Transcript Tools to Connect with Veterans in Treatment

Tools to Connect with Veterans
in Treatment
Kiara Bembry, BSPH, ASPIN
Purpose
• The Military Culture is as unique a culture as
any other
• Establish a functional understanding of Military
Culture and Terminology
• To gain tactful ways to interact with our Military
Population
Indiana Veteran Statistics
• US Census Bureau: 2008-2012 -468,000
Veterans
• 20,275 service members currently on active duty
are residents of Indiana.
• Of the 21,000 + reserve component service
members in Indiana, 14,406 (69%) are members
of the Indiana National Guard— the nation’s
fourth largest National Guard component.
Indiana Veteran Statistics
• Of the 32,000 + members of the total reserve
component in Indiana who have deployed since
9-11, 17,748 (55%) have come from the Indiana
National Guard.
• The latter numbers reflect that some members of
the reserve components have been deployed
multiple times.
What exactly is the military?
• Primary mission: Defend the United States and
United States interests.
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Rescue operations
Medical assistance in impoverished areas
Food & humanitarian relief
Natural disaster relief
Law enforcement
Piracy and drug interdiction
…and more
What exactly is the military?
• Seven federally established
Uniformed Services of the
United States
• Two non-combatant uniformed services
▫ Department of Health and Human Services
 Government’s principle agency for protecting health of
all Americans and providing essential human services
▫ Department of Commerce
 Promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable
development and improved standards of living through
various partnerships
Armed Forces
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Army – As the oldest branch of the Military, the Army protects the
security of the United States and its resources.
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Navy – The Navy defends the right to travel and trade freely on the
world’s oceans and protects national interests overseas.
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Marine Corps – Working closely with the Navy, the Marine Corps is
often first on the ground in combat situations.
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Air Force – The Air Force protects American interests at home and
abroad with a focus on air power.
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Coast Guard – The Coast Guard is a military, multi-mission, maritime
service within the Department of Homeland Security. Its core roles are to
protect the public, the environment and U.S. economic and security
interests in any maritime region, including international waters and
America’s coasts, ports and inland waterways.
Military Branches – Personnel
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Army= ?
Air Force = ?
Navy= ?
Marine Corps = ?
Coast Guard = ?
Military Branches – Personnel
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Army = Soldier
Air Force = Airman
Navy = Sailor
Marine Corps = Marine
Coast Guard = Guardian/Coastie
Military Status
ACTIVE DUTY
• Considered full-time employees
• During deployments of 6-15 months; may have
periods of working nearly 24 hours/day, 7
days/week
• During wartime, may be separated from family
for long periods even when not deployed due to
long training cycles
Military Status
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES
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Considered part-time employees
~39 days/year
Typically monthly drills /two-week annual trainings
May be called very suddenly to Active Duty (full
time) for deployments
• Leave family, regular job, community
• Transition from Active Duty back to part-time status
can be difficult because of lack of support system
Military Language
Some Common Acronyms and Phrases You Should
Know:
• Conus/Oconus – Continental U.S., Outside Continental
U.S.
• Post – Army Installation
• Base – Air Force or Navy Installation
• Camp – Marine Corps Installation
• PCS – Permanent Change of Station
• TDY – Temporary Duty
• Leave – Off Duty (usually vacation)
• AWOL – Absent without leave; i.e. unauthorized
absence
Military Language
Some Common Acronyms and Phrases You Should
Know
• IED – Improvised Explosive Device
• VBED – Vehicle Borne Explosive Device
• DFAC – Dining Facility, Mess Hall
• HUMVEE – High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled
Vehicle
• Kevlar – Typically the Helmet Made of the Material
Kevlar
• MRE – Meals Ready to Eat
• FOB – Forward Operating Base
• CHU – Containerized Housing Unit
• BOG – Boots on the Ground
Military Language
Some Common Acronyms and Phrases You
Should Know
• MOB/DEMOB – Mobilization, Demobilization
• OIF/OEF/OND – Operation Iraqi Freedom,
Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn
• OPTEMPO – Operations Tempo
• COSC – Combat Operational Stress Control
• COSR – Combat Operational Stress Response
• Outside the Wire – Off the Base
• Inside the Wire – On the Base
• Down Range - Deployed
Military Language
Some Common Acronyms and Phrases You
Should Know:
• Battle Buddy – another service member whom
you count on
• Battle Rattle – Body Armor
• Gunner – “My Gunner”
• Driver
• “11 Bravo” – Infantryman
• MEDEVAC – Medical Evacuation
• MEB – Medical Evaluation Board
• WTB/WTU – Warrior Transition Battalion/ Warrior
Transition Unit
Key Cultural Elements
• Cohesion – sticking together or forming as a
whole
• Camaraderie – friendship and trust among a
group of individuals
• Esprit de Corps- sense of unity, loyalty,
enthusiasm, and dedication to a group
Military Culture vs. Civilian Culture
Military
Civilian
• Intolerance is the order • Tolerance is an
ambitious goal
of the day
• Respect is an expectation • Respect is optional
• Free will is not
encouraged
• Free will is an
expectation
Military Culture vs. Civilian Culture
Military
Civilian
• Lawful orders are to • Questioning
be followed without
authority is a valued
question
freedom
• Anger/violence is
• Violence is not lawful
trained and is
essential
Military Culture vs. Civilian Culture
Military
• Individuality is not •
valued, team is the
constant goal
• Largely male
•
dominant and sexism
is an underlying
tension
Civilian
Individuality is a
goal, team is a
concept
Gender equality is a
stated goal
Military Culture vs. Civilian Culture
Military
• Vulgarity is a common
part of communication
• Sarcasm is a
predominate
communication tool
Civilian
• Vulgarity is confined to
certain places
• Sarcasm is used
primarily for humor
Who joins the military?
