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Arkansas National Guard

WILLIAM D. WOFFORD

Supporting Veterans on

Campus

“Operational Stress”

Major General

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Agenda

• National Guard Missions• Federal

• State

• Operational Stress

• Building Resiliency

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““Maintain properly trained and equipped units Maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt mobilization for war, national available for prompt mobilization for war, national

emergency or as otherwise required”emergency or as otherwise required”

Our Dual Mission

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Federal Mission

Always Ready…Always

There…

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State Missions

Always Ready…Always

There…

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Agenda

• National Guard Missions• Federal

• State

• Operational Stress

• Building Resiliency

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Warning Signs

• Traffic SignsTraffic Signs• Stock Market IndicatorsStock Market Indicators• Leading/Lagging Business IndicatorsLeading/Lagging Business Indicators• Health Warning Signs:Health Warning Signs:

– Blood PressureBlood Pressure– Cholesterol CountCholesterol Count

STOP

3rd Qtr

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Warning Signs

• Military Warning Signs:Military Warning Signs:

– RecruitingRecruiting

– MaintenanceMaintenance

– TrainingTraining

– ReadinessReadiness

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Walter Reed . . . Walter Reed . . .

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Walter Reed . . . Walter Reed . . .

• Army Community Service Army Community Service • Pulaski TechPulaski Tech• Guardsmen:Guardsmen:

– Drinking ProblemsDrinking Problems– Divorce RateDivorce Rate– SuicideSuicide

WARNINGWARNINGSIGNSSIGNS

IGNOREDIGNORED

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Operational Stress / PTSD

• PTSD is an anxiety disorder after PTSD is an anxiety disorder after someone has experienced a someone has experienced a traumatic event:traumatic event:– Combat or Military ExposureCombat or Military Exposure– Police / Fire / EMTPolice / Fire / EMT– Sexual or Physical AssaultSexual or Physical Assault– Child AbuseChild Abuse– Vehicle AccidentVehicle Accident– Natural DisastersNatural Disasters

INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL GENUINELY GENUINELY BELIEVES BELIEVES THEIR LIFE THEIR LIFE OR THE OR THE LIVES OF LIVES OF OTHERS OTHERS ARE IN ARE IN IMMINENT IMMINENT DANGERDANGER

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Operational Stress

• Reduced ProductivityReduced Productivity• Inability to ConcentrateInability to Concentrate• Decreased Ability to Handle StressDecreased Ability to Handle Stress• IrritabilityIrritability• DisorganizationDisorganization• Lack of EmotionLack of Emotion• Overworking Overworking

TYPICAL REACTIONS:TYPICAL REACTIONS:• DenialDenial• Macho – Work It Out AloneMacho – Work It Out Alone• Alcohol / DrugsAlcohol / Drugs• Self-MedicationSelf-Medication

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE WORKPLACE AND SCHOOL?WORKPLACE AND SCHOOL?

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Operational Stress

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Operational Stress

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Operational Stress

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Operational Stress

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Operational Stress

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Operational Stress

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Operational Stress

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Transition Challenges

• Changes in the Workplace & SchoolChanges in the Workplace & School• Changes in TechnologyChanges in Technology• Personnel / Policy ChangesPersonnel / Policy Changes• ApprehensionApprehension• Feelings of Guilt for Being GoneFeelings of Guilt for Being Gone• Work / School Absence for Medical Work / School Absence for Medical

AppointmentsAppointments

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Transition Considerations

How would you treat a fellow How would you treat a fellow employee or student who just employee or student who just suffered a tragic emotional event?suffered a tragic emotional event?

• Death of a Parent / ChildDeath of a Parent / Child• Involved in Serious Vehicle AccidentInvolved in Serious Vehicle Accident• Physical InjuryPhysical Injury• Going Through a DivorceGoing Through a Divorce• ??????????????????

