10 PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MILITARY ADAPTATION TO COMBAT MISSIONS

10 PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MILITARY ADAPTATION TO COMBAT MISSIONS

Accept your mission. By the nature of the profession, the military can be deployed in the most unfriendly environments, including the theatre of war. Individuals who join the Armed Forces must assume from the outset that they are training for war and fighting for their country’s interests at the cost of their lives. That’s what you swore!
Be realistic. Realistically assess where you are, what threats you face, how you can survive, what you have to do, who depends on you and who you depend on, and above all, carry out the orders of your commanders.
Talk to your comrades. You will find that they have their problems too, but together you can find solutions to the most difficult situations. You can ask for advice and even help if you need it.
Build trust in your sub-unit. Trust is the foundation of good morale. If there is trust between comrades and between commanders and subordinates, the mission is half accomplished.
Be resilient. By its nature, the battlefield is a place of extreme drama. You will see death, injury, destruction, deprivation of all kinds, war crimes and extreme human suffering. Be prepared for these things and don’t let them stress you out. They will be part of the everyday landscape as long as you are deployed there. Don’t drink alcohol and don’t do drugs. These behaviors will not help you. Rest when you can. A clear-headed soldier is more likely to survive. Be ready to use the weapons and techniques you have to defend yourself and to attack when necessary. This is war. Remember, this is what you were trained for.
Keep your optimism. No matters how harsh the conditions in the theatre of war, there will come a time when you will be pulled out and return to your family and friends. Even if you’ve lost comrades or been wounded or taken prisoner, someone is definitely thinking of you and looking for a solution to rescue you from that situation. Be patient, make fun of the trouble and think it could have been worse. Eventually all these bad things will end and you will have a chance to live a happy and long life in a pleasant place.
Only get information from official sources. In times of war or crisis, misinformation is at home. If you pay attention to rumors and other unverified information, you are likely to be gripped by fear, panic, despair and lose sight of your role. Listen to your commanders and follow the reliable information channels recommended by your bosses.
Don’t neglect yourself. No matter how harsh the living conditions, try to feed yourself, hydrate properly, maintain personal hygiene and keep your clothes dry and as clean as possible. These things will help you keep your self-esteem at an acceptable level. A person with a good level of self-esteem is a mentally balanced person. War, no matter how harsh, is only a passing phenomenon, and peace will eventually come and normal life will begin again. Be constantly prepared for that moment.
Think, think and think again. War involves a lot of thinking. Those who find the smartest solutions quickly will win. Be innovative, be inventive, think “out of the box”, use critical thinking, assess risk, and make plans to prevent crisis situations, design “Plan B” and take the initiative. These are the strengths of the winner. They are all within your reach. So think!
Be ethical in the most dramatic life situations. Desperate wartime situations can dumb down a person and turn them into a veritable murderous monster if reason and ethics disappear. Remember that you are human, that you are part of a civilized army and that no matter how hard it is and how much you suffer for the loss of your comrades and others, justice will be done and the guilty will pay in the end. Do not take revenge on innocent people, prisoners and civilian property. Do not plunder and do not mock. Respect your enemy and you will be respected. Focus on the values you truly believe in. Be an example of ethics.