your national guard: always ready ~~ always there citizen soldiers in the work place major general...

YOUR NATIONAL GUARD: ALWAYS READY ~~ ALWAYS THERE

CITIZEN SOLDIERSIN THE

WORK PLACEMajor General

WILLIAM D. WOFFORDThe Adjutant General of Arkansas

Agenda

• Organization

• Missions

• Operational Stress

• Keeping Life in Perspective

• Questions

AGENDA


8,005 Soldiers80%

STATE NATIONAL GUARD


AIRNATIONAL GUARD

ARMYNATIONAL GUARD

DUAL MISSIONS


National Guard units are unique in that National Guard units are unique in that they have both Federal and State they have both Federal and State

Mission RequirementsMission Requirements

““Maintain properly trained and equipped units Maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt mobilization for war, available for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise required”national emergency or as otherwise required”

DUAL MISSIONS

FEDERALMISSION


““Maintain properly trained and equipped units Maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt support to civil authorities available for prompt support to civil authorities for state emergencies or as otherwise directed for state emergencies or as otherwise directed by the Governor”by the Governor”

DUAL MISSIONS

STATEMISSION


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Federal MissionFEDERAL MISSIONS


State MissionsSTATE MISSIONS



OPERATIONALSTRESS

Warning Signs

• Traffic SignsTraffic Signs• Stock Market IndicatorsStock Market Indicators• Leading/Lagging Business IndicatorsLeading/Lagging Business Indicators• Health Warning Signs:Health Warning Signs:

– Blood PressureBlood Pressure– Cholesterol CountCholesterol Count

STOP

3rd Qtr


Warning Signs

• Military Warning Signs:Military Warning Signs:

– RecruitingRecruiting

– MaintenanceMaintenance

– TrainingTraining

– ReadinessReadiness


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Army Community Service Army Community Service • University PresidentUniversity President• Guardsmen:Guardsmen:

– Drinking ProblemsDrinking Problems– Divorce RateDivorce Rate– SuicideSuicide

WARNINGWARNINGSIGNSSIGNS

IGNOREDIGNORED

• Walter Reed . . . Walter Reed . . .


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• PTSD is an anxiety disorder after PTSD is an anxiety disorder after someone has experienced a someone has experienced a traumatic event:traumatic event:– Police/Fire FightersPolice/Fire Fighters– Combat or Military ExposureCombat or Military Exposure– Terrorist AttackTerrorist Attack– Sexual or Physical AssaultSexual or Physical Assault– Child AbuseChild Abuse– Vehicle AccidentVehicle Accident

INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL GENUINELY GENUINELY BELIEVES BELIEVES THEIR LIFE THEIR LIFE OR THE OR THE LIVES OF LIVES OF OTHERS OTHERS ARE IN ARE IN IMMINENT IMMINENT DANGERDANGER


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder• Symptoms of PTSD:Symptoms of PTSD:

– Re-Experiencing Symptoms Re-Experiencing Symptoms (Flashbacks, Startling Noises, See Car Accident, . . .) (Flashbacks, Startling Noises, See Car Accident, . . .)

– Avoidance Symptoms Avoidance Symptoms (Evade Activities, Places, People, . . . )(Evade Activities, Places, People, . . . )

– Numbing Symptoms Numbing Symptoms (Loss of Emotion, Loss of Positive Attitude, (Loss of Emotion, Loss of Positive Attitude, Avoid Relationships, . . .)Avoid Relationships, . . .)

– Arousal Symptoms Arousal Symptoms (Heightened Sense of Being On Guard, (Heightened Sense of Being On Guard, Difficulty with Sleep or Concentration, Irritable, . . .)Difficulty with Sleep or Concentration, Irritable, . . .)


Operational Stress

WHATWHATCAUSESCAUSES

OPERATIONALOPERATIONALSTRESSSTRESS

????????

Operational Stress


Operational

Stress


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder• PTSD is not just fallout from the Vietnam PTSD is not just fallout from the Vietnam

warwar• It has been there in every major conflictIt has been there in every major conflict• World War II:World War II:

– 400,00 lives lost to combat and non-400,00 lives lost to combat and non-combat actionscombat actions

– Over 500,00 psychiatric casualtiesOver 500,00 psychiatric casualties• WW I, WW II, Korea: The number pulled off WW I, WW II, Korea: The number pulled off

the front lines as psychiatric casualties the front lines as psychiatric casualties greater than those that died in combatgreater than those that died in combat



BUILDINGRESILIENCY

Joint Services Support Branch Family Programs

* Transition Assistance

* Reintegration

* Psychological Health

* Employer Support

* Survivor Outreach

* Military One Source

* Military and Family Life Consultants


Operational Stress

• Time to DecompressTime to Decompress• Reintegration . . . Reintegration . . .

