Coming home to civilian life after a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan can be a challenging process for many military personnel. Soldiers and their loved ones need support as they navigate the transition. Meet Maj. Steven Keihl, who combined his firsthand combat experience with an online education from Walden University to help his fellow soldiers.
Professional Passion Meets Online Education
Keihl served 16 months in Iraq before becoming the director of mental health for the California National Guard. "Dealing with the reintegration needs of our soldiers returning from Iraq is a personal and professional passion," Keihl says. "I struggled with a lot of those issues myself."
Multiple online degree programs from Walden University provided the education that. Keihl earned his M.S. in Psychology at Walden University in the spring 2008, then moved on to pursue a PhD in Psychology with a Health Psychology specialization, also at Walden University.
The Unique Challenge of Supporting Returning Soldiers
Long combat tours are among the many unique challenges faced by today's soldier. "In WWII, the actual combat time was less than 100 days a year," Keihl explains, "and, right now, the average Iraqi Freedom combatant is engaged 221 days a year." Risks for returning soldiers include depression and suicide, and Keihl notes that in 2007, the Army suicide rate was at its highest in 26 years, according to the Department of Defense.
Helping soldiers deal with these challenges is important to Keihl and his coworkers. "We make sure we tell [soldiers] that it's normal for normal people exposed to abnormal events to struggle with readjustment to the world they come back to--[particularly] socially, with primary relationships. They feel lost, like they don't belong," he says. Both active duty personnel and members of the California National Guard receive help and support services when returning from combat.
Military Personnel Thrive at Walden University
Keihl's online degree from Walden University has informed the training he now offers soldiers in California. Additionally, his research design and statistics class had an impact on the work he did on a research project for the state.
Keihl's online education has had a positive effect--both on him personally and on the soldiers he works with. "Walden [University] has been a great experience for me," he says. "It was very applicable to my work." Along with targeted coursework, Keihl notes that travelling military personnel like himself appreciate the flexibility of an online education. "I did one month of the program when I was deployed out of the country," he says. "As long as you have a laptop and Internet access, you can make this work."
Bright Careers Begin at Walden University
As he completes his PhD degree online at Walden University, Keihl and three other staff members manage clinical services for about 22,000 California National Guard soldiers. "We connect soldiers to the various agencies that can help them," he says.
Combining online education with experience and real-life passions is the hallmark of a Walden University education.
