CAPTAINS CAREER COURSE

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CAPTAINS CAREER COURSE
REDUCE STRESS
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TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE

• ACTION Understand measures to reduce
  operational stress.
• CONDITIONS In a classroom environment, given
  student handouts
• STANDARD Develop a logical and comprehensive
  plan based on the principles underlying
  operational stress that, when implemented, would
  decrease the amount of operational stress in a
  unit.

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SAFETY, RISK AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

• Safety Requirements None
• Risk Assessment Level Low
• Environmental Considerations None

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PRIMARY REFERENCES

• FM 22-51, Leaders Manual for Combat Stress
  Control
• DA PAM 600-63-10, Stress Management

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STRESS

• Bodys response to a demand (stressor)
• Stressors are events or situations that...
• require a change
• create internal emotional conflict
• pose a threat
• The demand may be physical or mental.
• Stressors can be positive or negative depending
  on how they are perceived by the person.
• Bottom line Stressor perception causes
  stress.

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SIGNS OF STRESS

• Combat
• Withdrawal
• Temper
• Depression, insomnia
• Erratic actions, outbursts
• Loss of skills and memories
• Impaired vision, touch,
  
  and hearing
• Hallucinations and
• delusions
• Impaired duty performance
• Hyper alertness

• Operational
• Facial tautness
• Lack of concentration
• Frustration
• Loud, explosive speech
• Tense posture
• Anxiety, fear, panic
• Finger/knee fidgeting
• Pounding and clenching fist while
  walking
• Irritability or edginess

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WHAT INFLUENCES STRESS?

• Operational
• Realistic training
• Unit cohesion
• Optempo
• Family
• Financial
• Problems
• TDY/PCS moves

• Combat
• Unit cohesion
• Sense of mission
• Battle fatigue
• Malnutrition
• Unpredictability
• Fears and anxiety
• Injuries

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TYPES OF STRESS

• Useful stress The pressure that helps us meet
  and overcome unpleasant or painful situations
• Harmful stress Excess mental and physical
  strain on the body that causes physical and
  mental problems

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THE STRESS - PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP
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STAGES OF STRESS ADAPTATION
High
Normal
Low
Time
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COPING WITH THE IMPACT OF STRESS

• Practice stress-coping techniques
• Counseling
• Simple relaxation techniques
• Preventative techniques
• Physical preparation
• Mental preparation

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COPING WITH THE IMPACT OF STRESS, cont.

• Preventive Techniques
• Physical preparation
• Get enough sleep
• Exercise
• Eat right
• Mental preparation
• Talk about your problems
• Accept what you can not change
• Set realistic expectations

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LEADERS ACTIONS TO REDUCE STRESS IN A UNIT

• Promote unit cohesion
• Serve as an ethical role model.
• Integrate new arrivals quickly.
• Keep members of small teams always working
  together.
• Conduct AAR debriefings routinely.
• Recommend exemplary soldiers for awards and
  decorations.
• Be visible.

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more LEADERS ACTIONS TO REDUCE STRESS IN A UNIT

• Ensure physical fitness.
• Conduct tough, realistic training.
• Build confidence.
• Ensure risk assessments are conducted.
• Cross train soldiers whenever and wherever
  possible.
• Conserve the well-being of the troops.
• Allocate resources to take care of the troops.

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more LEADERS ACTIONS TO REDUCE STRESS IN A UNIT

• Keep information flowing!
• Keep accurate information flowing down to the
  lowest level -- and back up again.
• Dispel rumors!
• Provide the junior NCOs and officers with
  necessary guidance.
• Provide as much information to the soldiers as
  possible.
• Encourage sharing of resources and feelings.

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Practical Exercise
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Comments?
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SUMMARY

• Factors that influence stress
• Types of stress
• Stages of stress adaptation
• Coping with the impact of stress
• Leaders actions to reduce stress in a unit