This page provides links to topics in Operator Syndrome (OS), tactical psych topics, and SOF Wellness. The purpose of sharing this information is to provide valuable insights to SOF professionals and their loved ones. No information provided on this page or site should be construed as medical advice.
Rebecca updates and reviews this page weekly. If you would like to recommend an article, podcast, or video for this page, please send Rebecca a message using the contact form on the Contact page.
*Please let Rebecca know if any of these site addresses are proxied or if you are unable to access the article.
Operator Syndrome
“Operator Syndrome,” especially blast TBI (bTBI) and PTSD, are destroying the lives of special operators at an alarming rate. – Dr. Warren Stewart & Lt Col Kevin Trujillo (paper linked below).
TPsy does not label the trauma symptoms of most Operators as PTSD, but the authors’ point stands. This business is dedicated to helping those with Operator Syndrome regain control of their bodies, brains, and life.
THE landmark Operator Syndrome article by Frueh et al. (2020). START HERE. Thank you to Froglogic for making this article free and available online.
Stellate Ganglion Block as Treatment for Risk Taking Behaviors Among Naval Special Warfare Operators & Veterans by Rebecca Ivory (me!) and my collaborator and co-conspirator, Hoagie, who is a SEAL
What is Operator Syndrome? video with Dr. Chris Frueh & Special Operations Association of America (SOAA)
Operator Syndrome: Managing High Allostatic Load by Stew Smith
TFR200 – Operator Syndrome Discussion – Tactical Fitness Report podcast & video by Stew Smith with Dr. Chris Frueh
TFR 223 – Operator Syndrome Discussion with Dr. Rebecca Ivory (oh hey!) – Tactical Fitness Report podcast & video by Stew Smith with Dr. Rebecca Ivory
Modern Warfare Destroys Brains by Dr. Warren Stewart & Lt Col Kevin Trujillo – thorough and well written. Read the executive summary (page 11) for the TL;DR takeaway.
Blast in Context: The Neuropsychological and Neurocognitive Effects of Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Repeated Low-Level Explosives on Canadian Armed Forces’ Breaching Instructors and Range Staff by Vartanian et al (2020). Interesting read about the effect of repeated, low-level explosive forces on range instructors & personnel. 10/10 read for any SOF operator, leader, or medical provider – especially those of us in psych services!
Effectiveness of the Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Function by To et al. (2022). This article is unfortunately behind a pay wall, but the abstract is available for free. Ultimately, a Mediterranean Diet that is fish-rich is effective in preserving/maintaining cognitive function. Here is a free article about this research. There is a LOT of evidence that the Mediterranean Diet may be supportive among those with Operator Syndrome.
Testosterone Supplementation for SOF by Linderman, O’Hara, & Ordway (2020). This article is behind a paywall, but the abstract is available for free. Rebecca is looking for an open access resource.
Fish Oil Supplementation for SOF by Heileson, Funderburk, & Cardaci (2021). This article is behind a paywall, but the abstract is available for free. Rebecca is looking for an open access resource.
Physiological & Psychological Stressors Affecting Performance, Health, & Recovery Among SOF by O’Hara et al. (2022). This article is behind a paywall, but the abstract is available for free. Rebecca is looking for an open access resource.
Operational Stressors on Physical Performance in SOF and Countermeasures to Improve Performance by O’Hara et al. (2014). This article is behind a paywall, but the abstract is available for free. Rebecca is looking for an open access resource.
Tactical Psychiatry
Rebecca became interested in tactical psychology/psychiatry in her 20s, when she was an elite athlete and men’s university rowing coach. She began reading sports psychology books to become a better athlete and coach, and found that the mental preparation for sports was similar to the mental preparation friends of hers used during BUD/S & SQT. In fact, the majority of SOF Rebecca has spoken with over the years have transitioned from serious university and elite athletes to serious tactical athletes. She found their experience of being a tactical athlete to be very similar to her experience as an elite athlete – from having to maintain her extreme fitness for more than a decade without any recovery/off seasons to the pressure of having to perform at 100% 24/7/365 because the team was relying on her.
It’s easy to assume tactical psychiatry is something like PsyOps, but it is the opposite. Tactical Psychiatry is the Operator’s focus inward. How does the Operator prepare to execute a mission? How does an Operator mentally train to perform a mission? How does an Operator or team adequately debrief and decompress following a mission? These same questions apply to training and even activities like mission and training planning. How does an Operator prepare to prepare? How can an Operator prepare others to prepare, execute, and debrief?
As a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), Rebecca’s focus is first on the Operator as a single unit, and then on the team as a whole unit. In psychiatry, often the focus is in diagnosing and prescribing. However, working with SOF means less diagnosing and prescribing and more educating and skills building. Operators are educated to look inwardly and address the things that can be learned, changed, and enhanced. Rebecca is calling this “tactical psychiatry” in an attempt to differentiate what she is doing with Operators from that of psychological warfare/psyops.
Performance Psychology for Tactical Professionals by Dr. Nancy L. Graber. This is an older article but it is an excellent look at tactical psychology/psychiatry.
Sports Psychology for the Soldier Athlete: A Paradigm Shift by Vanessa Meyer
Lessons From Special Forces Operators for Elite Team Sports Training: How to Make the Whole Greater Than the Sum of the Parts by Pattyn et al. (2022)
TFR202 Special Ops (BUD/S) Tactical Fitness / Mental Toughness or Stupidity? by Stew Smith. If you’re a visual person, this is an especially great resource. He discusses tactical fitness and mental toughness from a pipeline/BUD/S perspective, but this is excellent information for anyone at any phase in SOF.
Special Operations Forces Wellness
How to Achieve Restorative Sleep by Stew Smith. Discusses former SEAL Jeff Nichols guidelines for better sleep
Meditation, Mindfulness, & Resilience seminars (any of these topics and more) at Performance First with Katherine Grimm
Resources For Those Who Work with SOF
SOF Truths by USSOCOM. Truth 1: Humans are more important than hardware. A reminder to every medical professional who works with SOF.
Blast in Context: The Neuropsychological and Neurocognitive Effects of Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Repeated Low-Level Explosives on Canadian Armed Forces’ Breaching Instructors and Range Staff by Vartanian et al (2020). Interesting read about the effect of repeated, low-level explosive forces on range instructors & personnel. 10/10 read for any SOF operator, leader, or medical provider – especially those of us in psych services!