Friendly situation. The chaplain considers those aspects of the friendly situation that make the accomplishment of the religious support mission more difficult: Strengths? Weaknesses? (a) Tactical Situation. -Unit locations -Courses of Action -Projected operations and priorities -Planning time for unit visits and services -Security to move to unit locations Personnel -UMT personnel shortages -UMT augmentees -Location of UMT’s by phases Logistics -Religious support materials -Fuel, water, food -Communication Civil-Military Operations. -religious attitudes of civilian population -religious activities of civilian population -religious organizations and leaders in AO -religious schools in AO -religious implications on courses of action -negative impact on local religious climate Transportation -UMT vehicle status -Alternative movement plan for UMT in AO Health Service Support Casualty Estimates -number -area of density -evacuation time and distance (2) Health of Command -acclimatization -morale/unit cohesion -levels of fatigue/sleep loss/anxiety -percentage of casualties expected -intensity of combat expected an its impact -level of training, combat experience, leadership -home front stressors (3) Health Services Support -MEDEVAC points -CASH locations -Combat Stress Detachment assets
g. to casualties (at Aid Stations, Ambulance Exchange Points, the Forward Support Medical Company, or wherever they are found.) h. to casualties when a subordinate unit ministry teams become combat ineffective. i. during reorganization, reconstitution, or regeneration. Enclosure 15 Notes on Worship in Combat There should be no limit to the effort to get to the soldiers to do services…they are counting on you. Take whatever time is necessary to schedule the services with the units. Spread assets…never travel with another chaplain. There are never enough chaplains to afford two in one place at the same time. Be prepared to conduct a service on a moment’s notice…always carry a sermon in your hip pocket. You might come upon a unit moments before they are to depart on a mission. A few moments of worship may make a big difference. Many of your services will be ecumenical…denominational coverage, especially Catholic, will be limited in Combat. In all your travels around to see soldiers, don’t forget the one’s in the area where you bivouac over night. Start with an early morning service there. You never know when you are going to come back to them. Whenever you travel to a site to do services, be prepared to stay overnight, if your transportation breaks down or is unable to get back to pick you up…this especially true when going by helicopter. Soldiers like to sing…use familiar hymns, and use many. Use songs of celebration soldiers need their spirits lifted in combat…they have enough opportunity to be “down.” Give soldiers a chance to share what is on their minds during the service. Pray for families, WIA’s, KIA’s, MIA’s during the services. Pray for the future – for courage, diligence, care and concern for buddies, to be ready with God if death should come. Chaplains in the past have discovered that soldiers want to celebrate communion nearly every time they worship. Ask soldiers to examine themselves according to the traditions and dictates of their faith and beliefs before participating in communion. Start a new sermon on Sunday…then use it during the week wherever you go. Pick up sermon illustrations during the week as you meet with soldiers. Pick up seed thoughts and ideas for sermons during the week as well. Limit sermons to 10-12 minutes…make a point and stop…service time of 30 minutes Sermons should emphasize the Presence of Christ. Sermon topics that are well received: The quality vs. the quantity of life
Enclosure 20 STRESS MANAGEMENT and COPING SKILLS Hip Pocket Class WHY STRESS MANAGEMENT? “Buddy system” Early Intervention Stops Escalation DEFINITION OF STRESS “The non-specific response of the body to any demand placed upon it” TYPES OF STRESS - Distress - Hyperstress - Hypostress STRESS PROCESS Phase 1 – Alarm Phase 2 – Resistance Phase 3 – Exhaustion BODY RESPONSE Increased Adrenaline Increased Heart Rate Pupil Dilation Increased Blood Digestion Dry Mouth Sweating IMPACT OF STRESS IN YOU - Aggression - Anxiety - Apathy - Depression - Diarrhea - Dry mouth - Fatigue - Inability to Concentrate - Frustration - Forgetfulness - Nausea - Numbness-tingling - Nervousness - Irritability - Nightmares - Low self-esteem IMPACT OF STRESS IN OTHERS - Denial - Use of Drugs/alcohol - Risk Taking - Emotional Outburst - Smoking - Changes in Eating - Restlessness - Speech Disorder - Trembling - Impulsive Behavior SOURCES OF STRESS Environment Home Diet Work/Unit ENVIRONMENT – SOURCE OF STRESS - Pollution - Crowding - Temperature - Noise - Change - Sleep Loss - Catastrophes - Combat HOME - SOURCE OF STRESS - Children - Family demands - Spouse - Time Management - Finances - Moving - Relatives - Illness - Role DIET – SOURCE OF STRESS - Salt - Unbalanced Meal - Fat - Under-eating - Caffeine - Over- eating - Sugar - Dieting WORK/UNIT – SOURCE OF STRESS - Commander - Subordinate - Expectations - Deployments - Role - OER/EER - Mission - 1SG/PSG CONTROL STRATEGIES Ways to Increase Stress Ways to Decrease Stress WAYS TO INCREASE STRESS Control Strategies