The Returning to the Ranks (R2TR) program is a multi-phased program focused on readiness and reintegration of military members returning from combat deployments. R2TR seeks to not only help service members assimilate back into day-to-day life while simultaneously dealing with the aftereffects of combat stressors and ACEs, but also help families adjust to these members coming back as well. Additionally, with success of the first two phases, R2TR will reformat resiliency training on a much larger scale to include educating members service-wide in how to identify stressors and assist others in processing them.
Service members are a highly deployable force. Members need to be ready to go at any given time. Because of the high deployment and operational tempo of the military, these individuals are often reintegrated upon returning with little to no focus on how stress from combat has affected them. Combined with the fact that a multitude of military members have experiences Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), PTSD triggers are multiplied. These issues, when not treated, can lead to depression, suicide, physical health issues such as cardiac disease and a multitude of other ailments. Further, it decreases overall military readiness when service members are not deployable due to the previously-mentioned conditions. This effects not only the individual, families and the immediate military community, but the Department of Defense (DoD) as well. R2TR seeks to create an emphasis on the significance of ACEs and combat stressors and how they play off of one another, while also providing information, education and training surrounding these factors. The program is divided into three phases. The first phase will focus primarily on the individual and will consist of web-based questionnaires. These questionnaires will not only obtain information from the individual, but will also help the individual become more aware of possible triggers. The second phase will be dependent on phase one, and will include follow-up counseling and other activities, and will involve the member and possibly the member’s family. The third phase will be all-encompassing, as it will focus on resiliency training for all military members. The expected outcome following program success is increased mental well-being for individuals who serve, increased familial awareness and assistance and heightened readiness for the force overall.
The target audience for this program is military members who have deployed to combat zones and families of these members that are willing to participate. While still in the initial stages, the focus will be on those military members that are assigned to a single installation. With success, it will extend out to additional installations, MAJCOMs, services and the Department of Defense (DoD).
This program recognizes the complex, bidirectional relationship between individual, community and societal factors. With that in mind, while the primary focus of the program is the individual level, it is important to note that in reference to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Social Ecological Model (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], n.d.), all levels will bear an impact.
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