Soldiers are trained to perform their duties effectively despite the challenges that they may face during deployment.
These challenges can be quite overwhelming when dealing with grief or losing someone close to them while on deployment. Grief is a natural reaction to any form of death, whether it is the soldier's loved one or a comrade who died in combat. It is a difficult emotional process that soldiers have to deal with, which can impact their performance on duty if not handled well. On the other hand, relational loss is a more complicated situation since it involves the breakup of an existing relationship between partners, family members, friends, or colleagues. While deployed, soldiers may experience both types of losses, but coping mechanisms are different for each case. How do soldiers cope with these losses while maintaining operational effectiveness? This essay will explain how soldiers cope with grief and relational loss while sustaining operational effectiveness.
Grief is the feeling that accompanies the loss of something or someone important to the individual. When soldiers lose someone they love, such as a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or friend, they feel an intense sense of sadness. The level of sadness varies from person to person, depending on the closeness of the relationship and the circumstances surrounding the loss.
Losing a loved one due to an accident while on duty might trigger deep feelings of guilt and self-blame, whereas losing someone to illness would create unresolved questions about what could have been done differently. Other losses include the loss of identity, financial stability, social status, and future prospects. These kinds of losses can be overwhelming and make the soldier feel helpless, leading them to think negatively.
In coping with grief, soldiers use various strategies to manage their emotions and remain focused on their duties. They try to keep busy by engaging in physical activities such as exercise, taking walks, reading books, writing letters, talking to others, participating in religious practices, and attending support groups. Soldiers also find comfort in music, art, and other creative outlets to express their emotions constructively. Some soldiers prefer to talk openly about their experiences, while others keep quiet and process their feelings internally. Others opt for humor to lighten up the mood and maintain positivity during this trying time.
The most effective way to cope with grief is through therapy, which helps them deal with the pain, process their feelings, and learn healthy ways of managing their emotions.
Relational loss is more complicated than grief since it involves a broken relationship between two people who were once close. It is often caused by distance, communication breakdown, betrayal, or separation due to deployment. When deployed, soldiers are separated from their partners, children, siblings, friends, and colleagues, which can lead to loneliness and isolation. This feeling of being disconnected creates anxiety and stress that affects their performance. The good news is that soldiers have various resources available to help them cope with relational loss, including online platforms where they can connect with loved ones back home, counselors available for advice, and support groups where they share similar experiences.
Soldiers also rely on social media to stay connected to their families, friends, and communities. They use video calls, messaging apps, emails, and other forms of communication to share updates and stay emotionally engaged. Military spouses can be especially helpful during this period, as they provide moral support and reminders that their soldier will return soon. These tools help soldiers feel less alone and cope better with the situation.
Some soldiers may experience resentment towards their partners if they perceive that they are not doing enough to manage their emotional needs while deployed. This can create tension in the relationship, leading to further distress and even divorce.
Soldiers cope with grief and relational loss differently depending on the circumstances. Grieving soldiers find comfort through physical activities, creative outlets, humor, therapy, and support groups, while those dealing with relational losses rely on technology, family, friends, and community support. Soldiers must take care of themselves emotionally and physically to maintain operational effectiveness and prevent burnout. By managing their emotions positively, soldiers can perform well despite the challenges they face during deployment.
How do soldiers cope with grief and relational loss while sustaining operational effectiveness?
Soldiers cope with grief and relational loss through different strategies that help them maintain their functional capacity during operations. While some may find comfort in religion and spirituality, others rely on social support systems like family and friends. Coping mechanisms such as repression, denial, or avoidance can also be effective but can lead to long-term mental health issues if not managed properly.