DISPATCH 017--8 AUGUST 2007

Dear Friends,

The Warhorse Battalion continues to make headway in bringing stability to our area, with each new sunrise bringing us closer to home. The soldiers have acted professionally and compassionately despite the many hateful things they have witnessed and fought, and I cannot say enough how proud you should be that they have responded to evil by doing what is good.

We have entered the eleventh month of the deployment knowing we must wait until December for our return. No time in a deployment is easy, but, according to recent studies done by Army psychologists, we are in the most difficult period. For some, the coping skills that we have been using do not work like they once did. It is easy, as we look into what I call “the iron tongue of midnight,” to begin to wonder if there will be a dawn.

I will not give you a list of examples or pat proverbs to try to encourage you to do what you have already been doing—-persevering. Fifteen months is a long time to be away from the one you love, and fifteen months is a long time to constantly soldier. The best defense against despair is to have faith in those timeless aspects of our lives that are important: our vows, our families, our friendships, and, for some, our God. Let us not let temptation or indifference destroy what we have built, nurtured, and defended.

Your home-front sacrifices and successes have exceeded ours downrange. We still have much for which to be thankful. May we also remind ourselves that we do not endure alone. There are many around you who know what it was like to say goodbye after a mid-tour leave, to worry about your soldier’s safety, and to pray for a safe return.

I have included, belatedly, three of the topics I promised to address in an earlier dispatch. Let me offer a disclaimer before you continue. I am not a psychologist nor do I believe I am an expert on all these things. I write about them based on my reading, my observing of patterns, and my own personal experience. Many would disagree with my conclusion or focus on different things. My main purpose for addressing these issues is to remind us that the end is in sight and to get folks thinking about the next phase in our deployment, coming home. It does not end when we get off the plane. We should be as energetic in our preparations for return as we were to leave.

Grace and Truth,
Warhorse Shepherd


REDEPLOYMENT TOPICS

• I. EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL ADJUSTMENTS
  
  
  
  • A. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
    
    
    
    • Some studies state that as many as 22% of our returning soldiers will suffer from PTSD.
      
    • Those who have deployed multiple times will often suffer a relapse from prior episodes or compound existing PTSD that was not treated.
      
    • PTSD may be the cause but is not a rationale or excuse for reckless and/or irresponsible behavior.
      
    • Not every soldier will have PTSD.
      
    • The vast majority of soldiers will face few long-term challenges as they redeploy and adjust to being at home.
      
    • A new theory suggests that each person has a different limit of how much stress they can take, and this is also affected by prior stress events (turbulent childhood, car accident, etc.).
      
    • Every PTSD event is specific to the individual soldier.
      
    • There are numerous PTSD symptoms, ranging from insomnia to outright violence.
      
    • The earlier the soldier and/or family member receives treatment the better.
      
    • Be proactive in your pursuit of treatment.
      
    • Take PTSD seriously. It is a disease that doctors can and should treat. I would also share a very non-politically-correct view of PTSD. Some folks might claim to suffer from PTSD when in fact they are using it to validate their experience in Iraq. For example: consider the soldier who claims to suffer from PTSD caused by a mortar attack when in fact he was never directly threatened. The vast majority of our Warhorse soldiers do operate at the “pointy tip of the spear.” They have seen and faced trauma.
      
    • The cliché is usually correct: the soldiers who talk about combat the least are the ones who have seen the most.
    
    
  • B. Seeking counseling
    
    
    
    • Seeking counseling is not showing weakness.
      
    • Soldiers should seek counseling earlier rather than later. Please do not “white knuckle” it after redeployment, ignoring a problem in hopes that it would go away.
      
    • It is easy to confuse normal adjustment patterns with PTSD.
      
    • Generally, it is good to talk about things.
      
    • Contrary to what most think, seeking and receiving counseling will not hurt a career.
      
    • It is usually a good idea, if a licensed physician recommends it, to take medicine for treatment. However, it is usually not good to rely on medication alone.
    
    
  • C. Making a big decision
    
    
    
    • Try to avoid if possible making a big life decision (buying a house, changing careers, etc.) immediately upon redeployment.
      
    • Before you make a big decision, allow for the normal, communication avenues to re-establish themselves in your relationship.
    
    
  • D. Depression
    
    
    
    • Is a real disease that is often biochemical as well as emotional in nature.
      
    • Over one third of all women and one fourth of all men will suffer from a serious bout of depression in their lifetime.
      
    • Periodic depression, getting “the blues,” is a normal part of life. If it persists and/or begins to drastically alter your lifestyle or thoughts, seek treatment.
      
    • Can be dangerous if left untreated.
      
    • Risky behaviors and major personality shifts are signs of serious depression.