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Abstract

This is part of the fourth report of the US Army's Mental Health Advisory Team but the first to study and report on Marines as well as Soldiers. During 2006, a total of 1,320 Soldiers and 447 Marines were interviewed during their deployment to Iraq, including focus-group sessions that also included behavioral health providers. The Soldier/Marine Well-Being Survey was utilized. Areas covered in the survey included (1) environmental risk factors, (2) protective factors, and behavioral health status and well-being. There were demographic differences between Soldiers (older, more senior ranking, more educated, more likely to be married and have children) compared to Marines. Soldiers were also more likely to be deployed longer (9 months versus 6 months). Among the central findings reported here are that level of combat (intensity) is the main determinant of behavioral health challenges, followed by deployment-related issues (length, frequency, time between deployments).

Keywords

behavioral health well-being resilience combat stress war deployment

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References

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The Intensity of Combat and Behavioral Health Status

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