VII CORPS WAR COUNCIL

File: 970107_jun96_decls1_0012.txt
Page: 0012
Total Pages: 49

Subject: VII CORPS WAR COUNCIL                                           

Unit: VII CORPS   

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box  ID: BX000213

Folder Title: 7TH ENG BDE COMMANDERS CONFERENCE  13 APR 91                                                    

Document Number:          5

Folder Seq  #:          9












         OPERATION DESERT FAREWELL: PREPARING MENTALLY FOR THE RETURN
         HOME

         1. Commanders need to reprogram their soldiers for the return to
         the civilian environment. Over one half of active duty troops
         are married and reserve units have a higher percentage. Remember
         that the opinion of.the spouse is the greatest determiner in the
         retention decision of the soldier.

         2. Following the battles in Lebanon, 1982, Israeli psychologists
         noted a surge of stress reactions upon the return of soldiers to
         their homes and families. It was theorized that the
         psychological environment of the un t in the field restrained the
         emotional expression of the soldier. The return to a different
         environment with family who did not understand the privation and
         cruelties endured or witnessed by the soldier resulted in an
         outpouring of emotion and grief in an environment which lacked
         the resources to understand and help the soldier resolve the
         psychological effects of the battlefield. This created the
         adjustment problems and mental health difficulties of the return
         to peace.

         3. American servicemezabers returning from deployments and
         campaigns in'the 80's have experienced reacquaintance problems
         which have resulted in family turmoil, divorce and emotional
         problems in children. Wives who had been the sole emotional and
         managerial adult in the household did not easily return to a more
         passive role., They did not wish to entirely give up their new
         decision making authority. Children had difficulty when father
         tried to change the rules too quickly. It can be predicted that
         some children will e @ bit their anger at mom having left then
         and display aggressive or sullen resentment - an unexpected
         emotional demand on the war weary parent e @ cting to be welcomed
arms and given time to relax.

         4. specific recommendations for helping the soldier adjust to
         the return home can be focused on three objectives which need to
         be addressed in order: first the resolution of feelings about
         war, the battles fought and the losses sustained; second,
         planning for how to greet family and redevelop that relationship;
         and third, discussion of special problems to expect in greeting
         spouses and children. Commanders should seek out mental health
         services, chaplain services and family support group agencies for
         help in designing a redeployment mental health program.




         Incl I

Document 49 f:/Week-24/BX000213/7TH ENG BDE COMMANDERS CONFERENCE 13 APR 91/vii corps war council:0102971552505
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-24
Box ID = BX000213
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = 7TH ENG BDE COMMANDERS CONFERENCE 13 APR 91
Folder Seq # = 9
Subject = VII CORPS WAR COUNCIL
Document Seq # = 5
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 02-JAN-1997