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

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01“It’s not the same, Sir. You can’t understand. I mean, I survived those other tours. I can’tget it out of my head that this will be it for me. You know how people sometimes say they knowthey’re going to die? Well, I dreamt it on the flight. It was so real! Sir, you’ve just got to relieveme. I’m going to be no good to you anyway. I can’t do this. I just can’t….” Kurtis said, tearsfilling his eyes as he turned away from Stacy stifling a sob.“Okay Sam. I know you won’t talk to the chaplain, but it wouldn’t hurt. Here’s what I wantyou to do. Go see the doc now. Tell her what you’ve told me and ask her to do a quick medicalevaluation on you. I’ll ask her for a recommendation. I’m not going to relieve you, Sam, if I canhelp it. You are too good a Soldier and a man to let this get the best of you. Talk to the battalionsurgeon, Sam. That’s an order.”Stacy knew his little pep talk was not going to be enough, but he had to do something to saveSam from breaking down and ruining his career and his life. Just the same, though, he thoughtabout Sam’s premonition of death. Was there anything to it or was it just a bad dream? Kurtiswas not only one of the best majors in the brigade, but one of the best physical specimens in all ofTF Green. Sam outran men ten years his junior. His scars rippled when he knocked out a dozenpull ups without even breathing hard. What had gotten into this guy, Stacy wondered,remembering the briefing they’d had on burn out and COSR? It was not an unusual problemwith some of their combat veterans, but this was his XO, his friend, and his sister’s husband.Captain Susan Coleman, the battalion surgeon, came to see Stacy a couple of hours after hermeeting with Major Kurtis.“Sir, how’s it going?” Coleman asked.Stacy looked up, smiling. Susan Coleman looked like an eager teenager when she found outshe was going to the National Training Center with the battalion. She was just as excited aboutdeploying. Coleman amused the more experienced officer, but she was definitely a good doctor.The battalion physician’s assistant testified to that after Coleman treated the A Company Soldierwho fell off his FSV-G and broke his leg.“You talked to Major Kurtis, doc?”“I did Sir. He’s pretty shaken. I pulled up his file and searched for any previous stressinjuries, but he’s the healthiest thirty-five year old on paper—I mean on the screen—that I’veseen lately. I’m monitoring his vitals as we speak. BP is up as is his pulse. I don’t see anyindication of physical problems from his wounds. The blood and urine samples tested normal aswell. I can’t believe how quickly we can get the results from the lab in the states, but that’s notwhat you care about now.”Stacy found Coleman’s chatty diagnosis inclusive, but he needed to ask the hard question.“Is he fit for combat, doc? You know, COSR-wise. Is he a candidate for further evaluation?He told you what he’s asking me to do, right?”144