– Pre- / During- / Post-DeploymentPre- / During- / Post-Deployment– Health CareHealth Care– CounselingCounseling

• Resiliency TrainingResiliency Training• TAG PhilosophyTAG Philosophy• De-Stigmatize CounselingDe-Stigmatize Counseling


Transition Challenges

• Changes in the WorkplaceChanges in the Workplace• Changes in TechnologyChanges in Technology• Personnel / Policy ChangesPersonnel / Policy Changes• ApprehensionApprehension• Feelings of Guilt for Being GoneFeelings of Guilt for Being Gone• Work Absence for Medical Work Absence for Medical

AppointmentsAppointments


• Reduced ProductivityReduced Productivity• Inability to ConcentrateInability to Concentrate• Decreased Ability to Handle StressDecreased Ability to Handle Stress• IrritabilityIrritability• DisorganizationDisorganization• Lack of EmotionLack of Emotion• Overworking Overworking

TYPICAL REACTIONS:TYPICAL REACTIONS:• DenialDenial• Macho – Work It Out AloneMacho – Work It Out Alone• Alcohol / DrugsAlcohol / Drugs• Self-MedicationSelf-Medication

MANIFESTATIONS OF OPERATIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF OPERATIONAL STRESS IN THE STRESS IN THE

WORKPLACEWORKPLACE


Employee Transition

How would you treat an employee How would you treat an employee who just suffered a tragic event?who just suffered a tragic event?

• Death of a Parent / ChildDeath of a Parent / Child• Involved in Serious Vehicle AccidentInvolved in Serious Vehicle Accident• Physical InjuryPhysical Injury• Going Through a DivorceGoing Through a Divorce• ??????????????????


EMPLOYEE

• Conduct Re-Entrance Interview: Conduct Re-Entrance Interview: Identify potential issuesIdentify potential issues

• Ask how employee can be helpedAsk how employee can be helped• Use caution when assigning new Use caution when assigning new

tasks to employeetasks to employee• Set clear prioritiesSet clear priorities• Encourage employees to provide Encourage employees to provide

supportsupport• Encourage use of Employee Encourage use of Employee

Assistance ProgramsAssistance Programs

TRANSITION



EMPLOYERSUPPORTOF THE

GUARD ANDRESERVE

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

• Since 9/11 employers have provided unwaivering support for our deployed Veterans and their families

• Without continued support for our Soldiers, Airmen, and their families the future of the Reserve Components are at risk


Reasons Members of the National Guard

Make Good Employees

• Leadership• Professionalism• Responsibility• Mission-Critical Skills• Physical Condition

• “Can-Do” Attitude• Calm Under Pressure• First-Class Image• On Time, All the Time• Global Perspective


Eligibility to Join the Guard or Reserves

17-25 Year Old Men and Women


EDUCATION

TEST SCORE

FITNESS




EDUCATION

TEST SCORE

FITNESS

CRIMINAL

DRUGS

MORAL




EDUCATION

TEST SCORE

FITNESS

CRIMINAL

DRUGS

MORAL



3 OUT

OF 10



A GENTLE REMINDER

TO KEEP YOURLIFE IN

PERSPECTIVE

WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME,

HE OR SHE MAY FIND IT HARD . . .


. . . TO LISTEN TO HIS SON WHINE

ABOUT BEING BORED


. . . TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT POTHOLES


. . . TO BE TOLERANT OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HASSLE OF GETTING READY FOR WORK


. . . TO BE UNDERSTANDING WHEN A CO-WORKER COMPLAINS ABOUT A BAD NIGHT’S SLEEP


. . . TO BE SILENT WHEN PEOPLE PRAY TO GOD FOR A NEW CAR


. . . TO CONTROL HIS PANIC WHEN HIS WIFE TELLS HIM HE NEEDS TO DRIVE SLOWER


. . . TO BE COMPASSIONATE WHEN A BUSINESSMAN EXPRESSES A FEAR OF FLYING


. . . TO KEEP FROM RIDICULING SOMEONE WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT HOT WEATHER


. . . TO CONTROL HIS FRUSTRATION WHEN A

COLLEAGUE COMPLAINS ABOUT COLD COFFEE


. . . TO BE CIVIL TO PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR JOBS


. . . TO JUST WALK AWAY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THEY ONLY GET TWO WEEKS OF VACATION A YEAR


. . . TO BE FORGIVING WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HOW HARD IT IS TO HAVE A NEW BABY IN THE HOUSE


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THE ONLY THING TOUGHER THAN BEING A SOLDIER . . .

THE ONLY THING TOUGHER THAN BEING A SOLDIER . . .

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is loving one. is loving one.

AND WHEN YOU MEET ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS OR AIRMEN, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND SHOW THEM A LITTLE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE

AND WHEN YOU MEET ONE OF OUR SOLDIERS OR AIRMEN, PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND SHOW THEM A LITTLE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE

A GENTLE REMINDER TO KEEP YOUR LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

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We Appreciate the help and patience you provide our veterans.We Appreciate the help and patience you provide our veterans.

THANKS!THANKS!


QUESTIONS?

your national guard: always ready ~~ always there citizen soldiers in the work place major general...

Documents

thereyour national guard

national emergency

therenational guard

traumatic event

avoidance symptoms

equipped units available

symptoms loss of emotion

state emergencies