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Military Psychology Response to Post Pandemic

Reconstruction. Volume 2

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Military Psychology Response to

Post-Pandemic Reconstruction

Military Psychology Response to

Post-Pandemic Reconstruction

Edited by

Lt Col Dr Samir Rawat

Professor Ole Boe

Dr Andrzej Piotrowski

RAWAT PUBLICATIONSJaipur · New Delhi · Bangalore · Guwahati · Kolkata

ISBN 978-81-316-1181-4 (Volume 1)ISBN 978-81-316-1182-1 (Volume 2)ISBN 978-81-316-1183-8 (Set)

© Contributors, 2020

Disclaimer:

The opinions and assertions expressed in the papers are those of the authors and need not beconstrued as those as official or as reflecting views in consonance with the Indian ArmedForces or the Ministry of Defence in India or the countries from where the authors hail.

Photo Credits:

Brigadier General Eri Hidayat, Head of Indonesian Army Psychological Services, IndonesiaBrig S. Bhandari, VSM Commandant, Military Hospital, Prayagraj, IndiaMs Shradha Sharma, Research Associate, Military MIND Academy, IndiaMs. Dhruvi Negi, IndiaMs Ieva Budzeikaite, LithuaniaNorwegian Armed Forces Media Center, NorwayDr. Saif Salam Al-Hashmi, Head of Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Hospital, OmanColonel Dr. Vasile Marineanu, Head of the Romanian National Military Center for Psychology

and Behavioral Health, Bucharest, Romania

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or byany means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by anyinformation storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from thepublishers.

Published byPrem Rawat for Rawat PublicationsSatyam Apts, Sector 3, Jawahar Nagar, Jaipur 302 004 (India)Phones: 0141 265 1748 / 265 7006E-mail: info@rawatbooks.comWebsite: www.rawatbooks.com

New Delhi Office4858/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110 002Phone: 011 2326 3290

Also at Bangalore, Guwahati and Kolkata

Typeset by Rawat Computers, JaipurPrinted and bound in India.

Lest We Forget

Rudyard Kipling

God of our fathers, known of old,Lord of our far-flung battle line,

Beneath whose awful hand we holdDominion over palm and pine –

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,Lest we forget – lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;The Captains and the Kings depart:Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget – lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away;On dune and headland sinks the fire:

Lo, all our pomp of yesterdayIs one with Nineveh and Tyre!

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forget – lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loseWild tongues that have not Thee in awe,

Such boastings as the Gentiles use,Or lesser breeds without the Law –Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget – lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trustIn reeking tube and iron shard,

All valiant dust that builds on dust,And guarding calls not Thee to guard,For frantic boast and foolish word –

Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!

We would like to honour the brave COVID warriors from all over the world who laiddown their lives in line of duty by putting themselves in harm’s way to save precioushuman lives as also those emergency first responders and professionals in the field ofmedical and mental health who have been working diligently in the battle againstCOVID-19.

This poem by Rudyard Kipling is an ode to the valiant COVID-19 warriors and areminder of untold sacrifices by unknown soldiers in and out of uniform fighting anenemy in a world without borders – against the dreaded virus. We salute you all foryour moral courage, grit, resilience and fortitude to stand up and be counted whenthe chips are down for humanity as a race.

Lt Col Dr Samir Rawat

Professor Ole Boe

Dr Andrzej Piotrowski

(Editors)

Reference

Poetry Foundation. (2017). Recessional by Rudyard Kipling. Retrieved fromhttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46780/recessional

vi • Lest We Forget

Contents

VOLUME 1

Preamble – Transforming Military Psychological Knowledge for Benefit of Society 1Foreword 3Preface 5Acknowledgements 9List of Abbreviations 11Contributors 21

1 An Introduction to Post-Pandemic Reconstruction:Making Sense of Military Training in Contextof COVID-19 Pandemic 41Samir Rawat, Ole Boe and Andrzej Piotrowski

Belgium

2 Lived Experiences of Nurses in Emergency and Intensive CareMedicine: Post COVID-Decompression to Copewith Burden Trauma and Moral Injury 63Erik de Soir

Belgium and Netherlands

3 Worthy Goodbye From a Distance: Assisting Patientsand Families in Times of Unfinished Bereavement 79Erik de Soir and Lies Scaut

Brazil and Portugal

4 Social Support Strategies Adopted by Brazilian Army for Soldiersand their Families During COVID-19 Pandemic 91Carolina Rodrigues-Silveira, Soraya Reis Dantas, Patricia Rodrigues Siqueira,Michela de Souza Cotian and Maria José Chambel

