![handle is hein.crs/goveetk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: s Congressional
SResearch Service
FYY2022 NDAA Military Personnel Issues:
Preservation of the Force and Family Program
November 4, 2021
Background
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is the Unified Combatant Command
(COCOM) responsible for training and equipping Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the Army, Marine
Corps, Navy, and Air Force. Since at least 2001, frequent deployments, high personnel tempo
(PERSTE O), and combat exposure have stressed SOF personnel and their families. Combat exposure
has been associated with higher risks of negative mental and behavioral health outcomes like post-
traumatic stress (PTS), suicidality, and substance misuse. There is some evidence that military personnel
may decline to seek treatment or support for these conditions due to perceived negative career
consequences or stigma. Deployments have also been found to negatively impact familial relationships
and well-being of military spouses and children.
In 2010, in an effort to address these issues, USSOCOM launched a resiliency initiative, currently known
as the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program. In 2013, POTFF first received
congressional authorization to fund SOF-specific family support pilot programs beyond family programs
offered by the military departments. In 2017, Congress made the authority permanent in the FY2018
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; P.L. 115-91; codified under 10 U.S.C §1788a).
USSOCOM describes POTFF as an integrated, embedded, and multi-domain model to maximize human
performance through increased access to services, improve[d] continuity of programs, and minimize[d]
stigma associated with seeking care. POTFF initiatives cover five performance domains, (1) Physical,
(2) Psychological/Behavioral, (3) Spiritual, (4) Social/Family, and (5) Cognitive (see Figure 1). For
example, the family domain includes family workshops and training tied to the SOF deployment cycles to
assist in preparation and reintegration.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11791
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Membersand
Committeesof Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/goveetk0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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