Souls Under Siege: The Effects of Multiple Troop Deployments - and How to Weather the Storm

Souls Under Siege: The Effects of Multiple Troop Deployments - and How to Weather the Storm

Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D.

Both active service members and veterans know the physical and emotional stresses that accompany multiple deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan. The stresses affect not only our troops but their families and children as well. This insightful book is a frank discussion of the impact and pressures of multiple deployments and provides strategies to support service members and their families.

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Everyone is looking for a quick fix for the current war—to win it, fight it, or end it! In the meantime, the resiliency of the dedicated men and women serving our country has been stretched thin by another concern—the “siege of their souls” as they go through the revolving door of seemingly endless combat tours.

The most voracious enemy for today’s troops and their families is time, attrition, and unpreparedness. These elements continue to eat away at every level of their lives. It is all in the makeup of living under siege, and those under siege need to find ways to hold their ground as long as the war lasts. They need to prepare well in advance for the inevitability of multiple deployments.

It has been confirmed that warriors on their third and fourth tours of duty have much greater rates of mental health challenges than those on their first or second deployments. Time, and the wear and tear, has become a daunting enemy.

For the families—the weight of these deployments is magnified when they are ill-prepared for the tremendous emotional change and upheaval that may develop from these circumstances.

Details
Item SUSI
ISBN# 978-0-9819171-0-8
Pages 160 pages, softcover
Year 2010

Authors

Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D.

Dr. Bridget Cantrell was appointed the 2004 Outstanding Female Non-Veteran for her service to veterans by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

She has her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a private practitioner. Dr. Cantrell is one of a small number of specially selected and trained mental health providers for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD Program. She is also a provider under the Mental Health Fee Service Program, Puget Sound Veterans Health Care System (Seattle VA Medical Center).

Specializing in trauma for several years her primary work now encompasses treating war veterans from all eras and their family members. She also works with those veterans who have been sexually abused while serving in the military. In 2003, she received the Highest Productivity award for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) PTSD program.

Her extensive work with PTSD has also afforded her the opportunity to provide services for the Crime Victims Compensation Program for the State of Washington. She is also a consultant and expert witness in forensic cases.

Her dissertation research entitled “Social Support as a Function of PTSD within Washington State Vietnam Veteran Populations”, was presented to the Washington State Senate Select Committee for Veterans as part of the Governor's Master Plan for the needs of veterans. Her research included a five-site sample of Vietnam veterans’ bio-psychosocial needs that was used for planning future programs for the King County Veterans Program.

Dr. Cantrell's research findings were formally presented at the European Traumatic Stress Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland. She was also invited to present in Brisbane, Australia at the Brisbane International Traumatic Stress Conference, as well as the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.

In the Spring of 2004, Dr. Cantrell was requested by the U.S. Army to provide mental health services to the paratroopers of the 173d Airborne Brigade stationed in Vicenza, Italy. While there, she focused upon helping these troops reintegrate with their loved ones and readjust to peacetime conditions after their prolonged combat exposure in Northern Iraq. Information and observations from this time of working with the Iraqi Freedom veterans gave birth to a new workbook course entitled “Turning Your Heart Toward Home”. The book and course is co-authored with veteran writer, Chuck Dean.

Dr. Cantrell is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) and The International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington, a Nationally Board Certified Mental Health Counselor.

Presently, she provides mental health services to active duty from all branches of the military, reservists, and Washington State National Guard troops and their families. This work focuses on treating military personnel who have experienced combat exposure or trauma, family deployment stress and readjustment issues after coming home. She helps family members better support themselves and their deployed loved ones. Dr. Cantrell is also involved with veteran advocacy at the Federal and State level to uphold the rights and ensure proper treatment of veterans.

She lives in Bellingham, Washington, and has offices in both Bellingham and Everett, Washington.

Contents

A Special Message to the Military

Introduction: The Siege

Part One

  1. The Revolving Door
  2. You're Going Where
  3. Between Deployments
  4. How Souls Become Casualties of War
  5. Reinforcing the Ramparts of Your Relationship
  6. Warrior Up

Part Two

  1. For the Child
  2. Dual Deployments

Part Three

  1. Positive Steps in Coming Home
  2. A Transitional Tool Kit

Author's Note

Recommendations

Bibliography

About the Author

Excerpts

Chapter Two

You're Going Where?

“I know it ain't right,” she wrote in one letter, “but you must think on coming home now.”

                                                                                             -- Gary Paulsen, Soldier's Heart

”We’re extended!” The news spread rapidly throughout the brigade. Every soldier in the unit scrambled to find ways to text, call. instant message, or e-mail their loved ones in the States to break the bad news. They were not coming home as everyone had planned

The situation in Baghdad had developed quickly and needed to be responded to without delay. The commanders in the field chose this particular brigade to stay and continue operations because they were the most experienced team in the sandbox. Their work in Mosul had been outstanding and that success was their drawing card to be the most likely team to get the job done now.

The soldiers knew they must carry on and do what they were called upon to do, but those on the home front might not be as enthusiastic or understanding of the extension. It is difficult for loved ones and family to family to understand their warrior’s desire to return down range. For some, it is the most important thing they have done in their lives; there is a great sense of honor, commitment and camaraderie that can hold an extremely powerful allure for our men and women in uniform. Those who are affected by these situations must lame the best of the demands and keep moving forward. Honoring each other for their contributions is important in nourishing these relationships.

Extending tours of duty are part of any war. It is something the military tries to avoid, but most of the time it cannot be prevented. Extensions for warriors engaged in war zones, many times without any advanced notice, are inevitable. It makes little difference what war, which branch, or who is in charge of decision making whenever there is a prolonged conflict – it simply happens.

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