Third location decompression for individual augmentees after a military deployment

Third location decompression (TLD) refers to the initial process, undertaken by military personnel at the end of an operational deployment, whereby adjustment from military operations commences. TLD has been shown to be useful for personnel in formed units (FU).

To examine the subjective utility of TLD for personnel deployed as individual augmentees (IAs) by comparing their experience with FU personnel.

One hundred and twenty-nine IAs and 121 FU personnel completed a short survey at the end of the decompression period asking about operational exposures, perceived usefulness, stigma, concerns about readjustment and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).

The strongest predictor of perceived utility was the desire to participate prior to arrival at the facility. FU personnel were more likely to want to participate in TLD than IAs (60% versus 30%); however, on completion, IAs reported high usefulness ratings with 78% of IAs and 84% of FU personnel finding it useful or a little useful. More FU personnel reported substantial PTSS, reporting that high numbers of PTSS were associated with finding the briefings that dealt with traumatic stress useful. Personnel reporting substantial operational exposures also reported greater levels of PTSS.

IAs found TLD to be as useful as FU personnel; therefore, exclusion from the TLD process is not warranted. Military commanders should consider restricting TLD to both IA and FU personnel deemed to be at increased risk of a difficult adjustment due to greater operational exposure. Our data suggest that smaller numbers of IA personnel would fall into this group.