PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL DURING WAR: MECHANISMS OF SUPPORT AND REHABILITATION

Abstract

The article explores the issue of psychological and social adaptation of military personnel during wartime. The key factors affecting the psychological condition of service members, including stress, life-threatening situations, loss of comrades, physical, and emotional strain, are highlighted. The critical role of the state in developing mechanisms for the support, rehabilitation, and socialization of military personnel, ensuring their resilience, combat readiness, and further integration into civilian life, is defined. The paper summarizes the current state of the regulatory framework, which provides numerous assistance mechanisms, including psychological support, professional adaptation, sanatorium-resort treatment, housing provision, and other rehabilitation measures. It is demonstrated that the existing regulatory base is sufficient for forming the foundation of adaptation programs; however, its practical implementation remains fragmented. It is substantiated that the modern rehabilitation system faces such issues as underfunding, insufficient coordination between government bodies, a lack of specialized personnel, limited access to services in remote areas, and weak integration of programs with the labor market. Special attention is paid to successful cases, particularly the pilot project “Veteran Assistant Institute”, which demonstrates an innovative approach to the social adaptation of military personnel. In conclusion, the article proposes several recommendations for creating an effective support system, including the development of unified national rehabilitation standards, optimizing patient routing, large-scale retraining of specialists, involving psychologists in multidisciplinary teams, and implementing information campaigns. Emphasis is placed on the importance of coordination among state bodies, public organizations, and international partners for implementing a comprehensive approach to the adaptation of military personnel.