TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01conditions multiple times in a career of Army service. These conditions also apply in largemeasure to Army civilians and contractor support personnel.This chapter focuses on the deleterious effects of stress far more than on the strengtheningeffects they can produce in many individuals. Certainly, the desirable characteristics of the“hardened” warrior are worthy to exploit, but the Army must continue to seek means toameliorate the negative effects. The Army already deals with Soldiers and veterans sufferingfrom post traumatic stress disorders from earlier wars. Ideally, in the future the Army willdevelop more and better ways to prevent the negative effects of combat and operational stress. Inany case, the Army must treat Soldier fitness holistically accounting for the effects of stressmorally, physically, and mentally.Within these three components of the human dimension, this concept suggests many actionsthat the Army might take to deal with a future of persistent conflict. The toll of persistentconflict on Soldiers and the shifting demographics of available recruits help to reinforce theimportance of assessing, selecting, and educating individuals to ensure their readiness to face therigorous demands the future. The process of selecting the people who will make up the Army ofthe future is the subject of the next chapter.VignetteDarwin, AustraliaLieutenant Colonel Stacy is preparing his battalion for the upcoming mounted verticalassault on AO Aerie when he gets the order changing their destination to AO Foxden. Stacy isunfazed since they’d planned for this as a branch plan and would be able to rehearse theoperation while in the air en route to Sumatra. Meanwhile, something less easily resolvedtroubles him. His Executive Officer, Major Sam Kurtis, has asked to be relieved. Kurtis was arock solid officer who had never manifested any problems in the past. He was one of the mostexperienced majors in the brigade, having served two combat tours in Iraq and one inAfghanistan. Stacy is baffled and seriously worried. His operations officer can step up to takeKurtis’s position and the assistant S3 is a strong captain. Stacy’s dilemma is the effect this willhave on Kurtis’s career, his own self-esteem, and his reputation, not to mention his family.“Sir,” Sam Kurtis had said physically trembling, “I don’t think I can handle this.”“Handle what, Sam? Are you all right? Lord knows we haven’t had much rest lately.”“It’s not that, Sir. I’m shaking inside and out just thinking about getting into a fight again.You know, I’ve been wounded twice and have all those ribbons, Sir, but the thought of hangingmy butt out in another firefight makes me want to puke.”“You of all people ought to know we all feel that way, Sam.”143