FC01-01 - Combat stress injury markers predicting ptsd: Preliminary findings from in-depth interviews of combat medics between deployments

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1810-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Figley ◽  
D. Cabrera ◽  
J. Speciale
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Combat Stress ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Stress Injury ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
The Us ◽  
Combat Medics ◽  
Variable Domains ◽  
Quantitative Results

US Army Combat Medics and Navy Combat Corpsmen serve as a critical element of any fighting unit. Their professional responsibilities are for providing the emergency and preventive medical needs of their soldiers with whom they live and serve. These medical professionals are also expected to do any job that maintains the mission of their fighting unit. Because of their importance to sustaining the US fighting forces, Combat Medics may be an ideal group to study because of the high levels of adversity and stress endured while serving both roles. The Medic Mettle Study was established to develop a model of combat stress resilience and a prevention of PTSD. The first step was to identify the psychosocial and bio-behavioral characteristics of combat stress injury. A mixed methods model was utilized and over 700 recently deployed Combat Medics were enrolled. The presentation discusses both the early quantitative results and elaborates on the qualitative interviews conducted with the most resilient combat medics, as nominated by their peers. Preliminary findings of the 16 intensive, videotaped interviews with Combat Medics between war deployments using a Variable Generating Activity (VGA) protocol(1) found 138 variables that appear to provide some missing pieces in our understanding of combat stress injury and its psychosocial markers;(2) Identified five variable domains within a nomothetic network of medic resilience;(3) utility of annual surveys to validate the qualitative findings.

Narrative approach in understanding the drivers for resilience of military combat medics

2017 ◽  
Vol 164 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristel Antonia Russell ◽  
S W Gibbons ◽  
P A Abraham ◽  
E R Howe ◽  
P Deuster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Military Service ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Personal Narratives ◽  
Military Family ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Combat Medics ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Many

IntroductionQualitative insights may demonstrate how combat medics (CM) deal with stressors and identify how resilience can potentially develop. Yet, qualitative research is scant in comparison to the many quantitative studies of health outcomes associated with military service.MethodSemistructured qualitative interviews were used to collect personal narratives of US Army CMs who had previously served in Iraq or Afghanistan.ResultsThematic analysis revealed three key driving forces for how resilience develops in the context of combat and war. The first was patriotism, which captures loyalty and full commitment to the military and its missions. The second was commitment to their family, reflecting the balance of responsibility to family of origin with the obligation one feels towards their military family. The last driving force was faith, or the drive to reach towards the transcendent to provide a moral compass and develop empathy in the face of difficult situations.ConclusionsAn individual’s commitment to country, military family and faith strengthens their resilience, and this can be used to inform future research efforts as well as current clinical practice.

Policy Implications for Female Combat Medic Assignment

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 500-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence V. Fulton ◽  
Matthew S. Brooks ◽  
Timothy K. Jones ◽  
Matthew J. Schofield ◽  
Hershell L. Moody
Keyword(s):  
Combat Exposure ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Military Leaders ◽  
Us Army ◽  
The Us ◽  
Combat Medics ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Gender Coding

The current military assignment policy of United States prohibits the assignment of females to billets with high risk of combat exposure. As part of an Army review of this policy, the authors analyzed deployment and promotion risk for combat medics. The effect of current policy on male deployment and female promotion risk was unknown. In light of other countries’ policies and current operational considerations, senior military leaders sought to understand the effects of existing policy on a low-density, high-value occupational specialty, the combat medic. The authors found evidence that male medics deployed 2.07 times more frequently than female medics. The authors also found evidence that senior male medics (staff sergeants) deployed even more frequently (3.65–1) than their female counterparts. Perhaps as a result, the male combat medics experience higher likelihood of promotion from staff sergeant (E-6) to the rank of sergeant first class (E-7); however, the magnitude of that benefit was about one-third of the deployment risk. The results confirm the existence of gender-based deployment risk and promotion disparity. Based upon this analysis, the authors recommended the deprecation of current gender coding for combat medics to the senior levels of the US Army.

Neuro-Optometric Treatment of Complications from a Cerebellar Astrocytoma

2020 ◽  
pp. 304-312
Keyword(s):  
Visual System ◽  
Common Site ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Cranial Nerve Palsies ◽  
Pilocytic Astrocytomas ◽  
The Us ◽  
Extent Of Damage ◽  
Functional Components ◽  
The Brain

Background: Insult to the brain, whether from trauma or other etiologies, can have a devastating effect on an individual. Symptoms can be many and varied, depending on the location and extent of damage. This presentation can be a challenge to the optometrist charged with treating the sequelae of this event as multiple functional components of the visual system can be affected. Case Report: This paper describes the diagnosis and subsequent ophthalmic management of an acquired brain injury in a 22 year old male on active duty in the US Army. After developing acute neurological symptoms, the patient was diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebellum. Emergent neurosurgery to treat the neoplasm resulted in iatrogenic cranial nerve palsies and a hemispheric syndrome. Over the next 18 months, he was managed by a series of providers, including a strabismus surgeon, until presenting to our clinic. Lenses, prism, and in-office and out-of-office neurooptometric rehabilitation therapy were utilized to improve his functioning and make progress towards his goals. Conclusions: Pilocytic astrocytomas are the most common primary brain tumors, and the vast majority are benign with excellent surgical prognosis. Although the most common site is the cerebellum, the visual pathway is also frequently affected. If the eye or visual system is affected, optometrists have the ability to drastically improve quality of life with neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

EDUCATIONAL-TRAINING FACILITIES OF GROUND US FORCES

2019 ◽  
pp. 168-176
Author(s):  
D.B. Izyumov ◽  
E.L. Kondratyuk
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Us Army ◽  
The Us ◽  
Level Of Training ◽  
Army Personnel

The article discusses issues related to the development and use of training means and facilities in order to improve the level of training of US Army personnel. An overview of the main simulators used in the US Armed Forces at present is given, and the prospects for the development of the United States in this area are presented.

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