Organization and methodology of psychological support of servicemen of the National Guard troops of the Russian Federation who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature.

Shchedilov Artem Vladimirovich Graduate Student, Department of Military and Political Work of the National Guard Troops, Prince Alexander Nevsky Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. 125047, Russia, Moscow, Bolshaya Sadovaya str., 14 sedilovartem@gmail.com

Yudin Ivan Vladimirovich PhD in Pedagogy Instructor. Department of Military and Political Work of the National Guard Troops. Federal State Treasury Military Educational Institution of Higher Education "Prince Alexander Nevsky Military University" of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. 125047, Russia, Moscow, Bolshaya Sadovaya str., 14 ivan.yudin-i@yandex.ru

The personnel of the units of the National Guard of the Russian Federation should always be ready to carry out effective and expedient professional activities in extreme situations. In this regard, the requirements for professional, service and physical training, as well as psychological support of personnel, are increasing. The specifics of the activity of military personnel of the armed forces consists in serving with weapons, constant readiness to prevent various kinds of emergencies, increased responsibility for the consequences of decisions taken and their implementation. The organization and development of new methods of psychological support for military personnel of the National Guard of the Russian Federation who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature is currently acquiring special importance and is very relevant.

Russian military psychologists A.G. Karayani ^[7], E.N. Priymak ^[8], I.V. Syromyatnikov ^[9] noted that an important part of the psychological support of military personnel is their psychological readiness to perform service and combat tasks, as well as the psychological stability of personnel, which implies constructive indicators in all areas personalities. Psychological support, according to the authors, should include all psychological measures, including in-depth diagnostics, tests on psychophysiology, personality questionnaires. It is necessary to develop and carry out psychological assistance measures: counseling, conversations on an individual basis, as well as apply psychological means of correction. All measures should be developed based on the personal and individual characteristics of military personnel.

N.S. Volkova in her research defines the purpose and objectives of psychological support for servicemen of the National Guard troops. The author notes that the main goal is the formation and further development of the readiness of military personnel to act professionally, competently and harmoniously in any difficult and unforeseen circumstances. The realization of this goal is possible through increasing stress tolerance, as well as through the development of the necessary psychological qualities, skills and abilities that will help a serviceman act in dangerous and difficult conditions ^[3].

Psychological support in the National Guard troops is organized and implemented both in a group and in an individual form in the directions shown in Figure 1^[1].

Figure 1. Directions of psychological support for personnel

troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation

To implement these areas, within the framework of regulatory requirements for psychological support in the National Guard troops, the following forms of work are used: psychological diagnostics, psychological education, psychohygiena and psychoprophylaxis, psychological correction, psychological counseling ^[2].

In order to develop a methodology for psychological support of military personnel of the National Guard of the Russian Federation who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature, a study was organized and conducted on the basis of one of the military units of the National Guard of the Russian Federation. The sample consisted of 50 military personnel of a military unit who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature.

At the initial stage, an initial diagnosis was carried out to identify the individual typological characteristics of military personnel of a military unit who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature.

First of all, criteria and indicators were identified: to determine the level of PTSD^[1], the degree of intensity of combat experience, the degree of influence of a traumatic event and traumatic stress, as well as to determine the individual typological characteristics of military personnel of a military unit who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature. After that, methods and techniques for diagnosis were selected. The following research methods were used: observation, interviewing, testing, individual conversation, studying documents.

As a result of the selected criteria, indicators and diagnostic methods, a summary table 1 was compiled.

Table 1.

