Posted on Jul 2, 2016
What is your opinion of the true existence of the "1916 Character of Weakness" military psychology model?
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37F: Psychological Operations SpecialistBUMED
Combat Stress Control
Leadership Development
Psychology
37F: Psychological Operations SpecialistBUMED Combat Stress Control Leadership Development Psychology
Posted >1 y ago
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Thanks for educating me on this one, PO3 Aaron Hassay. I have been in the mental health field and had never seen it described in this way. Certainly an eye-opener for me. Bravo Zulu.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
Thank You for reading. Thank You for your service.
My aim is to support.
I do a lot of reading on these issues that possibly could of saved me when I was serving, if they were known by leadership.
Here is a good sample plate to reference.
NAVEDTRA 14227B
NONRESIDENT
TRAINING
COURSE
February 2013
Risk factors also exist for physical injuries and illnesses; however, no one would blame individual
service members for being injured in a firefight simply because they were not as physically quick or
agile as others who escaped injury. Individuals are no more to blame for, or free from, the
responsibility to acknowledge and cope with their own stress problems than their own physical
injuries and illnesses.
5.5.1.2 Combat and Operational Stress Injuries: A Bridging Concept
To address the shortcomings of the 1916 character weakness model, a new concept of COSC was
developed in the Marine Corps and OSC in the Navy as being, in some cases, literal wounds to the
mind, body, and spirit. These psychological wounds, hereafter called stress injuries, are stages of
distress or impairment that are intermediate in severity and persistence. These stages range between
stress reactions, which are normal, common, and expected responses to adversity, and stress
illnesses, which are less common, but need more medical, spiritual, or mental health treatment to
prevent long-term disability.
The major differences between physical injuries and stress injuries of great importance to Navy and
Marine Corps leaders are that stress injuries are not physically visible, are harder to recognize, and
burden their bearer with greater social stigma. They are, therefore, less likely to be voluntarily
reported by injured individuals.
5.5.1.1 The Navy-Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Continuum Model
Military commanders and their health and religious ministry advisors have historically taken a
somewhat different approach to psychological health protection in operational settings than they have
to physical health protection. Whereas timely screening and treatment for injuries and illnesses have
always been cornerstones of physical health protection, these same activities have historically been
shunned for stress-related problems occurring in operational settings for fear of drawing attention to
them and fostering epidemics of stress casualties.
This approach to psychological health protection arose during World War I, when a major conceptual
shift regarding combat stress occurred. Prior to 1916, stress casualties, such as “shell shock,” were
believed to be true medical injuries caused by physical disruption in the brain as a result of nearby
artillery blasts. They were treated like any other physical injury, without the burdens of social stigma
or personal blame, and many were evacuated from theater on both sides of the war.
After 1916, the medical model of combat stress was replaced by the idea of shell shock. Shell shock
was considered a temporary and reversible response to stress that would always resolve with no
more than a little rest and encouragement. It was then believed to be caused not by literal damage to
the brain, but by a weakness of character brought out by the dangers and hardships of war. Principles
of forward management of stress casualties, based on this new character weakness model, dictated
that service members suffering from stress reactions not be allowed to see themselves as sick, ill, or
injured and that they be kept separate from “true” combat casualties. Brief rest and the unwavering
expectation that everyone disabled by stress would soon recover and return to the fight – also known
as the principle of expectancy – were considered the only tools leaders needed to manage stress
casualties.
Medical evaluation and treatment were considered last resorts to be employed only when rest and
encouragement failed to get a service member back into the fight. This historical approach to stress
casualties is summarized in Psychiatric Lessons of War: “You are neither sick nor a coward. You are
just tired and will recover when rested.” However, according to War of Nerves: Soldiers and
Psychiatrists, some of those who failed to recover when rested were executed for cowardice.
My aim is to support.
I do a lot of reading on these issues that possibly could of saved me when I was serving, if they were known by leadership.
Here is a good sample plate to reference.
NAVEDTRA 14227B
NONRESIDENT
TRAINING
COURSE
February 2013
Risk factors also exist for physical injuries and illnesses; however, no one would blame individual
service members for being injured in a firefight simply because they were not as physically quick or
agile as others who escaped injury. Individuals are no more to blame for, or free from, the
responsibility to acknowledge and cope with their own stress problems than their own physical
injuries and illnesses.
