Telephone Use by Peacekeeping Troops in the Sinai

Abstract

Clinical observations by the mental health officer attached to a U.S. infantry battalion assigned to the Multinational Force and Observors in the Sinai seemed to confirm earlier suggestions regarding adverse consequences of telephone contact between forward-deployed troops and family members at home. A self-administered survey was conducted to measure soldiers' attitudes and perceptions regarding telephone availability. The results suggest that telephone availability is a mixed blessing. Although most soldiers view the telephone as a positive link to family members, a minority expressed strong negative responses. As telephones increasingly come to complement the mail as a means of maintaining contact between forward-deployed troops and the home front, the characteristics of these means of communication, which have implications for troop morale, will require increased attention.