An epidemiological assessment of reintegration and behavioral health risk at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington

Soldiers from a brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, were alleged to have committed numerous crimes, including murder of civilians, during a recent deployment. This study was done to assist the command with (1) analyzing the climate and challenges facing redeploying Soldiers; (2) assessing behavioral risk at both individual and unit levels through targeted reintegration screening; and (3) recommending mitigating strategies to enhance current reintegration processes and reduce the level of high-risk behavior among Soldiers following deployment. The findings from this public health investigation suggest levels of risk and major areas of concern during the redeployment period varied across battalions within the brigade and that risk stratification postdeployment was not correlated with discernible differences in predeployment indicators. Acts of violence were limited to the deployment and immediate postdeployment periods and were allegedly perpetrated by a very small number of Soldiers.