1

Unit 9 Assignment: Final Project

Christian Bidot

Purdue University Global

HW410 Stress-Critical Issues in Management and Prevention

Professor Beth Hart

February 14, 2023

 2

Unit 9 Assignment: Final Project

This paper addresses some of the many stressors in the Military service, particularly

emphasizing the U.S. Army since it is the biggest and oldest of all branches. The population

intended for this document are service members and their families. I chose this population

because I have experienced all the stressors mentioned below. Thankfully, I have been a resilient

person who overcame stressors via brute force and ignorance due to not being aware of the many

resources available. Lastly, I was fortunate enough to have the strongest supporter of my life, that

helped me cope with everything I encountered in the Army; I give a million thanks to my lovely

wife.

Explained Stressors

RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY OR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) is

persistent; if a service member is single, they move every two years, and if they are

accompanied, they move every three years. However, it is the responsibility of the family to

embrace, adapt, and cope with the reorganization of living and cultural changes due to

movement. In 20 years, a service member might have to move duty locations five to seven times.

Every time a service member moves, they have to deal with new leadership, housing, school

systems, environments, and financial issues, which cause significant stress (Desrosiers, 2014).  

PARENTS OR SERVICE MEMBER SEPARATION DUE TO DEPLOYMENTS,

TEMPORARY CHANGE OF STATION (TCS), OR TEMPORARY DUTY TRAVEL

(TDY). According to (Dfas, n.d.), “deployment or combat deployment in the Army is when

training or allocation exceeds 140 days, and a temporary Duty Travel is less than 139 days.”

Either or both consist of having the service member away from their loved ones causing

disconnection, losing touch with their kids and spouses, missing out on significant events, and
 3

increasing responsibility and workload on the other stay-at-home parent. In the end, both parents

are rewarded with significant stress due to deployments or (TDY).

Trauma or loss events consist of unfortunate deaths of the service member while

deployed, via suicide, or injuries during deployment. Due to the inevitable risk of danger in the

service, trauma, and losses are frequent. During the Global War on Terrorism, combat

deployments were constant, and many experienced deploying back-to-back tours; I am a proud

member that was fortunate to serve on a back-to-back tour. As a result of this high level of

intense deployments, many were not fortunate to come back, while others suffered from mental

and physical trauma. Not only does the service member suffer from those stressors, but the

family suffers significantly (Desrosiers, 2014).

Reintegration from deployment for both the returning service person and the family they

are returning to, the stages of a service member's homecoming encompass anticipation,

adaptation, and stabilization. Due to the time that they have spent apart, children and parents

frequently experience comparable positive and negative emotions and behaviors during

reintegration. The deployed service person can reunite with their family, rebuild and revitalize

family bonds, and take in the developments that have occurred while away. The entire family

could feel proud of itself after a successful deployment. However, there is not always a happy

ending, and many members experience adverse events once they are back, such as infidelity or

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that could jeopardize their marriage or health (Desrosiers,

2014).

Toxic leadership most would concur that this type of leader demonstrates two traits: an

interpersonal style that adversely affects the organizational environment and an apparent lack of

regard for others' well-being, as viewed by those they supervise. A toxic boss will cause a decline
 4

in work ethic, productivity, effectiveness, morale, synergy, and a long list of other negative

effects. Soldiers often leave the Army as a means of coping with toxic leaders. However, those

who have worked there for more than ten years and are close to retiring tend to tough it out since

they know that either they or the toxic bosses will eventually be transferred.

Optempo or working long hours, the addition of new international commitments, a

drop in the number of forces available, a reduction in budget, and a possible threat to readiness

risk to American interests could rise under various tactics. This problem is being faced by U.S.

forces in a changing area where peacetime operations are more significant, longer, extra intense,

and much more complex than ever. The burdens on the smaller force are higher due to the

existing obligations, which are larger than anticipated and cause double the stress to the

individual soldier. Excessively high tempos have the biggest detrimental effects on relevant,

necessary training and the foundation of preparation and long-term effectiveness. The constant

strain on staff and their loved ones may make it impossible to find and maintain high-caliber

volunteers (Military readiness, operation tempo and personnel tempo: Are U.S. force doing too

much?, 1998).

Living conditions, thousands of service members only get 90 days' notice before their

next permanent change-of-station (PCS) every year. There are only 90 days left to combine their

already demanding and significant responsibilities while looking for a cozy place to live for the

next two to three years, potentially with their families. These migrations are often thousands of

miles from their present station. Finding the right home for a reasonable cost may be

tremendously difficult on top of the already stressful process of relocating to a new location.