5.5.1.2 Combat and Operational Stress Injuries: A Bridging Concept
To address the shortcomings of the 1916 character weakness model, a new concept of COSC was
developed in the Marine Corps and OSC in the Navy as being, in some cases, literal wounds to the
mind, body, and spirit. These psychological wounds, hereafter called stress injuries, are stages of
distress or impairment that are intermediate in severity and persistence. These stages range between
stress reactions, which are normal, common, and expected responses to adversity, and stress
illnesses, which are less common, but need more medical, spiritual, or mental health treatment to
prevent long-term disability.
The major differences between physical injuries and stress injuries of great importance to Navy and
Marine Corps leaders are that stress injuries are not physically visible, are harder to recognize, and
burden their bearer with greater social stigma. They are, therefore, less likely to be voluntarily
reported by injured individuals.
5.5.1.1 The Navy-Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Continuum Model
Military commanders and their health and religious ministry advisors have historically taken a
somewhat different approach to psychological health protection in operational settings than they have
to physical health protection. Whereas timely screening and treatment for injuries and illnesses have
always been cornerstones of physical health protection, these same activities have historically been
shunned for stress-related problems occurring in operational settings for fear of drawing attention to
them and fostering epidemics of stress casualties.
This approach to psychological health protection arose during World War I, when a major conceptual
shift regarding combat stress occurred. Prior to 1916, stress casualties, such as “shell shock,” were
believed to be true medical injuries caused by physical disruption in the brain as a result of nearby
artillery blasts. They were treated like any other physical injury, without the burdens of social stigma
or personal blame, and many were evacuated from theater on both sides of the war.
After 1916, the medical model of combat stress was replaced by the idea of shell shock. Shell shock
was considered a temporary and reversible response to stress that would always resolve with no
more than a little rest and encouragement. It was then believed to be caused not by literal damage to
the brain, but by a weakness of character brought out by the dangers and hardships of war. Principles
of forward management of stress casualties, based on this new character weakness model, dictated
that service members suffering from stress reactions not be allowed to see themselves as sick, ill, or
injured and that they be kept separate from “true” combat casualties. Brief rest and the unwavering
expectation that everyone disabled by stress would soon recover and return to the fight – also known
as the principle of expectancy – were considered the only tools leaders needed to manage stress
casualties.
Medical evaluation and treatment were considered last resorts to be employed only when rest and
encouragement failed to get a service member back into the fight. This historical approach to stress
casualties is summarized in Psychiatric Lessons of War: “You are neither sick nor a coward. You are
just tired and will recover when rested.” However, according to War of Nerves: Soldiers and
Psychiatrists, some of those who failed to recover when rested were executed for cowardice.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
One last piece Sir.
I do not know the equivlant to ROCKS and SHOALS in other branches outside the NAVY, but here is a bit of history.
Well in the last 100 years after, 1916 Character of Weakness Model, take this into account.
"Rocks and Shoals" (google) was the informal name of those Articles for the Government of the United States Navy. Justice under the Articles was swift and tended to be harsh. It was replaced by the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1951.
Have you ever heard of a Term called FAN ROOM COUNSELING.
In the ARMY or MARINES I heard it is called WALL TO WALL COUNSELING(GOOGLE TERMS) even used today outside the context of the UCMJ of course in private quarters of course, from a senior to a junior of course, basically under the same vain as ROCKS AND SHOALS.
I was informed the name Rocks and Shoals from an old Chief I knew in service, who told me the term, after service, when I finally admitted to him what the Master Chief did to me in the forward locker, when I was an e3, 20 years old, when I was sea sick and not feeling well, and pissed him off some way, that I can not recall.
I do not know the equivlant to ROCKS and SHOALS in other branches outside the NAVY, but here is a bit of history.
Well in the last 100 years after, 1916 Character of Weakness Model, take this into account.
"Rocks and Shoals" (google) was the informal name of those Articles for the Government of the United States Navy. Justice under the Articles was swift and tended to be harsh. It was replaced by the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1951.
Have you ever heard of a Term called FAN ROOM COUNSELING.
In the ARMY or MARINES I heard it is called WALL TO WALL COUNSELING(GOOGLE TERMS) even used today outside the context of the UCMJ of course in private quarters of course, from a senior to a junior of course, basically under the same vain as ROCKS AND SHOALS.
