Operation Uphold Democracy Research Articles

Gender Composition and Group Cohesion in U.S. Army Units: A Comparision across Five Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gender composition and group cohesion in U.S. Army combat support and combat service support units. Five studies were compared in this analysis, including survey data obtained in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm; in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope; in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy; and in two garrison samples. A higher percentage of women in the unit was strongly associated with lower horizontal cohesion in the Somalia sample, and there was a much smaller association between these variables in the Persian Gulf sample. This relationship was present only among junior enlisted soldiers in one of the garrison surveys but was absent in the other garrison survey and in the Haiti sample. In most cases, a higher percentage of women was associated with lower cohesion. Possible reasons for differences across studies in the strength of the association may include gender differences in support for the mission and differences in deployment circumstances.

Invasion, Intervention, "Intervasion": A Concise History of the U.S. Army in Operation Uphold Democracy

Abstract : In September 1994, U.S. military forces were ordered to execute Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. The stated objectives of that undertaking included the return to office of the democratically elected president of that country and the creation of a stable and secure environment in which democratic institutions could take hold. In the short term, these objectives were met: President Aristide reassumed his duties as president, the junta that had ousted him in 1991 was forced to leave the country, and national elections were successfully held in 1996. Although the long-term prognosis for Haiti remains guarded, the democratic process there was given the opportunity to succeed due, in large part, to Operation Uphold Democracy. At the time American troops entered Haiti, I was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. It was my firm conviction that the Army's experience in Uphold Democracy should be duly recorded, both for posterity and for officers today who have to wrestle with similar, unorthodox situations. The present study is one such contribution to the historical record. The result of this analysis is not an uncritical assessment of the Army's activities in Uphold Democracy. Documenting the successes of the operation while ignoring the difficulties and problems encountered by the participants would only distort the record and be of little use today and in the future. What this study does, however, is demonstrate that success is largely dependent on the ability to remain flexible and adapt to continuously changing conditions. It also serves to increase the data base to which Army officers now and in the future can refer when planning and executing unconventional operations.

Dengue Fever in US Military Personnel in Haiti

To describe clinical manifestations and public health implications of an outbreak of dengue fever (DF) during Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti, 1994. Consecutive sample. Military combat support hospital, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A total of 101 US military personnel with acute febrile illnesses. A disease surveillance team collected clinical and epidemiologic data from US military clinics throughout Haiti. Febrile patients admitted to the combat support hospital were evaluated with standardized clinical and laboratory procedures. The surveillance team followed patients daily. Arbovirus isolation and specific antibody determination and symptoms and physical findings. Febrile illnesses accounted for 103 (25%) of the 406 combat support hospital admissions during the first 6 weeks of deployment. All patients with febrile illness recovered. A total of 30 patients had DF; no patient had evidence of infection with malaria. Dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, and 4 were isolated from 22 patients, and 8 patients developed IgM antibody to dengue virus. Patients with DF could not be distinguished from other febrile patients on clinical grounds alone. No arboviruses other than dengue were identified. Active surveillance, with clinical and laboratory evaluation directed by an epidemiologic team, led to the timely recognition of an outbreak of febrile illness among US troops in Haiti. Viral isolation and serological studies were essential in confirming DF. During the surveillance period, DF accounted for at least 30% of the febrile illnesses among hospitalized US troops. Dengue fever is a significant threat to military personnel and civilian travelers in Haiti and has the potential for introduction to and transmission in the United States.

Preventive Mental Health Interventions in Peacekeeping Missions to Somalia and Haiti

Mental health interventions of the 528th Combat Stress Control unit to limit the numbers of psychiatric casualties on recent peacekeeping missions are discussed. Similarities and differences in the mental health support of Operation Restore Hope (Somalia) and Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti) are reviewed. The mission to Somalia was marked by unexpected combat casualties. The mission to Haiti was marked by unexpected self-inflected casualties. Lessons learned by mental health officers serving on these missions are discussed. Recommendations for prevention of psychiatric casualties on future missions are presented.

