If you missed DCoE’s July Monthly Webinar, be sure to tune in this month as we take the topic of reintegration to the state-level Aug. 26 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. In partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), DCoE will highlight state and local reintegration programs available to service members returning from deployment.

Speakers from New Hampshire, Tennessee and California will discuss their state programs and best practices surrounding veteran care. The hope is that these practices can be adopted elsewhere to improve statewide veteran care. The webinar is intended for military and civilian leaders, health care providers, veteran affairs staffers, local military representatives, subject matter experts and anyone interested in this topic.

DCoE webinars provide an opportunity to share your thoughts and ask questions directly to subject matter experts. Click here for more information on our Monthly Webinars.

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Lt. Cmdr. Michael Bellotti hugs his family during a homecoming to Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Merriam)

Beginning with an introduction by DCoE Director Col. Robert Saum, and moderated by DCoE Blog’s own Doc. Bender, the July Monthly Webinar, Reintegration: Adjusting to Life at Home After Deployment, highlighted the personal stories of three previously deployed service members: Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Robinson, Navy Lt. Christian Pedersen and retired Army Lt. Col. Erin McLaughlin. We took an in-depth look at some of the struggles they faced upon returning home and learned that deployment and reintegration experiences vary widely among service members. View their presentations here.

For returning service members and their families, reintegration is a necessary process. Most people who deploy will readjust without any abnormal reactions and return to their previous level of functioning. Despite this fact, it is quite common to have a few days, weeks or months following a deployment, where service members experience feelings of loss, guilt, anxiety or irritability.
These feelings usually pass and the advice our speakers
gave was simple—“forewarned is forearmed.”

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Col. Donald Derry, 823rd Security Forces Squadron commander, welcomed home squadron members who returned from a six-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brittany Barker)

Please join us on July 22 from 1 pm to 2 pm, as we discuss the challenges you and your families may face reintegrating to life after deployment. The webinar will explore the challenges of returning home – readjusting to family life, returning to work and coping with a combat-related injury.

Webinar speakers will share their personal experiences coping with post-deployment and the transition to life at home. We hope that their stories will encourage returning service members and their families to face reintegration challenges proactively. Anticipating such challenges is critical to successful reintegration.

This webinar will provide information that will be especially helpful to warriors and their families, but as always, government employees, health care providers, subject matter experts and anyone interested in this topic are welcome to join.

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NICoE exterior rendering.

Please join us on Thursday, June 17, from 1300 to 1430 hrs EST, for a chance to hear about the new National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). We hope you’ll join us in our monthly webinar where we’ll discuss how this center will operate and how you can get involved in the future.

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has built and equipped NICoE, which is dedicated to the advancement of diagnosis, clinical care and research in warriors with complex combat related traumatic brain injury and psychological health issues. NICoE has been established to be the "hub" for exchange of expert ideas and initiation of innovative studies to provide hope for the restoration of quality of life for individuals with traumatic brain injury and psychological health issues and their families.

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** Our webinar on Supporting Our Military Children When Trauma, Grief and Loss Arise, is happening this Thursday, May 27, from 1300 to 1430 hrs EST.

Explaining to a child that their parent is deploying is never an easy task. Explaining that their parent has changed or died is even more difficult. We are hosting this webinar to help our military families who have to endure these challenges. The webinar will discuss strategies for discussing these sensitive issues with children.

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