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| Combat & Operational Stress Control (COSC) encompasses all policies and programs to prevent, identify, and holistically treat mental injuries caused by combat or other operations. COSC is one of the priorities of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, to ensure that all Marines and family members who bear the invisible wounds caused by stress receive the best help possible, and that they are afforded the same respect given to the physically injured. The two goals of COSC are to maintain a ready fighting force, and to protect and restore the health of Marines and their family members. |
| USMC Combat Operational Stress Continuum |
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| The Marine Corps views combat operational stress along a continuum. It is a representation of how you or others are functioning with deployment-related stress. It ranges from green (ready) to yellow (reacting) to orange (injured) and red (ill). |
- Green (Ready) - In the green “ready” zone, you and your family are functioning well. You feel ready to handle the many challenges of deployment.
- Yellow (Reacting) - In the yellow “reacting” zone, you have mild, transient stress reactions, which are common.
- Orange (Injured) - The orange “injured” zone, includes more severe, persistent symptoms that are significant departures from your usual behavior and are not getting better, and suggest that there is more than just difficulty adjusting to deployment stress.
- Red (Ill) - The red “ill” zone is for those who have a severe disorder, such as major depression, anxiety, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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| The Decision Matrix |
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| The Decision Matrix is a tool for both leaders and Marines to use in assessing where any Marine is at any given time on the stress continuum. It is a simple tool that is based on the Continuum Model to help leaders evaluate Marines who may be suffering from combat stress problems. The lists of stress symptoms on the far right, highlighted by the Yellow, Orange, and Red brackets, give the leader or Marine some indications of typical problems at each level of function. The diamonds in the middle specify decisions needed to determine the severity of the stress problem, and the boxes on the left indicate what action needs to be taken for each level of severity. The Decision Matrix may be used at any stage in the deployment cycle. It can be used to self-evaluate and it can also be used by Marines to help their Marine friends who have symptoms of deployment-related stress. |
| Deployment Cycle Matrix |
| The COSC Deployment Cycle Training Goal Matrix is designed for three target groups (Marine Leaders, Marines, and Family members) over three target deployment cycle periods (Pre-Deployment, Redeployment, and Post-Deployment). The first page displays overarching COSC training goals for each target audience to know, and for Marine Leaders to know and instill to their Marines and Family Members. The pages following go into depth on the COSC Training that is specific for the target group during that deployment cycle period. The prepared briefs for each target group for that particular period in the deployment cycle are designed to cover key points of COSC. |
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