Military personnel can search for cheaper solutions as the housing industry continues to be

hindered by a lack of inventory and high costs. These alternatives often demand staying in a
 5

small hotel room in dangerous areas. The alternative usually involves residing in the barracks or

on-post housing, which offers little to no room for any personal belongings that service members

would want to bring. Furthermore, often this on-post housing does not meet the member's needs,

or the quality is a deterrent. This might have various effects on soldiers, including a rise in worry,

the inability to unwind, and loss of sleep, to mention the least. The process may become even

more complicated if family members are involved (Abisambra, 2022).

Every level of command typically experiences some level of mistrust due

to micromanagement. The micromanager sees and evaluates each step instead of providing

generic directions on lesser tasks while managing more significant problems. Micromanagement

hinders employee and supervisor interaction, productivity, flexibility, trust, feedback, and

openness and slows business expansion and goal achievement. Supervisors may naturally believe

they get the necessary situational awareness to make wise decisions by monitoring and

evaluating each step. However, compared to satellite supervisors, one thing is watching to

validate, which results in a lot of unneeded tension (Caracillo, 2015).

Across the United States, alcoholism has become a significant worry for military

members. Due to erratic deployments, the possibility of injury, and working away from home,

current military members must contend with several difficulties. Unfortunately, troops use

alcohol as a coping strategy during these challenging times. Alcohol is frequently used to block

out traumatic memories or to forget scary events. However, often binge drinking can set off a

series of stressful events, including family problems, decreased productivity, and tardiness at

work. The burden of getting into trouble won't just be on the service member; the chain of

command will also have to handle the member's irresponsible behavior (Alcoholism in veterans,

2022).
 6

Any company recognizes the need for equipment performance and maintenance, but

the military places a specific emphasis on keeping track of and conveying the state of its

equipment. Many military operations depend on small details coming together. A service member

employing a piece of equipment that has been suspended or a weapon that is not functioning can

result in accidents, failed missions, and the risk of life. Or so you may believe, given that a lot of

our equipment still needs to be repaired due to budgetary restrictions, a lack of personnel, and a

lack of resources, which adds unnecessary stress and prevents a unit from being deployable in

case of any unforeseen events (Military equipment: A guide to condition tags, 2019).

Stressor Importance

All stressors mentioned above are essential in every echelon of the organization's

readiness and agility to stand mission capable of supporting, defending, and fighting against the

nation's common threats, foreign and domestic. Stress is inevitable and sometimes necessary in

life, and it can inspire an individual to adopt new habits and learn new abilities, particularly in

the military. Constant stress is harmful to your health and might impair your effectiveness. Being

able to recognize stress ahead of time can result in having various coping methods and being able

to prepare the family for upcoming events. One thing is for sure; there are outside resources that

help to mitigate complex situations.

Program Descriptions

Concentrate on the areas you can influence or control. When a predicament makes you

anxious, consider the things you can handle. Situations mentioned above, such as PCS, TDY, and

deployments, are part of being a service member, and having a plan of action can help mitigate

many issues. Many available resources can help reduce stress as individuals and their families
 7

cope and manage the scenario. However, learn to accept the situation if your efforts will not

affect it (Fletcher, 2022).

Exercise and schedule time for your favorite pastime. Give yourself some "me" or

"alone" time. Keep engaging in the activities that make you happy. Make an effort to schedule a

free time and hobbies into your day. The days can be more fun if something is exciting to

anticipate. It also offers the chance to develop innovative approaches to reduce stress. Even if it

does not seem like much, spending 30 to 60 minutes alone can significantly impact (Fletcher,

2022).

Get organized, remain in the now, and develop relaxation skills. Clutter can exacerbate

the sense that things are chaotic. Create a battle rhythm that will keep you on target and focused

on your priorities. Be mindful of what is currently happening and concentrate on what you are

doing at any time. When your mind wanders to the past or the future, kindly make an effort to

pull it back to the present. Exercises that involve visualization or deep breathing can lessen

tension and anxiety. A few possibilities are taking a break and going for a stroll, listening to

music, or reading a book (Fletcher, 2022).

Program Implementation

The implementation of this program is not necessarily an implementation concept, and it

entails more of a sustainment program through awareness and exposure to service members. Due

to the many programs in the service available for members, essential programs need to be

marketized, propaganda, and awareness within the installation. From the Army’s perspective, the

mission is to try to alleviate stress when difficult times arise. Facilities and programs such as the

Army Community Center, Move.gov, and fitness centers offer many resources. However, the

issue with this program is that many of us are so distracted by the mission that we are unaware of
 8

such services. But once a member finds out about the resources available, it holds all the

necessary staff, equipment, and helps to make our life easier. What I would do and have done in

the past is to communicate to my subordinate all the programs available for us that can help us

financially, mentally, physically, and spiritually close to no cost (Gargaro, 2020).

