Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan : Preliminary Assessment of Readjustment Needs of Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families

Nearly 1.9 Million U.s. Troops Have Been Deployed To Afghanistan And Iraq Since October 2001. Many Service Members And Veterans Face Serious Challenges In Readjusting To Normal Life After Returning Home. This Initial Book Presents Findings On The Most Critical Challenges, And Lays Out The Blueprint For The Second Phase Of The Study To Determine How Best To Meet The Needs Of Returning Troops And Their Families. The Statement Of Task For This Study Evolved Out Of Discussions Among The Department Of Defense (dod), The Department Of Veterans Affairs (va), And Iom. Specifically, It Was Determined That In Phase 1, The Iom Committee Would Identify Preliminary Findings Regarding The Physical And Mental Health And Other Readjustment Needs For Members And Former Members Of The Armed Forces Who Were Deployed To Oef Or Oif And Their Families As A Result Of Such Deployment. Background -- Statement Of Task -- Committee's Approach To Its Charge -- Findings And Recommendations -- Phase 2 -- 1. Introduction -- Background -- Statement Of Task -- Committee's Approach To Its Charge -- Organization Of The Report -- References -- 2. Operation Enduring Freedom And Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraqi Freedom Demographics And Impact -- Demographics Of The All-volunteer Military -- Operation Enduring Freedom And Operation Iraqi Freedom: Unique Characteristics -- Current Impact On Operation Enduring Freedom And Operation Iraqi Freedom Service Members -- Overview Of Health Outcomes -- Overview Of Social Outcomes -- Overview Of Federal Readjustment Resources -- Conclusion -- References -- 3. Summary Of Findings From Previous Conflicts -- From Ancient Greece And Rome To The Russo-japanese War -- World War I, World War Ii, And The Korean Conflict -- The Vietnam War -- Assessment Of Exposure To Combat And Other War-zone Stressors -- Outcomes (readjustment Problems) -- Risk Factors For Readjustment Problems -- The Persian Gulf War -- Summary -- References -- 4. Preliminary Findings -- Consequences Of Service In Operation Enduring Freedom And Operation Iraqi Freedom For Military Personnel And Their Families And Effects On Readjustment -- Traumatic Brain Injury And Related Blast Injuries -- Polytrauma -- Mental Health Disorders -- Deployment -- Deployment And Military Families -- Deployment And Military Spouses -- Deployment And Children -- Deployment And Social Outcomes -- Women And Minorities -- Women -- Ethnicity, Race, And Culture -- Projecting The Lifelong Burden Of War -- References -- 5. The Current Response -- Overview Of Federal Benefits Available To Service Members, Veterans, And Their Families -- The Department Of Defense -- The Department Of Veterans Affairs -- Overview Of Programs And Services For Operation Enduring Freedom And Operation Iraqi Freedom Active-duty Service Members, Veterans, And Their Families -- Programs For Physical Needs -- Programs For Mental Health Needs -- Programs To Meet The Social Needs Of Service Members, Veterans, And Their Families -- Programs For National Guard And Reserve Members, Women, Minority-group Members, And The Homeless -- Summary -- References -- 6. Findings, Recommendations, And Phase 2 -- Findings And Recommendations -- Phase 2 -- Appendix A. Legislation -- National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law 110-181 110th Congress (2nd Session) -- Appendix B. Town Hall Meetings -- Killeen, Texas (fort Hood): Army -- Austin, Texas (camp Mabry): Texas National Guard -- Toledo, Ohio: Michigan, Indiana, And Ohio National Guard -- Fayetteville, North Carolina (fort Bragg): Army -- Jacksonville, North Carolina (camp Lejeune): Marine Corps -- San Diego, California (camp Pendleton): Marine Corps -- Watertown, New York (fort Drum): Army. Committee On The Initial Assessment Of Readjustment Needs Of Military Personnel, Veterans, And Their Families, Board On The Health Of Select Populations, Institute Of Medicine Of The National Academies. Includes Bibliographical References. Also Issued Online. This Study Was Supported By Contract No. Hhsp23320042509xi Between The National Academy Of Sciences And Department Of Defense.