The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have now lasted longer than the Vietnam War and 2.2 million men and women troops have deployed since October of 2002.  Over 40,000 have been wounded in action and many have injuries not apparent at first, such as post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma.  There is little doubt that members of the U.S. military are facing a number of unprecedented challenges including the stress and risks of multiple combat tours, traumatic injuries that result from injuries caused by rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices. Military service members also face obstacles when reintegrating back into their civilian lives, including complex health problems, family stress, and employment issues. These circumstances provide the opportunity for social workers to intervene to facilitate the psychosocial wellbeing of returning service members and their families. 

Learning Objectives:

• The participants will be able to identify the unique aspects of military culture and how to incorporate military history into a social work assessment.

• The participants will be able to identify the most common traumatic injuries and mental health issues that Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans experience.

• The participants will be able to identify psychosocial issues that both men and women Veterans face upon return to civilian life.