What helps you to become a better clinician? There may not be a single answer to this question. In fact, most of us probably benefit from a variety of different experiences depending upon our learning style and what we are specifically seeking to improve. Literature on competency development also highlights that such improvement can focus on knowledge, attitude, skills, or any combination of these.
Although many service members have parents who are a key part of their support system, i.e., mothers and fathers who are very supportive of and strongly impacted by their son’s or daughter’s military service and life, resources and tools focused on their unique needs and concerns are challenging to find. Why are parents of service members often left out of the picture? One reason is that in most circumstances, these military-connected individuals do not qualify as military dependents as defined by the Department of Defense.
Blue Star Families (BSF), widely known for initiatives to better understand and support military families, recently launched an extensive diversity effort, the BSF Racial Equity & Inclusion (REI) Initiative. This post provides a brief introduction to one of the BSF REI’s first products, a study of the experiences of service members, Veterans, and families of color. Links to access additional information about the study and the larger BSF REI Initiative are provided.
The percentage of Army recruiters who are women, according to Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, in an article in Task & Purpose -- Less than a quarter of Army recruiters are women. Here’s why that’s a problem.
Since 2000 over 449,000 service members have had at least one documented TBI, of which approximately 82% are mild (Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence, 2021). These injuries occur as part of mission-related activities while in-theater or during training exercises or as part of recreational activities. Many patients report experiencing headaches, memory and concentration issues, changes in mood, and increased irritability, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021).