by Michael J. Pach

FORT CARSON, Colo.-Soldiers are taught certain skills to help them survive in combat, but those skills don't always serve them well when they return from war. Lt. Col. Laurel E. Anderson, officer in charge of the behavioral health section of FortCarson's SoldierReadinessCenter, and her staff conduct training sessions for Soldiers returning from combat. These sessions are designed to help Soldiers identify behavioral health issues related readjustment to life at home.

The program is called Battlemind Training and it consists of two levels: Battlemind 1 is a basic overview of potential behavioral health problems and is presented to Soldiers during reintegration briefings three-to-five days after they return from combat; Battlemind 2 is a more in-depth course that is provided just prior to a unit's Post Deployment Health Reassessment, 90-180 days after returning from combat. The intent of Battlemind 2 training is to help Soldiers recognize that they or their buddies may be having problems readjusting to life at home. Soldiers are encouraged to report these issues during their PDHRA so they can get proper help.

Battlemind is an acronym and each letter stands for a combat skill and how that skill relates to a potential problem at home.

B - Buddies (cohesion) vs. Withdrawal

Soldiers find it can be difficult to reconnect to family and rebuild relationships upon their return. They end up spending more time with their combat buddies because it is easier for them to relate to them than it is to relate to their families. Family members want to be closer to them when they return, but Soldiers often withdraw from these relationships.

A - Accountability vs. Controlling

In combat, small details could make a big difference to your survival, and Soldiers were accountable to each other. At home small things don't matter as much and family members don't like to be controlled. Soldiers need to learn not to sweat the small stuff.

T - Targeted Aggression vs. Inappropriate Aggression

Aggressive behavior in combat is useful, but aggressive behavior at home is not only inappropriate but it can cause bigger problems like domestic abuse. Turning off this aggression at home is often difficult.

T - Tactical Awareness vs. Hypervigilance

Soldiers are taught to be aware of their surroundings at all times, but if you startle at the sound of a toy or a slamming door, this is not a functional response at home.

L - Lethally Armed vs. "Locked and Loaded"

Having your weapon with you and ready to go at all times in combat is essential, but it isn't appropriate to carry a gun to social events. Many Soldiers still feel the need to protect themselves by carrying a weapon.

E - Emotional Control vs. Anger/Detachment

During high stress combat situations, Soldiers have to be in control of their emotions. At home, being emotionally distant from your family is difficult for them.

M - Mission Operational Security vs. Secretiveness

It's OK for Soldiers not to tell their families every detail about what they witnessed in combat. Sharing things, such as funny stories or talking about their buddies, is more appropriate then sharing gruesome battle accounts.

I - Individual Responsibility vs. Guilt

Soldiers may feel guilty about the loss of another Soldier and think that things would have turned out differently if they acted another way in the situation. Second guessing actions is a common problem Soldiers deal with.

N - Nondefensive (combat) Driving vs. Aggressive Driving

In combat, driving aggressively to avoid danger is a lifesaving skill. At home, aggressive driving can lead to traffic tickets, accidents, injuries and deaths.

D - Discipline and Ordering vs. Conflict

Soldiers are used to either giving or receiving orders, but barking orders to your family members isn't the best way to motivate them. Soldiers also need to remember that their spouses did the best they could without them, so getting angry about decisions that were made while they were away isn't always the appropriate way to deal with conflict.

Battlemind 2 training was given to medical battalion leaders from the 3 rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4 th Infantry Division, so the leaders could train the platoon sergeants on the Battlemind program and prepare the Soldiers for their upcoming PDHRA.

"I personally think this is some of the better training we've had since we got home," said Lt. Ryan McCarthy, brigade headquarters, 3 rd HBCT. "I feel that a lot of Soldiers are probably showing signs of these symptoms. But they don't really know that it's normal to feel that way or what to do when they feel those things. I think once they see this training now, 90 days after we've been back, that it might register home.

"It's a much better time for the information to sink in and I think Soldiers now can really find a way to cope with what they're going through. I really enjoyed this training and hopefully the battalions take it to the level it needs to be and that's the front line level."

More information about Battlemind can be found at www.battlemind.org. The Web site contains brochures and videos that can be downloaded.