CURRENT OPERATIONS AFFECT WARFIGHTERS DEPLOYED TO COMBAT THEATERS, MARINES REMAINING IN GARRISON, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. EFFECTIVELY MANAGING OPERATIONAL STRESS IS VITAL TO THE READINESS OF THE MARINECORPS AS A FIGHTING FORCE, AND TO MAINTAINING THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MARINES, SAILORS, AND FAMILIES. REF A DEFINES THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT/OPERATIONAL STRESSCONTROL (COSC) PROGRAM AS ENCOMPASSING ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE ACTIVE AND RESERVE MARINES, SAILORS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE TOOLS TO MASTER THE STRESSORS OF MILITARY LIFE AND DUTIES - STRESSORS THAT CAN OCCUR PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND UPON RETURN FROM DEPLOYMENT.

THE GOAL OF COSC IS TO PLAN, TRAIN FOR, AND IMPLEMENT MEANS TO PREVENT, IDENTIFY, AND HOLISTICALLY TREAT STRESS INJURIES. WE MUST AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORT MARINES WITH WOUNDS CAUSED BY STRESS, JUST AS WE SUPPORT THOSE WITH MORE VISIBLE PHYSICAL WOUNDS.

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