Criteria, indicators and methods of diagnosis of military personnel of a military unit who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature

Let's consider the results obtained by measuring the level of formation of the value-semantic sphere of military personnel performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature, which are presented in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Diagram of the level of formation of the value-semantic sphere of military personnel performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature in %

The majority of military personnel have a low level of development of value-semantic components. Values and meanings, to a greater extent, are aimed at satisfying one's own interests and personal well-being. At a time when the values of others are excluded in personal acceptance, which, in turn, leads to conflicts of interest, and, consequently, complicates interpersonal interaction and entails maladaptation, both personal and social. Autonomy, selfishness, selfishness, self-interest are manifested. Such servicemen are prone to violating norms and rules, inability and unwillingness to comply with orders and orders, they find it extremely difficult to tolerate any external restrictions on behavior. Selfish needs and interests prevent the assimilation and implementation of a socially regulated system of knowledge, skills, norms and rules of behavior, communication. It was these indicators that determined the need to include in the program of psychological support activities aimed at making military personnel aware of their goals, as well as motives, ways to solve the problem, and achieve positive results. In addition, a negative point is the low level of commitment to humanistic norms, which negatively affects the implementation of reflection in solving service and combat tasks ^[10].

According to the results of the analysis of personal factors reflecting the peculiarities of the emotional-volitional sphere, reduced self-control is manifested not only when expressing one's own emotions, but also during volitional processes. It is difficult for such servicemen to restrain their own negative behavior and negative reactions. They cannot cope with the feeling of anxiety, being in constant tension and a state of internal conflict. It is difficult for such servicemen to plan and organize their own activities and time, which leads to incompleteness in the performance of service and combat tasks or difficulties in their performance. In addition, the high level of tension found in the majority of military personnel in the presented sample (see Figure 3) can also negatively affect the performance of service and combat missions.

Figure 3. Diagram of the level of formation of the emotional and volitional sphere of military personnel performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature in %

Military personnel, being in a tense state, cannot concentrate on activities, on performing service and combat tasks, because they are in a state of constant anxiety. The pragmatism of thinking, as a rule, decreases in this state. The state of anxiety, increased excitability and restlessness that occur in a state of tension negatively affect the overall emotional state.

The analysis of the peculiarities of the communicative sphere revealed a low level of development of communicative qualities in the majority of military personnel (see Figure 4).

Figure 4. Diagram of the level of formation of the communicative sphere of military personnel performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature in %

Such indicators may indicate that military personnel do not show openness and goodwill in contacts, do not want to unconditionally obey the requirements. It has been established that military personnel can show negative reactions, unpredictability and rebelliousness in response to orders and orders that do not correspond to their internal interests. With a reduced level of goodwill, military personnel may express negative opinions, may refuse to obey, express aggression or protest requests and orders.

The analysis of the results of individual typological characteristics and spheres of personality allowed us to determine that the majority of military personnel performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature have a predominance of personal needs, interests, an orientation towards satisfying selfish values, which leads to conflicts, maladaptation. Many military personnel are unable to build constructive ways of interaction, show empathy and tolerance to others, which disrupts the process of joint activities. In interpersonal contacts, such servicemen are arrogant, ambitious, and sensitive to criticism.

Marginal orientation is expressed in a tendency to obey circumstances and impulsive behavior. Military personnel, having emotional and volitional problems, experience discomfort when installing communications. As a rule, such military personnel are socially passive, their motivation is external, being unconscious and unstable, or generally has a negative orientation. The value sphere is usually violated, such military personnel are focused on personal or selfish interests, neglecting the values of the group. Self-control in such military personnel is reduced, coordination of their own emotions and reactions is often difficult. Violations in self-awareness can lead to inadequate self-esteem and a level of pretension.

Special attention, when considering the result obtained, was paid to the command staff, since negative manifestations on their part can have more destructive consequences not only for themselves, but also for subordinate personnel. At the same time, the fulfillment of tasks requiring initiative and independence from them ^[5] is put at risk of failure, or is associated with an inadequate solution method.

Based on the results obtained above, the following were considered: the level of PTSD, the degree of influence of a traumatic event and the consequences of traumatic stress.

According to the results of the CAPS Scale (Scale of Clinical Diagnosis of PTSD), it should be noted that most military personnel have a high degree of post-stress disorders (see table 2).

Table 2.

