Maryland National Guard(MDNG)

Reintegration Initiative

LTC Michael Gafney

Maryland National Guard Armories Deploying Soldiers

REINTEGRATIONREINTEGRATION

Frederick`

White Oak

Annapolis

Easton

Pikesville

Dundalk

Glen Burnie

Edgewood

Elkton

Towson

REINTEGRATION

The road home is longer, steeper and tougher and the numbers are in.

• [From the DOD Task Force of Mental Health, June 2007 Report]• At 90-120 days after re-deployment 49% of National Guard Soldiers report psychological

symptoms• Within 12 months 10-25% have clinically significant PTSD• 30-35% of soldiers who return to college drop out in the first semester• Within 12 months 20% plan to separate or divorce• In an anonymous survey of 292 returning National Guardsman:

– 36 percent reported relationship problems with spouse and children;– 27 percent reported significant depression;– 24 percent reported alcohol abuse; and– 43 percent reported problems with anger and aggression.

– From Minnesota Reintegration Program: – 10% of returning soldiers are unemployed or underemployed 15% more are

unemployed or underemployed by 60 days– Each returning soldier impacts• 12 Family members• 40 Co workers, friends, acquaintances.

Educate and Empower Reserve Components, Families & Communities to successfully transition from Warrior to Citizen-Soldier by providing information, services, referral and proactive outreach opportunities for RC service members and families throughout the entire deployment cycle:

PURPOSE

Phase 1: Upon Alert

Phase 2: During Deployment

Phase 3: After Deployment (Reintegration)

REINTEGRATION

• All combat veterans experience combat

Operational stress.

- The majority of combat veterans handle their stress very well.

- A significant minority develop PTSD and require extensive help.

- ”IF YOU WENT TO WAR AND WEREN’T CHANGED, YOU WERE CRAZY BEFORE YOU LEFT.”

COMBAT STRESS

ReintegrationAC vs RC

• Mandatory• Soldier Funding• On Base• On-Base Medical• On-Base Support• Families in Proximity

• Voluntary – Restricted• Unfunded• 23 Counties,

3 Municipalities,

84 Communities• VA/Limited TRICARE• 1-800 # or Civilian• 300 mile separation

“Ft Maryland”Fort Riley vs

MD

• Reunion is an event, after which we remove the yellow ribbon

• Reintegration is a process that Requires training before, during and beyond the yellow ribbon

BEYOND THEYELLOW RIBBON

Beyond the Yellow Beyond the Yellow RibbonRibbon

Force Activation

• From Citizen Soldier to Warrior– From Security to Insecurity– From Safety to Danger– From Comfort to Discomfort– From Order to Chaos, Law to Lawlessness– From Cooperation to Survival– From Trust to Mistrust

REINTEGRATION

• From Warrior To Citizen– From Insecurity To Security– From Danger To Safety– From Chaos To Order– From Discomfort To Comfort– From Survival To Thriving– From Mistrust To Trust

MISSION

The MDNG will train and resource every combat veteran and their family, for a safe, healthy and successful reintegration into their community, school and job following deployment.

TAG’s INTENT

Every unit will support every soldier, and their family, throughout the entire deployment cycle (Pre-deployment, Deployment, Demobilization, Reintegration).

“LOOK ‘EM IN THE EYE”

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

-Every MDNG combat veteran, and their family is able to successfully deal with the effects of combat operational stress.

-Every Maryland community with a NG armory, will be trained to help combat veterans and families successfully deal with the effects of combat operational stress.

-Under the Governor’s leadership, a coalition of Federal, State, County and local agencies are networked to assist combat veterans and their families.

