Page 66 - JSOM Winter 2023

Unconventional Resilience

An Operational Model

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Erika “Ann” Jeschke, PhD *; Jay Baker, MD ;
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Jared Wyma-Bradley, MDiv ; John Dorsch, DO ; Sarah L. Huffman, PhD 5
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ABSTRACT
This is the third of nine planned papers drawn from the find- resonance and applicability to all SOF medics because our
ings of our ethnographic study entitled “The Impact of Cata- study focused on the phenomenon of catastrophic injury in
strophic Injury Exposure on Resilience in Special Operations austere environments. Both the phenomena and context are
Surgical Teams.” Building from our strategic framework, this fundamental to the practical performance of the SOF medic.
paper will establish that resilience is better understood as co- Our approach to operational modeling may be disruptive as
hesive adaptation within a Special Operation Forces (SOF) it constructs space for possible transformational performance,
cultural ecosystem. Exploring unconventional resilience as the provides an accurate diagnosis via critical analysis, and ad-
inter-relationship across the organization, team, and individ- dresses cultural sclerosis that could interfere with performance
ual, we will use qualitative quotes to describe the ecosystem if unaddressed.
of dynamic freedom of maneuver in ambiguity. To achieve our
goals, we will: 1) compare conventional and unconventional In contrast to conventional resilience, we describe unconven-
resilience to operationalize the components of our strategic tional resilience, as a cohesive ecosystem that relies on dynamic
framework; 2) use qualitative quotes to show how the eco- balance, fluctuating movement, and homeostasis to facilitate
system of unconventional resilience functions at each level practical performance. Empirical data connect the components
supporting our operational model; and 3) describe how the of our strategic framework to an operational model and en-
operational model of unconventional resilience links to tac- able us to identify the relationships within which the cohesive
tical performance through five social determinants. We con- ecosystem of unconventional resilience flourishes. Toward this
clude by gesturing to how transformational change-agency end, we performed the following tasks: 1) a comparison of con-
applies to practical performance of all SOF medics. ventional and unconventional resilience to operationalize the
components of our strategic framework; 2) use of qualitative
Keywords: resilience; performance; operational model; SOF quotes to demonstrate how the ecosystem of unconventional
medic; ecosystem resilience functions at each level of our operational model; and
3) description of how this operational model of unconventional
resilience is associated with tactical performance through five
social determinants. We highlight the importance of research-
Introduction
ing this operational model across all SOF medics and conven-
In the second article under this series, we explained the im- tional forces.
portance of developing a strategic framework within which
unconventional resilience was defined based on the practical The findings reported in this article are based on the study
performance of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) medics. entitled “The Impact of Catastrophic Injury Exposure on Re-
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In this third article, we will build on that strategic framework silience in Special Operations Surgical Teams.” The Air Force
to construct a detailed operational model of unconventional Research Laboratory’s Institutional Review Board approved
resilience. Unconventional resilience based on the relationship the study as an exempt protocol. To capture the intricacies
between organization, team, and individual was explored us- within the cultural ethos of SOST, data were collected via indi-
ing qualitative quotes to describe the cohesive ecosystem of vidual, open-ended interviews in which four participants from
dynamic freedom of maneuver in ambiguity. The term “opera- each clinical specialty represented in SOST were recruited to
tional” refers to a model linking the strategic framework with share their individual stories. Additionally, focus groups and
the tactical level of unconventional resilience. 2 field observations were performed across the two SOST de-
tachments to capture team and organizational interactions.
Our broad goal is to explain the nature of a cohesive ecosys- The standard practice of removing all identifying names,
tem in unconventional resilience and its relevance to practical genders, locations, medical specialties, and military ranks has
performance of the SOF medics. While data in this and sub- taken place. To further protect the privacy and confidentiality
sequent articles focus specifically on Special Operations Sur- of all participants, themes described herein do not reflect in-
gical Teams (SOSTs), we believe our findings will have strong dividual commentaries. All quotes are constructed of various
*Correspondence to stlamazonia@gmail.com
1 Dr Erika “Ann” Jeschke is affiliated with SURVICE Engineering, in Belcamp MD. COL Jay Baker is the Joint Trauma System Operations Branch
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Chief, San Antonio, TX. Jared Wyma-Bradley is the Director of Spiritual Care at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, Washington, D.C.
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4 Col (Ret) John Dorsch is affiliated with the University of North Carolina Southeastern, Lumberton, NC. Lt Col Sarah L. Huffman is affiliated
with the 60th Medical Group, Travis Air Force Base, CA.
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