Canada

5 The Restorative Power of Resilience: During and Afterthe Global Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 107Lobna Cherif and Alan Okros

6 The Gendered Division of Emotional Labourand Post-Pandemic Reconstruction 126Vanessa Brown

Estonia

7 Focus on Resilience in Cognitively DiverseMultidisciplinary Teams 149Merle Parmak

India

8 Taming the Dragon by Unmasking Chinese ‘WOMB’ andHegemonistic Designs During COVID-19 Pandemic 159Samir Rawat

9 Role of Psychologists and Counsellors During and After Pandemic 197Gayatri Ahuja

10 Extricating FLAB During and After Pandemicfor Functional Fitness and Holistic Health 232Vahishta Kapadia

11 Resilience Training to Minimize Impact of FLAB during Pandemic 273Vahishta Kapadia and Samir Rawat

12 Learning Military ‘GRADE H’ in Post-Pandemic Environment 299Shradha Sharma

13 Force Preservation and Military Protocols During Lockdown 319Antony Fernandes

14 Secondary Stress, Burnout and PTSD among EmergencyFirst Responders in Mumbai During COVID-19 Pandemic 359Maitreyi Redkar

15 Mantra for Pandemic Using Astral and Cosmic EnergyThrough Soul Rendering Meditation 382Gayatri Ahuja and Samir Rawat

viii • Contents

16 Learning Strategic Leadership Skills From Militaryfor Performance Management in Post-Pandemic Environment 406Priya Joshi

VOLUME 2

India, Norway and Poland

17 Understanding Resilience with Automatic Self-Regulation 431Andrzej Piotrowski, Ole Boe, Samir Rawat, Maitreyi Redkarand Abhijit P. Deshpande

18 Leadership in a Staff or a Garrison Compared toCombat Leadership Before, During and After Pandemic Crises 454Ole Boe, Andrzej Piotrowski, Samir Rawat, Abhijit P. Deshpandeand Johan Bergh

19 Gateways to Learning Self-Regulation the Military Wayduring Pandemic Lockdown 472Samir Rawat, Abhijit P. Deshpande, Vahishta Kapadia,Andrzej Piotrowski and Ole Boe

20 Role of Character Strengths in Enduring Pandemicand Other Crises Situations: Lessons Identifiedand Learned from the Military 485Ole Boe, Andrzej Piotrowski and Samir Rawat

21 Significant Value of Decompression on Liftingof Lockdown During Pandemic – Follow 9 R’s 504Andrzej Piotrowski, Ole Boe, Samir Rawat and Johan Bergh

Indonesia

22 Lessons Learned from Military Psychology inOvercoming COVID-19: The Indonesian Army Experience 527Eri Radityawara Hidayat and Didon Permadi

Iran

23 Adjustment, Wisdom, Adaptation and CopingResources (AWAC) Following Vicarious Exposureto COVID-19 Pandemic: Changing Perceptions and Attitudes 543Mahnaz Forouzan

Contents • ix

Norway

24 Reducing Stress and Increasing Interaction in Military andHigh-Risk Organizations: Performance Factorswith Relevance for Health Care Workers 565Ole Boe

25 Can Emergency Preparedness Structures and PrinciplesSuccessfully be Adopted Across Borders? A Comparisonof Norway and USA Based on Social Theory 587Jarle Løwe Sørensen and Eric Carlström

26 Between Chaos and Control: The Practical Relevance of MilitaryStrategy in Fighting and Recovering from a Pandemic Outbreak 602Bjørn Tallak Bakken

27 Trust During Pandemic Crises: An Agency TheoreticalApproach with Examples From the Military 617Johan Bergh and Ole Boe

28 Make the Invisible Enemy Visible: Military Debriefing in theUnforeseen Times 637Glenn-Egil Torgersen, Kristian Firing and Trygve J. Steiro

29 Lessons Learnt and Identified: Developing a SolidarityCombat Mindset Against Invisible Enemies 655Ole Boe and Glenn-Egil Torgersen

Oman

30 Matching RHYTHMs During and After COVID-19Pandemic March 673Saif Al Hashmi

Poland

31 The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Soldiers’Quality of Life, Coping with Stress, and Combat Readiness 695Andrzej Piotrowski

32 Psycho-Social Conditions of Threat of Pandemic Coronavirus 706Dariusz Jurczak

Romania

33 Strategic Military Leadership Challenges Duringand After Pandemic Crises 719Cristian Dobre

x • Contents

34 The Role of Romanian Military Psychologists in ProvidingFirst Line Responders with Adaptive Behaviours andMental Health Strategies in Era of COVID-19 732Vasile Marineanu and Mirela Dorina Cremenescu

