Psychological impact of remote combat/graphic media exposure among US Air Force intelligence personnel

ABSTRACT

Since 2001 there has been a significant increase in the use of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) analysis for tactical, operational, and strategic decision makers engaged in global operations. To meet this demand, US Air Force intelligence personnel participate in remote combat and graphic media exploitation operations (e.g., review of still imagery, video, and audio), the long-term psychological effects of which are not well understood. Research to date has focused primarily on outcomes related to how intelligence personnel work, versus the specifics of what they do. Military psychologists embedded in ISR units conducted studies to address this gap. Intelligence analysts participated in focus groups and surveys assessing the frequency of exposure, previous exposures to other potentially traumatic events, symptoms of PTSD, moral injury, and other psychosocial experiences. Results showed that exposure levels, albeit virtual, rivaled or exceeded those reported by a sample of special operations forces. Results also showed that specific types of exposures (e.g., witnessing US military casualties, civilian casualties, atrocities committed by the enemy) are related to increased posttraumatic stress and other sequelae that may not adequately be captured by standard posttraumatic stress disorder screening measures. The results contribute to the existing literature on posttraumatic stress, shed new light on the emerging construct of moral injury, and highlight challenges presented by remote combat and graphic media exploitation operations to force health sustainment and performance optimization. The authors provide directions for future research and recommendations for ongoing assessment, monitoring, and selection and training of ISR personnel.

KEYWORDS:

• Remote combat stress
• PTSD
• moral injury
• ISR
• embedded behavioral health
• secondary traumatic stress

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Lt Col Cameron “Badger” Thurman, 480 ISRW/SG, for his tireless support of this study, embedded mental health teams, and human performance optimization for ISR airmen.