Reintegration "A Process, not an Event"

1. Reintegration "A Process, not an Event"

2. Why are you here? • Make homecoming a joyful occasion • Help phase back into home, community and work environment • Identify common homecoming concerns • Recognize changes in personal and interpersonal relationships • Identify and address potential challenges • Help differentiate expectations from realities • Return you to duty, ready and eager to go

3. What is Reintegration? • The PROCESS is the returning of airmen and civilians back into a stable and “normal” environment • PREPAREfamilies for the changes to their home life when the deployed airmen return. • Remember upon your return you will achieve a NEW normal • Reintegration is a SLOW process

4. Practical Issues • In-Processing • Unit Deployment Manager • Commander’s Support Staff • MPF/PRU, update MILPDS & MANPER-B • Medical • Life Skills Support Center ■ Dental Clinic • Family Practice/Flight Medicine ■ Public Health • Family Advocacy • Legal • Terminate powers of attorney • Claims

5. Practical Issues • Financial Matters • File travel voucher/change entitlements • Gov Travel Card • Family or personal budget • Utilities (phone, gas, water, electric) • AAFES (layaway, Military STAR Card) • Vehicles • Registration and maintenance • Insurance • Driver’s license

6. Crisis or threat Avoidance Denial Blaming others Fear Hidden opportunity Acknowledgement Action Personal responsibility Face it – it’s constant Expectations of Change

7. Reintegration • Possible thoughts and feelings … • Proud of accomplishment • Want to reestablish living situation • Financial concerns • Social life / significant other • Work reunion • Singles are often overlooked !

8. Singlesand Reintegration • Practical tips: • Put your house back in order • New roommate • New residence • Recognize changes in yourself and in others • Different living environment • Social circle • Assess relationships • Friends • Family • ``

9. Singlesand Reintegration • Reaction to deployment by family and friends • Loneliness • Family and significant others • Involvement in community • Develop/renew outside interest • Limit your use of alcohol • Focus on the present and the future • Be patient with yourself and with others

10. Marriage and Reintegration • Anticipation • Changes at home • Trust / Fidelity • Communication • The “Who had it worse” game

11. Intimate Relationships • Intimacy and sexual relationships may be a major adjustment • Re-establish this relationship slowly and naturally • Talk about how you feel or think • Be sensitive to how your partner feels or thinks about intimacy and your sexual relationship

12. Stress and Reintegration • From the desert to the front porch • Redeployment / reintegration…sounds easy, natural, normal • NORMAL may be quite stressful! • Help is available: chapel, unit, friends, life skills, medical personnel, family support center, etc.

13. Signs of Reintegration Stress • Physical • Behavioral • Cognitive (Thinking) • Emotional

14. Physical Signs • Upset stomach, nausea • Diarrhea, constipation • Heart pounding, dizzy or lightheaded, out of breath, cold sweat, dry mouth, or pale skin • Headaches, migraines • Vague aches and pains • Impotence

15. Behavioral Signs • Changes in eating habits • Changes in sleeping patterns • Fatigue, lack of energy • Jumpiness • Frustrated, irritable, angry • Bad personal hygiene • Crying spells • Avoidance of others • Increase in alcohol use • Disregard for rules, regulations, social norms

16. Cognitive Signs • Poor concentration • Difficulty making decisions • Flashbacks • Unwanted thoughts • Nightmares • “Spaced out” or trouble focusing • Memory problems

17. Emotional Signs • Loss of motivation • Loss of “purpose” or direction • Loss of trust/confidence in leaders • Quick to anger, impatience • Depression, sadness • Frustration, irritability • Worried, anxious, keyed up • Guilt, shame • Numb (don’t feel anything) • Thoughts of hurting self or others

18. Significant Signs of Distress • Post Traumatic Stress • Definition • Signs • Recent study • Bizarre or unusual behavior • Domestic violence • Abuse of alcohol • Thinking about suicide

19. Solutions • Take care of yourself! • Mentally • Physically • Emotionally • Communicate, don’t clam up • Develop or renew outside interests • Allow for space and time • Establish realistic expectations • Think positive thoughts • Seek help

20. Chain of Command / Supervisors Family Support Center Medical Group Life Skills Health and Wellness Center (HAWC) Air Force One Source Chaplains Legal Red Cross Family and friends “Outside” or off-base agencies Resources

21. Children and Reintegration • Normal Developmental Reactions • Infant (Birth to 1 year) • Toddlers (1 – 3 years) • Pre-School (3 – 5 years) • School Age (5 – 12 years) • Teenagers (13 – 18 years)

22. Infants: • Their world is very small • Eat, sleep, cry, and eliminate – often! • Depend on parents for everything • Grow rapidly • Senses develop quickly Reactions to parent’s return: • Cry or fuss • Pull away from parent • Have problems with elimination • Change their schedule (eating and sleeping) Children and Reintegration Birth to One Year

23. 1 - 3 Years Excitement Very active Independent Self Centered Repeats words and phrases Reactions to parent’s return: Shy Avoid returning parent Cry, pull away Temper Tantrums Children and Reintegration One – Three Years

24. 3 - 5 Years Very active Imitates adults Active imagination Asks lots of questions Reactions to parent’s return: Anger Need proof you are real Compete for attention Act out Still need warm-up time Children and Reintegration Three – Five Years

25. 5 - 12 Years Appetite and growth have increased High energy level Daydream Very sensitive to criticism and evaluation Reactions to parent’s return: Joy, excitement Anxiety of changing roles Child compete with parent(s) Desire recognition Attention seeking Attempt to split parents Children and Reintegration Five - Twelve Years

26. 13 - 18 Years Responsible one minute & irresponsible the next Moody Experienced rapid changes Independent, but still need guidance Reactions to parent’s return: Relief Excited Guilty Concerned about rules and responsibilities Children and Reintegration Thirteen - Eighteen Years

27. Go slow Don’t give into demands because of guilt Observe Be flexible Be realistic Seek information on child development Communicate Make special time with your loved one Be giving of your time and energy Suggestions forReturning Parents

28. Single Parents and Reintegration • Custodial parent • Non-custodial parent • Strategies • Communication • Caregiver • Child • Bottom Line: Go Slow

29. Reintegration and Work • Changes in work environment • Change of work pace • Mission/duty changes • Resentment from co-workers • Added work load due to TDY • Deployment war stories • Not part of “real” mission • Staff turnover

30. Any Deployment During a Relationship Can Be a Building Block or a Stumbling Block IT IS UP TO EVERYONE INVOLVED!!!!