Abstract
With the conventional wars being rarer, low intensity conflict (LIC) operations have now become a norm. This new military
environment is characterized by ambiguous and unpredictable situations, complex goals, invisible enemy combatants, political
sensitivities, undefined restraints on weaponry tactics and associated multiple microstressors that make it highly stressful
and cognitively demanding for soldiers. Considering LIC stress under a holistic / interactionistic paradigm, this review paper
examines (i) the unique stressors of LIC operations and their impact on soldiers’ mental health and fitness, cognitive functioning,
combat readiness and effective performance; (ii) preventive training programmes (Hardiness Training and Comprehensive Soldier
Fitness) for developing and sustaining resilience; (iii) the central role of military leadership and structure as key components
of combat stress control, unit cohesion, institutional support and other HR practices (e.g., command consultation, grievance
redresssal, performance appraisal, communication, conflict resolution); and (iv) mental health services as coping resources
and potential stress countermeasures such as psychological first aid, after-action debriefing, operational stress training,
suicide prevention, treatment of stress casualities, help-seeking skills and self-care as part of preventive mental health
training and post-trauma rehabilitation. The roles of both the skill-building and the stress-combating aspects of training,
leadership, organizational support / HR practices and mental health services seem important as potential moderators of stress-strain
relationship in LIC operations.
environment is characterized by ambiguous and unpredictable situations, complex goals, invisible enemy combatants, political
sensitivities, undefined restraints on weaponry tactics and associated multiple microstressors that make it highly stressful
and cognitively demanding for soldiers. Considering LIC stress under a holistic / interactionistic paradigm, this review paper
examines (i) the unique stressors of LIC operations and their impact on soldiers’ mental health and fitness, cognitive functioning,
combat readiness and effective performance; (ii) preventive training programmes (Hardiness Training and Comprehensive Soldier
Fitness) for developing and sustaining resilience; (iii) the central role of military leadership and structure as key components
of combat stress control, unit cohesion, institutional support and other HR practices (e.g., command consultation, grievance
redresssal, performance appraisal, communication, conflict resolution); and (iv) mental health services as coping resources
and potential stress countermeasures such as psychological first aid, after-action debriefing, operational stress training,
suicide prevention, treatment of stress casualities, help-seeking skills and self-care as part of preventive mental health
training and post-trauma rehabilitation. The roles of both the skill-building and the stress-combating aspects of training,
leadership, organizational support / HR practices and mental health services seem important as potential moderators of stress-strain
relationship in LIC operations.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s12646-011-0142-6
- Authors
- Sagar Sharma, House No. 564, Sector 36-B, Chandigarh, 160 036 India
- Monica Sharma, Department of Internal Medicine, ENR Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA
- Journal Psychological Studies
- Online ISSN 0974-9861
- Print ISSN 0033-2968