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Third-location decompression for Canadian soldiers ending a tour of duty : a focus group

University of British Columbia

This study investigated the Canadian Third-Location Decompression (TLD) Program, a program in which soldiers participate immediately after their Tours of Duty in operational deployments prior to their transition home to Canada. To investigate this matter, a research focus group was run for three hours, and thematic analysis of the data gathered was completed. The orientation questions for the focus group were: “What is the experience of third-location decompression?” and “What factors in TLD would have aided in a more successful re-entry experience back home to Canada?” Two primary themes were supported by a number of subthemes which indicated 1) The apparent value of TLD is questioned upon arrival, but changes over time with enhancement of personal awareness and TLD being perceived as a buffer, and 2) Reservists perceive a disparity between their members and Regular Force counterparts which threatens their personal identity and leads to a perception of abandonment. Contributing to this, Reservists also perceive a greater challenge to re-entry and reintegration with civilian lifestyle after TLD compared to Regular Force members. These themes are discussed in relation to the current literature, and suggestions for further investigation are made as well.

Text

2012-04-23

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/42213

Counselling Psychology

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/