Results of clinical diagnosis of PTSD

Experiences about a traumatic event are constantly repeated, haunted, so the soldier cannot let go of thoughts, tries to avoid stimuli associated with trauma, or blocks thoughts. There are persistent symptoms of increased excitability. More than half of the surveyed military personnel show the degree of influence of a traumatic event. Military personnel who have experienced stress, trauma associated with an event (death, injury), are overcome by a feeling of fear, horror, and, sometimes, helplessness and awareness of their own inferiority. A soldier constantly recalls a traumatic event, which is accompanied by images, thoughts, perceptions, associations, dreams, premonitions. Things, images can remind a serviceman of an experienced event, which causes physiological and psychological reactions, according to which, the serviceman tries in every possible way to avoid such memories, including a defensive reaction, which leads to a decrease in the overall reactivity of the body, to a violation of social, professional or other significant activities. The serviceman has persistent symptoms of physiological hyperactivity (not present before the injury): insomnia, irritability, anger, problems with concentration, etc.

In accordance with the results obtained, a set of psychological support measures was developed and carried out with military personnel of a military unit performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature on the basis of one of the military units of the National Guard of the Russian Federation. Psychological support activities were conducted in four directions:

1. Psychological education of military personnel who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature. Psychological education of military personnel was conducted through lectures or group conversations, the purpose of which was to provide information about self-control skills, adaptation under certain conditions. As part of psychological education, information was provided about possible reactions to stress, reactions to traumatic events, which allowed emotional preparation for unexpected situations.

2. Psychohygiena and psychoprophylaxis when working with military personnel who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature. Within the framework of this direction, classes were held with commanders to teach them visual diagnostic methods and rules of conversation. Information was provided on the signs of maladjustment, anxiety and hypochondriacal states, neuropsychic tension, and stress. A memo on the signs of certain conditions was prepared and distributed. In addition, classes were held with military personnel to teach them self-regulation, self-examination of their own emotional and mental state ^[12].

3. Psychological correction when working with military personnel who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature. Trainings of various directions were conducted, such as: on group cohesion, on the development of communicative qualities, on the development of the motivational sphere ^[4].

4. Psychological counseling when working with military personnel who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature. According to personal requests and on an individual basis, the following models of counseling were implemented: behavioral, personality-centered, personality-oriented, directive counseling, short-term positive counseling, extreme counseling ^[11].

As a result of repeated (control) psychological diagnostics of military personnel who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature, results reflecting positive changes were obtained (see Figure 5).

Figure 5. Diagram of changes in the level of formation of personality spheres and manifestations of PTSD in military personnel performing service and combat tasks of an extreme nature in %

There are more military personnel focused on humanistic norms, values are consciously determined by the high-quality performance of service and combat tasks and the achievement of a positive result. Such military personnel are focused on public interests, accept the rules of the group, using reflection, easily adapt to the group, and are focused on compliance with rules, norms, and regulations. The number of military personnel with a high level of emotional stability, an even positive mood background, constancy of interests, formed self-control, balance in case of failures, perseverance, perseverance in achieving goals, restraint in non-standard situations has increased. There have also been changes in the communication sphere – the number of military personnel who show openness, ease of communication, kindness, responsiveness, gentleness, empathy has increased. The number of military personnel who do not experience a traumatic event has increased, thoughts and images do not haunt. Physiological hyperactivation does not manifest itself, according to which, there is no negative impact on social, professional or other significant activities.

Thus, the organization and methodology of psychological support for military personnel of the National Guard of the Russian Federation who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature, described in the program of psychological support, had a constructive impact on the individual typological characteristics of military personnel of a military unit who performed service and combat tasks of an extreme nature, as well as on the characteristics of personality spheres, such as:semantic, cognitive, emotional-volitional, communicative. It also helped to reduce the level of PTSD, the degree of influence of a traumatic event, and the consequences of traumatic stress.

^[1]Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that develops as a result of a powerful traumatic impact of a threatening or catastrophic nature, accompanied by extreme stress, the main clinical manifestations are repeated experiences of elements of a traumatic event in a "here and now" situation in the form of flashbacks, recurring dreams and nightmares, which is accompanied more often by anxiety and panic, but It is also possible by anger, anger, guilt or hopelessness, the desire to avoid internal and external stimuli that resemble or are associated with a stressor.