Newswise — Social work professor Vaughn DeCoster will begin his second tour of duty in August as a team leader in a combat stress control unit in Iraq. He is available for interview during July at the University of Arkansas and will be available while deployed in Iraq.
During DeCoster's first tour, 2005-2007, as an officer in charge of a combat stress control team, he was the only mental health provider for 5,500 to 7,200 soldiers. He worked closely with soldiers in the field and studied the mental health of the military personnel he worked with.
Soon after return from his first tour of duty, DeCoster wrote an essay in January 2008 about being a social worker in a combat zone. His essay is available for background information and for publication.
DeCoster is an associate professor of social work in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. For a copy of his essay, please contact Barbara Jaquish at 479-575-2683 or [email protected].
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