1 Arkansas National Guard WILLIAM D. WOFFORD Supporting Veterans on Campus “Operational Stress” Major General

2 Agenda National Guard Missions Federal State Operational Stress Building Resiliency

3 “Maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise required” Our Dual Mission

4 Federal Mission Always Ready…Always There…

5 State Missions Always Ready…Always There…

6 Agenda National Guard Missions Federal State Operational Stress Building Resiliency

7 Warning Signs Traffic SignsTraffic Signs Stock Market IndicatorsStock Market Indicators Leading/Lagging Business IndicatorsLeading/Lagging Business Indicators Health Warning Signs:Health Warning Signs: –Blood Pressure –Cholesterol Count STOP 3 rd Qtr

8 Warning Signs Military Warning Signs:Military Warning Signs: –Recruiting –Maintenance –Training –Readiness

9 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Walter Reed...Walter Reed...

10 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Walter Reed...Walter Reed... Army Community ServiceArmy Community Service Pulaski TechPulaski Tech Guardsmen:Guardsmen: –Drinking Problems –Divorce Rate –Suicide WARNINGSIGNSIGNORED

11 Operational Stress / PTSD PTSD is an anxiety disorder after someone has experienced a traumatic event:PTSD is an anxiety disorder after someone has experienced a traumatic event: –Combat or Military Exposure –Police / Fire / EMT –Sexual or Physical Assault –Child Abuse –Vehicle Accident –Natural Disasters INDIVIDUAL GENUINELY BELIEVES THEIR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER INDIVIDUAL GENUINELY BELIEVES THEIR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER

12 Operational Stress Reduced ProductivityReduced Productivity Inability to ConcentrateInability to Concentrate Decreased Ability to Handle StressDecreased Ability to Handle Stress IrritabilityIrritability DisorganizationDisorganization Lack of EmotionLack of Emotion OverworkingOverworking TYPICAL REACTIONS: TYPICAL REACTIONS: DenialDenial Macho – Work It Out AloneMacho – Work It Out Alone Alcohol / Drugs Alcohol / Drugs Self-MedicationSelf-Medication WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE WORKPLACE AND SCHOOL?

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19 Operational Stress

20 Transition Challenges Changes in the Workplace & SchoolChanges in the Workplace & School Changes in TechnologyChanges in Technology Personnel / Policy Changes Personnel / Policy Changes ApprehensionApprehension Feelings of Guilt for Being GoneFeelings of Guilt for Being Gone Work / School Absence for Medical AppointmentsWork / School Absence for Medical Appointments

21 Transition Considerations How would you treat a fellow employee or student who just suffered a tragic emotional event? How would you treat a fellow employee or student who just suffered a tragic emotional event? Death of a Parent / ChildDeath of a Parent / Child Involved in Serious Vehicle AccidentInvolved in Serious Vehicle Accident Physical InjuryPhysical Injury Going Through a DivorceGoing Through a Divorce ??????????????????

22 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD is not just fallout from the Vietnam warPTSD is not just fallout from the Vietnam war It has been there in every major conflictIt has been there in every major conflict World War II:World War II: –400,00 lives lost to combat and non- combat actions –Over 500,00 psychiatric casualties WW I, WW II, Korea: The number pulled off the front lines as psychiatric casualties greater than those that died in combatWW I, WW II, Korea: The number pulled off the front lines as psychiatric casualties greater than those that died in combat

23 Agenda National Guard Missions Federal State Operational Stress Building Resiliency

24 Joint Services Support Branch Arkansas National Guard * Family Programs * Transition Assistance * Reintegration * Psychological Health * Employer Support * Survivor Outreach * Military One Source * Military and Family Life Consultants

25 Operational Stress vs PTSD Time to DecompressTime to Decompress Reintegration...Reintegration... –Pre- / During- / Post-Deployment –Health Care –Counseling Resiliency TrainingResiliency Training TAG PhilosophyTAG Philosophy De-Stigmatize CounselingDe-Stigmatize Counseling Outreach to Families & EmployersOutreach to Families & Employers

26 A GENTLE REMINDER TO KEEP YOUR LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

27 WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME, HE MAY FIND IT HARD...

28... TO LISTEN TO HIS SON WHINE ABOUT BEING BORED

29... TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT POTHOLES

30... TO BE TOLERANT OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HASSLE OF GETTING READY FOR WORK

31... TO BE UNDERSTANDING WHEN A CO-WORKER COMPLAINS ABOUT A BAD NIGHT’S SLEEP

32... TO BE SILENT WHEN PEOPLE PRAY TO GOD FOR A NEW CAR

33... TO CONTROL HIS PANIC WHEN HIS WIFE TELLS HIM HE NEEDS TO DRIVE SLOWER

34... TO BE COMPASSIONATE WHEN A BUSINESSMAN EXPRESSES A FEAR OF FLYING

35... TO KEEP FROM LAUGHING WHEN PARENTS SAY THEY’RE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR KIDS OFF TO SUMMER CAMP

36... TO KEEP FROM RIDICULING SOMEONE WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT HOT WEATHER

37... TO CONTROL HIS FRUSTRATION WHEN A COLLEAGUE GRIPES ABOUT HIS COFFEE BEING COLD

38... TO REMAIN CALM WHEN HIS DAUGHTER COMPLAINS ABOUT HAVING TO WALK THE DOG

39... TO BE CIVIL TO PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR JOBS

40... TO JUST WALK AWAY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THEY ONLY GET TWO WEEKS OF VACATION A YEAR

41... TO BE FORGIVING WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HOW HARD IT IS TO HAVE A NEW BABY IN THE HOUSE

42 THE ONLY THING TOUGHER THAN BEING A SOLDIER...

43 is loving one.

44 AND WHEN YOU MEET ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS OR AIRMEN, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND SHOW THEM A LITTLE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE AND WHEN YOU MEET ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS OR AIRMEN, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND SHOW THEM A LITTLE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE A GENTLE REMINDER TO KEEP YOUR LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

45 We Appreciate the help and patience you provide our veterans on your campus. THANKS!

46 National Guard Warriors Are you concerned about one of your employees/students? If they are or have been a Service Member, we are there for you. Please call us to see what assistance may be available.

47 National Guard Warriors Extreme Emergency – Dial 911 Local 24-Hour Contacts: Ronnie Goff (501) Director of Psychological Health Chaplain (CPT) Jeremy Miller(501) State Chaplain CPT Tanya Phillips(501) State Suicide Prevention Program Manager

48 National Guard Warriors Organizations: Military One Source (800) Ark. Dept. of Veteran Affairs(501) Vet Center (Little Rock)(501) Vet Center (Fayetteville)(479)

49 THANK YOU