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  • Book cover of Evaluation of the Operational Stress Control and Readiness (OSCAR) Program

    He Marine Corps Operational Stress Control and Readiness (OSCAR) program embeds mental health personnel within Marine Corps units and extends their reach by training officers and noncommissioned officers to recognize Marines showing signs of stress and intervene early. RAND Corporation researchers conducted an outcome evaluation of the OSCAR program that included four components: (1) a quasi-experimental study that compared Marines in OSCAR-trained and non-OSCAR-trained battalions on a wide array of stress-related outcomes before and after deployment, (2) a longitudinal pre- and postdeployment survey of perceptions of OSCAR among Marines who attended OSCAR training, (3) focus groups with Marines, and (4) semistructured interviews with commanding officers of battalions that had received OSCAR training. Results indicated that, after the authors adjust for a wide array of baseline characteristics and deployment experiences, Marines in OSCAR-trained battalions were more likely than those in non-OSCAR-trained battalions to report having sought help with stress problems from a peer, leader, or corpsman - behavior that is consistent with OSCAR goals. In addition, Marines considered OSCAR a valuable tool for enhancing combat and operational stress response and recovery efforts in the Marine Corps. However, this evaluation did not find evidence that OSCAR affected the key mental health outcomes it was designed to address. Thus, the results of this evaluation do not support the continuation of OSCAR in its current form. Based on lessons learned about OSCAR from this evaluation, other research, and best practices for program improvement and implementation, recommendations for improving combat and operational stress training in the Marine Corps are offered.

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    In recent years, the rising rate of suicides by military personnel has generated concern among policymakers, military leaders, and the public at large. Based on a recommendation from an earlier RAND report on preventing suicide among military personnel, this report reviews the literature on gatekeeper models of suicide prevention to better understand what is known about the effectiveness of gatekeepers and gatekeeper training. The report presents a theoretical model describing how gatekeeper training may influence individual knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes that may, in turn, result in intervention behaviors. It then reviews the evidence supporting each of the relationships presented in this model, and concludes with recommendations for advancing research in this field.

  • Book cover of Pumpkin Spice Madness

    We've compile more than 75 of our favorite easy and delicious Pumpkin spice recipes that are sure to satisfy your pumpkin spice cravings. Just remember - you don't have to wait till fall for Pumpkin Spice!

  • Book cover of Let's Learn the Alphabet!

    Your child will learn to recognize and write the letters of the alphabet while coloring and drawing. There's plenty of practice space for writing letters and practicing compiling and writing words.

  • Book cover of My Learning Adventure

    Your child is taken on a journey to learn colors, numbers, writing skills and the alphabet all in a keepsake book to cherish for years to come. After completing the book you'll be asked to place the book in safekeeping for future memories.