Posted on Apr 25, 2020
Were you debriefed following combat operations or other traumatic event?
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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.
Deployment
Combat
Mental Health
TBI
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 22
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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!
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SGT Robert Pryor
Your situation, CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner, proves the military still has a serious problem with the whole idea of debriefing.
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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.
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.
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SGT Robert Pryor
I am certainly no expert. SGT Matthew S., but I think that unwinding with your friends that went through the same traumatic experience is as good or better than being debriefed by someone who had not been there, done that.
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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 %.
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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.
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.
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SFC Jeff Duncan
I was the same debrief after we wrote out after action report that went up the chain to various intel offices just to make sure we hadn’t forgot anything or didn’t want it on record.
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