More than 1 million U.S. citizens serve as active-duty military personnel. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, almost 22 million Americans are veterans of U.S. Armed Forces service. These men and women — whether serving in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy — are supported by millions more family members whose letters, phone calls and care packages are essential to buoy spirits and boost morale throughout a serviceperson’s career.
Often, however, that need for support extends long after the battlefield quiets. Many men and women have experienced direct combat exposure or other highly stressful situations during their service. With such a large number of people serving in active combat zones, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious concern.
PTSD is defined as “an anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened.” While PTSD more commonly affects those who have direct experience with high-stress situations, it can also impact people who have witnessed or observed traumatic events — both directly and indirectly. It is estimated that almost 8 percent of Americans will be affected by PTSD at some point in their lives. Within the U.S. Armed Forces, that percentage is even higher. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of veterans with PTSD varies by service era. For those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF), about 11-20 out of every 100 veterans has PTSD in a given year. From the Gulf War (Desert Storm), about 12 out of every 100 veterans is affected each year. And, it is estimated that 30 out of every 100 veterans who served in the Vietnam War have experienced PTSD in their lifetime.
Prescribing Recreation
With so many armed forces servicemen and women experiencing PTSD in combat and upon returning home, the military has developed effective treatment tools and methods to help individuals struggling with the disorder. Increasingly, recreational activities are being folded into treatment plans, as they can be an effective prescription to enhance physical, mental, social and emotional health through structured activities. Recreational therapy provides additional coping mechanisms related to stress and intense emotions by lowering levels of anxiety, providing social opportunities and creating a sense of community, cohesion and engagement among veterans.
The Marine Corps offers a variety of programs aimed at coping with PTSD. Capt. Robert Alonso is the executive officer of the Naval Health Clinic at Marine Corps Base Quantico, which often serves as the first step in a patient’s treatment plan, providing outpatient counseling and medication management. Alonso believes that Marines experiencing PTSD can benefit from other treatments including recreational programming. “Often times there is more to be gained in recovery through sources outside of behavioral health,” he says. “We have been pleased with the positive feedback that many of our patients [involved in outreach programs provided by Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) and Semper Fit] are reporting.” The Marine Corps Semper Fit program facilitates recreation programs that strengthen resilience and contribute to military effectiveness. Other active recreation programs that are available through MCCS can be tailored specifically for units, such as alternative physical training (PT), high-intensity tactical training (HITT), aquatics maximum power intense training (AMP-IT) and functional fitness.
For U.S. Army personnel and their families, the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs (MWR) is the hub of supportive wellness programming. It offers activities like fun runs, triathlons, bike races, hiking, whitewater rafting, swimming, rock/ice climbing, skiing and other activities to encourage physical activity and improve mental health.
The Army’s MWR program also utilizes art therapy as a mechanism for managing PTSD symptoms. Art therapy can provide emotional relief by encouraging free expression, and has been shown to relieve depression and anxiety. The U.S. Army formed partnerships with the Exceptional Family Member Program and MEDCOM facilities, as well as the American Art Therapy Program (AATP), to develop its Resiliency through Art program. Josh Gwinn, Army IMCOM-G9, believes the initiative is an effective tool for supporting service members with PTSD. “Art therapy offers activities that provide a calming, stress-free environment in which soldiers often strengthen relationships with their family as well as discovering new strengths and building life skills.”
Preventative Measures
The Marine Corps has also developed recreational programs that are aimed at preventing PTSD symptoms from developing. Operation Adrenaline Rush (OAR) is a high-adventure outdoor recreation activity in which Marines returning from deployment participate as a unit to garner cohesion, resiliency and maintain combat readiness. OAR was developed in 2011 as part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense initiative known as “Return and Recreate.” “Everyone is changed by their deployment experiences and some transition easier than others,” says Cathy Ficadenti, Semper Fit and Recreation Branch Head for the Marine and Family Programs Division. “OAR is a tool to assist Marines in finding a new level of normal and bringing that level down from the peak response to a stressful situation. The program provides recreational activities that can recreate an adrenaline rush such as zip lining, paintball and white water rafting, or provide low adrenaline level activities such as deep sea fishing, and biking.” Since the program’s inception, more than 24,000 Marines and Sailors have participated in the OAR program.
An Ongoing Role for Parks and Recreation
When developing recreational therapies for service members, both the Marine Corps and the Army stress the importance of looking to park and recreation agencies for guidance. “The [park and recreation] industry informs our programs as we monitor trends and technical advancements, as well as striving to provide comparable services to those outside the gates of Marine Corps bases,” says Ficadenti.
In addition, as the leaders of health and wellness in communities across the nation, park and recreation agencies must be aware of the large amount of active duty, reserve forces and veterans in their communities. Agencies can offer recreational programming that encourages physical and mental health and well-being, while simultaneously providing a support system for veterans as they transfer out of active duty and back into civilian life. Park and recreation professionals are particularly attuned to the needs of the communities they serve, and are well-suited to partner with local Veterans Affairs departments to enhance current offerings or develop specialized programs. And, says Ficadenti, such partnerships can benefit both parties. “Working with specialists in the field who have the experience and knowledge of this diagnosis will strengthen programs within the parks and recreation field.”
Allison Colman is a Program Manager at NRPA.