Determinants of Soldier Support for Operation Uphold Democracy

A substantial number of U.S. Army soldiers deployed to Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy did not believe it was important that the U.S. military be involved in the operation (49%); did not believe that what the U.S. military was doing was important (38%); and did not believe in the overall value of the operation (43%). At the same time, a substantial number of soldiers had positive feelings about what they were doing in Haiti and the mission they were accomplishing. The primary focus of this investigation was to examine factors that were related to the wide variation in soldier reports of support for Operation Uphold Democracy. The results indicated that a combination of soldier characteristics (e.g., race, gender), unit characteristics (e.g., unit type), task characteristics (e.g., task significance), and operational characteristics (e.g., perceptions of public support) accounted for nearly 50% of the variance in soldier reports of support for the overall operation.

Frustrated Aggression in Psychiatric Casualties of Operation Uphold Democracy

Frustrated Aggression in Psychiatric Casualties of Operation Uphold Democracy

Stress, Suicide, and Military Service during Operation Uphold Democracy

The initial weeks of Operation Uphold Democracy were marked by a high rate of major axis I disorders among soldiers presenting for treatment at the 528th Combat Stress Center. The mission to Haiti was also marked by three suicides during the first 30 days. The author explores psychodynamic sources of stress that may have contributed to the high level of psychiatric acuity observed during that first month. Then, distinctions are made between psychiatric conditions that present in combat and those that occur on peacekeeping missions.

Stress and Arousal in Deployment of a Combat Support Hospital

Two hundred thirty-nine soldiers from the 28th Combat Support Hospital were evaluated for stress and arousal during deployment preparations for Operation Uphold Democracy. We measured stress and arousal using the Stress Arousal Checklist and found increased levels of arousal in officers and older soldiers. We also found higher levels of arousal in soldiers reporting a greater number of hours of sleep during the preceding 24 hours. We found no significant difference in stress scores for several demographic and coping behavior groups. Based on lower arousal scores, younger, sleep-deprived, and enlisted soldiers may be at the highest risk for accidents during deployment preparations.

Dengue Fever Among U.S. Military Personnel—Haiti, September-November, 1994

Since September 19, 1994, approximately 20,000 U. S. military personnel have been deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy. To monitor the occurrence of mosquitoborne illnesses (including dengue fever [DF] and malaria) among deployed military personnel, on September 19 the U. S. Army established a surveillance system for febrile illness. Before deployment, all military personnel were instructed to take antimalarial chemoprophylaxis, either chloroquine phosphate (500 mg weekly) or doxycycline (100 mg daily). This report summarizes surveillance findings for September 19-November 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Medicine's Role Evolves in Haiti Restoration

PHYSICIANS HAVE been involved in Operation Uphold Democracy—the effort to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office—from the planning stage into this 12th week of US military presence in Haiti. James B. Peake, MD, who was involved in planning the operation and who flew into Port-au-Prince with the first US forces September 19, has returned to the United States, been promoted to the two-star grade of major general, and has taken command of Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash. US Army physicians in command in Haiti now are V. Thomas Deal, Jr, MD, commanding the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Port-au-Prince in the south on the Bay of Gonave not far from the Caribbean Sea, and Larry J. Godfrey, MD, working as the joint task force surgeon, with medical assets in Port-au-Prince as well as Cap Haitien on the north (Atlantic Ocean) coast, and with the 10th Mountain Division. Deal is

Medicine's role evolves in Haiti restoration

PHYSICIANS HAVE been involved in Operation Uphold Democracy—the effort to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office—from the planning stage into this 12th week of US military presence in Haiti. James B. Peake, MD, who was involved in planning the operation and who flew into Port-au-Prince with the first US forces September 19, has returned to the United States, been promoted to the two-star grade of major general, and has taken command of Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash. US Army physicians in command in Haiti now are V. Thomas Deal, Jr, MD, commanding the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Port-au-Prince in the south on the Bay of Gonave not far from the Caribbean Sea, and Larry J. Godfrey, MD, working as the joint task force surgeon, with medical assets in Port-au-Prince as well as Cap Haitien on the north (Atlantic Ocean) coast, and with the 10th Mountain Division. Deal is