Posted on Jan 10, 2020
What is it like being 68X (Behavioral Health Specialist) in a Combat Support unit at Fort Drum?
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And if you were deployed, what were your experiences like and how long were you deployed?
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68X: Behavioral Health Specialist
Fort Drum
68X: Behavioral Health Specialist Fort Drum
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 4
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Started in Ft Drum...deployed to Haiti and multiple JRTCs. Then Korea. as the sole mental health provider on cp Carroll. Then Ft hood, where I deployed twice to Kuwait. Awesome experiences, but again, the only mental health services available
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Spec Masrat, my comments may seem old to you, but there may be some nuggets in there for you.
I was a 91G3Z when I left the army at Fort Drum in 1990. Previous to Drum, I was in F Company, 1st support Battalion in Germany. Although never deployed, the one thing I found that kept people off my back was to fully read and understand the regulation that guides providing mental health services. This is especially true if you are located with the MEDDAC for daily services. They have a tendency to take advantage of 10th Mountain troopers. Your shrink, psych and social worker should back you up and give you the training you need to fully function in a field environment along with your ncos.
If you provide "services" to a brigade, get with the medics. They will be of so much help when you deploy. If you have a vehicle, make sure you carry toilet paper, extra rations (like tray meals), loaves of bread and oranges. These will go a long way in making you part of their team. If you can, train with them, and offer training to them (battle fatigue, differential diagnosis, sleep and rest discipline, suicide prevention etc) you should have the knowledge and expertise to do this training, if not, ask your ncos to assist you and help you learn how to train others. Finally, ask for paramedic training. Part of the old mos test was 75% medical. When you are in the fi, chances are they will throw a couple yelling screaming people at you to care for. Give him flexoril, let him sleep and help out the unit. I was always assigned to the triage tent for MASCAL exercises usually with the shrink doing emergency medicine.
So support your teams, at division main and to your brigade support. Round yourself out to be an asset to the medical unit you are supporting. Stay warm, and keep your head down.
I was a 91G3Z when I left the army at Fort Drum in 1990. Previous to Drum, I was in F Company, 1st support Battalion in Germany. Although never deployed, the one thing I found that kept people off my back was to fully read and understand the regulation that guides providing mental health services. This is especially true if you are located with the MEDDAC for daily services. They have a tendency to take advantage of 10th Mountain troopers. Your shrink, psych and social worker should back you up and give you the training you need to fully function in a field environment along with your ncos.
If you provide "services" to a brigade, get with the medics. They will be of so much help when you deploy. If you have a vehicle, make sure you carry toilet paper, extra rations (like tray meals), loaves of bread and oranges. These will go a long way in making you part of their team. If you can, train with them, and offer training to them (battle fatigue, differential diagnosis, sleep and rest discipline, suicide prevention etc) you should have the knowledge and expertise to do this training, if not, ask your ncos to assist you and help you learn how to train others. Finally, ask for paramedic training. Part of the old mos test was 75% medical. When you are in the fi, chances are they will throw a couple yelling screaming people at you to care for. Give him flexoril, let him sleep and help out the unit. I was always assigned to the triage tent for MASCAL exercises usually with the shrink doing emergency medicine.
So support your teams, at division main and to your brigade support. Round yourself out to be an asset to the medical unit you are supporting. Stay warm, and keep your head down.
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