Phase 4Training

Continuous Reintegration

Training for

Community, Faith-Based and

Educational Institutions

Equipped for Successful

Reintegration

Phase 2 Training

Phase 3Training

Family Readiness

Group Training

De-Mob Site

Phase 1Training

Support

Support

Support

Support

Support

Reintegration Training Cycle

PreDeployment/PreCombat Training

Combat Operations

PreDeployment/PreCombatTraining

Purpose: Train soldiers and families to recognize, address and treat both combat stress and stress at home

Conducted within 60 DAYS of Deployment/Mobilization

SeminarsBullet Proof Mind

Families Fears, Worries and Concerns

How to Cope with Deployment

Relaxation TechniquesService Providers

-MDNG Outreach (DHMH)

-State Surgeon

-Mental Health (MDNG, MDDF)

Combat OperationsTraining

Purpose: Provide ongoing training on the Effects of combat operational stress.

Ongoing Training Provided During Combat Operations

Topics

Combat Stress Control Training

De-Briefings

MDNG Reintegration Training

Service Providers

-Chaplain-Combat Stress Control Team-Psychologist

Family Reintegration Academies

Purpose: To empower and resource families so they can address the effects of combat operational stress and reintegration issues.

Conducted within 45 Days before Unit returns to the United States

-Combat Stress

-Making Marriage Work

-Reconnecting Soldiers with their Children

-Parenting a Single Soldier

-Coping With Extended Deployments

-Veterans Administration

-MD DVA

-Returning to Work – ESGR/DLLR

-Tricare

-Military OneSource

-FAC/JAG/Taxes

WorkshopsTargeted Audience

-Spouses

-Parents

-Significant Others

-Children

Phase 1 TrainingPurpose: Connect soldiers to service providers who can assist them in overcoming the challenges of reintegration through briefings and a workshop format

AND-Enroll every soldier in the VA (1010EZ)-Inform soldier of their Veterans Benefits

Conducted at Demobilization site immediately upon return to United States

STATIONS/WORKSHOPS-MD DVA/State Benefits Rep-DLLR/ESGR-Chaplain/Taxes-VA/Vet Center

BRIEFINGS-Reintegration Experience

(Combat Veteran)

-Law Enforcement(Sworn Department)

Phase 2 Reintegration Training

Conducted Approximately 40 DAYS after Initial Event

Purpose: Reconnect soldiers and families with service providers through workshops and round-robin stations. Allows for more personal contact with service providers.

BRIEFING-Battlemind Training II-

WORKSHOPS -Making Marriage Work- -Single Soldier Challenges-

-Reconnecting With Your Children-

STATIONS-TRICARE -MDNG Outreach

-Education Benefits -ESGR/DEED

-JAG -MD DVA

-Taxes -Chaplain

-VA Benefits -Unit ADMIN

-VA Vet Center -Partners in Care

-Military One Source

Phase 3 Reintegration Training

Conducted Approximately 70 DAYS After Initial Event

Purpose: Address negative behaviors related to combat stress.

BRIEFINGS-Anger Management (3 hours)

-Chemical Abuse Prevention (1.5 hours)

-Compulsive Behaviors Prevention (1.5 hours)

-Law Enforcement (1 hour)

Phase 4 Reintegration Training

Conducted Approximately 100 DAYS After Initial Event

Purpose: Conduct a thorough Post Deployment Health Re-assessment (PDHRA) of combat veterans.

TRAINING PDHRA •• TB Tine

SERVICE PROVIDERS

-MDNG Medical -Veterans Service Organization

-Chaplain -MD State Dept. of Veterans Affairs

-U.S. Dept. of Labor -VA Vets Center Representative

-ESGR -VA Medical Center Representative

-MDDF

‘Beyond the Yellow Ribbon’ Seminars

Purpose: Educate community leaders about challenges of reintegration, and what they can do to assist combat veterans and their families successfully reintegrate back into the community.

Continuous Community Reintegration Training

SEMINAR TOPICS-Reintegration Experience

-Challenges of Reintegration

-How to Help Combat Vets

-Helping Families of Combat Vets

TARGET AUDIENCE-Mayors, Council Members -Clergy

-County Commissioners -Veteran’s Service Organizations

-Medical Professionals -Drinking Establishment Owners

-Licensed Mental Health Providers -Educators

Faith Based SeminarsPurpose: Assist clergy and lay leaders in their efforts to understand, support and minister to combat veterans and their families.

