[Organisation of psychosocial support--experiences from two accidents in the Norwegian Armed Forces]

Military units are designed and trained to operate under stress, crisis and combat. In peacetime conditions the military organization can be subject to unforeseen crisis situations, including fatal accidents during training and exercises. Such critical incidents will affect personnel, leadership, morale and organizational performance. It may also affect the relationship between the military unit and the civilian community. Recent experience has shown that good leadership, personnel support and organizational restructuring are essential elements in the recovery after critical incidents and peacetime disasters. The present study outlines a systematic approach to crisis management in formal organizations. This includes a descriptive analysis of individual and organizational interventions in two military organizations; an army unit of 150 men and a naval unit of 114 men.