Serbia

35 Knowledge About Psychological and Propaganda Activities,Fear and Sources of Psychological Strength for Coping andOvercoming Crisis Due to COVID-19 Pandemic 753Anita Pešiæ and Milan Miljkoviæ

36 Some Ways of Coping with Anxiety 771Miljana Paviæeviæ, Jelena Miniæ and Miroslav Krstiæ

Slovenia

37 Pandemics: Some Thoughts on Leadership and Crisis Management 787Petra Resman

USA

38 Building Confidence from the Ground Up: Sources and Strategies 801Todd A. Gilson

39 The Freedom of Forgiveness Beyond Crisis:Interpersonal Strategies for Leaders 826Amanda Metcalfe and Kenneth Briggs

40 Service Academy Integrative Education: Broad StudentSupport to Create Resilient Soldier-Citizens 842Michelle A. Butler Samuels and Steven M. Samuels

Conclusions

41 Integrative Conclusions to Post-Pandemic Reconstruction 861Glenn-Egil Torgersen, Samir Rawat, Ole Boe and Andrzej Piotrowski

Contents • xi

Quick evacuation by military personnel

Improvised “Airpods” created by armed forces for safe and swift evacuation

Military doctors helping in evacuation of the elderly and weak

Military hospital providing succour to overwhelming number of positive COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 testing in progress

Tri -services integrated functioning during pandemic

Testing across the globe

Testing across the globe

Testing across the globe

Testing across the globe

Positive affirmation to patients by military psychologists

Counselors at work - coping with grief and trauma

Military helicopters shower flowers as a salute to tenacious COVID-19 warriors

A senior citizen tested positive for COVID-19 being discharged from military hospital on recovery

Team building for emergency first responders

Catering to new threat perspectives, battlefield force multipliers dominate with renewed vigour

41Integrative Conclusions to

Post-Pandemic Reconstruction

Glenn-Egil Torgersen, Samir Rawat, Ole Boe and

Andrzej Piotrowski

When editing a book, editors need to undertake the task of integrating thematerial presented. This is necessary in order to develop an overall modeland theory, which can be a contribution in the fields of military psychologyand military pedagogy. But, not least, which is also the main purpose of thepresent scientific anthology, to be able to extract core competence based onexperiences and theories from the military world, and over to civilian author-ities and emergency environments, which will deal with pandemics withunknown and unpredictable viruses, locally and globally. Such a model can,combined with other established competence, provide a brief overview andguidelines for what politicians and emergency personnel should consider inorder to develop the best possible competence for both prevention, handlingalong the way, and during development phases after pandemics – bothbetween blooms (waves) and when an overall pandemic has been extin-guished (for example via a vaccine).

While we, as editors, along with Professor Glenn-Egil Torgersen whokindly consented to come on board with his valuable insights, attempt thisfeat in this concluding chapter, we feared that by only presenting oursummary after each chapter, we would overshadow differences and common-alties between countries, impose our ethnocentric views on the informationprovided, and ignore culturally important information provided in this text.To avoid some of these concerns, we asked each contributor of a full-lengthchapter to write an integrative conclusion to their chapter. As eachmanuscript was written, it was read thoroughly by Samir, Andrzej and Ole(in that order) with individual comments that would highlight componentsthat each one of us as editors found most interesting and then sent themanuscript back to the author with observations, if any, to maintain consis-tency of chapters in the book.

Our hope was to make the task of integrating all the chapters and makeour synergized efforts as collaborative, despite the challenges, pandemicnotwithstanding, in which each of the three editors were geographicallylocated in different time zones. Our aim was to help distribute the powerthat normally editors hold in having the last word when they choose how tocompare and contrast each chapter. However, we must acknowledge andconfess that we still held this power throughout the editing process and inwriting the concluding chapter. Moreover, we are guilty of pushing our dearcolleagues to adhere to the timelines in our race against time to enable timelypublishing of the book and we thank them for their Herculean efforts.

Integrative Education/The Hermeneutical Pandemic PedagogicalPlanning Model for Preparedness for Unforseen Pandemic Crises(PED-PREP model)

The aim of this chapter is thus to transform military experiences to civilianoperative knowledge structures for dealing with pandemics. We have empha-sized operative experiences in relation to crisis situations, the unforeseen(UN), learning, and solutions. The model provided in this chapter is thus acontribution to facilitate the prevention, management and coping with situa-tions such as COVID-19 and future pandemic situations.

