The modernized Air Force Mental Health Readiness Program: A model for mental health in large-scale combat operations

Anticipated large-scale combat operations (LSCO) against near-peer adversaries may necessitate changes in the Department of the Air Force's current approach to mental health provision in deployed environments. Contested airspace and prolonged field care scenarios may limit access to traditional mental health resources, demanding a modernized Mental Health Readiness Program. This article proposes a conceptual framework for such a program which addresses the unique mental health service delivery challenges of LSCO. The framework encompasses a multi-layered system of support spanning all phases of contingency operations with interventions tailored to varying levels of specialized delivery due to exposure and need. It emphasizes proactive unit resilience building, peer support, and a new model called Mental Health Self Aid and Buddy Care (MH-SABC) to equip Airmen and Guardians with the skills to support themselves and others in austere and high-stress environments. This article reviews the existing literature on the essential components of a modernized Mental Health Readiness Program, to include established interventions, such as Psychological First Aid, Combat and Operational Stress Control, and iCOVER. This paper highlights gaps in existing mental health interventions and offers a solution to those gaps to help Airmen and Guardians in an LSCO environment. Although developed for the Department of the Air Force, a modernized Mental Health Readiness Program provides a potential framework for use by other organizations.