1. The document discusses finding meaning after military deployment, which can be a slow process with no direct answers to existential questions. 2. It notes that meaning involves having a purpose, values, efficacy, and self-worth. Different religions and worldviews give different predetermined answers about meaning. 3. The document provides tips for veterans in finding meaning, such as formulating existential questions, understanding why they are important, imagining the future, writing one's life story, and finding conversation partners to discuss slow questions.

1. A sense of meaning after the mission
About slow questions and reflective answers after military deployment
SCEA-West-WVF meeting
November 3 – 4, 2013
Commander Erwin A. Kamp MSc,
Chaplaincy Coordinator at the Netherlands Veterans Institute

2. What do you see?

3. What is meaning?
- Difficult subject
- Untouchable
- Private matter
- No quick answers
- Basic human necessity

4. What is necesary for meaning?
Professor Roy F. Baumeister
“Meanings of Life” (1992)
An Existential Shopping List:
1. Purpose
2. Values
3. Efficacy
4. Self-worth

5. A definition
Meaning is what
motivates us to live
(what is worthwile)

6. Meaning and lifestance
Given answers on existential questions
depend on religion and lifestance
Monotheistic religions: meaning is given
in advance, relation with a higher power
Humanism: meaning is not given in
advance, in relation with other humans

7. What do you see?

8. Meaning and Military deployment
Three observations:
1. Keep it concrete (don‟t make is
sloppy)
2. Armored dealing with experiences (it
is hard to talk about it with civilians)
3. Process of assimilation is slow (no
direct answers on existential
questions)

9. Question 1: Did I find my
participation in the mission
meaningful?
- No standard answer
- Depends on a person‟s character
- Expectations
- Do you oversee your own role and
restrictions to your function
- Public opinion
- Positive versus negative experiences

10. Question 2: Do I have another
opinion about my relations after
the mission?
- Relations change
- Magnifyiing glass principle/evaluation
- Understandig and empathy on both
sides
- Suspect of divorce percentage
- More depth in relations

11. Question 3: How do I deal with
feelings of guilt and shame?
- Relation with moral dillemas
- Shame is caused by a sense of failure,
feeling powerless and falling short
- The impact of guilt and shame depend on:
intrusiveness, responsiblity, experience of
powerlessness, age and degree of
self-esteem
- 18% of the veterans feel guilt because of
their „bystander role‟

12. Question 4: How do I get my life
back after deployment?
- For most military the proces of returning
from deployment runs gradually
- Do I stay with my unit or do I get a new
posting
- Do I stay in the Armed Forces or do I apply
for a new job in the civil society?
- Many veterans yearn back to their
deployment

13. Tips and tools in finding meaning
after the mission
- Formulate your existential question in one
or two sentences
- Why does this very question keeps you
busy?
- Can you imagine what your life will look in
five years from now?
- Write your life story in a lifetime
- Find a conversation partner
- Realize that quick answers are not possible
- Slow questions are a part of life

14. Questions
1. How do military in your country deal
with meaning?
2. What could be enhanced in your
Armed Forces to help military with
questions about meaning?
3. How can the WVF pay attention to
slow questions and reflective
answers by military after this
symposium?