Time in The Sun
– Is time away from the
front-line,not time away from home…
For units returning from Afghanistan, Decompression has become a routine part of redeployment; it is the start of the home straight. Here Major Dean Cresswell from the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) talks about the process.
D
ecompression is one part of the operational stress management process, which, until now,
has been restricted to Formed Unit personnel. In 2010 a trial was conducted to see if the success of Decompression for Formed Units could be as effective for Individual Augmentees. Following extensive analysis it was agreed that Decompression would be implemented for all Service personnel serving 31 days or longer on Operation HERRICK. Te changes came into effect on 11 May 11.
It is important to understand that Decompression is not just for personnel who have been engaged in combat; operations are stressful in many different ways and every Service person will react differently to the their experiences. Decompression is not a panacea to solve every problem but it does play an important role in preparing Service personnel for their return home.
So what is Decompression? The best way to describe it is that it is a 24-36 hour rest in an environment in which Service personnel can begin winding down from high tempo operations
and rehabilitating into both routine and military life. Based at Bloodhound Camp near RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, it aims to provide personnel returning from operations the opportunity to reflect on their shared experiences within a relaxed and peaceful environment prior to returning back to their respective home units.
Once personnel arrive into RAF Akrotiri, they change out of their uniform (which is taken away and freshly laundered) into sports kit and spend the day at the beach, just thirty minutes from Akrotiri. All of the activities are provided by the trained Decompression staff. The emphasis is all about personal choice, to do as little or as much as one wants. The activities vary but include the opportunity to water ski, to enjoy a ride on a banana boat, to sail or to simply swim in the warm Mediterranean waters. On the beach, personnel can play volleyball, or simply chill out and have an ice cream.
Later in the afternoon, personnel are driven back to Bloodhound Camp for a short brief on the evening entertainment and are shown to their accommodation. Units remain accommodated together throughout Decompression in order to maintain that vital support network whilst individual augmentees will be accommodated with similar personnel.
Throughout, a range of welfare facilities are available to use for all personnel, including Paradigm phones to ring home and internet facilities to email or surf the web. Following a series of mandatory briefs, the limited bar is open and a BBQ is laid on for all personnel.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
As the sun sets, CSE provide a comedy show and live music. If anyone wishes to see one of the latest movie releases, the SSVC Movie Machine is also on station as well as plenty of PlayStation/Wii consoles, pool tables, table football and arcade machines, all of which can be found within the camp bar, which is also fully equipped with Sky TV. Throughout the day and evening specialist staff including a Psychiatric Nurse and a Padre are available if anyone just fancies a chat.
The following morning starts with a leisurely breakfast on camp and, once personnel gather their laundered uniforms they are transported back to RAF Akrotiri in preparation for their onward flight home.
Feedback on the Decompression package has been positive, with personnel realising the benefits of being able to reflect on their time on operations with colleagues and to prepare themselves for the return to the home base. Decompression is not an additional day on an already lengthy time away; it is part of the operation. Getting people home in the right frame of mind is just as important as deploying in the right frame of mind. The effects of decompression might not be obvious but a days rest never did anyone any harm.
Note from the Federation: We would very much like to hear from anyone who has experienced decompression in Cyprus so we can portray your experience not just the policy provision. Please email:
enquiries@raff-ff.org.uk
Envoy Summer 2011 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56