TRAUMATIC STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCY, AND COMBAT READINESS OF SOLDIERS IN ZAMBASULTA: BASIS FOR AN ENHANCED CLINICAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Lolina  N. Bajin,; Margaret Helen  Udarbe-Alvarez,

TRAUMATIC STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCY, AND COMBAT READINESS OF SOLDIERS IN ZAMBASULTA: BASIS FOR AN ENHANCED CLINICAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Lolina N. Bajin | Margaret Helen Udarbe-Alvarez

Abstract:

This study was designed to explore the traumatic stress, psychological resiliency, and combat readiness of soldiers in Zamboanga, Basilan, Jolo Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa) as basis for an enhanced clinical intervention program. Majority of 287 combat soldiers who participated in this study tested to have moderate-to-extreme levels of PTSD and moderate-to-high levels of psychological resiliency and combat readiness after engagement. They were generally young, among the lowest ranking soldiers with least number of years in service and least combat exposure. Based on the pre-test, only 10 out of 11 soldiers exposed to combat engagement with moderate-to-extreme distress underwent the Enhanced Clinical Intervention Program. These were the soldiers assigned at ZamBaSulTa command post coming from different unit stations: 11DRC 1ID PA, 18IB 1ID PA, MBLT-1 PN(M), MBLT-3 PN(M), and MBLT-6 PN(M). The Enhanced Clinical Intervention Program received by ten selected soldiers led to reduced post-traumatic symptoms and increased levels of psychological resiliency and combat readiness. From moderate-to-extreme distress and at least 2-3 times frequently remembering the traumatic events, this was reduced to not at all-to-moderately distressing and at most 2-3 times frequently remembered the traumatic events. Psychological resiliency increased from moderate to the range of high to very high and low-to-moderate combat readiness increased from high to very high. As a result, the Enhanced Clinical Intervention Program was found effective.