Battle Fatigue: A Pastoral Model for Prevention and Treatment
Abstract
There are two basic questions posed in this essay: is current US Army battle fatigue prevention and treatment doctrine adequate for the high intensity AirLand Battlefield?; and, does the Unit Ministry Team (UMT), the battalion chaplain and chaplain assistant, have a role in battle fatigue prevention and treatment? Following an historical overview of US Army and Israeli Defense Force experience with battle fatigue, an evaluation of current US Army doctrine determined there is a shortfall in that it does not adequately consider the soldiers' spiritual resources as a defense against battle fatigue. It is concluded that the UMT does have a role in both the prevention and treatment of battle fatigue. It is, in fact, uniquely qualified to be a resource for the commander in the unit plan to prevent and treat battle fatigue. From peacetime, through prebattle, battle and postbattle to the end of hostilities, with the focus always on ministry to individual soldiers, the UMT is a religious symbol whose context is pastoral care. Publication of FC 16-51, Battle Fatigue Ministry, will codify this UMT commitment to ministry to soldiers in all situations, including the trauma of the AirLand Battlefield.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA168807
Entities
People
- Bernard H. Lieving Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College