Based on the thoughts presented in this chapter, we have developed amodel for the strategic and pedagogical use of preparedness for unforseenpandemic crises (Figure 2). We refer to this model as the IntegrativeEducation/The hermeneutical pandemic pedagogical planning model forPreparedness for Unforeseen Pandemic Crises, or in short, the PED-PREPmodel.

Summed up, the factors revealed in the model should be seen in relationto each other and from a holistic meaning indicating that the whole is morethan the sum of its parts. Therefore, the PED-PREP model is a relational anddynamic model, not a fixed and static model.

This model must again be seen in connection with the establishedcompetence the professionals in the emergency preparedness environmentsand the politicians already have acquired. Our hope is that, both the bookand the concentrated theory model shown in this chapter can be a contri-bution to the good of society. At the same time, we know that knowledge isnot perpetual. Therefore, we encourage everyone to further develop both ourmodel and other approaches for the benefit of society.

Furthermore, the final pedagogical model (Figure 2), provides generalguidelines for strategic planning and facilitation of crisis preparedness forunforeseen events, and is derived via Semantic Theory Construction (STC)based on scientific semantic theory (Kvernbekk, 2005; Giere, 1988; Suppe,1989; Torgersen, 2018).

Aims of the Model

The competence structures used in the Competence Structures for thePandemic model (CS-PAN model) (Figure 1) have been extracted from all

862 • Glenn-Egil Torgersen, Samir Rawat, Ole Boe and Andrzej Piotrowski

the chapters in this anthology. These are then indicators of which compe-tence one should focus upon and develop, both at individual, group,organizational, and national level. The indicators are sorted into threedifferent categories, respectively mental and emotional resilience, relationalresilience, and society resilience. Together they form a model, the CS-PANmodel, which in term lead to a theory level referred to as CS-PAN theorylevel.

Figure 1

The CS-PAN model

However, this must be seen in the context of society’s condition, cultureand political situation, not just economically. The military educator JarmioToiskallio (2006) developed a hermeneutical military-pedagogical planningmodel (referred to as the Hermeneutical military-pedagogical planningmodel) to develop the best possible competence to meet and cope with thedemands of war. We have taken this model as our starting point (Toiskallio,2006), and revised it to apply it to pandemics and virus outbreaks. Thepurpose is to show the necessity of comprehensive planning, where bothcompetence structures for the pandemic (CS-PAN) and social conditionsmust be integrated in the planning, implementation and evaluation oftraining and other preparation to meet long-lasting pandemics, in theirvarious phases and waves. In other words, this is an educational model formeeting and dealing with the demands of pandemics.

Integrative Conclusions to Post-Pandemic Reconstruction • 863

As can be seen from the PED-PREP model in Figure 2, conception of thevirus, handling and crisis is the starting point. In order to reach the levelwhere one can make decisions how to develop the action competence ofresidents, emergency personnel and politicians, it is vital to take into consid-eration the competence structures found in the CS-PAN model. These willfunction as pedagogical building blocks on the way to achieve this goal. It isalso vital to take into consideration the prevention, coping, and recovery thatoccurs through different phases or waves of infection pressure.

Figure 2

PED-PREP model

This has to be done with a systematic evaluation and learning in allstages and phases. Included in the model, and which need to be consideredas well, are several important pedagogical questions. These questions areimportant to ask oneself in a planning and preparation phase for anunforeseen pandemic in the future.

We encourage the readers, be that regular residents, personnel involvedin training and educating others in the emergency services, emergency firstresponders (EFRs), decision makers at different levels, or politicians, toconsider and use the proposed models when preparing for the nextunforeseen pandemic. The PED-PREP model can be used as a basis fordiscussions and for decisions about how to cope with psychological andpedagogical issues related to emergency preparedness and reconstructionafter a pandemic, preparing for the next pandemic, as well as how to handleongoing pandemic situations.

864 • Glenn-Egil Torgersen, Samir Rawat, Ole Boe and Andrzej Piotrowski

New Directions in Research on Post-Pandemic Reconstruction:Bridging and Bonding with Psychological Glue During Pandemic Times

This book on Military Psychology Response to Post-Pandemic Reconstructionaddresses multiple issues from a variety of global perspectives and sub disci-plines in the field of military psychology. The chapters clearly indicate thatreconstruction of a new world perspective in various walks of life during andafter the COVID-19 pandemic is an extremely complex phenomenon thatdemands a multifaceted approach to better understand the theoretical under-pinnings of the who, what, where, when, which, how and why ofpost-pandemic reconstruction, and more importantly, the application ofpsychological principles to the dynamic, yet fluid post reconstructionprocess.

