Operational Stress Control during a Pandemic: An Army National Guard Perspective on Lessons Learned during the Response to COVID-19

Abstract

U.S. Army combat operational stress control doctrine and techniques are effective resources for military leaders preparing for prolonged operations in hostile environments. This doctrine provides an understanding of common sources of stress, stress reactions, and effective leader actions to help mitigate the effects. However, it may be less relevant to Army National Guard members activated to support their states during domestic emergencies. This article reviews the observations of one Behavioral Health Officer activated during the novel coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and describes the operational stress experienced by Army National Guard members. Adaptive and maladaptive stress reactions to the stress of the COVID-19 operations are reviewed. The author calls for new or revised combat operational stress doctrine that is relevant to part time, citizen-soldiers activated for domestic emergencies. Aggregating Army National Guard lessons learned in the context of COVID-19 may also help support soldiers in the case that unfortunate future waves of the virus occur and to prepare for future pandemics.