By Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Capt. Kelly Drake, left, behavioral health officer, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, talks to Soldiers about stress management July 11, 2018, in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Whether service members are on their first or fourth deployment, work related or personal stressors can take a toll on a person’s well-being.
However, with the expertise of Capt. Kelly Drake and Sgt. Kert Lang, behavioral health team for the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, service members at Kandahar Airfield have a resource to help mitigate stressors.
“We conduct stress management, suicide prevention, grief and loss, trauma event management, reintegration and leader professional training for all of the (Kandahar Airfield) community, which includes Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, civilians and DOD contractors,” said Drake.
The training provides a way for service members to voice their opinions or concerns without having to schedule counseling sessions with the behavioral health team, according to Drake.
“The more we train to prepare for missions, the more we are able to adapt to new situations and environments,” said Drake. “However, those transitions in our life can have an effect on personal life issues and it’s important to stay resilient and know how to handle those situations properly.”
The Soldiers with 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Tennessee National Guard, recently sought the help of the behavioral health team to assist with Family reintegration.
“We had six first-time deployer’s in our unit,” said Sgt. 1st Class David Winstead, personnel section NCO in charge for the 30th CSSB. “We wanted to emphasize that although they have been able to stay in contact with their Families during their time here, there will still be difficulties getting back into the rhythm of things when they get home.”
Winstead, who has two previous deployments, said even for experienced NCOs the training was helpful.
“Each deployment has been different for me, and each one gets harder,” said Winstead. “I went from being single to being married to now having a wife and child, so (the training) helped me get an idea of what I should expect when I get back home.”
Helping service members with stressors or understanding how to reengage with Family members is important to a Soldier’s overall readiness, said Drake.
“The more we learn to take care of ourselves and learn to talk and take care of our Families back home, the more resilient we can be, to be able to stay in the fight,” she said.
Winstead said it was reassuring to see the behavioral health team so engaged with the service members throughout the airfield.
“It’s helpful to know you have a team close by to help you with stress management, sleeping problems or just someone to talk to that has the knowledge to help you resolve any issues or concerns you might be dealing with,” said Winstead.