Combat operational stress control in Iraq and Afghanistan: Army occupational therapy

One of the primary roles for U.S. Army Occupational Therapists (OTs) during combat operations is the Behavioral Health (BH) mission. Army OTs have been involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) providing BH treatment to service members, serving in Brigade Combat Teams, and Combat Stress Control Units, however, the impact of the OT BH mission has been scarcely documented. Although the theoretical deployment role of OTs in Combat and Operational Stress Control (COSC) operations has been described, the literature provides minimal experiential application of OTs in the COSC role. This article describes the deployed operational roles of three OTs, two deployed during OIF and one in OEF during 2008-2010. Deployed assignments included positions as Officers in Charge of restoration centers, and of prevention centers to include animal-assisted therapy, and disaster response. Occupational therapists play a vital role within the COSC unit as they add the unique perspective of assessing the service member's functional performance in daily living occupations.