FM 22-51
LEADERS' MANUAL FOR COMBAT
STRESS CONTROL

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

FIELD MANUAL
NO. 22-51

HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC, 29 September 1994

LEADERS' MANUAL FOR COMBAT STRESS CONTROL

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

*This publication supersedes FM 26-2, 29 August 1986.
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PREFACE

This field manual (FM) provides information for all leaders and staff on the control of combat
stressors and the prevention of stress casualties. It identifies the leaders' responsibilities for
controlling stress and recognizing the effects of stress on their personnel. It reviews Army
operational doctrine for war and operations other than war. It identifies likely stressors and
recommends actions for leaders to implement for the prevention and management of stress. The
manual describes the positive and negative combat stress behavior associated with stress and
provides leader actions to minimize battle fatigue risk factors. It provides the many different
military branches and disciplines with a common conceptual framework, knowledge base, and
vocabulary so they work together toward controlling stress. It provides information on how
stressors and the stress process interact to improve or disrupt military performance. It identifies
the supporting role of special staffs such as the chaplain and the Judge Advocate General. This
manual also identifies the responsibilities of medical personnel for prevention, treatment, and
management of battle fatigue and stress-related casualties.

The proponent of this publication is the United States (US) Army Medical Department Center
and School (AMEDDC&S). Send comments and recommendations on Department of the Army
(DA) Form 2028 directly to Commander, AMEDDC&S, ATTN: HSMC-FCD, Fort Sam
Houston, Texas 78234-6123.

This publication contains copyrighted material.

Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns and pronouns do not refer exclusively
to men.

The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the US Army, but is
intended only to assist in the identification of a specific product.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Third
Edition, Revised. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1987.

Go to Chapter 1 - Overview of Combat Stress Control

FM 22-51
LEADERS' MANUAL FOR COMBAT STRESS CONTROL
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 - Overview of Combat Stress Control
Chapter 2 - Stress and Combat Performance
Chapter 3 - Postive Combat Stress Behaviors
Chapter 4 - Combat Misconduct Stress Behaviors
Chapter 5 - Battle Fatigue
Chapter 6 - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Chapter 7 - Stress Issues in Army Operations
Chapter 8 - Stress and Stressors Associated with Offensive/Defensive Operations
Chapter 9 - Combat Stress Control in Operations other than War
Chapter 10 - War and the Integrated (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Battlefield
Chapter 11 - Prevention of Battle Fatigue Casualties and Misconduct Stress Behaviors

Appendices
Appendix A - Leader Actions to Offset Battle Fatigue Risk Factors
Appendix B - Organization and Functions of Army Medical Department Combat Stress Control Units
Appendix C - United States Army Bands
Appendix D -The Unit Ministry Team's Role in Combat Stress Control and Battle Fatigue Ministry
Appendix E - Example Lesson Plan
Glossary - Abreviations and Acronyms
References - Sources Used