I spent some time on the Veterans’ Families United Foundation website this weekend, and wanted to share some information with my fellow vets and their families. This website has a section focused on Veteran Readjustment Problems, and includes content on PTSD and tips for families who are welcoming back a loved one after a deployment.
There are three aspects to Veteran Readjustment Problems:
Veteran Survival Skills, or “War Zone Skills”: these are the skills that keep veterans alive during war. During their deployment, vets were immersed in extremely intense and stressful situations, and they relied on these survival skills, which, for most vets, became instinctual.
Veteran Readjustment Behaviors: these are the skills/actions that were necessary for a veteran in a place of war, but will cause problems once they return to civilian life following their deployment.
Impact to Family and Friends: a vet’s family and friends have to readjust, too, once the vet returns to civilian life. The impact of the vet’s readjustment behaviors often determines whether or not pre-deployment relationships will survive or fall apart.
James Munroe, a Social Worker at a Boston VA facility, created an informational booklet for veterans and their loved ones. Published in 2006, the booklet outlines specific survival skills, the readjustment behaviors that a veteran may demonstrate, and how this impacts a vet’s family and friends. Below are some excerpts from Munroe’s “Transitioning War Zone Skills: Information for Veterans and Those Who Care” booklet:
Coming home from a war zone is great, and it should be a happy time for all. However, it is not always easy to make the transition home. Many things may have changed during deployment for both veterans and those at home. It is important to realize that some things won’t just go back to the way they were.
Most veterans handle even difficult stress and make successful readjustments. The most likely problems with readjustment will be in transitioning the war zone skills into home skills to build good relationships. The VA and Vet Centers are there to provide information, support, and professional help if needed.
The transition from a war zone is not easy for either the veteran or those at home. Often those at home notice that the veteran is not the same. Something is changed about him or her. It is not always easy to identify what these changes are, but it is likely they are related to the different skills necessary for survival. For the veteran, it is not easy to identify these changes because they have become deeply ingrained in his or her everyday life. What has become normal behavior for him or her may seem quite strange to those at home. What is crucially important is to realize that the rules of the war zone do not automatically change when veterans come home. A successful transition to home requires an understanding of how war zone skills and beliefs are influencing the home environment.
I recommend this booklet to all vets and families who are transitioning after a deployment. The booklet can be downloaded at http://www.veteransfamiliesunited.org/behaviors_of_veteran_readjustment_problems.html.
Veterans’ Day 2009
Tomorrow, November 11th, is Veterans’ Day. I wanted to share a poem with my fellow veterans today. Perhaps this poem will put you into the right frame of mind for Veterans’ Day, and help you to put the sacrifice of our country’s vets into perspective:
They Did Their Share
On Veteran’s Day we honor Soldiers who protect our nation. For their service as our warriors, They deserve our admiration.
Some of them were drafted; Some were volunteers; For some it was just yesterday; For some it’s been many years;
In the jungle or the desert, On land or on the sea, They did whatever was assigned To produce a victory.
Some came back; some didn’t. They defended us everywhere. Some saw combat; some rode a desk; All of them did their share.
No matter what the duty, For low pay and little glory, These soldiers gave up normal lives, For duties mundane and gory.
Let every veteran be honored; Don’t let politics get in the way. Without them, freedom would have died; What they did, we can’t repay.
We owe so much to them, Who kept us safe from terror, So when we see a uniform, Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.
By Joanna Fuchs
Poem courtesy of www.poemsource.com
