Thursday, September 22, 2011

Camp Lejeune Chaplain briefs service members about combat stress

Chaplain briefs service members about combat stress

Posted: Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:00 am

Pfc. Nik S. Phongsisattanak Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

When service members deploy, there are many things they sacrifice. They sacrifice the luxury of taking refreshing showers, fresh home-cooked meals, and most of all - the time they could be spending with their loved ones at home.

During deployments, Marines and sailors leave a lot behind, and when they return, common perception is that life should be grand, according to Lt. Commander John C. Rudd, command chaplain with Deployment Processing Command East, MCB Camp Lejeune. But, the weight of past experiences on their shoulders can be a lot to carry.

Rudd holds briefs that address combat stress. The briefs are for a small number of individuals, which include active-duty and reserve Marines and sailors, as well as contractors, who are augmented from their original units to temporarily support another unit. The brief is required for all augmented personnel.

"When I returned from my deployment, I wanted to go back to where I left off," said Rudd. "But things change as time passes. The general principle is realizing and admitting that time has passed and I'm not where I used to be, so I'm going to have to do the hard work of figuring out where I am right now and finding my new norm.
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