RESPECT IS A KEY ELEMENT IN DEALING WITH THE MILITARY!

Throughout the war in Ukraine, both major media and individual opinion leaders have discussed the issue of proper communication between civilians and the military, the key premise of which should always be respected. But for many, respect remains a rather abstract and fuzzy concept. Even though, in one way or another, respect implies a certain code of conduct and social norms.

Let's try to discover, step by step, what respect for the military in today's Ukraine is all about. First of all, it is about the conditions of socialization. We are not talking about the adaptation of the military, but, on the contrary, about the adaptation of the state, society, and the environment to their return to "conditionally civilian" life.

Soldiers return from the front for various reasons: leave, injury, treatment, family circumstances, or the funeral of a comrade-in-arms. Our task is to change ourselves so that our defenders can feel at home because, for a long time, their home was someone else's abandoned houses, trenches, dugouts, or forest plantations.

If respect, as a moral, ethical, and socio-cultural attitude, is clear, what should we pay attention to in direct communication? We have collected some effective tips on supporting a military person correctly and respectfully, even if you do not know him or her personally.

• If you meet a soldier in the street: Press your hand or fist to your heart and look him in the eye. This will be a clear signal that your message is: "I am grateful!"

• If you see a soldier who is confused (or showing signs of needing help): Walk up, introduce yourself, and offer to help. Being in an unfamiliar city (e.g. for treatment or on a command trip) may confuse.

• If you notice someone showing signs of a panic attack (military may be in civilian clothes), such as rapid breathing, nervousness, or lack of control of the situation: Approach them from the front, slowly explaining who you are and what you want to help. Offer to take deep breaths and try to bring the person back to a reasonable state. If the situation does not improve, call an ambulance. Never intervene physically unless it is necessary! Do not raise your voice and do not drag the person - wait for appropriate responses.

• Show respect for people in uniform! This can be as simple as letting a soldier in line go in front of you. Everyone remembers how, at the beginning of the war, everyone understood the value of every minute of precious time for the army.
• Respect personal boundaries! Military personnel may have injuries that are not visible at first glance and may be in pain. Do not create provocations, because you do not know what a person lives with and what can become a trigger for them.

Take these simple steps and use these tips as a citizen and as a human being when interacting verbally or non-verbally with the Ukrainian military.

And most importantly, support the Ukrainian army with information and money: with donations and reposts! This is the most valuable way to help the military right now.

You can support our projects for the defense forces here: https://248.dp.ua/projects/1201.