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.

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
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.

Review :
"Combat Social Workers is a compelling examination of the psychological impact of war, from the unique vantage point through the eyes of the healers themselves. The authors provide unprecedented insights into heart-wrenching ethical and moral dilemmas that military mental health specialists routinely endure on the frontlines and back home. It is truly a must read for professionals and lay persons alike who seek a deeper understanding of the hidden, but predictable costs of human warfare." -- Mark C. Russell, Ph.D., ABPP, CDR (USN Retired), Antioch University Seattle