• Across all uniformed services, combining both
enlisted and officers, average trends:
 The majority come from middle income families
 The majority have graduated from high school
 Minorities are NOT overrepresented in the military
And why do they join?
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Family tradition
Transition to man/womanhood
To serve country
Support family
Friend did it
Get out of trouble with the law
Do something noble with life
And why do they join?
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Give life (death) a purpose
Protect people, country and way of life
Be a part of a team – something bigger than self
Inherent sense of selflessness
College money
Free medical care
Travel
Get out of poverty
Issues Facing
Returning Veterans
• The signature wounds of the Iraqi and Afghanistan
wars are Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD.
• PTSD is a lingering psychological condition produced
by experiences that overwhelm the person’s mind
and brain capacities for processing and
understanding what has happened.
• Untreated PTSD lives on inter-generationally and
renders the next generations more vulnerable to
subsequent traumatization.
• Some soldiers suffer from both conditions.
▫ Source: American Psychoanalytic Association
Issues Facing
Returning Veterans
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), while one of the
most common types of trauma suffered by
service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, is also
one of the most difficult to diagnose.
▫ Source: American Psychoanalytic Association
• Deployments can cause higher level of child
abuse/neglect in families left at home (42%) and
higher divorce rates.
• Homelessness
Military Culture –
Some Opening Questions
• Ice breakers?
Ask about:
• Length in service and deployment history
• Other adversities
• Education / treatment while on active duty
• Discharge type
• Military / Veteran identity
Military Culture –
Some Opening Questions
• What branch of service were you in?
▫ Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Guardian
• What was your MOS, NEC, or AFSC?
▫ Military Occupational Specialty (MOS – Army and
Marines),
▫ Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC (rate) – Navy),
▫ or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC – Air Force)
• What did you actually do while deployed?
Activity
• Practicing Open-ended Questions
▫ Get into pairs/roles – One veteran & one Nonveteran
▫ You are in a setting where the non-veteran is
wanting to learn more about the veteran. Ask him
or her some open ended questions.
 Key words/phrases you may want to use –
deployment, MOS, length of service,
education
▫ Switch!
Military Culture
Values
Beliefs
Traditions
Norms
Perceptions
Behaviors
Military Culture
Honor: “I will bear true faith and allegiance…”
Courage: “I will support and defend…”
Loyalty: “Semper Fidelis” (“Always Faithful”)
Integrity: Demonstrate uncompromising ethical
conduct
Commitment: “I will obey my orders…”
Resources
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Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs
Hoosier Veteran Assistance Foundation (HVAF)
Veteran Resource Center – Indianapolis
Indiana University- Veteran Support Services
▫ Bloomington VA Outpatient Clinic
▫ VA Vocational Rehab & Employment Program
▫ Additional on-campus services
• IPCN – Indiana Pathways to College Network
 Guidebook for Incarcerated Veterans
 Resources for Women Veterans
 Workforce Development Resources
• http://www.ivbhn.org/site/
▫ Free Trainings available
▫ Earn CEUs
Contact Information
Kiara Bembry
[email protected]
317-536-4684
THANK YOU!
Resources - Links
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A Snapshot of Our Nation’s Veterans. (n.d.). BillMoyerscom. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from
http://billmoyers.com/2012/07/27/a-snapshot-of-our-nations-veterans/
About the Army. (n.d.). goarmy.com. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.goarmy.com/about.html
About the Department of Commerce. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2014, from
http://www.commerce.gov/about-department-commerce
About Us. (n.d.). USCG:. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.uscg.mil/top/about/
Air Force Personnel Center - Air Force Personnel Demographics. (n.d.). Air Force Personnel Center - Air
Force Personnel Demographics. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from
http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/airforcepersonneldemographics.asp
America's Navy. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions : Navy.com. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from
http://www.navy.com/faq.html
America's Navy. (n.d.). Mission & History : About the Navy : Navy.com. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from
http://www.navy.com/about/mission.html
Baumann, D.K. (n.d.) Strategies for engaging returning veterans [PowerPoint slides]
HVAF of Indiana. (n.d.). HVAF RSS. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.hvafofindiana.org/
Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs. (n.d.). DVA: Indiana Benefits. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from
http://www.in.gov/dva/2343.htm
Indiana University Bloomington. (n.d.). Resources: Veterans Support Services:. Retrieved May 1, 2014,
from http://veterans.indiana.edu/resources/index.shtml
. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.inpathways.net/vet_resources.pdf
. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/military-missionsoverview.html
Resources - Links
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The Official Website of the City of Indianapolis and Marion County. (n.d.). Veteran Resource Center.
Retrieved April 29, 2014, from
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Mayor/programs/VeteranServices/Pages/VeteranResourceCenter.aspx
United States Air Force - airforce.com. (n.d.). United States Air Force - airforce.com. Retrieved April 30,
2014, from http://www.airforce.com/
HVAF of Indiana. (n.d.). HVAF RSS. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.hvafofindiana.org/
Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs. (n.d.). DVA: Indiana Benefits. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from
http://www.in.gov/dva/2343.htm
Indiana University Bloomington. (n.d.). Resources: Veterans Support Services:. Retrieved May 1, 2014,
from http://veterans.indiana.edu/resources/index.shtml
. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.inpathways.net/vet_resources.pdf
. (n.d.). . Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/military-missionsoverview.html
The Official Website of the City of Indianapolis and Marion County. (n.d.). Veteran Resource Center.
Retrieved April 29, 2014, from
http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Mayor/programs/VeteranServices/Pages/VeteranResourceCenter.aspx
United States Air Force - airforce.com. (n.d.). United States Air Force - airforce.com. Retrieved April 30,
2014, from http://www.airforce.com/