then must be brought under control.\u00a0 Techniques\/Tools for control in order to Re-Map the brain.<\/li>\n
                                • The Warrior World and the Civilian World:<\/strong> Understanding the conflict of these two worlds and how to cope with it.\u00a0 Discussions of the effects of conflict such as depression.<\/li>\n
                                • Killing:<\/strong> The emotional impact of killing another human being.\u00a0 The issues of killing women and children. The moral dissonance (conflict) that occurs.\u00a0 The desire to continue killing.\u00a0 The Guilt over not ever killing enough of the enemy and why. Developing a sense of \u201cIt\u2019s OK to feel bad about killing; that\u2019s normal\u201d. \u201cYou must in fact continue doing it, but it\u2019s good to understand the emotions involved\u201d.<\/li>\n
                                • Guilt:<\/strong> The guilt over making a decision that ended in the death or injury of a fellow Warrior. Things you could have done but didn\u2019t do. The guilt over feeling you didn\u2019t have the ability to stop something that resulted tragically.<\/li>\n
                                • Survivor Guilt:<\/strong> How it\u2019s normal to feel guilty for being stateside while your unit is deployed.\u00a0 How it\u2019s normal to feel guilty to be alive when your friends are dead.\u00a0 Why you didn\u2019t get \u201cHit\u201d when your friends did.<\/li>\n
                                • Loss:<\/strong> How it\u2019s normal to feel loss over the death of the best friends you\u2019ve ever had.\u00a0 Stages of grieving are covered and explained in detail.<\/li>\n
                                • Death and Suicide:<\/strong> Explain the obvious, how death is an accepted part of a Warrior\u2019s Creed. How you feel cheated not to die when your fellow Soldier is killed.\u00a0 Understanding the normalcy of these feelings.\u00a0 Understanding the uniqueness of Suicide to a Warrior.\u00a0 Death before Dishonor.\u00a0 How it is not what your Brothers and Sisters want for you to end your life, and yet discuss the severe physical and emotional pain that goes along with war experiences. For some the pain is too great.<\/li>\n
                                • Trust:<\/strong> The degrees and\/or levels of Trust.\u00a0 How trust is earned and yet a high level of tolerance is needed in civilian life.\u00a0 Discuss methods of evaluating trust and establishing boundaries for self-protection.<\/li>\n
                                • Friendship:<\/strong> Goes hand in hand with Trust, but this topic would discuss civilian friendship and especially address the family and\/or relationships with others.\u00a0 Again discussing false expectations and self-defeating standards.<\/li>\n
                                • War Itself:<\/strong> Discussing the atrocities of war. Participating in the atrocities of war.\u00a0 Mutilation and viciousness in battle. The effects of being in a foreign country, living in a life threatening environment, watching death and destruction and never expecting to make it back alive.<\/li>\n
                                • The Anti-Climatic Return Home:<\/strong> How to adapt to disappointment with family and previous friends.\u00a0 The feelings of not belonging to anything but the Military and Military Family Unit. Feelings of abandonment and how to cope with that.<\/li>\n
                                • Becoming a New Individual:<\/strong> Using your Warrior Skills to adapt to civilian society and relying on your strength as a Warrior to overcome any problem without violence.\u00a0 Developing a Vision for the future and not expecting only to die in battle.<\/li>\n
                                • Understanding Modalities:<\/strong> Combat Trauma Specialists will be given a review of the various modalities that are currently working with positive results.\u00a0 This is to assist Team Leader Clinician<\/em>\/Combat Trauma Specialist<\/em>.\u00a0 Such Modalities as Reality Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (changing thinking patterns changes behavior) and Exposure Therapy (revisiting traumatic events and desensitizing) Also implementing Tools such as pausing for 3 seconds before reacting (mental stop).\u00a0 Keep it Simple.<\/li>\n
                                • Substance Abuse:<\/strong> Building upon the physiology discussions, an explanation of chemical abuse and dependency to escape from and kill pain brought on by Combat; self-medication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Advantages of Program:<\/h3>\n