Reintegration is about returning isolated personnel to duty. The methodology is based on a strategic and structured system called the Personnel Recovery (PR) system, where reintegration is part of the concluding work within the system.
To train in and develop the Swedish Armed Forces' Personnel Recovery (PR) system, as well as to increase interoperability with other NATO countries, the Centre for Defence Medicine (FömedC) invited two representatives from the Human Factors unit of the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA) in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, USA, to conduct training. The training took place in Gothenburg over three days with SERE psychologists COL Joseph H. Afandor (Chief, Human Factors Division) and Dr. Gary Percival (Deputy Chief, Human Factors Division), who were welcomed by Colonel Malin Johansson Ekenberg, Head of the Swedish Armed Forces Centre for Defence Medicine.
"Reintegration is not the same as psychological treatment, but rather involves a holistic approach that aims to complete the mission for both the returning individual and the Swedish Armed Forces. The returning individual should not be seen as 'broken' but as an individual who has gone through and managed something extraordinary. This mindset, I believe, is important for us to adopt," says Johanna Holmdahl, licensed psychologist, functional representative, Centre for Defence Medicine.
The training began with an overview of the reintegration area and continued with how people react to isolation and how they cope with it afterward. On the third day, the training concluded with how the reintegration process supports the return to work and family.
The training is based on experiences from the Swedish Armed Forces' participation in the Multinational Capabilities Development Campaign (MCDC) 2022-2024.
"MCDC is an important forum that promotes exchange between countries and provides an opportunity to jointly generate solutions to common problems. In this case, the USA is a leader in JPRR, and it was a natural step to invite them here as part of developing our process within JPRR," says Jan-Olov Nordin, Lieutenant Colonel, HQ STRA UTV and national director for MCDC in Sweden.