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Post military fracking
Post Military Fracking
Stephanie Chang
INTS 3300 Section 001
Dr. Gail Bentley
Texas Tech University
2 Post military fracking
Abstract
The purpose of this research paper was to integrate the idea of hydraulic fracturing
better known as “fracking” into an every day life problem we have seen or continue to see on a
day-by-day basis. The problem I am investigating today involes military members after
retirement and whether they chose to continue to further their education or enter the hydraulic
fracturing industry. Scholarary journals were used in order to help eliminate biased opinions. The
types of research in most of the studies were qualitative data, input/output models, case studies,
correlation research, economic impact models, formal requests, and mixed methods. I found
different sources of information and took apart different pieces of the research and formulated
them into this research paper in order to better understand my question of how with army down
sizing how does the impact of post retirement help provide veterans and their families better
opportunities to continue their education vs. entering the hydraulic fracturing business with the
wear and tear of the physical activity caused on the human body by being in the military. I found
that working in the hydraulic fracturing industry could be harmful to the human body internally.
Post military fracking
4 Post military fracking
This research paper will provide readers with the ability of being able to see how
hydraulic fracturing could impact military members. The research question I am working on asks
how the impact of post retirement help provide veterans and their families better opportunities to
either continue their education vs. entering the hydraulic fracturing business with the wear and
tear of the physical activity caused on the human body by being in the military. This question is
too broad to only be looked upon by a single discipline. I will be using both exercise and sports
science (ESS) and military science (MS) to improve an understanding dealing with this problem.
The ESS aspect will focus on the human body, while the MS will focus more on the military side
and the downsizing of today’s Army due to the wars coming to an end. Both topics will merge as
the focus becomes drawn on which decision would be better for the retired service member and
their families, whether it be returning to school by using the GI bill or by entering the hydraulic
fracturing industry.
STEP 1: State the Focus of Your Paper
Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is the process of extracting natural gas trapped
underground by the use of water, chemicals, and sandstone. Wells are drilled making extractions
in the ground, which are highly expensive. Steel pipes are inserted into the wells called casting.
Casting occurs when fluids are injected into the wells as it flows into the targeted zones. The
pressure that is created causes the ground or “formation” to break/fracture. Once the fractures are
created liquid chemicals are inserted causing them to flow back onto the surface. Proppants,
which are materials (usually ceramic beads or sand) that are also injected into the mixture assist
in keeping the fractures open. Hydraulic fracturing is a complex issue that ties in many other
disciplines such as exercise and sports science, engineering, environmental concerns, etc., which
will allow for the question of “With army down sizing how does the impact of post retirement
Post military fracking
help provide veterans and their families better opportunities to either continue their education vs.
entering the hydraulic fracturing business with the wear and tear of the physical activity caused
on the human body by being in the military?” to be solved.
STEP 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach
Repko (2012) states that when a problem is complex, examined by more than one
discipline or field of study, and falls within the focus of an interdiscipline, then an
interdisciplinary approach to research is appropriate. Hydraulic fracturing is being viewed by
more than one discipline, deeming it complex. What this means is different disciplines are going
to have to intertwine in order to come up with some type of solution. To accomplish this study
the discipline of exercise and sports science and military science will be examined. The exercise
and sports science aspect of this discipline focuses more on the body mechanics and how the
internally or externally harm could potentially be caused due to the fracking industry. The
military science side focused more on the army downsizing, post retirement, and educational
advances there are for service members after exiting the military.
