Page 72 - Biobehavioral Resilence to Stress

The Stresses of Modern War 49

brief interludes of garrison service near their families. This change may

significantly alter the cost–benefit calculus involved in considering the mili-

tary as a career option.
Many difficulties currently faced by the U.S. war fighters in Iraq are

related to the fact that the “military we have” was not designed, trained,
equipped, or maintained with current operations in mind. New threats
associated with technologically advanced and insidious weaponry have
forced the creation and training of highly specialized service members
whose skill sets are unique and diffi cult to replace. The possibility that these

unique personnel might be injured or killed in battle is a new and unique
source of stress for those whose survival may at some point depend upon
the expertise of a few designated specialists (Benedek et al., 2001; Norwood &
Ursano, 1996). Meanwhile, war fighters must reckon with the perceived

threat of exposure to indiscriminate weapons of mass casualty. Although
such weapons have not been used as predicted at the onset of the Iraq War,
there persists an apparently reasonable belief that the enemy has both the
capability and willingness to employ such weapons. Media and intelligence
bulletins, images of protective suits, “threat level” assessments, and early
warning system alarms likely contribute to the perception that exposure is
an imminent or inevitable threat. Certainly, there is chronic stress associ-
ated with the persistent fear of exposure to insidiously harmful agents that
may be difficult or impossible to detect, identify, or avoid (Stuart, Ursano,

Fullerton, Norwood & Murray, 2003).
Perhaps the most significant and far-reaching development among

the new developments in the day-to-day experience of the warfare is that
service members now have fairly routine access to advanced communica-
tion tools such as e-mail and satellite telephony through which they can
maintain ongoing close contact with loved ones. Although this communi-
cation is certainly a positive development in many ways, it is also some-
thing of a mixed blessing with respect to stress. Real-time awareness of the
“mundane” stresses of home life may prove as stressful for the war fi ghter as
the fi rst-hand accounts of war are for their family members and friends at
home. Resulting stress may be compounded by the service member’s sense
of helplessness or inability to “fix” various problems (fi nancial diffi culties,

health problems, parenting or marital issues) often confronted by those left

behind.
Greater access to communication, information, and media coverage also
provides service members with unprecedented awareness of the political
aspect of war and the extent to which the fellow citizens support, oppose,
or debate the worthiness of its objectives. Such information may be good

or bad for morale. News of controversy surrounding the war effort may be
troubling and may even erode the war fighter’s own sense of confi dence,

purpose, mission, and achievement (Dauber, 2006).

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