Today's Rhumb Lines highlights Operational Stress Control. It is normal for everyone to face some degree of stress every day, but there is a tipping point. When stress outweighs our ability to cope, we need to ask for help - whether it is for others or ourselves.

1. A product of...
Navy Office of Information
www.navy.mil
March 20, 2012
Operational Stress Control (OSC)
“Sailors must be able to endure whatever challenges come their way and then recover from any injuries they have sustained.
When they can do that, then we’ve succeeded in giving them the resilience-building tools and support networks they need.
Learning from our experiences isn’t a new concept. It’s how we get better at what we do, but sometimes we don’t have the
skills, and we can’t do it alone, and that’s when we lean on our leaders, our shipmates and our family members. ”
– Rear Adm. Martha Herb, Deputy, Navy Personnel Command and Director, Personnel Readiness and Community Support
The Navy describes resilience as “the capacity for Sailors, families, and commands to withstand, recover, grow, and
adapt in the face of stressors and changing demands.” Resilience is about fitness in balance. To be ready for what’s
coming, our Sailors have to be physically, psychologically, spiritually, financially and emotionally fit. Leaders must create
command environments that encourage optimal performance and personal growth. It is normal for everyone to face
some degree of stress every day, but there is a tipping point. When stress outweighs our ability to cope, we need to ask
for help – whether it is for others or ourselves.
Building your Unit’s Resilience
The guiding principles to understanding resilience and implementing stress awareness are:
 Predictability: Create a predictable environment for your Sailors – one in which they can prepare for the
unknown.
 Controllability: Allow Sailors to control situations whenever possible.
 Relationships: Encourage healthy supervisor-subordinate and peer-to-peer relationships.
 Trust: Trust in yourself, in your shipmates, and in your leadership.
 Meaning: Explain your Sailor’s role in the mission.
Strategies for Managing Stress
 Assess the risks associated with the decisions you make as a leader. You can make a difference in your own life,
as well as in the lives of your Sailors and their families.
 By controlling what you can, you may find ways to lessen the impact of a stressful activity or event.
 Take care of yourself physically. Know the rules, exercise and stay in good physical shape – it reduces stress and
sets a good example.
 Eat well; a balanced diet will keep you operating at your maximum potential.
 Live well below your financial means. Finances are one of the leading stressors to Sailors. Teaching Sailors ways
to live within their means and plan for the future can relieve these stressors.
Key Messages
Key Messages Factts & Fiigurres
Fac s & F gu es
 Building resilience makes us better able to cope with  Since Jan. 1, more than 1,500 chiefs and officers have
significant stressors when they materialize. completed the Navy OSC Leader course that teaches
 Sailors are encouraged to know their stress zones and practical skills to help leaders recognize and mitigate
be able to recognize them in themselves and others. stress problems before they become stress injuries.
Visit http://navynavstress.com/ for more  More than 500 new Suicide Prevention Coordinators
information on stress zones. have been trained via webinar since November 2011.
 Command leaders are urged to know their Sailors and  OSC has two mobile training teams that bring OSC
families and to encourage help-seeking behaviors training directly to command wardrooms and the chief’s
when appropriate. mess. Contact Scotty Jackson, (619) 556-7215,
ernest.s.jackson.ctr@navy.mil, to schedule training.