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Reorientation and Reintegration

Reorientation and Reintegration. The deployment cycle continues. Why are you here?. Make homecoming a joyful occasion Identify common homecoming concerns Recognize changes in personal and interpersonal relationships Identify and address potential challenges

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Reorientation and Reintegration

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  1. Reorientation and Reintegration The deployment cycle continues Presented by Connie Moore, DCANG Family Program Coordinator

  2. Why are you here? • Make homecoming a joyful occasion • Identify common homecoming concerns • Recognize changes in personal and interpersonal relationships • Identify and address potential challenges • Help differentiate expectations from realities

  3. What is Reintegration? • The PROCESS is the returning of personnel back into a stable and “normal” environment • PREPAREfamilies for the changes to their home life when the deployed members return. • Remember upon your return you will achieve a NEW normal • Reintegration is a SLOW process

  4. Practical Issues • In-Processing • Unit Deployment Manager • Commander’s Support Staff • Personnel Department • Medical • Life Skills Support Center ■ Dental Clinic • Family Practice/Flight Medicine ■ Public Health • Family Advocacy • Legal • Terminate powers of attorney • Claims

  5. Practical Issues • Financial Matters • File travel voucher/change entitlements • Gov Travel Card • Family or personal budget • Utilities (phone, gas, water, electric) • AAFES (layaway, Military STAR Card) • Vehicles • Registration and maintenance • Insurance • Driver’s license

  6. Crisis or threat Avoidance Denial Blaming others Fear Hidden opportunity Acknowledgement Action Personal responsibility Face it – it’s constant Expectations of Change

  7. Reintegration • Possible thoughts and feelings … • Proud of accomplishment • Want to reestablish living situation • Financial concerns • Social life / significant other • Work reunion • Singles are often overlooked !

  8. Singles and Reintegration • Practical tips: • Put your house back in order • New roommate • New residence • Recognize changes in yourself and in others • Different living environment • Social circle • Assess relationships • Friends • Family

  9. Singles and Reintegration • Reaction to deployment by family and friends • Loneliness • Family and significant others • Involvement in community • Develop/renew outside interest • Limit your use of alcohol • Focus on the present and the future • Be patient with yourself and with others

  10. Marriage and Reintegration • Anticipation • Changes at home • Trust / Fidelity • Communication • The “Who had it worse” game

  11. Intimate Relationships • Intimacy and sexual relationships may be a major adjustment • Re-establish this relationship slowly and naturally • Talk about how you feel or think • Be sensitive to how your partner feels or thinks about intimacy and your sexual relationship

  12. Stress and Reintegration • From the desert to the front porch • Redeployment / reintegration…sounds easy, natural, normal • NORMAL may be quite stressful! • Help is available: chapel, unit, friends, life skills, medical personnel, family support center, etc.

  13. Signs of Reintegration Stress • Physical • Behavioral • Cognitive (Thinking) • Emotional

  14. PhysicalSigns • Upset stomach, nausea • Diarrhea, constipation • Heart pounding, dizzy or lightheaded, out of breath, cold sweat, dry mouth, or pale skin • Headaches, migraines • Vague aches and pains • Impotence

  15. Behavioral Signs • Changes in eating habits • Changes in sleeping patterns • Fatigue, lack of energy • Jumpiness • Frustrated, irritable, angry • Bad personal hygiene • Crying spells • Avoidance of others • Increase in alcohol use • Disregard for rules, regulations, social norms

  16. Cognitive Signs • Poor concentration • Difficulty making decisions • Flashbacks • Unwanted thoughts • Nightmares • “Spaced out” or trouble focusing • Memory problems

  17. Emotional Signs • Loss of motivation • Loss of “purpose” or direction • Loss of trust/confidence in leaders • Quick to anger, impatience • Depression, sadness • Frustration, irritability • Worried, anxious, keyed up • Guilt, shame • Numb (don’t feel anything) • Thoughts of hurting self or others

  18. Significant Signs of Distress • Post Traumatic Stress • Definition • Signs • Recent study • Bizarre or unusual behavior • Domestic violence • Abuse of alcohol • Thinking about suicide

  19. Solutions • Take care of yourself! • Mentally • Physically • Emotionally • Communicate, don’t clam up • Develop or renew outside interests • Allow for space and time • Establish realistic expectations • Think positive thoughts • Seek help

  20. Chain of Command / Supervisors Family Support Center Medical Group Life Skills Health and Wellness Center (HAWC) MILITARY One Source Chaplains Legal Red Cross Family and friends “Outside” or off-base agencies Resources

  21. Children and Reintegration • Normal Developmental Reactions • Infant (Birth to 1 year) • Toddlers (1 – 3 years) • Pre-School (3 – 5 years) • School Age (5 – 12 years) • Teenagers (13 – 18 years)

  22. Infants: • Their world is very small • Eat, sleep, cry, and eliminate – often! • Depend on parents for everything • Grow rapidly • Senses develop quickly Reactions to parent’s return: • Cry or fuss • Pull away from parent • Have problems with elimination • Change their schedule (eating and sleeping) Children and Reintegration Birth to One Year

  23. 1 - 3 Years Excitement Very active Independent Self Centered Repeats words and phrases Reactions to parent’s return: Shy Avoid returning parent Cry, pull away Temper Tantrums Children and Reintegration One – Three Years

  24. 3 - 5 Years Very active Imitates adults Active imagination Asks lots of questions Reactions to parent’s return: Anger Need proof you are real Compete for attention Act out Still need warm-up time Children and Reintegration Three – Five Years

  25. 5 - 12 Years Appetite and growth have increased High energy level Daydream Very sensitive to criticism and evaluation Reactions to parent’s return: Joy, excitement Anxiety of changing roles Child compete with parent(s) Desire recognition Attention seeking Attempt to split parents Children and Reintegration Five - Twelve Years

  26. 13 - 18 Years Responsible one minute & irresponsible the next Moody Experienced rapid changes Independent, but still need guidance Reactions to parent’s return: Relief Excited Guilty Concerned about rules and responsibilities Children and Reintegration Thirteen - Eighteen Years

  27. Go slow Don’t give into demands because of guilt Observe Be flexible Be realistic Seek information on child development Communicate Make special time with your loved one Be giving of your time and energy Suggestions forReturning Parents

  28. Single Parents and Reintegration • Custodial parent • Non-custodial parent • Strategies • Communication • Caregiver • Child • Bottom Line: Go Slow

  29. It’s all about change • Changes in work environment • Change of work pace • Mission/duty changes • Resentment from co-workers • Added work load due to TDY • Deployment war stories • Not part of “real” mission • Staff turnover

  30. Deployments are a way of life in the military a Stumbling Block or a Building Block The strength of our force and our families depends on you making the right choice

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