The Deployment Cycle and Its Impact on Service Members and Their Families

Description:

This training module is intended to provide civilian mental health providers with an overview of the demographics of military families and the impact of the deployment cycle on the Service member and family unit. It explores the unique experiences that Service members and their spouses and children face across the deployment cycle by examining research findings and psychosocial stressors associated with stages of the deployment cycle. Strategies for promoting family resilience during separations and reunions are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

  1. To become more familiar with the demographic landscape of military families.

  2. To identify several stressors faced by Service members before deploying, during deployment, and after deployment.

  3. To identify several stressors faced by family members (e.g., spouses, children) before a loved one deploys, during his /her deployment, and after his /her return home.

  4. To become more familiar with adaptive “battle” skills used by Service members while in a combat zone that may not be useful, or may even become problematic, when applied at home.

  5. To become more knowledgeable of strategies for facilitating healthy and positive reunions between returning Service members and their families.

Outline:

  1. Demographics of military families

    1. Number of children
    2. Gender breakdown
    3. Reserve Component vs Active Duty Component
    4. Spouse satisfaction
    5. Overarching stressors for military families
    6. Risk factors for military families
  2. Deployment cycle: Pre-deployment stress
    1. On Service members
    2. On families in general and spouses
    3. On adolescents and children
  3. Deployment cycle: Stress during deployment
    1. On Service members

      1. Exposure to traumatic events
      2. Unique challenges faced in a combat zone
      3. MHAT data
      4. BHNAS data
    2. On families in general and on spouses
      1. Loneliness
      2. Handling daily activities
      3. Financial stress
      4. Length of deployment
      5. MHAT data
      6. BHNAS data
      7. Flake and Davis’s study (2007)
    3. On adolescents and children
      1. Reactions
      2. Coping
      3. Warning signs
      4. Maltreatment problems
  4. Deployment cycle: Post-deployment stress
    1. Service members and readjustment issues

      1. Positive reunions
      2. Reintegration model offered by Figley & Nash
      3. Mindset when deployed vs being at home
      4. Army’s Battlemind
      5. Five challenges of reintegration according to Chaplin Morris
      6. Common reactions to war
      7. Triggers to reminders of war
      8. PTSD and social support
      9. PTSD and parenting
      10. PTSD and anger
    2. Spouses’ adjustment challenges
    3. Adolescents’ and children’s adjustment challenges
  5. Family adjustment issues and special concerns
    1. Tips for parenting for both spouses
    2. Tips for parents of Service members
    3. Impact of injury on family and coping
    4. Impact of injury on children and coping
    5. Reintegration of an injured parent
    6. Helping an injured parent
    7. Death of a parent and coping
Duration: 90-150 minutes (requires break every 90 minutes)

Notes:

Military Culture & Terminology is recommended as a prerequisite. This module includes DVD / video clips that may be distressing to some audience members.  Speaker will disclose this to the audience prior to the presentation.

*Continuing education credits are available for this course. Fees may apply.