Several chapters discuss the theoretical models of cognitive and socialpsychology while others address potential applications of militarypsychology in times to come which range from evolving personality factorslike resilience building to interpersonal influences (evolving leadershipconcepts in pandemic times) to socio cultural influences (like altruism andprosocial behaviour for example).

The treatment of mental health challenges was not the focal point ofthis book; rather most chapters discuss the etiology, development course,related risks and protective factors and impact of COVID-19 pandemic onbehaviour and psychological health. It is noteworthy that a number ofauthors discuss theoretical research related to aspects of resilience,boredom, physical distancing, social isolation, grit, adaptability and newhealth protocols in public spaces. This makes sense that many theories andetiological approaches to dealing with stress and trauma borne from theCOVID-19 pandemic consider coping strategies and resilience, grit anddetermination to be a developmental precursor to overcoming pandemicrelated stress and trauma.

As many chapters illustrate, even the focus of the book is on buildingresilience at the individual and community level in the wake of the pandemic,it remains essential to recognize that the important role of progressivelybuilding capacities through self-regulation mechanisms and resiliencebuilding to minimize risk and vulnerabilities to mental health issues in apost-pandemic era.

“A peacetime army can usually survive with good administration andmanagement up and down the hierarchy, coupled with a good leadershipconcentrated at the very top. A wartime army, however, needs competentleadership at all levels. No one has yet figured out how to manage peopleeffectively into battle; they must be led”. (Kotter, 1990: 104)

Conclusions

As the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) still rages on in the world, wehave come to an end in this effort to contribute with different militarypsychology topics to post-pandemic reconstruction. Our hope is that thisbook may be a valuable help in preparing for upcoming pandemic and other

Integrative Conclusions to Post-Pandemic Reconstruction • 865

similar crises. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us all a previously unseennumber of consequences for physical and mental health of individuals andfor society at large (Brooks et al., 2020; Fiorillo & Gorwood, 2020; Hanna etal., 2018; Lima et al., 2020). Military organizations around the world havenot escaped from this unseen enemy as they also have been affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic. However, the robustness in military organizationsstemming from the use of military psychology has aided during these times.

Acquiring and using some of the knowledge provided in this book, aswell as the CS-PAN and PED-PREP models provided in this chapter willhopefully be useful for anyone reading this book. As stated in Chapter 1, thisbook attempt to help military leaders at different levels as well as policymakers, EFRs and practising psychologists dealing with extreme issues ofoverwhelming stress, grief, trauma and related accompanying factors tobetter understand best practices in post-pandemic reconstruction during andafter containment of this dreaded virus. We close this book by expressing oursincere wish that this might come true.

References

Brooks, S.K., Webster, R.K., Smith, L.E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N. etal. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapidreview of the evidence. The Lancet, 395, 912–920.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8

Fiorillo, A. & Gorwood, P. (2020). The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic onmental health and implications for clinical practice. European Psychiatry, 63(1),E32. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.35

Giere, R. (1988). Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach. Chicago: University ofChicago Press.

Hanna, F., Barbui, C., Dua, T., Lora, A., van Regteren Altena, M. & Saxena, S. (2018).Global mental health: how are we doing? World Psychiatry, 17, 367–368.https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20572

Kotter, J.P. (1990). What leaders really do. Harvard Business Review, 68(3), 103–111.Kvernbekk, T. (2005). Pedagogisk teoridannelse (Pedagogical Theory Construction). Oslo:

Fagbokforlaget.Lima, C., Carvalho, P., Lima, I., Nunes, J., Saraiva, J.S., de Souza, R.I., da Silva, C. &

Neto, M. (2020). The emotional impact of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV (newCoronavirus disease). Psychiatry Research, 287, 112915.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112915

Suppe, F. (1989). The Semantic Conception of Theories and Scientific Realism. Illinois:University of Illinois Press.

Toiskallio, J. (2006). Ethics, Military Pedagogy and Action Competence. Helsinki: FinnishNational Defence College.http://www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/08_cma_09_toi.pdf

Torgersen, G.E. (ed.) (2018). Interaction: ‘Samhandling’ Under Risk: A Step Ahead of TheUnforeseen. Oslo: Cappelen Akademisk.

866 • Glenn-Egil Torgersen, Samir Rawat, Ole Boe and Andrzej Piotrowski

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