Team offers Airmen outlet for traumatic stress Published May 21, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Alexandria Mosness 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- With Airmen deploying now more than ever, it only makes sense for Air Force officials to create resources for the Airmen once they get back to their home station. One of these resources is the traumatic stress response team, which was introduced Air Force-wide in 2006. All Air Force bases with a medical treatment facility are required to have a TSR team, and Ramstein is one of many bases taking the time and effort to take care of their Airmen. Made up of members from the Airman and Family Readiness Center, the chapel and the mental health office, the TSR team provides pre-exposure preparation training, consultation to unit commanders and leaders, screening, psychological first aid, education and referral in order to promote resilience to potentially traumatic events. Traumatic stress response is a coordinated response kicked off by unit leaders where a plethora of services are offered by people and groups to someone who has been exposed to a potentially traumatic event, said Capt. Jeremy Haskell, 435th Medical Group clinical psychologist and TSR team chief. The TSR team members accomplish their goal of enhancing resiliency by not only consulting with leaders about potentially traumatic events, but also by giving education briefings, screenings, first aid and referrals for those who have been exposed to a traumatic event, Captain Haskell said. While Airmen are fighting a two-front war, it is necessary that the Airmen are taken care of when they come home. "Following a potentially traumatic event, individuals can seek up to four one-on-one sessions with any member of the TSR team," Captain Haskell said. "These meetings are for the purpose of education and consultation, not for medical assessment and treatment." The goal of the TSR team is to make sure the servicemembers are getting the help they require. "The importance of the TSR team is to ensure the individual is getting the care (he or she needs)," said Steve Rose, 435th Air Base Wing A&FRC consultant. "We want to make sure that no Airmen fall through the cracks. That is the bottom line." With the advancements in technology and medicine, more diagnoses are made now compared the number of diagnoses made in past wars. "Post traumatic stress disorder was not known about in the past," Mr. Rose said. "In today's military we can get Airmen the help that need it." Even though responses to a potentially traumatic event differ from person to person, typical responses include sadness, fatigue, outbursts of anger, easy irritation, and sleeping and appetite disturbances. If you or anyone you know is experiencing these signs contact mental health for a referral to the TSR team.