Outdoor rec program helps soldiers confront post-deployment stress issues

[unhappycamper]

Sgt. Jason Staton, 30, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, wasn't fazed by the altitude during a rock-climbing trip in southern Germany that's part of Warrior Adventure Quest.


Outdoor rec program helps soldiers confront post-deployment stress issues
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, February 16, 2009

VILSECK, Germany — A few months ago, they were sweating in the heat of Iraq. On Thursday, seven young 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment soldiers clung to an icy cliff face in southern Germany.

The members of Lightning Troop were doing a Klettersteig — climbing with the help of a safety cable — as part of Warrior Adventure Quest, a program that uses outdoor recreation to help soldiers deal with post-deployment stress.

Recently returned soldiers all over Europe, including more than 3,500 members of 2nd Cav, are doing activities such as rock climbing, scuba diving, cross country skiing, high ropes courses and mountain biking as part of the program.

Geoffrey Farrell, an outdoor education specialist with the Grafenwöhr Outdoor Recreation Center, said the activities incorporate "Battlemind" briefings that describe combat-related mental health problems and teach soldiers when they should seek support for themselves or for their buddies.

The idea is to expose soldiers to somewhat stressful events, pushing them to their limits in a safe environment, and then talk about strategies for dealing with that stress, using their reactions to the activities as examples, he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60752