On Combat

The military hospital in Elmendorf Alaska has got the right idea to help heal it’s wounded warriors: cultivating a sense of community as a healing force.

The Medical Group Commander is hawking the medical system and pulling wounded Alaskan warriors back home to heal (see “Injured Alaska Troops Embraced By Hometown Healing” in the Anchorage Daily News March 19, 2007):

“The goal? Bring home, whenever possible, every hurt Alaska soldier and airman for treatment at Elmendorf Hospital.

“Having treated so many wounded over there, I wanted to make sure we got them back close to their friends and family and homes,” said Col. Eli Powell, commander of the 3rd Medical Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base.”

This effort is maximizing our potential for moral and social healing, something “big medicine” at large medical centers like Walter Reed are just not well postured for. The need for a greater community role in moral healing is noted by Dr Jonathan Shay in Achilles in Vietnam:

“As much as I love what I do and consider it worthwhile, I cannot escape the suspicion that what we do as mental health professionals is not as good as the healing that in other cultures has been rooted in the native soil of the returning soldier’s community. Our culture has been notably deficient in providing for reception of the Furies of war into community.”

A sense of community is challenged by our professional military that starts with lengthy enlistments and encourages commitment to extended military careers. The frequent military moves by professional warriors challenge the ability to be part of a community. Despite this obstacle, Elmendorf looks like they are onto something, leveraging the community that they have and taking ownership away from a very large and bureaucratic system:

For those patients, being close to families and friends and their home base is an important part of recovery, according to Powell and Sgt. Yolanda Hayes, the Army’s liaison with the hospital. “The people that are back here will embrace them,” Hayes said. “They’ll get better sooner.”

“The healing process is not just the physical healing; it’s the mental healing, the spiritual healing,” he said. “Getting them back here to their band of brothers makes a huge difference in their recovery.”

Right now, Elmendorf is being propelled by Col Powell’s personal vision. Let’s hope more enlightened military leaders pick up the torch and energize their communities in the healing process.