Chapter Eight:
Disabilities and Injuries among the National Guard and Reserve
An unprecedented number of “citizen soldiers” or members of the National Guard and Reserves have been deployed to fight overseas in numbers never before seen in our nation’s history. The Guard and Reserve members are fighting alongside the active duty members in virtually all capacities and are thus receiving the same types of injuries and wounds. When they return home, they need to contend with the same reintegration and transition issues and the same symptoms of PTSD and other psychological issues created by their military service.
But unlike active duty service members, these citizen soldiers are frequently unable to access the resources available to the other service members because many live in communities far removed from VA centers and military bases. Without community support, the recovery and reintegration process can be especially difficult for Reserve and Guard members.
This chapter was created for the returning members of the Reserve and National Guard and their families and friends. While most of the material throughout this book will be applicable and useful for you, your status as a citizen-soldier and the lack of the resources available to you will create additional issues that will need to be addressed. This chapter describes these potential issues and how you can face them.
Author:
Jaine Darwin, Psy.D., a psychologist and psychoanalyst and a founder and co-director of SOFAR (Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists), a pro-bono mental health project that provides free psychological support, psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and prevention services to the extended families of National Guard and Reserve members. She draws upon her experiences counseling Guard and Reserve members and their families to offer advice on what issues you may be facing and how you can effectively face and address these concerns.
