Military Leaders Must Recognize the Early Signs of Stress

SFC Phillip Woodard — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 15:22:58 -0500

The human body resembles a metal spring, with a certain tolerance for stress. It can be strained beyond the limits of normal function and then return to its original state or shape. The pressures of military operations causes Service Members to react in different ways depending on the source and the timing of the event. “Dr. Jere E. Yates points out that there are actually three different stages, or points that humans can experience with stress.”(Drafke, 2009) The three stages are yield point, elastic limit, and the rupture point with each representing progressively increased levels of stress on the human body.

The yield point is the first stage that reveals itself as a slight change from normal behavior from time to time. The occupational hazards experienced by most Service Members, particularly during Initial Entry Training and lengthy deployments places unexpected stressors on them and their families. Most rebound from this stage as long as the causative factors associated with the stress subside (cycle breaks and Rest and Recuperation leave). A Soldier bringing his/her family problems from home to work is a classic example. Noncommissioned officers may notice a change in their subordinates’ tolerance for meeting a deadline for instance, which normally would not register anything out of the ordinary. There are ways to counter or bring the individual back to a normal state by communicating, going for a walk, or sharing leisure activities. Hopefully, these intervention measures can prevent the Service Member from moving to the elastic point.

The elastic limit is an extremely critical point Yates describes as an early-warning device that tells us when we are near our stress threshold. Veterans may function reasonably well between the yield point elastic limit and can function for a while at the elastic limit. If pressed beyond this limit, they will not rebound easily causing undue stress around the workplace and bringing the unit into chaos. Operating in a continuous operations environment for more than 72 hours without rest pushes the body to the limits of physical endurance, and performance on most tasks will be about 50 percent less than normal. The chain of command must recognize the early warning signs in each individual and the triggers that may lead to progression to the final stage – rupture point.

“Once an individual goes beyond the elastic limit, they may reach their rupture point, which can cause some severe and permanent mental and physical damage if they don’t manage the stress properly.” (Drafke, 2009) A nervous breakdown is a serious condition which renders an individual incapable of self-recovery in most instances. The body may exhibit physical symptoms of illness normally caused by some outside agent such as a germ or traumatic injury. Service Members in high intensity combat situations will often push themselves beyond their physical and mental limits. During the 100-hour ground war in Desert Storm, U.S. Forces were successful because they were conditioned and trained to challenge themselves to the physical limits of endurance. This stage of stress is well beyond the training and scope of anyone within the military organization, leading the Army to imbed Combat Stress Control Teams within units. Removal from the stressful environment is paramount, and hopefully the Service Member is escorted or assisted to the proper care needed.Some people handle stress by exercising, others by smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages to “take the edge off.” The military has wellness programs (physical training) that encourage physical fitness during the normal working hours to help relieve mental and physical stress before it worsens through the stages.

Dr. Yates identified three stages of stress; yield point, elastic limit, and the rupture point. People move from one stage to the other when they fail to properly recover from the stress or remove themselves from the causative agent (work or home). Military leaders need a good understanding of the stages of stress and how it affects each individual within their organization. No two people react to stressful situations the same and the ways they manage their stress will vary accordingly. Mental stresses may cause physical impairments if left unchecked or untreated. The goal of any military organization is to foster an environment where stress is not a requirement for employment, or a detriment to success.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jan 19 at 2016 8:56 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:56:17 -0500

SFC Phillip Woodard Outstanding point, and appreciate the background. Leaders who think they're helping their unit or Service by pushing their subordinates beyond their elastic limit are very wrong. You do more to help your unit and service by knowing your people and staying engaged with them so you know how far their spring is stretched.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2016 1:31 AM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 May 2016 01:31:10 -0400

Most of this post, I agree with. My question is what happens when you have predatory leaders who use a kind of perverted inverse of this? I mean leaders who deliberately seek to know those under them so they know where the yield and rupture points are in order to hone in on those "weaknesses" and use them to destroy anyone who dares to be a human with human limits. Those leaders are so caught up in eliminating weakness in the formation that they will go out of their way to ensure that even having an elastic limit is grounds for special vitriol and swift, virulent action. How do we work on noticing these leaders and their stresses and - dare I say it - their fears, while still dealing with the stresses they push out onto others? And yes, I have had leaders who have done this and I had to put out the spiritual/moral/ethical "grease fires" they started.