I was informed the name Rocks and Shoals from an old Chief I knew in service, who told me the term, after service, when I finally admitted to him what the Master Chief did to me in the forward locker, when I was an e3, 20 years old, when I was sea sick and not feeling well, and pissed him off some way, that I can not recall.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
Good to see you back around the forums. As to your question, I'm not familiar with that. I did a quick Google search but nothing seemed right. Could you give me a bit more information?
Good to see you back around the forums. As to your question, I'm not familiar with that. I did a quick Google search but nothing seemed right. Could you give me a bit more information?
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Capt Seid Waddell
PO3 Aaron Hassay, PO1 John Miller, is this it?
"The Navy-Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Continuum Model
Whereas timely screening and treatment for injuries and illnesses have always been cornerstones of physical health protection, these same activities have historically been shunned for stress-related problems occurring in operational settings for fear of drawing attention to them and fostering epidemics of stress casualties.
This approach to psychological health protection arose during World War I, when a major conceptual shift regarding combat stress occurred. Prior to 1916, stress casualties, such as “shell shock,” were believed to be true medical injuries caused by physical disruption in the brain as a result of nearby artillery blasts. They were treated like any other physical injury, without the burdens of social stigma or personal blame, and many were evacuated from theater on both sides of the war."
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/nccosc/coscConference/Documents/COSC%20MRCP%20NTTP%20Doctrine.pdf
"The Navy-Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Continuum Model
Whereas timely screening and treatment for injuries and illnesses have always been cornerstones of physical health protection, these same activities have historically been shunned for stress-related problems occurring in operational settings for fear of drawing attention to them and fostering epidemics of stress casualties.
This approach to psychological health protection arose during World War I, when a major conceptual shift regarding combat stress occurred. Prior to 1916, stress casualties, such as “shell shock,” were believed to be true medical injuries caused by physical disruption in the brain as a result of nearby artillery blasts. They were treated like any other physical injury, without the burdens of social stigma or personal blame, and many were evacuated from theater on both sides of the war."
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/nccosc/coscConference/Documents/COSC%20MRCP%20NTTP%20Doctrine.pdf
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PO1 John Miller
Capt Seid Waddell
I saw that on my Google search. First link in fact. I wasn't sure if it was what PO3 Aaron Hassay was referring to though.
I saw that on my Google search. First link in fact. I wasn't sure if it was what PO3 Aaron Hassay was referring to though.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
Hello men. Yes the year or era surrounding 1916 shifted to place blame stigma through an actual military medical term called Character of Weakness label, on the actual service member under military stress. I just AIT back and wonder what kind of human mentality even then would create such a medical label on a military member
If you do a little more research you will see this type of leadership think on subordinates, leads to life altering negative disharges, with the excuse of broad negative almoat persecutorial similar labeling for "personality disorder", when in fact the service member needed understanding or support medical or otherwise, and was truly dealing with an true medical illness caused by military stress, be it terrible leadership etc. I find it heartening that some more human folks in the medical leadership field are now not blatently labeling the brave service member as weak in a charchter assaniation label such as character of weakness in 1916 or personality disorder even today. Now I find a new term called cosc os cosr acronyms for combat or operational stress control reaction. Yes it is 100% real to have life altering stress reactions operationally deployed on a navy combat ship, that is not the fault of the sailor. The only problem was my FFG did not have a MD on it. We only had an e7 who was not educated in os or osr. So the likely hood of medical care was near zero. The labeling as weak was near 100%. I dont know what this means to anyone. But that is my understanding so far.
Thanks
If you do a little more research you will see this type of leadership think on subordinates, leads to life altering negative disharges, with the excuse of broad negative almoat persecutorial similar labeling for "personality disorder", when in fact the service member needed understanding or support medical or otherwise, and was truly dealing with an true medical illness caused by military stress, be it terrible leadership etc. I find it heartening that some more human folks in the medical leadership field are now not blatently labeling the brave service member as weak in a charchter assaniation label such as character of weakness in 1916 or personality disorder even today. Now I find a new term called cosc os cosr acronyms for combat or operational stress control reaction. Yes it is 100% real to have life altering stress reactions operationally deployed on a navy combat ship, that is not the fault of the sailor. The only problem was my FFG did not have a MD on it. We only had an e7 who was not educated in os or osr. So the likely hood of medical care was near zero. The labeling as weak was near 100%. I dont know what this means to anyone. But that is my understanding so far.