Continuous Faith Based Reintegration Training

SEMINAR TOPICS-Partners in Care

-Reintegration Experience

-Challenges of Reintegration

-How to Minister to Combat Vets

-Ministering to Families of Combat Vets

TARGET AUDIENCE-Clergy -Parish Nurse

-Youth Workers -Faith-Based Organizations

-Para-Church Organizations

Education SeminarsPurpose: Advise Higher Education administration, faculty and staff on the challenges of reintegration a combat veteran may face and the benefits that are available to veterans when they return to school.

Continuous Educational Institution Training

SEMINAR TOPICS-Reintegration Experience

-Challenges of Reintegration Within the Classroom

-Education Benefits Available to Veterans

TARGET AUDIENCE-Administrators -Professors / Instructors

-Counselors -Staff

Education Seminars to Support Children

Purpose: Advise educators from Pre-K through High

School on deployment and reintegration stress factors on school age children

Continuous Educational Institution Training

SEMINAR TOPICS

-Effects of Stress on Learning

-When a parent or sibling is deployed

Behavioral Changes in a Child: When to Refer

-Reintegration from CombatTARGET AUDIENCE

-School Administrators -Youth Leaders

-School Guidance Counselors -Sport Coaches

REINTEGRATION

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

Bringing Maryland Soldiers all the way home

REINTEGRATION

• From Citizen Soldier to Warrior– From Security to Insecurity– From Safety to Danger– From Comfort to Discomfort– From Order to Chaos, Law to Lawlessness– From Cooperation to Survival– From Trust to Mistrust

REINTEGRATION

• From Warrior To Citizen– From Insecurity To Security– From Danger To Safety– From Chaos To Order– From Discomfort To Comfort– From Survival To Thriving– From Mistrust To Trust

REINTEGRATION

• Five Critical Challenges Warriors Must Face, Master And Accomplish– Overcome Alienation– Move from simplicity to complexity– Replace war with another form of high– Move beyond war and find meaning in life– Come to peace with self, God and others

REINTEGRATION

• TASK 1

• Overcome alienation

– From family

– From friends

– From co workers

– From community

REINTEGRATION

• TASK 2

• Move from simplicity to complexity

– From self to others

– From survival to thriving

– From others thinking for you to responsibility

– From no choices to overwhelming choices

REINTEGRATION

• TASK 3

• Replace war with another high

– War is an adventure

– Nothing in civilian life matches the intensity

– Speed kills: So do drugs, alcohol, etc…

– How do you learn to accept life as it is?

REINTEGRATION

• TASK 4

• We were soldiers and young once…but what are we now?

– We have to find meaning and purpose outside of combat

– We were someone before war and we will be someone after war

– Or will be stuck in war forever?

REINTEGRATION

• TASK 5

• Make peace with self, God and others

– We may have done, or not done things that violate our moral code

– We participated in the killing of other humans

– Is there absolution or do we live with guilt, (real, false, survivors) forever?

REINTEGRATION

• Welcome us home.

• Affirm what we did for you.

• Support us with patience.

• Encourage us to reengage.

• Give us opportunities to succeed.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

““I WILL NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE”I WILL NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE”

• Our Warriors deserve no less • Because it is the right thing to do

• In the end, it will save lives

WHY REINTEGRATION?

REINTEGRATION

RESOURCES Federal

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Labor

TRICARE

Military One Source

Department of Defense

MarylandMDARNG Family Readiness Group Maryland Higher Education CommissionCollegesDept. of Health and Mental Hygiene (MDNG Outreach)Dept. of Labor, Licensing and RegulationState PoliceDepartment of RevenueDepartment of LaborMaryland Defense ForcePartners in CareClergy

Counties / localMayors, Council membersCounty CommissionersVeterans Service OrganizationsEducatorsDrinking Establishment OwnersSchool / College CounselorsProfessors / InstructorsLicensed Mental Health Professionals

Questions?Questions?