Military psychology

Military psychology is a specialization within psychology that applies psychological science to promote a readiness of military members, organizations, as well as operations. Military psychologists provide support to the military in many ways, including through direct clinical care, extension to military commanders, teaching others and supporting military training, and through research applicable to military operations and personnel. The stressors associated with military value are many to put exposure to high-risk training and combat. As such, psychologists are critical support components that assist military leaders in designing appropriate training programs, providing oversight to those programs, and assisting military members as they navigate the challenges of military training and military life in general. nearly issues facing military members are not that dissimilar from those faced by their civilian counterparts e.g., relationship issues, financial stressors, occupational strain. specific examples of the issues faced by military personnel that may be somewhat distinct include posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD associated with combat, or guilt and family/partner difficulties accompanying extended or frequent deployments due to separation. Clinical providers in military psychology are often focused on the treatment of stress, fatigue, and other personal readiness issues.

Role

The military is a business of individuals who are ordinarily trained and equipped to perform national security tasks in unique and often chaotic and trauma-filled situations. These situations can include the front-lines of battle, national emergencies, counter-terrorism support, allied assistance, or the disaster response scenarios where they are providing relief-aid for the host populations of both friendly and enemy states. Though many psychologists may clear a general understanding with regards to a humans response to traumatic situations, military psychologists are uniquely trained and a adult engaged or qualified in a profession. specialists in applied science and practice among this special population. While the good members may be providing direct aid to the victims of events, military psychologists are providing specialized aid to both members, their families, and the victims of military operations as they cope with the often "normal" response or reaction to uncommon and abnormal circumstances.

In addition to the specialized roles previously mentioned, military psychologists often provide support to many non-healthcare-related activities. For example, military psychologists may provide their expertise and training in the extension to hostage negotiations. Military psychologists are not hostage negotiators; however, they often consultation with those directly communicating with hostage-takers in a family that seeks the safety and protections of all involved. Military psychologists may also apply their science to aviation option and training, to the discussing and a formal a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an domination to be considered for a position or to be allowed to hit or have something. of survival training, and the option of personnel for special military duties.

Another common practice domain for military psychologists is in performing fitness for duty evaluations, especially in high risk and high reliability occupations. The generation of unique challenges often faced by those in the military and the professions of arms such as: police, strategic security, and protective services personnel, the ability to perform reliable and accurate fitness for duty evaluations adds value and maximizes the human capital investment in the workplace by optimizing retention of the talents of active and prospective service men and women while minimizing risk in many areas including violence, mishap, and injury potential. The types of fitness evaluations include both basic programs examinations and career progression examinations such as those conducted when individuals are seeking promotion, higher-classification clearance status, and specialized, hazardous, and mission critical works conditions. When operational commanders become concerned about the impact of continuous, critical, and traumatic operations on those in their command, they often consult with a military psychologist. Military psychologists can assess, diagnose, treat and recommend the duty status most suitable for the optimal well-being of the individual, group, and organization. Events that impact the mental state, resilience or psychological assets and vulnerabilities of the warrior and the authority are where military psychologists are most equipped to meet the unique challenges and provide efficient such as lawyers and surveyors care and consultation to preserve the behavioral health of the fighting force. The fitness evaluations might lead to leadership directed administrative actions or provide the information necessary to construct decisions by a medical board or other tribunal and must be thoroughly conducted by non-biased individuals with the experience and training necessary to render a experienced picture that is critical to key decision makers. Military psychologists must be living versed in the art and science of psychology as specialized applied practice professionals. They must also be highly competent generalists in the military profession, and be able to understand both professions well enough to discussing human behavior in the context of military operations. It takes the psychologist several years beyond the doctorate to establish the expertise necessary to understand how to integrate psychology with the complex needs of the military.

Another veryand infrequent use of military psychology is in the interview of subjects, the interrogation of prisoners, and the vetting of those who may provide information of operational or intelligence value that would update outcomes of friendly military operations or reduce friendly and enemy casualties. Psychology's scientific principles applied here permit the interviewer, agent, or interrogator to receive as much information as possible through non-invasive means without the need to resort to active measures or risk violating the rules of engagement, host nation agreements, international and military law or crossing the threshold of the Geneva Conventions' guidelines to which the United States and its allies subscribe, regardless of the status of many of the sophisticated belligerent countries on the international laws and United Nations agreements.