presented by connie moore, dcang family program coordinator reorientation and reintegration the...
TRANSCRIPT
Presented by Connie Moore, DCANG Family Program Coordinator
Reorientation and Reintegration
The deployment cycle continues
Why are you here?
Make homecoming a joyful occasion
Identify common homecoming concerns
Recognize changes in personal and interpersonal relationships
Identify and address potential challenges
Help differentiate expectations from realities
The PROCESS is the returning of personnel back
into a stable and “normal” environment
PREPARE families for the changes to their home
life when the deployed members return.
Remember upon your return you will achieve a
NEW normal
Reintegration is a SLOW process
What is Reintegration?
Practical Issues In-Processing
– Unit Deployment Manager– Commander’s Support Staff– Personnel Department
Medical– Life Skills Support Center ■ Dental Clinic– Family Practice/Flight Medicine ■ Public Health– Family Advocacy
Legal – Terminate powers of attorney– Claims
Practical Issues Financial Matters
– File travel voucher/change entitlements– Gov Travel Card– Family or personal budget– Utilities (phone, gas, water, electric)– AAFES (layaway, Military STAR Card)
Vehicles– Registration and maintenance– Insurance– Driver’s license
Crisis or threat
AvoidanceDenialBlaming
othersFear
Hidden opportunity
Acknowledgement
Action
Personal responsibility
Face it – it’s constant
Expectations of Change
Possible thoughts and feelings …– Proud of accomplishment– Want to reestablish living situation– Financial concerns– Social life / significant other– Work reunion
– Singles are often overlooked !
Reintegration
Practical tips:
– Put your house back in order• New roommate• New residence
– Recognize changes in yourself and in others• Different living environment• Social circle
– Assess relationships• Friends• Family
Singles and Reintegration
Reaction to deployment by family and friends Loneliness
– Family and significant others– Involvement in community– Develop/renew outside interest
Limit your use of alcohol
Focus on the present and the future
Be patient with yourself and with others
Singles and Reintegration
AnticipationChanges at homeTrust / FidelityCommunicationThe “Who had it worse” game
Marriage and Reintegration
Intimacy and sexual relationships may be a major adjustment
Re-establish this relationship slowly and naturally
Talk about how you feel or think Be sensitive to how your partner
feels or thinks about intimacy and your sexual relationship
Intimate Relationships
From the desert to the front porch
Redeployment / reintegration…sounds easy, natural, normal
NORMAL may be quite stressful!
Help is available: chapel, unit, friends, life skills, medical personnel, family support center, etc.
Stress and Reintegration
Physical
Behavioral
Cognitive (Thinking)
Emotional
Signs of Reintegration Stress
Physical Signs
Upset stomach, nausea
Diarrhea, constipation
Heart pounding, dizzy or lightheaded, out of
breath, cold sweat, dry mouth, or pale skin
Headaches, migraines
Vague aches and pains
Impotence
Behavioral Signs Changes in eating habits Changes in sleeping patterns Fatigue, lack of energy Jumpiness Frustrated, irritable, angry Bad personal hygiene Crying spells Avoidance of others Increase in alcohol use Disregard for rules, regulations, social norms
Cognitive Signs
Poor concentration
Difficulty making decisions
Flashbacks
Unwanted thoughts
Nightmares
“Spaced out” or trouble focusing
Memory problems
Emotional Signs
Loss of motivation
Loss of “purpose” or direction
Loss of trust/confidence in leaders
Quick to anger, impatience
Depression, sadness
Frustration, irritability
Worried, anxious, keyed up
Guilt, shame
Numb (don’t feel anything)
Thoughts of hurting self or others
Significant Signs of Distress
Post Traumatic Stress
– Definition
– Signs
– Recent study Bizarre or unusual behavior Domestic violence Abuse of alcohol Thinking about suicide
Take care of yourself!– Mentally– Physically– Emotionally
Communicate, don’t clam up Develop or renew outside interests Allow for space and time Establish realistic expectations Think positive thoughts Seek help
Solutions
Chain of Command / Supervisors
Family Support Center Medical Group
– Life Skills
– Health and Wellness Center (HAWC)
MILITARY One Source
Chaplains Legal Red Cross Family and friends “Outside” or off-
base agencies
Resources
Normal Developmental Reactions
– Infant (Birth to 1 year)
– Toddlers (1 – 3 years)
– Pre-School (3 – 5 years)
– School Age (5 – 12 years)
– Teenagers (13 – 18 years)
Children and Reintegration
Children and ReintegrationBirth to One YearInfants:
• Their world is very small
• Eat, sleep, cry, and eliminate – often!
• Depend on parents for everything
• Grow rapidly
• Senses develop quickly
Reactions to parent’s return:
• Cry or fuss
• Pull away from parent
• Have problems with elimination
• Change their schedule (eating and sleeping)
1 - 3 Years– Excitement– Very active– Independent– Self Centered– Repeats words and phrases
Reactions to parent’s return:– Shy– Avoid returning parent– Cry, pull away– Temper Tantrums
Children and Reintegration One – Three Years
3 - 5 Years– Very active– Imitates adults– Active imagination– Asks lots of questions
Reactions to parent’s return:– Anger– Need proof you are real– Compete for attention– Act out– Still need warm-up time
Children and Reintegration Three – Five Years
5 - 12 Years– Appetite and growth have increased– High energy level– Daydream– Very sensitive to criticism and evaluation
Reactions to parent’s return:– Joy, excitement– Anxiety of changing roles– Child compete with parent(s)– Desire recognition– Attention seeking– Attempt to split parents
Children and Reintegration Five - Twelve Years
13 - 18 Years– Responsible one minute & irresponsible the next
– Moody
– Experienced rapid changes
– Independent, but still need guidance Reactions to parent’s return:
– Relief
– Excited
– Guilty
– Concerned about rules and responsibilities
Children and Reintegration Thirteen - Eighteen Years
Suggestions forReturning Parents
Go slow Don’t give into demands because of guilt Observe Be flexible Be realistic Seek information on child development Communicate Make special time with your loved one Be giving of your time and energy
Custodial parent Non-custodial parent Strategies Communication
– Caregiver
– Child
Bottom Line: Go Slow
Single Parents and Reintegration
Changes in work environment
– Change of work pace
– Mission/duty changes
Resentment from co-workers
– Added work load due to TDY
– Deployment war stories
– Not part of “real” mission
Staff turnover
It’s all about change
Deployments are a way of life
in the military
a Stumbling Block or a Building Block
The strength of our force and our families depends on you making the right choice