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• PTSD is not just fallout from the Vietnam PTSD is not just fallout from the Vietnam warwar

• It has been there in every major conflictIt has been there in every major conflict• World War II:World War II:

– 400,00 lives lost to combat and non-400,00 lives lost to combat and non-combat actionscombat actions

– Over 500,00 psychiatric casualtiesOver 500,00 psychiatric casualties• WW I, WW II, Korea: The number pulled off WW I, WW II, Korea: The number pulled off

the front lines as psychiatric casualties the front lines as psychiatric casualties greater than those that died in combatgreater than those that died in combat

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Agenda

• National Guard Missions• Federal

• State

• Operational Stress

• Building Resiliency

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Joint Services Support Branch

Arkansas National Guard

* Family Programs

* Transition Assistance

* Reintegration

* Psychological Health

* Employer Support

* Survivor Outreach

* Military One Source

* Military and Family Life Consultants

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Operational Stress vs PTSD

• Time to DecompressTime to Decompress• Reintegration . . . Reintegration . . .

– Pre- / During- / Post-DeploymentPre- / During- / Post-Deployment– Health CareHealth Care– CounselingCounseling

• Resiliency TrainingResiliency Training• TAG PhilosophyTAG Philosophy• De-Stigmatize CounselingDe-Stigmatize Counseling• Outreach to Families & EmployersOutreach to Families & Employers

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A GENTLE REMINDERTO KEEP YOUR LIFE

IN PERSPECTIVE

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WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME,

HE MAY FIND IT HARD . . .

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. . . TO LISTEN TO HIS SON WHINE

ABOUT BEING BORED

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. . . TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT POTHOLES

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. . . TO BE TOLERANT OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HASSLE OF

GETTING READY FOR WORK

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. . . TO BE UNDERSTANDING WHEN A CO-WORKER COMPLAINS ABOUT A

BAD NIGHT’S SLEEP

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. . . TO BE SILENT WHEN PEOPLE PRAY TO GOD FOR A NEW CAR

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. . . TO CONTROL HIS PANIC

WHEN HIS WIFE TELLS HIM HE NEEDS TO DRIVE SLOWER

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. . . TO BE COMPASSIONATE WHEN A BUSINESSMAN EXPRESSES A

FEAR OF FLYING

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. . . TO KEEP FROM LAUGHING WHEN PARENTS SAY THEY’RE AFRAID TO

SEND THEIR KIDS OFF TO SUMMER CAMP

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. . . TO KEEP FROM RIDICULING SOMEONE WHO COMPLAINS

ABOUT HOT WEATHER

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. . . TO CONTROL HIS FRUSTRATION WHEN A COLLEAGUE GRIPES

ABOUT HIS COFFEE BEING COLD

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. . . TO REMAIN CALM WHEN HIS DAUGHTER COMPLAINS ABOUT

HAVING TO WALK THE DOG

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. . . TO BE CIVIL TO PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR JOBS

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. . . TO JUST WALK AWAY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THEY ONLY GET TWO

WEEKS OF VACATION A YEAR

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. . . TO BE FORGIVING

WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HOW HARD IT IS TO HAVE A NEW BABY IN THE HOUSE

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THE ONLY THING TOUGHER THAN BEING A SOLDIER . . .

THE ONLY THING TOUGHER THAN BEING A SOLDIER . . .

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is loving one. is loving one.

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AND WHEN YOU MEET ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS OR AIRMEN, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND SHOW THEM A LITTLE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE

AND WHEN YOU MEET ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS OR AIRMEN, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND SHOW THEM A LITTLE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE

A GENTLE REMINDER TO KEEP YOUR LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

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We Appreciate the help and patience you provide our veterans on your campus.We Appreciate the help and patience you provide our veterans on your campus.

THANKS!THANKS!

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National GuardWarriors

Are you concerned about one of your

employees/students?

If they are or have been a Service Member, we are there for you. Please call us to see

what assistance may be available.

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National GuardWarriors

Extreme Emergency – Dial 911

Local 24-Hour Contacts:

Ronnie Goff (501) 242-1867Director of Psychological Health

Chaplain (CPT) Jeremy Miller (501) 212-5621State Chaplain

CPT Tanya Phillips (501) 554-3974State Suicide Prevention Program Manager

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National GuardWarriors

Organizations:

Military One Source (800) 342-9647

Ark. Dept. of Veteran Affairs (501) 370-3820

Vet Center (Little Rock) (501) 324-6395

Vet Center (Fayetteville) (479) 582-7152

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THANK YOU