Posted on Apr 25, 2020
SGT Robert Pryor
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What has been your experience with debriefing ? Is it standard operating procedure following combat missions or other trauma, to include sexual trauma? I have no idea what is considered a sufficiently traumatic experience to warrant debriefing. Perhaps I didn't see enough action or my experiences might not meet the threshold of when the need for debriefing is indicated.
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 22
SCPO Morris Ramsey
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We always received a debrief when we returned from deployments.
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
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Maybe Uncle Sugar didn't get the word I'm back from Viet Nam already.
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SCPO Morris Ramsey
SCPO Morris Ramsey
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With Uncle Sugar anything is possible. SGT Robert Pryor
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SSgt Richard Kensinger
SSgt Richard Kensinger
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As a clinical psychologist debriefing over time is critical given the high suicide rates of vets. Vets back to Korea still show some unresolved trauma. Those in Vietnam show a lot more, given this conflict is the most despised. detested and protested conflict ever.

I also see plenty of compacted grief and survivors guilt.
Rich
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
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SSgt Richard Kensinger - I certainly have unresolved issues. Things that I have never discussed with anyone and at this point refused to do so. I use humor to deal with most things, except death. There was nothing funny about someone laying down their life for that in which they believe, and that includes enemy combatants.
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LTC Self Employed
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I want to clarify. I had a traumatic event in May, 2009. I broke my ankle while in Afghanistan. After my leg was put in a splint, I was medevac by aircraft to Madigan Hospital at Fort Lewis now called Joint Base Lewis McCord. I was interviewed by an intake worker( a former Army Chaplain) and asked if I felt like I wanted to kill myself. I was asked a bunch of questions. I was in a wounded warrior transition Battalion now. I saw a case worker periodically during my 3 months of convalescence. So, I wanted to update my answer.
SCPO Morris Ramsey Lt Col Charlie Brown CSM Charles Hayden 1SG Tommy McGee CH (CPT) James L. Machado Workman MSG Francisco Ojeda MSG Francisco Ojeda GySgt Thomas Vick SGT Robert Pryor
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LTC Self Employed
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MSG Francisco Ojeda - I did a full recovery. I just could not go to airborne school(I was in a Civil Affairs unit transitioning to Airborne) I was a CPT then. I did a 300 on my APFT in 2012. I work as a delivery driver for UPS and my ankle is fine. I am 57 years old now. I got a 299 on my APFT last fall. No issues now. The VFW rep said it would go arthritic and it never did. I am 10% disabled but it is not obvious. Aside from the scar and the metal plates and screws as the 6 dollar home depot man, I forget most of the time I was injured. I got my 20 year letter a few years back and I am going to retire in October of 2021.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
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I wasn't in combat so I can't speak to that, but we did debrief after every deployment
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
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Lt Col Charlie Brown, certainly combat is not the only trauma one can experience in the military, but probably the easiest to identify. I saw two fellow SFers encounter snakes on FTXs in North Carolina. Talk about traumatic experiences! One guy actually froze he was so traumatized.
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