Thanks
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PO1 John Miller
PO3 Aaron Hassay
Yes, that explains a lot. I do definitely agree with you that medical care for mental health as vastly improved over the last 100 years.
Yes, that explains a lot. I do definitely agree with you that medical care for mental health as vastly improved over the last 100 years.
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PO Hassay
I am so sorry your IDC did not take the time to look in your eyes to see that there was something bigger going on than what landed you in Sick Bay. It really does hurt my heart when it sounds like one of my fellow IDCs has brushed something off. None of us are perfect though, and neither are doctors. I've seen plenty of doctors miss things that IDCs or PAs have picked up on. Just to be fair, PA's & NPs definitely aren't infallible either.
I went to IDC school from Oct 91-Nov 92. Our Psyc training was definitely limited, but we did have had some. I hope that has improved.
I tried to be asute with my patients, wherever I was stationed. I was taught to observe what they might not be telling me, and to ask questions accordingly. Unless one is very skilled in masking, your eyes, body language, skin, gait, and even your physical symptoms manifest your stress level and mental well being. You don't have to be one that wears their heart on their sleeve for this to show.
Sadly, bad incidents build up on top of each other. The general stress of being a Sailor, plus any illness on top of those traumas, no matter how trivial they may seem when compared to someone else's "horror story," create a volitile trifecta of potential overload which may result in a meltdown a total blow-up, or a shut-down to nothing but basic functions. After all, the brain can only take so much before it's just about protecting the organism.
I can definitely tell you that misdiagnosis of these personality disorders is likely frequent because symptoms overlap with other disorders and conditions, even physical ones like vitamin deficiencies.
If they deemed your PD EPTE, which is standard, appeal it. I highly recommend going though your State/County representatives for Veteran Affairs to do that. They can help you with this process with greater success. If nothing else, the process should be able to get that personality disorder diagnosis off of your records, especially if you have some supporting evidence from civilian providers.
See I know all too well about this because I'm sorry to say, I've been on both sides of this messed up coin, having to save/end patients' careers, and having been on the receiving end of a MedBoard for medical retirement. It took a Civilian doctor two years to correct my primary diagnosis, and the VA thirteen years to correct my secondary diagnosis of Borderline PD to PTSD. Apparently their symptoms can be very, very similar. Even Navy Psychiatrists and Psychologists with "years" of experience and the new residents can't tell the difference between PTSD and a personality disorder when they are trained to default to the latter. (This was back in 1999-2000 though. Hopefully things are better?)
A personality disorder doesn't just "crop up," even when there may have been events in your childhood that could explain the symptoms of one. If all the puzzle pieces don't really and truly fit, then it's something else, not a PD.
In my case it didn't really make sense as to how I could have 14 1/2 years in, be an HM1, have pretty stellar evals, and then suddenly be diagnosed with this stupid "disorder," basically because treatment for "depression" wasn't working, but they managed to justify it anyway. Their meds actually worsened the depression. A two year, untreated, ignored sleep disorder is likely what triggered a lot of this. After dealing with it for six months, I was so frustrated, and demoralized because I had been placed on limited duty away from the job I loved dearly - patient care, that I gave up fighting it and fighting for life. It's a wonder I'm still alive. I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired. To this day I still have no idea what's causing the joint damage that started back right before the "depression" hit.
It is what it is though. Even after 15 1/2 years I still miss my job, because I really loved patient care, and I was good at it. I have had many opportunities to learn things and to help others.
The VA found me to be 90% disabled after the Navy TDRLed me, so they made me unemployable and paid me at the 100% rate. I'm now fully at 100%. I volunteer at the State Park teaching kids about nature, geology, environmental responsibility, fire safety, etc. I am going to start a Veteran's Square Dancing group, because music and movement can help rewire the brain from trauma. Life must move forward. Rocking chairs go no where.
Good luck in your endeavors. God bless.
