the danish veterans' policy

Many veterans experience that they get a better knowledgeof themselves through their deployment. Theencounter with a local population with other culturalstandards in an area of conflict, and with radicallydifferent problems from those in Denmark, has givennew knowledge to many deployed soldiers.Recognition is thus also to realize and appreciate theprofessional and personal competences that the veteransacquire during their deployment.The time before deployment is characterized by intensiveeducation and training in order to prepare the soldier forthat specific mission. During deployment, everyday lifemay be characterized by a lot of waiting time and routinetasks, interrupted by intense periods of straining andunaccustomed situations. In most conflict areas there willbe different dangers, depending on the specific situation.Improvised explosive devices and combat are examplesof specific threats against the life of the individual soldier.Destitution in the local population, assault on civilians,and injured and deceased colleagues are other examplesof experiences that deployed soldiers must be able torelate to specifically. The many foreign influences andstraining situations affect most people both physicallyand psychically. Those are normal reactions to unusualexperiences.The tasks in the mission areas are very complex anddemand that a soldier has a high mental readiness.For instance, Danish soldiers must be able to not onlyfight rebel forces, protect the local population and takepart in stabilizing an area. They must also be able to enterinto a dynamic teamwork with the actors responsible forthe civilian reconstruction and development effort, andwith the local population.After deployment, the veteran once again has to adaptto Danish everyday life. The veteran’s mental preparednessmust be brought back to the same level, as it wasbefore the deployment. This can be difficult after a periodof time where high intensity has been the norm. Someveterans also display altered physiological reactions.After a longer deployment period of high preparedness,the adrenaline production may be increased, amongother reactions. It is quite normal that it will take time toget it back to the level where it was before deployment.This is what we do today:From ‘Battlemind’ to ‘Homemind’Units that have been in Afghanistan are kepttogether for up to three months after homecoming.The veterans have the opportunityto process their experience together, and toget used to the transition to civilian life (firstprogramme was in 2008).10The veterans’ policy of the Danish government