The Army Training System - AskTOP

where individuals feel they are an integral part of a team. This supportive environment canpotentially block certain types of dysfunctional behavior by providing soldiers and civilians asupport system and adequately equipping them to properly handle life’s stressors. The resultsor reward of a supportive environment (represented in the top left “output” box in Figure 2) willbe a better-adjusted individual. Conversely, if the small unit leader creates an environmentwhere negative life coping skills are reinforced or positive life coping skills are ignored, such anenvironment could then possibly contribute to dysfunctional behavior (represented in the topright “output” box in Figure 2).Small unit leaders have the most crucial role in establishing and determining the conditions ofthe soldier and civilian’s work environment. These leaders should strive to have a positiveinfluence on them by being a proper role model for them to emulate. For some soldiers andcivilians, their role and camaraderie within their unit and the relationship with their first linesupervisor might be the only positive, life-sustaining resource available to them in times ofadversity. Therefore, everyone should take this responsibility seriously.Senior leaders are responsible for the development of junior leaders to ensure that they areaware of the importance of being a proper role model and fostering a positive work environment.Commanders and senior Non-commissioned officers and civilian leaders should constantlyassess their junior leaders’ ability to positively influence behavior. It could be a disastrousmistake to assume that all junior leaders are reinforcing positive life coping skills in the presenceof their soldiers and civilians, especially considering that over half of the Army suicides withinCY 2001 were in the rank of Sergeant or above (including commissioned officers).Resulting in:- reduced substance abuse- reduced in-discipline indicators- high morale/self-worth- more successful relationships- overall better fit soldierOUTPUTResulting in increased:- substance abuse- suicidal behavior- criminal behavior- promiscuity- premature marriage- premature parenthoodPositive Coping SkillsReinforcement- social support use- continued education- unit involvement- avocationsINPUTBehaviorStressorsCurrentEnvironmentINPUTNegative Coping Skills Reinforcement- social isolation- ignoring problems- withdrawn- destructive peer group involvement- lack of leadership involvementDevelopmental HistoryGenetic Vulnerability toPsychiatric IllnessFIGURE 2SH-2-10