Arming Commanders to Combat PTSD

<p>Just as war is not a new phenomenon neither are the issues associated with the mental and emotional scars combat brings to those who fight a nation's wars. Historically the United States has assumed a reactive vice proactive posture as it relates to coping with the fiscal and humanistic challenges that manifest within a nation at war and those who experience the trauma of combat. The Army has proven slow to respond to the need to train and educate its leaders and instead has devoted vast capital on the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attacking the symptoms as they arise vice attacking the stressors which cause the affliction. The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and the deployment of forces throughout the world to combat terror however have created conditions whereby PTSD is again in the lime-light. This monograph examines PTSD from a historical perspective reviewing the manner in which the Army viewed assessed and treated those afflicted with PTSD as well its methods for training and educating those honored with the opportunity to lead these warriors in battle. This monograph highlights existing shortfalls in assessment training doctrine and education as it relates to those commanding at the battalion-level.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>