Presented by Connie Moore, DCANG Family Program Coordinator

Reorientation and Reintegration

The deployment cycle continues

Why are you here?

Make homecoming a joyful occasion

Identify common homecoming concerns

Recognize changes in personal and interpersonal relationships

Identify and address potential challenges

Help differentiate expectations from realities

The PROCESS is the returning of personnel back

into a stable and “normal” environment

PREPARE families for the changes to their home

life when the deployed members return.

Remember upon your return you will achieve a

NEW normal

Reintegration is a SLOW process

What is Reintegration?

Practical Issues In-Processing

– Unit Deployment Manager– Commander’s Support Staff– Personnel Department

Medical– Life Skills Support Center ■ Dental Clinic– Family Practice/Flight Medicine ■ Public Health– Family Advocacy

Legal – Terminate powers of attorney– Claims

Practical Issues Financial Matters

– File travel voucher/change entitlements– Gov Travel Card– Family or personal budget– Utilities (phone, gas, water, electric)– AAFES (layaway, Military STAR Card)

Vehicles– Registration and maintenance– Insurance– Driver’s license

Crisis or threat

AvoidanceDenialBlaming

othersFear

Hidden opportunity

Acknowledgement

Action

Personal responsibility

Face it – it’s constant

Expectations of Change

Possible thoughts and feelings …– Proud of accomplishment– Want to reestablish living situation– Financial concerns– Social life / significant other– Work reunion

– Singles are often overlooked !

Reintegration

Practical tips:

– Put your house back in order• New roommate• New residence

– Recognize changes in yourself and in others• Different living environment• Social circle

– Assess relationships• Friends• Family

Singles and Reintegration

Reaction to deployment by family and friends Loneliness

– Family and significant others– Involvement in community– Develop/renew outside interest

Limit your use of alcohol

Focus on the present and the future

Be patient with yourself and with others

Singles and Reintegration

AnticipationChanges at homeTrust / FidelityCommunicationThe “Who had it worse” game

Marriage and Reintegration

Intimacy and sexual relationships may be a major adjustment

Re-establish this relationship slowly and naturally

Talk about how you feel or think Be sensitive to how your partner

feels or thinks about intimacy and your sexual relationship

Intimate Relationships

From the desert to the front porch

Redeployment / reintegration…sounds easy, natural, normal

NORMAL may be quite stressful!

Help is available: chapel, unit, friends, life skills, medical personnel, family support center, etc.

Stress and Reintegration

Physical

Behavioral

Cognitive (Thinking)

Emotional

Signs of Reintegration Stress

Physical Signs

Upset stomach, nausea

Diarrhea, constipation

Heart pounding, dizzy or lightheaded, out of

breath, cold sweat, dry mouth, or pale skin

Headaches, migraines

Vague aches and pains

Impotence

Behavioral Signs Changes in eating habits Changes in sleeping patterns Fatigue, lack of energy Jumpiness Frustrated, irritable, angry Bad personal hygiene Crying spells Avoidance of others Increase in alcohol use Disregard for rules, regulations, social norms

Cognitive Signs

Poor concentration

Difficulty making decisions

Flashbacks

Unwanted thoughts

Nightmares

“Spaced out” or trouble focusing

Memory problems

Emotional Signs

Loss of motivation

Loss of “purpose” or direction

Loss of trust/confidence in leaders

Quick to anger, impatience

Depression, sadness

Frustration, irritability

Worried, anxious, keyed up

Guilt, shame

Numb (don’t feel anything)

Thoughts of hurting self or others

Significant Signs of Distress

Post Traumatic Stress

– Definition

– Signs

– Recent study Bizarre or unusual behavior Domestic violence Abuse of alcohol Thinking about suicide

Take care of yourself!– Mentally– Physically– Emotionally

Communicate, don’t clam up Develop or renew outside interests Allow for space and time Establish realistic expectations Think positive thoughts Seek help

Solutions

Chain of Command / Supervisors

Family Support Center Medical Group

– Life Skills

– Health and Wellness Center (HAWC)

MILITARY One Source

Chaplains Legal Red Cross Family and friends “Outside” or off-

base agencies

Resources

Normal Developmental Reactions

– Infant (Birth to 1 year)

– Toddlers (1 – 3 years)

– Pre-School (3 – 5 years)

– School Age (5 – 12 years)

– Teenagers (13 – 18 years)

Children and Reintegration

Children and ReintegrationBirth to One YearInfants:

• Their world is very small

• Eat, sleep, cry, and eliminate – often!

• Depend on parents for everything

• Grow rapidly

• Senses develop quickly

Reactions to parent’s return:

• Cry or fuss

• Pull away from parent

• Have problems with elimination

• Change their schedule (eating and sleeping)

1 - 3 Years– Excitement– Very active– Independent– Self Centered– Repeats words and phrases

Reactions to parent’s return:– Shy– Avoid returning parent– Cry, pull away– Temper Tantrums

Children and Reintegration One – Three Years

3 - 5 Years– Very active– Imitates adults– Active imagination– Asks lots of questions

Reactions to parent’s return:– Anger– Need proof you are real– Compete for attention– Act out– Still need warm-up time

Children and Reintegration Three – Five Years

5 - 12 Years– Appetite and growth have increased– High energy level– Daydream– Very sensitive to criticism and evaluation

Reactions to parent’s return:– Joy, excitement– Anxiety of changing roles– Child compete with parent(s)– Desire recognition– Attention seeking– Attempt to split parents

Children and Reintegration Five - Twelve Years

13 - 18 Years– Responsible one minute & irresponsible the next

– Moody

– Experienced rapid changes

– Independent, but still need guidance Reactions to parent’s return:

– Relief

– Excited

– Guilty

– Concerned about rules and responsibilities

Children and Reintegration Thirteen - Eighteen Years

Suggestions forReturning Parents

Go slow Don’t give into demands because of guilt Observe Be flexible Be realistic Seek information on child development Communicate Make special time with your loved one Be giving of your time and energy

Custodial parent Non-custodial parent Strategies Communication

– Caregiver

– Child

Bottom Line: Go Slow

Single Parents and Reintegration

Changes in work environment

– Change of work pace

– Mission/duty changes

Resentment from co-workers

– Added work load due to TDY

– Deployment war stories

– Not part of “real” mission

Staff turnover

It’s all about change

Deployments are a way of life

in the military

a Stumbling Block or a Building Block

The strength of our force and our families depends on you making the right choice