Military Culture Research Paper

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Pages: 3

The United States Army is a branch of the U.S. military which focuses on land operations. (USA.gov, n.d.) Military culture is unique in that it defines not only the soldier, but also the soldier’s family. Soldiers are held to strict rules and regulations regarding everything from their dress code, how they behave, and even medical care received. Due to shared experiences, this culture promotes a sense of understanding and camaraderie among its members and their families. (Goodale, Abb, Moyer, n.d.) Members of the army tend to communicate with lingo and acronyms not understood by the layperson. There is a guide called the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, it is 394 pages long! (Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms) …show more content…
While dental care is available to active members on base, VA facilities tend to be located only in large to moderate sized cities. (va.gov) Veterans who live outside cities may have transportation issues. If the veteran is disabled, access is even more difficult. Dental emergencies during combat can put the soldier at risk. According to Allison DiMatteo, BA, MPS of Inside Dentistry, “If a soldier has a dental emergency, most of the time we have to put them into some type of vehicle to get them to the dentist, and that puts them at significant risk of being injured by an improvised explosive device (IED). If they don't have that dental emergency that needs to be treated, they don't put themselves at risk.” (DeMatteo, 2011) PTSD is an issue for soldiers after service in combat. “According to the DSM-5, the prevalence of PTSD among U.S. adults is 3.5%. The highest rates are among veterans and professionals in high-risk vocations (e.g., police, firefighters, emergency personnel).” Sounds in the dental clinic can trigger panic attacks. Anxiety should be kept to a minimum. Oral sedation may be considered, but substance abuse among those with PTSD is prevalent. Sedatives should be used with caution. (Dowst-Mayo,