Mental fitness in deployment troops(slide show)

MENTAL FITNESS IN DEPLOYMENT TROOPS

BY LT COL (DR) LOTFI BIN ANUARMBBS (MALAYA), MMEDPSYCH (UKM)

MILITARY PSYCHIATRIST & HODHAT TUANKU MIZAN

05/03/2023 1SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION

PENGENALAN• Military deployment can be anywhere• Operation tasks, humanitarian missions,

peacekeeping enforcement etc• Military downsizing has increased the

likelihood that each soldier will eventually participate on an extended mission

• Impact long separation as 60% of soldiers are married

• The need of coping strategies to pass through all the stage of deployment


STAGES OF DEPLOYMENTPre-deployment : variesDeployment : 1st monthSustainment : 2nd to 5th monthRe-deployment : last monthPost-deployment : 3-6 month after

deployment


WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?• Each stage has specific emotional challenges• Failure to cope and understand the stages

cause problems to family members and deployed soldier

• Help family to cope positively towards deployment experience

• help to avert crises, minimize the need for command intervention and psychological counseling

• To reduce suicidal threats


PRE-DEPLOYMENT• Onset begin with warning order for

deployment• Ended when the soldier actually departs from

home station• Timeframe variable: several weeks - > a year• Anticipation of loss vs denial by the spouse• “you don’t have really to go?”or “ I wish you

were gone already”• Sense of emotional and physical distance for

military spouses


Argument• Argument with the spouse is common due to

stress of pending separation• Esp among young couple who experiencing

extended separation for the first time• Catastrophic reaction divorce• Usually due to fear that the relationship is

over/ fear of infidelity and lead to tremendous anxiety to couple

• Resolving marital issues that precede the deployment is very difficult and best left until the soldier return


Impact of unresolved family argumentDeployed soldier: Unable to focus on task

especially on military movement and lead to accident

Spouse: disturb house and office works, neglecting children

Children : fear that the loved daddy/mummy not returned home lead to inconsolable crying, tantrums and regressive behaviors.


PREPARATION FOR COUPLE• To discuss in detail their expectation each

other during the deployment period such asa) Freedom to make independent decisionb) Contact with the opposite sex (fidelity)c) Going out with friendsd) Budgetinge) Child-rearingf) How often the communication will be done

during the period


Must do lista) Home repairsb) Security

(door/alarms etc)c) Car maintenanced) Finances (ATM, CC

cards)e) Child care planf) Wills

g) Special family vacation

h) Increased intimacy i) Visiting older

parent j) Plan of paying

installment


PREPARATION FOR DEPLOYED COMMANDER• Enhance the unit support system through

religious officer/ counselor• Do not forget the program for the deployed

spouses• Increase the field training and promoting the

unit cohesion• Giving clear explanation about the mission,

its duration and the allowances• Established a family support group for

deployed spouses and families05/03/2023 10SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION

DEPLOYMENT• Stage started from the soldier’s departure

from home through the first month of deployment

• Mainly mixed emotion, unpleasant feeling, feeling disoriented, overwhelming and residual anger, feeling numbness, sadness and being alone or abandonment

• Worries about security issues eg what if my child get sick, my car break down or the salary problem

• Sleep difficulties


Communication with the love one• Reconnection between the spouse and the

deployed soldier is a stabilizing experience• Phone call, video call or internet online are one of

the way to relieve the unpleasant anxiety• Search for the free phone call provided by unit if

available or use the commercial phone lines• Has to prepare to wait for some time before can

make their first call home• Ability to stay in close touch during special

occasions (birthday, anniversaries) might help them to cope with separation.


Unwanted effect• Huge phone bills can result with further financial

stress• Bad phone call can cause negative feeling like hurt,

anger or frustration may cause emotional disturbance and inability to focus towards certain issues or missions

• Spouse and soldier may feel helpless and unable to support each other at time of need

• These issues need to be monitored by the deployed commanders

• Role of peers, senior rank or officers as counselorsand support provider


SUSTAINMENTStage started from the first month to the fifth

(penultimate) month of deploymentNew routine establishedNew sources of emotional support eg

religious institution, religious officerSpouse will feels more in control,

independence and confidence


Common problemUsual challenge is rapid speed of information

through phone calls or internetResponse of children towards deployment of

parent


Commanders role

• To coordinate emergency leave if required• To control rumor and limiting the negative

impacts by keep the soldier and families fully informed and up to date

• To advice the soldier to make a call within regular interval and time

• eg allegation of infidelity (difficult to prove true or false), accident or injuries, changes in date of return etc


Children reactionsAges Behaviors Moods Remedy

Infants < 1 yr Refuse to eat

Listless Peads doctor

Toddlers 1-3 yrs Cries, tantrum

Irritable, sad

Attention, holding,

hugsPreschool 3-6 yrs Potty

accidents, clingy

Irritable, sad

Attention, holding,

hugs

School Age 6-12 yrs Acting out*, body aches

Irritable, sad

Spend time, maintain routine

Teenagers 12-18 yrs Isolates, uses drugs

Anger, apathy

Patience, limit-

setting, counseling


RE-DEPLOYMENTStage started at the month before the soldier

is schedule to return homeAnticipation of homecomingExcitementBurst of energy to complete to do list


POST-DEPLOYMENT• Stage begins with the arrival at the home station• Children rushes to the returning parent• Warm embrace and kiss for the united couple• Praise from senior commander• To understand that some time it can be upsetting up to

their expectation due to various reason• Returning back to previous role in the family, be

prepare for any change/loss, starting the communication

• Try not to make changes right away and to take time to renegotiating family rules and norms

• Allow several months to re-establish family bonds


Children reactions post-deployment• The feelings depends to their understanding of

why the soldier was gone• Babies less 1 year old may do not know the soldier

and cry when held• Toddlers (1-3 years) may be slow to warm up• Pre-schoolers (3-6 years) may feel guilty and

scared over the separation• School aged children (6-12 years) may wants a lot

of attention• Teenagers (13-18 years) may be moody and may

not appear to care05/03/2023 20SEMINAR FOR UNIFIL MISSION

CONCLUSIONThe separation of deployment(unlike civilian

couple) provide soldier and spouse a chance to evaluate changes within themselves and what direction they want their marriage to take

Although a difficult as well as joyful stage, many military couples have reported that their relationship is much stronger as a result


THANK YOU


Health & Medicine

Mental fitness in deployment troops(slide show)