Combat Social Work Applying the Lessons of War to the Realities of Human Services

Social workers have a long, proud history of service in most branches of the United States military. The experiences of social workers and other human service professionals of all military ranks have an important, often profound, and lasting impact that informs not only their practice within the military but throughout their career long after they have left the combat zone. In exploring the experiences of 13 American combat social workers (CSWs)--whose role is, among other things, providing military mental health services to members in their unit--this book shares lessons from military service through the lens of social work practitioners. The text includes strategies learned about social work practice in a war zone that are highly applicable to other highly stressful contexts (e.g., crisis intervention, stress reduction procedures, suicide prevention, brief psychotherapy, and consultation on family issues). Combat Social Work is uniquely positioned to serve as a valuable resource for social workers and other mental health providers interested in the assessment and treatment of trauma with active members of the military and military veterans.

Charles R. Figley, PhD, is the Paul Henry Kurzweg, MD Distinguished Chair in Disaster Mental Health; Director of the Traumatology Institute; and Professor in the School of Social Work at Tulane University. Dr. Figley is a combat Marine who served in the Vietnam War.

COL Jeffrey S. Yarvis PhD, LCSW, BCD is a 34 year veteran of the U.S. Army, former commander of a combat hospital and decorated combat veteran as a social worker earning the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge for leadership and actions taken under fire. He is also an adjunct professor for Texas A&M University-Central Texas.

Bruce Thyer, PhD, MSW, is Distinguished Research Professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University. Dr. Thyer is a veteran of the United States Army.

Contributors
Introduction


Section 1. Orientation to Combat and the Combat Social Worker

Chapter 1. The Life of a Combat Social Worker
Jeffrey S. Yarvis

Chapter 2. Life After Deployment: The Work of Combat Social Work in Garrison
Jeffrey S. Yarvis and Charles R. Figley


Section 2. Combat Social Worker Stories and Lessons

Chapter 3. Dark Mornings to New Beginnings
Shad Meshad

Chapter 4. Combat Social Work in Vietnam, 1968-1969
Raymond Monsour Scurfield

Chapter 5. The Journey of Serving as an Army Reserve Social Worker
Vaughn A. DeCoster

Chapter 6. War Stories of a Brigade Behavioral Health Officer
Debra M. Stone

Chapter 7. Combat Social Work in Afghanistan, 2010-2011: An Interview with Thomas Stokes
Thomas J. Stokes with Naomi North

Chapter 8. Deployment of a Social Worker
Eric J. Kirwan

Chapter 9. Navy Combat Social Worker
Alyssa L. Gibbons

Chapter 10. The Professor Goes to War: Serving as Team Leader for a Combat Stress Unit in Iraq
Cathleen A. Lewandowski

Chapter 11. Combat Social Work in Afghanistan, 2009-2010: Leading a Combat Stress Control Detachment
Randal C. Nedegaard

Chapter 12. Triumph Over Adversity: A Journey From Vietnam's Son to Combat's Healer
Christopher Lee Atkins

Chapter 13. Social Work at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan
Dan M. Grinstead


Section 3. Conclusions for Paying Forward the Lessons of War

Chapter 14. Ted Studebaker: Combat Social Worker Warrior for Peace
Bruce A. Thyer

Chapter 15. Combat Social Work: Preparing the Next Generation of Practitioners
Charles R. Figley, Jeffrey S. Yarvis, and Bruce A. Thyer