Biopsychosociocultural Perspective on ‘Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom’ Women Veterans as Civilian Police Officers: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Challenges

Abstract

Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans constitute a large portion of police officer recruits. Women applicants present with similar gender-specific health-care practice needs. To improve the quality of care for this vulnerable and underserved veteran population, it is essential to begin with a systematic assessment using a biopsychosociocultural approach. Internationally, shortages in compensation and pension health-care professionals within Veterans Affairs have resulted in the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The health-care needs of OEF/ OIF veterans can fuel psycholegal issues for police departments. These issues usually take place in the form of negligent hire and/or retention misconduct cases. Female OEF/OIF veterans may need additional health-care services for PTSD or mTBI after they enter another male-dominated culture. Although not every female veteran seeking a job in law enforcement has PTSD and mTBI, evaluating these veterans using a biopsychosociocultural approach provides a framework for early identification, intervention and prevention. This paper offers an educational and training perspective aimed at sensitising hiring authorities to clinically relevant transition and adjustment issues as female veterans shift into civilian police departments.

How many prison officers are ex‐military personnel? Estimating the proportion of armed forces leavers within the prison workforce of England and Wales

“…Just as studies of prison officers have not considered the significance of prior employment, extensive research into post-military careers has also overlooked the prison as a workplace. Ex-military personnel have, however, been tracked into teaching (Gordon and Newby Parham, 2019;Brott, 2013, 2014); police work (Ivie and Garland, 2011;Johnson, 2013;Olson and Gabriel-Olson, 2012;Patterson, 2002 ); the fire service (Bartlett et al, 2018(Bartlett et al, , 2020; corporate careers (Benmelech and Frydman, 2015;Gagliardo, 2020;Kaur and Singh, 2018;Koch-Bayram and Wernicke, 2018); and entrepreneurship (Heinz et al, 2017;Kerrick et al, 2014), finding that military experience is predicative of professional performance.…”

“…Just as studies of prison officers have not considered the significance of prior employment, extensive research into post-military careers has also overlooked the prison as a workplace. Ex-military personnel have, however, been tracked into teaching (Gordon & Newby Parham, 2019;Robertson & Brott, 2013, police work (Ivie & Garland, 2011;Johnson, 2013;Olson & Gabriel-Olson, 2012;Patterson, 2002), the fire service (Bartlett et al, 2018(Bartlett et al, , 2020, corporate careers (Benmelech & Frydman, 2015;Gagliardo, 2020;Kaur & Singh, 2018;Koch-Bayram & Wernicke, 2018), and entrepreneurship (Heinz et al, 2017;Kerrick et al, 2014), and studies show that military experience is predicative of professional performance. It is associated with more conservative and ethical behaviour in business, better management of occupational stress, high levels of resilience and, in teaching, a greater likelihood than that of conventionally-trained teachers to remain in the profession.…”

Criminal Review Board of Forensic Psychological Evaluations in Relation to Appeal Hearings: A Culturally Responsive Police Accountability Paradigm

“…For example, in terms of police officers, the entangled nature of policing in diverse neighborhoods requires awareness of historical trauma in the absence of cultural healing. This awareness must be included as a competency that all police officers have to pass during the academy, integrated within the Field Training Officer (FTO) experiences and present in a significant way in subsequent continuing education for all police officers [56]. The CRB can function as an independent advisory crosscheck for the selection and retention of police officers.…”

Bridging the Gap? Ex-Military Personnel and Military–Civilian Transition Within the Prison Workforce

“…Wide-ranging research tracks the post-military careers of personnel leaving the armed forces, including various studies of specific destination professions. Research into post-military careers has tracked former military personnel into teaching (Gordon & Newby Parham, 2019; Robertson & Brott, 2013); police work (Ivie & Garland, 2011; Johnson, 2013; Olson & Gabriel-Olson, 2012; Patterson, 2002); the fire service (Bartlett et al, 2020); corporate careers (Benmelech & Frydman, 2015; Gagliardo, 2020; Kaur & Singh, 2018; Koch-Bayram & Wernicke, 2018); and entrepreneurship (Heinz et al, 2017; Kerrick et al, 2014). Across these and other studies, researchers find that military experience is to some extent predictive of professional performance, being variously associated with more conservative and ethical behaviour in business, better management of occupational stress, high levels of resilience and, in teaching, a greater likelihood of remaining in the profession compared to conventionally–trained teachers.…”