Page 68 - Biobehavioral Resilence to Stress

The Stresses of Modern War 45

how positively it receives and welcomes war fighters on their return from

war (Bolton, Litz & Glenn, 2002; Johnson et al., 1997). The choice to volun-

teer for military service inspires public expression of support, recognition,
and gratitude, which may have similar positive effects on those war fi ghters

returning from combat.

Other significant changes in modern military personnel and force manage-
ment policies have led to significant improvements in cohesion, morale, and

commitment among the U.S. service members (Marlowe, 2001). Th ese improve-
ments can promote enhanced resilience to stress and reduce stress casualties
(Bliese, 2006; Bliese & Castro, 2003; Britt, Davison, Bliese & Castro, 2004; Britt
& Dickinson, 2006; Helmus & Glenn, 2004; Thomas & Castro, 2003).

Resilience is needed when an individual experiences stress in a particu-
lar environment or in response to a particular event. Dramatic changes in

the demographic profiles of the military services have occurred in the last
several decades and can be expected to continue. Current members of the
U.S. military have been selected differently, trained and treated diff erently,

and now serve differently than their predecessors. Explicating the relation-

ship between these diff erences (including personal variables) and resilience

to stress is a major goal of this volume. The environment in which our ser-
vice members currently operate has also changed dramatically over recent
decades. Moreover, it appears that the current process of change and trans-
formation in the U.S. military will continue for decades to come. A way to
prepare for the changes that lie ahead is to consider what lessons have been
learned in the past. In the next section, we consider the modern history of
military service and what can be learned from it.

Demands and Expectations of Military
Service: A Modern Historical Overview

During World War II and through the Korean War, a largely conscripted
military fought with the expectation of service for “the duration.” Con-
scripted service members were trained quickly and sent directly into com-
bat. For most American service members, World War II and the Korean War

were experienced as difficult but temporary interruptions of civilian life. As
soon as hostilities ceased, vast numbers of service members were rapidly
demobilized and reintegrated back into the civilian sector (Stouff er, Such-
man, DeVinney, Star & Williams, 1949). For veterans of World War II and the
Korean War, the primary risk factor for stress-related psychiatric disorder
and dysfunction was direct exposure to intense combat. Marlowe (2001)

noted that during World War II, “… the United States suffered an average
of one diagnosed psychological casualty for every four wounded” (p. 49).

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