Combat Stress Team Begins Regular Rotation

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.15.2004

Courtesy Story

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BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Recently, additional detachments have been assigned to the 785th Medical Company allowing Combat Stress Control teams to enter more proactive roles, providing classes to Soldiers as well as individual counseling and crisis management.

Doctors and specialists of the Combat Stress Control, 785th Medical Company, began regular rotations to camps within the 1st Brigade Combat Team's area of operations with a visit to Forward Operating Base Eagle, Sept. 9.

"We're based out of Camp Cuervo to help out with units there, and then we circuit ride, spending a week each at Camp Ironhorse and a week at FOB Eagle providing combat stress coverage," said Sgt. Kevin Miller, a mental health specialist, CSC, 785th Med. Company 1st. Lt. James Tczap, officer in charge, CSC, 785th Med. Coompany said prior to the additional units being activated, the team found themselves almost solely providing reactive care. "When we first arrived in theater, our primary focus was on critical crisis management," said Tczap a Minneapolis, Minn. Resident. "As we were needed, we would go out to a Camp and provide treatment and care to groups or individuals who had experienced a traumatic situation. Now we have the ability to go out to the camps and teach Soldiers what to look for in relation to mental stressors, how to seek treatment, and how to take care of themselves and each other."

As the emphasis of the team's mission shifted from reactive to proactive care, Miller explained the focus would be on education but that the teams are still available for critical crisis care and individual treatment.

"The focus of the mission hasn't changed a whole lot," said Miller also a Minneapolis, Minn. native. "We're just putting more emphasis now on education, trying to help these Soldiers better identify and deal with combat stress." Setting up their classroom within the FOB Eagle Chapel, Tczap and Miller spoke with more than Soldiers of the 20th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division during the initial class.

"Did you know that typically the halfway mark of a deployment is when most issues related to combat stress start appearing?" [And] that most of you are experiencing in regards to combat stress is normal?" Tczap asked the class.

Tczap walked the class through lists of common stressors, those things that accumulate over time to cause a Soldier to suffer from combat stress."Loud noises?!" he said reading over a list of usual factors. "How many of you think you hear really loud noises on a regular basis around here as you're sitting in the backs of your vehicles or the detonation of mortar rounds?"

Everyone in the room raised their hands in affirmation, nodding their heads and a muffled "Yeah," "Definitely" and "No kidding" filtered through the air.

As the class continued Soldiers fired questions at Tczap asking what they could do, and how they could seek help if they felt they were struggling with combat stress.

Tczap showed the Soldiers breathing methods and explained mental imagery techniques they could practice to help alleviate symptoms.

"What we try to teach is new ways of thinking, behavioral adjustments and steps that each individual can take to get them back on the path of mental well being," Miller said."

"Exercise, Nutrition and Rest are the three most important things you can do to help relieve some of the symptoms you may be experiencing," Tczap said.

Tczap then went on to explain how each was important and the steps needed to speak with members of the combat stress team.

"Go through your chain of command," he said. "They, the medics and the chaplains can all work with you to get you to us [combat stress control teams] to get the help you need."

Classes will continue on FOB Eagle while the team is on the camp and will resume when their circuit-ride brings them to FOB Eagle again every three weeks. "It's really important that Soldiers get to see and talk to us [combat stress teams] now, when they don't need us, so that they are comfortable with us when they do need us."

• Date Taken: 09.15.2004
• Date Posted: 09.15.2004 10:32
• Story ID: 365
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