Were you debriefed following combat operations or other traumatic event?

2020-04-25T08:59:03-04:00

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.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Apr 25 at 2020 9:19 AM

2020-04-25T09:19:08-04:00

We always received a debrief when we returned from deployments.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Apr 25 at 2020 9:53 AM

2020-04-25T09:53:40-04:00

I wasn't in combat so I can't speak to that, but we did debrief after every deployment

Response by 1SG Tommy McGee made Apr 25 at 2020 10:00 AM

2020-04-25T10:00:04-04:00

I was debriefed for some day to day Operations and engagements and not others that were more intense.

Response by GySgt Thomas Vick made Apr 25 at 2020 10:28 AM

2020-04-25T10:28:24-04:00

I don't recall ever being debriefed, bout the only relaxation we ever got was about once every 6 to 7 months they would put us in a compound called stack arms, take our weapons from us and give us all the beer we could drink, does that count as debriefing?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 25 at 2020 10:40 AM

2020-04-25T10:40:28-04:00

SGT Robert Pryor The “war experiences” of a friend who jumped with the 101st on D-Day were limited to “I was debriefed”. That is all he ever said about going to Europe.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 11:11 AM

2020-04-25T11:11:50-04:00

SGT Robert Pryor We never received any debriefing. We did have two in country R&Rs after long operations. We went to a compound on the beach at China Beach. We turned in our weapons as other Marines were guarding us. We were issued new jungle utilities and for 48 hours we had all the beer and sodas that we wanted to drink. They had hot hogs and hamburgers and they showed a movie each night on a plywood screen with logs for benches. We were ragged and exhausted and this was a welcome relief. Leaving Vietnam, we went to Okinawa for three or four days to pick up the gear we had left there and get cleaned up. I know we had briefings but I don't remember much about them other than they mentioned we might encounter protestors when we returned to the states, which we did.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 12:24 PM

2020-04-25T12:24:25-04:00

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.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Apr 25 at 2020 12:26 PM

2020-04-25T12:26:34-04:00

During my tour in Vietnam when you came back to the Firebase or larger compound,the LT and Platoon Sergeants usually reported to Headquarters,the rest of us got our two cans of warm beer/soda and tried to get into the showers and stay away from the chicken sh*t details the Army is famous for!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 25 at 2020 1:01 PM

2020-04-25T13:01:26-04:00

We did aircrew debriefings after exercise missions simulating a combat environment. The aircrew went to an intelligence debriefing where an intel NCO or Officer asked questions about the mission, what we had seen, and any details about "enemy" order of battle, bomb damage assessment, enemy attacks on the formation or aircraft, etc. Intel had their checklist of items they were looking for.

We routinely debriefed our aircrew or formation after every mission. The Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, or Formation Leader conducted the debriefing. We reviewed the assigned mission and success parameters and how well they were achieved. We collected lessons learned and passed them along to operations leadership or the safety officer.

As a flight safety officer, I conducted post-mishap aircrew debriefing. My purpose was to gather statements about the mishap that would be used in the aircraft mishap investigation. We had a checklist for aircrew debriefings that made sure we covered all of the areas of investigation.

Response by 1SG John Highfill made Apr 25 at 2020 1:08 PM

2020-04-25T13:08:54-04:00

I was not debriefed returning from Viet Nam but I was returning from Iraqi Freedom where I spent most of my day’s at KNB but as a 1SG my stress level was much higher during my last deployment taken responsibility for Soldiers is not for the feint of heart

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 1:34 PM

2020-04-25T13:34:10-04:00

We debriefed after each operation in Iraq.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Apr 25 at 2020 4:24 PM

2020-04-25T16:24:52-04:00

Pretty much all my debriefings came after reconnaissance and regular combat operations.
I don't remember there being any consideration for trauma at any of the debriefs.
My guess is that's a new thing for the Army and deals with PTSD Concerns.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Apr 25 at 2020 5:05 PM

2020-04-25T17:05:31-04:00

Debriefed ? Hell they didn't even tell us about the VA. Saw a C/P psychiatrist in 1998 and was denied service connection for PTSD. Saw the same one 8 years later and he flat out said " your CMB and Purple Hearts qualify you for 50 %.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Apr 25 at 2020 5:15 PM

2020-04-25T17:15:14-04:00

debrief?
never...

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Apr 26 at 2020 8:59 PM

2020-04-26T20:59:34-04:00

Once. During my second Iraq deployment we had two incidents where my gunner fired on what had every indication of an explosive-laden vehicle charging our patrol. Thankfully they weren't, though, and we never figured out why they acted the way they did. The second incident also entailed a 10 year-old boy taking a bullet to the chest in the process; luckily his father's stupidity didn't get him killed.

The CO had us all sit through a debriefing with a Major that came in and ran the whole thing; we all felt it unnecessary as everything had turned out as well as could be - plus we'd been out all night & just wanted a hot meal before racking out for a while.

That was the only time. None after 'routine' operations, nor other days with serious incidents - including several where the hand of God was all we could figure for reason why everyone walked away in (mostly) one piece or after assisting other units having very, very bad days.

I suppose you could consider all the stuff after we returned to garrison a debriefing.

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Apr 26 at 2020 9:03 PM

2020-04-26T21:03:51-04:00

That is funny.

Response by CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner made Apr 26 at 2020 10:20 PM

2020-04-26T22:20:39-04:00

We had several traumatic incidents on our FOB; however, during the middle of a debriefing following a suicide, my BDE chaplain called me to ask if I would be doing Suicide Prevention Training later that day. I won't disclose what I told him lest it should offend those of sensitive ears, but it wasn't very Christ-like. When I redeployed from Afghanistan, I had a very short window to meet my next reporting date, so as soon as I landed I began clearing the post. So this is a very long answer to respond, NO, I was not debriefed following any of the traumas or deployment!

Response by PO3 John Dougherty made May 2 at 2020 8:05 PM

2020-05-02T20:05:47-04:00

I was abused at sea..Never offered tramadol treatment

Response by PO3 John Dougherty made May 2 at 2020 8:07 PM

2020-05-02T20:07:09-04:00

That was trama treatment

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2020 12:20 PM

2020-05-24T12:20:37-04:00

No comment.

Response by SSG David Angell made Jun 14 at 2020 10:55 PM

2020-06-14T22:55:54-04:00

Always had a AAR (after action report/review).

Response by Capt Raymond Lewis made Jun 15 at 2020 12:24 AM

2020-06-15T00:24:31-04:00

We were never debriefed during my entire time in Vietnam. I flew A4E Skyhawks and any debrief was just a discussion about the mission with your wingman while walking back from the flight line. We had three pilots shot down and lost while I was with the squadron and we continued flight ops like nothing ever happened. They did show us where the pilots were shot down and basically said "good luck"