U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Preston Reed

Deployment support programs initially focused on the needs of service members in the pre-deployment phase as they trained and prepared for deployment. With the progression of combat operations during the past 11 years, our understanding of deployment-related challenges for service members, veterans and families is better understood, and the importance of the actual deployment and post-deployment phases is also more apparent.

Reintegration is the process of transitioning back into personal and organizational roles after a deployment. It’s often seen as a series of positive events as the service member reunites with family and friends. However, it can also be associated with increased tension and difficulties readjusting to stateside roles, new family routines and changes at work — all of which can affect a service member’s ability to transition smoothly back to home life.

	Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force

Exercise was part of your routine for a long time. It was your duty to churn out miles, hammer weights and stay mission ready. And when you did, you looked better, ate well and slept great.

But, now you’re out of the service, out of your routine and … maybe out of shape. The irony is that now that you have more time to devote to your well-being, you’re giving it less attention. Why? You may not have a military mission, but you do have a mission — your continued well-being.

“It may take some new thinking about keeping both your body and your mind fit,” said Dr. Evette Pinder, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), resilience and prevention subject matter expert. “Being physically active can take on a broader context and incorporate goals that are meaningful to your life now, like managing the tasks of daily life requiring strength and conditioning that get progressively challenging as we age,” she said.

	Paul Ross stands with his brother. (Photo courtesy of Navy Medicine Live)

The support of friends and family members is critical for service members experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially when many service members choose not to get the help they need because of the stigma that surrounds psychological health care. Paul Ross, the author of this Navy Medicine Live blog post knows this firsthand. Read about how he helped his brother, a U.S. Army veteran, get the help he needed for his combat-related PTSD. And then explore the resources identified at the end of this post to support military members and those who support them.

When my kid brother left for Iraq he was just that — a kid. He returned home shattered inside. The “dark pit,” as he calls it, was hidden underneath his gruff, infantry-tattooed exterior. No one in our family could have predicted what he would experience or the after-effects that continue to haunt him today.

	U.S. Army photo by Phil Sussman

“Put me in coach … I’m ready to play!” In sports, that statement shows a player’s determination to succeed. The same could be said for service members who voluntarily access inTransition, a coaching program that helps those being treated for psychological concerns transition between behavioral health care providers or systems as a result of a change in their service status.

Such transitions can pose challenges and create uncertainties for the service member under treatment, sometimes resulting in a retreat from care or behavioral health setbacks. InTransition coaches work one-on-one with service members and veterans to ensure continuity of care and help them feel comfortable with and prepared for a change to a new provider.

	Airmen sleep in cots at Aviano Air Base, Italy, while supporting Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Tierney P. Wilson)

Most of us have a few mornings where we wished we had slept better the night before. Trouble falling and/or staying asleep not only makes you feel lethargic the next day, it can cause psychological issues if sleep problems persist and are left ignored. Sleep problems can affect everyone, but they can particularly impact the military community as post-combat concerns, such as flashbacks, hypervigilance and reintegration stress can all interrupt sleep.

May is Better Sleep Month, and there’s never been a better time to learn how to sleep better. We asked Dr. Anthony Panettiere, National Intrepid Center of Excellence neurology and sleep medicine physician, how to sleep better and be mentally fit to take on the next day. He suggests:

• Keep a routine. Try to wake up at the same time each day in bright light, but only go to bed when fully sleepy. Dim the lights 60 minutes before your desired bedtime to promote the release of melatonin, your brain's natural sleep hormone.