I am so sorry your IDC did not take the time to look in your eyes to see that there was something bigger going on than what landed you in Sick Bay. It really does hurt my heart when it sounds like one of my fellow IDCs has brushed something off. None of us are perfect though, and neither are doctors. I've seen plenty of doctors miss things that IDCs or PAs have picked up on. Just to be fair, PA's & NPs definitely aren't infallible either.
I went to IDC school from Oct 91-Nov 92. Our Psyc training was definitely limited, but we did have had some. I hope that has improved.
I tried to be asute with my patients, wherever I was stationed. I was taught to observe what they might not be telling me, and to ask questions accordingly. Unless one is very skilled in masking, your eyes, body language, skin, gait, and even your physical symptoms manifest your stress level and mental well being. You don't have to be one that wears their heart on their sleeve for this to show.
Sadly, bad incidents build up on top of each other. The general stress of being a Sailor, plus any illness on top of those traumas, no matter how trivial they may seem when compared to someone else's "horror story," create a volitile trifecta of potential overload which may result in a meltdown a total blow-up, or a shut-down to nothing but basic functions. After all, the brain can only take so much before it's just about protecting the organism.
I can definitely tell you that misdiagnosis of these personality disorders is likely frequent because symptoms overlap with other disorders and conditions, even physical ones like vitamin deficiencies.
If they deemed your PD EPTE, which is standard, appeal it. I highly recommend going though your State/County representatives for Veteran Affairs to do that. They can help you with this process with greater success. If nothing else, the process should be able to get that personality disorder diagnosis off of your records, especially if you have some supporting evidence from civilian providers.
See I know all too well about this because I'm sorry to say, I've been on both sides of this messed up coin, having to save/end patients' careers, and having been on the receiving end of a MedBoard for medical retirement. It took a Civilian doctor two years to correct my primary diagnosis, and the VA thirteen years to correct my secondary diagnosis of Borderline PD to PTSD. Apparently their symptoms can be very, very similar. Even Navy Psychiatrists and Psychologists with "years" of experience and the new residents can't tell the difference between PTSD and a personality disorder when they are trained to default to the latter. (This was back in 1999-2000 though. Hopefully things are better?)
A personality disorder doesn't just "crop up," even when there may have been events in your childhood that could explain the symptoms of one. If all the puzzle pieces don't really and truly fit, then it's something else, not a PD.
In my case it didn't really make sense as to how I could have 14 1/2 years in, be an HM1, have pretty stellar evals, and then suddenly be diagnosed with this stupid "disorder," basically because treatment for "depression" wasn't working, but they managed to justify it anyway. Their meds actually worsened the depression. A two year, untreated, ignored sleep disorder is likely what triggered a lot of this. After dealing with it for six months, I was so frustrated, and demoralized because I had been placed on limited duty away from the job I loved dearly - patient care, that I gave up fighting it and fighting for life. It's a wonder I'm still alive. I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired. To this day I still have no idea what's causing the joint damage that started back right before the "depression" hit.
It is what it is though. Even after 15 1/2 years I still miss my job, because I really loved patient care, and I was good at it. I have had many opportunities to learn things and to help others.
The VA found me to be 90% disabled after the Navy TDRLed me, so they made me unemployable and paid me at the 100% rate. I'm now fully at 100%. I volunteer at the State Park teaching kids about nature, geology, environmental responsibility, fire safety, etc. I am going to start a Veteran's Square Dancing group, because music and movement can help rewire the brain from trauma. Life must move forward. Rocking chairs go no where.
Good luck in your endeavors. God bless.
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PO3 Aaron Hassay
I wish you were my HM on that FFG. The best friends I ever had were actually females in a MSC unit after the FFG's. I have my 1997 annual physical in front of me. Guess what it says? I write in plain english " My heart hurts when I worry and pain goes down to my left hand and goes numb". My e7 HM did not even do a blood pressure reading, or heart rate reading. All my other physicals have heart measurements. But this 1997 one does not. How amazing. The one where I actually complain of heart problems and pain. What I now know is I was having acute painful panic attacks, and concerned. I had never experienced those before. My mind got overwhelmed on the FFG when I was young. I don't know what that does to the trust or thinking of an e3 when you are 20 or so on an FFG. But i learned to ignore pain. But now I feel it years later. I always felt it then. But now my ability to get angry and get in fights because of it does not happen. I seek counseling instead.
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