Placement of combat stress teams in Afghanistan: reducing barriers to care

This article describes the medical planning process whereby combat stress and mental health clinicians were placed at Forward Operating Bases in southern and western Afghanistan during a period of intensive surge operations in 2009-2010. The distribution plan for the Combat Stress Control teams was based on previously published guidance on ratios of combat stress personnel to troop end-strength, population at-risk data, and kinetic activity associated with current and future combat operations. The article concludes with outcome data that validates the distribution decisions made through the planning process. Through dissemination of this information, it is hoped that future planners and clinicians can improve the processes involved in providing combat stress and mental health services to forward-deployed troops.