Program Obstacles

As previously indicated, understanding and knowing these resources is the fundamental

problem with Army initiatives. Training troops for positions of greater responsibility is one of

your primary duties as an Army leader. They can grow in potential, awareness, and ultimate

leadership by coaching and training subordinates. The development of competent, well-rounded

soldiers is the ultimate objective of leadership. After all, good Soldiers typically make good

leaders.

Health Professionals

There are many health professionals available on a military base. However, for the

stressors mentioned above, the two leading professionals that could help ease the process would

be a behavioral health counselor and a physical therapy counselor. Both professionals could aid

in relief for the majority of the stressors mentioned above, or they would work as a starting point

for individuals. They can refer members to a specialist if members need further specialized help.

Services for behavioral health are available in garrison and operational settings to help soldiers

and their families cope with the stress of frequent deployments and other military obligations. A

few services include regular behavioral healthcare, periodic examinations, combat and

operational stress reduction in the theater, and programs that prevent suicide (Careers in the

military, n.d.).
 9

On the other hand, the Military is dedicated to assisting its members in maintaining top

physical health and offering the care required to recover from injuries, particularly those received

in the war. In physical therapy, treatments are provided to reduce pain, increase mobility, and

promote healing. Service men and women can heal from injuries and carry on with their jobs

with the aid of a physical therapist. Physical therapists evaluate patients and create treatment

plans utilizing various strategies to improve patients' mobility, lessen discomfort, regain function,

and avoid disability. In addition to treatments like ultrasound, tape, or electrical stimulation, they

offer therapeutic exercises and manual therapy methods, including joint and soft tissue

mobilization (Careers in the military, n.d.).

Program Measurements

The program's success can be best measured with surveys, interviews, and face-to-face

counseling. A survey makes it possible to effectively gather the ideas, feedback, and reactions of

members from all levels of the organization and to utilize that data to enhance operations, modify

the induction procedure as needed, cut expenses, and find chances for product development.

Survey responses can either support the efficacy of present methods or spark conversations about

strategic choices while offering objective information to support decision-making. Survey

feedback lets you learn what members think of available programs and items. After all, we are

working to make the service more convenient for members and their families (Gargaro, 2020.

Summary

As a recap, there are a million and one stressors in the service, and there are a million and

one programs that could help a member ease their experience. However, not being aware of what

is available could hinder an individual’s performance, productivity, experience, and expertise

resulting in not wanting to continue to serve our country. Therefore, as a leader, I would
 10

communicate, teach, and counsel my subordinates on the resources we have at our disposal to

mitigate unwanted stress. Lastly, stress is inevitable and necessary for growth and development

regardless of the place of work or scenario. However, what matters most is the actions taken

prior to, during, and after the encounter and lessons learned.
 11

References

Abisambra, C. (2022, June 16). Solving military housing stress with workforce housing on-

demand. Federal News

Network. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/commentary/2022/06/solving-military-

housing-stress-with-workforce-housing-on-demand/

Alcoholism in veterans. (2022, August 12). Alcohol Rehab

Guide. https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/resources/alcoholism-in-veterans/

Caracillo, D. J. (2015, November 12). Micromanagement can cripple a command.

AUSA. https://www.ausa.org/articles/micromanagement-can-cripple-command

Careers in the military. (n.d.). Careers in the

Military. https://www.careersinthemilitary.com/career-detail/physical-therapists

Defense Finance and Accounting Service. (n.d.). Defense Finance Accounting Service

(DFAS). https://www.dfas.mil/travelpay

Desrosiers, D. (2014). The Stressors of the Military Lifestyle and the Services Available to Help

Military Families. DigitalCommons@Providence | Providence College

Research. https://digitalcommons.providence.edu

Fletcher, R. (2022, November 14). Stress relief tips for the military community. Military

OneSource. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/prevention-care/follow-

these-stress-relief-tips/

Gargaro, D. (2020, December 22). How to use surveys for your business. Business News

Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15948-types-of-business-surveys.html
 12

Military equipment: A guide to condition tags. (2019, September 5). Creative Safety Supply -

Industrial Label Printers, Floor Marking Tape, Safety Signs &

Supplies. https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/articles/military-equipment/

Military readiness, operations tempo (OPTEMPO) and personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO): Are

U.S. forces doing too much? (1998, January 14). Every CRS Report -

EveryCRSReport.com. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/98-41.html

Psychological health program. (2020, June 3). U.S. Army Reserve

home. https://www.usar.army.mil/PHP/

Seaward, B. (2018). Managing stress: Principles and strategies for health and well-being (9th

ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2019). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook (2nd ed.). New

Harbinger Publications.