Deployment Psychology Blog

Research at CDP: Developing the Morally Injurious Life Events Checklist

We are excited to share the launch of a study focusing on the development of a new research tool, the Morally Injurious Life Events Checklist (MILEC). The MILEC, developed by the research team at the Center for Deployment Psychology, is designed to deepen our understanding of moral injury.

By the Numbers: 25 August 2025

1 in 9
The portion of military-connected children who "were diagnosed with complex medical conditions by age 5," according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics -- Incidence of Medical Complexity in Military-Connected Children. The study founds that risk was "highly associated with preterm delivery, congenital anomalies, and low birthweight."

Staff Perspective: The Lingering Why

Dr. Kristyn Heins

Any parent would tell you the “why” questions start when we are young, usually around two- or three-years-old. The constant need to know the reason behind function, choices, and existence is inherent in us. We want to understand, and maybe if we can understand something, we feel more comfortable with it. The question of “why” helps us understand our surroundings, and this curiosity keeps us learning and growing.

By the Numbers: 18 August 2025

$47,838 and $85,872
The "average annual pay" for "a single mid-grade enlisted servicemember (E-5)" in 2025, and his or her average "regular military compensation" (RMC). RMC is "a statutorily defined measure of the cash or in-kind compensation elements which all servicemembers receive every payday. It is widely used as a basic measure of military cash compensation levels and for comparisons with civilian salary levels," according to a recently updated Defense Primer from the Congressional Research Service on Regular Military Compensation.

Research Update: 14 August 2025

Research Update icon

The weekly Research Update contains the latest news, journal articles, and useful links from around the web. Some of this week's topics include:
● Body Dissatisfaction Is Central to Military Eating Disorder Pathology: A Multi- Time-Point Network Analysis.
● Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App, Resting State Functional Connectivity, and Anxiety.
● Psychopathology and Gaming Disorder in Adolescents.

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