Sheepdog Tip of the Day, After Combat tip 78
Recent research on the effectiveness of critical incident debriefings in military units returning from peacekeeping missions found that the debriefing can potentially do harm, just as any medical procedure can if it is done incorrectly. Research (and common sense) indicates that there are several things that we must not do: We must not force individuals to participate. Experience has shown that they will participate voluntarily if we explain why this is important. There are two key pieces of information that needs to be communicated: (1) Stress is a key disabler and destroyer of warriors and, (2) although some may not need the debriefing, it is a tool that can help them save their buddies' lives in the years to come. It is important that soldiers are not required to conduct their debriefings after returning home. The soldier's departure from the war zone can be delayed (there are always legitimate reasons for transportation delays), so that the debriefing can be conducted in-country, as soon after the battle as possible. It is extremely demoralizing for a soldier to be forced to stop and debrief when his wife and children are waiting for him right outside the gate. If at all possible, outsiders should not conduct the debriefing. Someone they know, trust and respect, someone with the same background and the same warrior ethos, and someone who has been with them in the past should do it. The debriefing should not stand alone. It should be part of a continuum of psychological support, which includes referrals for counseling, education, and follow up for those who need it. Remember, no "macho men." A warrior makes use of all available resources to win the battle, and it just makes sense to use state of the art, medical and psychiatric assistance if you think you might need it. Try to avoid having a "sob fest." We understand if our brothers and sisters weep, but the participants should go into the debriefing knowing that one key objective is to delink the memory from the physiological arousal. The breathing exercise should be used to help accomplish this. Today, the military has standardized critical incident debriefings in the form of comprehensive after-action reviews (AARs), which are conducted by unit leaders in-country. The law enforcement community has also learned to follow these rules by conducting their group debriefings as soon as possible during duty hours, and by using respected and trained superiors and critical incident stress management (CISM) teams from within the department. In both the military and the law enforcement community, it is understood that these debriefings are vital to develop valuable operational lessons. I am happy to report that today's warriors are becoming increasingly aware that there is a moral obligation to participate since the debriefing is also a tool that can help save their comrades lives in the years to come.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, On Combat
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