Photo By Hannah Covington | Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wright, NCOIC of Veterinary Pathology, Walter Reed Army Institute...... read more read more
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In February 2025, leaders at Fort Huachuca asked the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) to create a tool that would help service members before a mental-health crisis occurs. WRAIR responded by developing a wallet card, an easy-to-field reference that gives leaders clear guidance on how to begin difficult conversations with their soldiers and decide next steps together.
The request arose after senior leaders at Fort Huachuca reviewed the personal journeys of individual soldiers from pre-crisis, through inpatient care, and then post-treatment.
“One of the most important things you can do as a leader is to have personal, honest conversations with your soldiers to understand what they’re going through and identify any challenges they may be facing,” explained Lt. Col. Korbut, Chief of the Department of Behavioral Health at Fort Huachuca. “But when I did the research, I found there weren’t any tools to help commanders start those conversations. I remembered that WRAIR has several quality products and trainings for behavioral health, so I contacted them.”
WRAIR’s Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience has more than 70 years of experience developing practical resources that promote mental health and readiness.
“After Lt. Col. Korbut reached out, I worked with Dr. Amy Adler, one of WRAIR’s senior scientists, to generate the wallet card,” said Capt. George Mesias, a clinical social-work researcher at WRAIR. “We revised the card with input from Fort Huachuca’s Department of Behavioral Health, and when we realized the product had widespread applicability, we expanded the scope from commanders to leaders at all levels.”
The wallet card is designed for leaders who want to check in with their soldiers. “It’s about having deeper conversations aimed at understanding your soldiers and building trust,” explained Lt. Col. Korbut. “The wallet card facilitates conversations about relationship problems, finances, and mental health.”
Research from the U.S. Military Academy shows that the ability to trust leaders is a key component of mental health; these conversations help leaders lay that foundation of trust within their units.
“Trust is everything,” reiterated Lt. Col. Korbut. “If you don’t trust that leader is going to support you, then you won’t go to that leader. Fostering trust through meaningful conservations ahead of time or during a pre-crisis situation is essential to supporting the mental health of your service members.”
The wallet card is now being distributed to leaders at Fort Huachuca and other locations. To view the card or explore WRAIR’s other behavioral-health trainings and products visit:
https://wrair.health.mil/Biomedical-Research/Center-for-Military-Psychiatry-and-Neuroscience/CMPN-Training-Products/
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2025 08:44 |
| Story ID: | 499565 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, WRAIR's wallet card helps military leaders support soldiers’ mental health, by Zeke Gonzalez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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