THE COSTS OF COURAGE
Combat Stress, Warriors, and Family Survival

Josephine G. Pryce, University of Alabama
Colonel David H. Pryce
Kimberly K. Shackelford, University of Mississippi

The Costs of Courage is one of the very few comprehensive volumes that shed a light on the needs of US military personnel and their families. The authors introduce social workers and other helping professionals to the dynamic warrior culture of the US military and their families and provides practitioners with the cultural competence necessary to successfully interact with members of this culture.

This book includes best practices and eclectic approaches that encourage social workers and other mental health professionals to better consider the needs of our military and their families.  The text contains the most up-to-date subject matter on social work with military personnel and their families, including thorough descriptions of major conditions suffered by members of the warrior culture in the past and present. Relevant topics such as suicide, sexual assault, veteran issues, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, are discussed.  The content is accented with a glossary of commonly used military terms and acronyms.

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part I: The Basics Chapter 1. War and Its Byproducts
	Background Afghanistan Iraq Reflections on War—Sun Tsu, 500 BCE The Western Way of War—The Battle Killing and Warriors Drink, and Will to Combat Soul Wounds Casualties—Visible and Invisible The Sexual Assault Epidemic
Chapter 2. The American Profession of Arms
	Overview Department of Defense Total Force Demographics for Social Workers Military Subculture Rank Has Its Privileges Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Coast Guard The Military Family—An Integral Part of the American Profession of Arms Example—Characteristics of Army Families Unique Issues for Reserve Component Service Members and Families Well-Being Within Army Families Children in Army Families
Part II: The Problem Chapter 3. Combat Stress Injuries
	Introduction Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Major Depressive Episode (MDE) Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Chapter 4. Governmental Responses to Combat Stress Injuries
	Introduction Department of Defense Department of Veterans’ Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service—Vet Centers
Chapter 5. Suicide and the Warrior
	Introduction Suicide Theory Statistics Stigma and Barriers to Seeking Help The Human Face of Suicide PTSD—A Risk Factor Related to Suicide Suicide in the Army Suicide and Deployment to Combat Killing, Suicide, and Acquired Capability Suicide in the Navy and Marine Corps Suicide in the Air Force Post-Deployment Suicide Joshua Omvig Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Act of 2007 Hidden Epidemic of Female Veteran Suicide Social Work and Suicide Survivors
Chapter 6. Contemporary Military and Veterans’ Issues
	Overview Homeless Veterans Incarcerated Veterans Women Warriors Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue (DADT)
Chapter 7. Warriors and Families Speak Out
	The Military Experience Difference Between First and Second Deployment Effect on the Warrior The Injured Warrior Marriage and Deployment Family Member Experiences The Experience of Coming Home Utilization of Social Workers
Part III: Social Work Solutions Chapter 8. Social Work with Military Families
	Deployment Statistics Early Literature on Military Families Changes in the Military Major Military Policy Changes Addressing Families Military Readiness—An Ongoing Issue Common Characteristics of Military Life Formal Mental Health Help-Seeking by Military Family Members Transitional Density and Family Survival Predeployment, Separation, and Postdeployment/Reintegration Periods When a Warrior Deploys, the Family Also Serves Children and Adolescents Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Resources for Social Work with Warriors and Families
Chapter 9. Veterans’ Higher Education Challenges and Opportunities
	Military Service Members and Veterans Educational Characteristics Readjustment Experience Mental and Physical Health Issues Policies and Practices of the Educational Environment The Vet-Friendly Campus The Counseling Center—A Critical Contact University Office of Veterans’ Affairs for Warriors and Family Members The Vet-Friendly Web Page Educating Faculty, Administrators, and Staff Student Veterans of America A Model Vet-Friendly Center GI Bill of Rights—1944, 1984, 2009 Yellow Ribbon Program Veterans’ Upward Bound Program Difficulties One Veteran Had to Overcome to Obtain an Education Beyond High School Veteran Students with Disabilities The American Council on Education—Vet-Friendly Campus Checklist. Social Work Advocacy for Student Veterans
Conclusion Glossary References

About the Authors

Josephine G. Pryce (MSW, Our Lady of the Lake University; PhD, University of California Berkley) is associate professor of social work at the University of Alabama teaching a variety of courses in social work practice, research, and traumatic stress. She is the recipient of several awards for teaching excellence. The focus of her scholarship and writing is military families, veterans, lesbians, gay men, secondary traumatic stress, and self-care for helping professionals.

Colonel David H. Pryce (MA, University of Nebraska, MSSW, University of Texas, Arlington) is a retired infantry officer. He served two tours in Vietnam in attack helicopter and air cavalry units, earning three Silver Star medals for gallantry and two Purple Heart medals for wounds received in combat. He served on the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy developing and teaching courses in American military history. Since his retirement in 1987, he has published extensively on warriors and their families. This is his second book.

Kimberly K. Shackelford (MSW, University of Southern Mississippi; PhD, University of Mississippi) is associate professor of social work at the University of Mississippi. She was previously the director of training for the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children’s Services and prior to that, a frontline child protection social worker and child protection supervisor. She continues her work as a licensed clinical social worker with the Mississippi child welfare agency staff and other community service agencies for the continued improvement of services delivered to the children and families of Mississippi.

Also by Josephine G. Pryce, David H. Pryce, and Kimberly K. Shackelford:
Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Child Welfare Professional (Lyceum Books)

2012 paperback, 224 pages, ISBN 978-1-933478-37-1, $36.95