STEP 3: Identify Relevant Disciplines
Because the question of how the impact of post retirement help provide veterans and their
families better opportunities to either continue their education vs. entering the hydraulic
fracturing business with the wear and tear of the physical activity caused on the human body by
being in the military is too broad, many disciplines may come into place when viewing this
complex problem. The discipline of sociology may view this question as how the veteran may be
perceived in a social class whether he or she accepts the fracking job vs. continuing their
education. Psychology is another discipline that is used because it will view how veterans feel
6 Post military fracking
after investing so much time into a career and how that could impact their decision process on
whether the hydraulic fracturing business is for them or if they should pursue an education. The
most relevant disciplines that will be mentioned are exercise and sports science, and military
science. Exercise and sports science will focus on the physical aspects of the veterans, the wear
and tear their bodies may have went through while in the military. The military science discipline
will focus on positions held in the military and what caused the service member to exit the
military.
STEP 4: Conduct a Literature Search
Being deployed should come to no surprise to any person serving in the military. They
know once you make that commitment into serving there is a chance of getting deployed. Apart
from possible physical external injuries, soldiers could potentially face coming home with
internal injuries, or both. According to the journal of postsecondary education and disability after
serving in the Global War on Terror (GWT) service members return with injuries that are not
only physical but can be internal such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These veterans will be attending school by the use of the GI
Educational Bill, but while being allowed to use classroom accommodations they fail to take
advantage of these services because some colleges and universities aren’t advertising these
services as much as they should be (Thomas, C., 2009). Campaigns could be launched, as well as
social media feedback, and being more welcoming to these veterans in order to accommodate
them and catch their attention into wanting to be a part of that school.
Before being discharged from the army regardless of the reason, a screening is done in
order to assess the soldier on their physical condition and mental stability. According to the
journal of cardiovascular surgery, service members returning from war (some medically
Post military fracking
evacuated) had open surgeries, accumulated lesions, and wounds (Adams, E., Rich, N., & White,
P. 2007). While going into war with a positive mindset, injuries are very possible during times of
war. Although most service members don’t think anything will go wrong while being deployed,
the sad truth is that accidents happen, soldiers may die, and families suffer.
STEP 5: Develop Adequacy in Each Relevant Discipline
After doing research and realizing what plans or ideas would work best in relation to the
topic of how the impact of post retirement would aid in providing veterans a better path to
further their education or enter the fracking industry with the wear and tear of the physical
activity caused on the human body by being in the military after retirement; adequacy can now
be developed in the disciplines of exercise and sports science and military science. In the text
Repko quotes Klein about, Adequacy in and interdisciplinary context means knowing enough
about the discipline to have a basic understand of how it approaches the problem and how it
illuminates and characterizes the problem (Repko, 2012, p. 1288)
The primary theory that was used for both disciplines was the systems theory. The system
theory is the most basic theory, which incorporates multiple systems. The quantitative methods
of research were used because the use statistical analysis, examination of physical traces and
surveys are all incorporated within quantitative data.
Exercise and sports science is a discipline having many sub disciplines. The sub
disciplines would help readers better understand how the body responds to sport training.
Because exercise and sports science is very broad those who have served in the military can use
it to help find how the wear and tear on the human body is affected by the impact of the physical
activity. Exercise and sports science has sub disciplines such as health science, pre-physical
8 Post military fracking
therapy, nutrition, and kinesiology, which can aid in these finding tremendously mainly because
they are all within the same realm of one another.
Military science is again another very broad discipline having many sub disciplines
within it. Military science focuses on the behaviors, processes, and institutions coinciding with
the study of warfare as well as the application and theory of organized coercive force. It is
primarily focused on political, strategic, economical, psychological, social, technological and
tactical elements needed in supporting the military force.
Each method being used has its pros, cons, and biases that have to be examined. Different
scenarios will dictate if one or many of these methods will be used. These methods accumulate
both qualitative and quantitative data depending on which one is used. The health science sub
discipline can be used more effectively than the overall exercise and sports science discipline
because in the health science field is where doctors and physical therapists evaluate the
individual deciding whether or not they are physically intact or not. The military science side
will focus more on veterans’ war related injuries.
STEP 6: Analyze the Problem and Evaluate Each Insight or Theory
The use of fracking uses 632 out of 944 toxic chemicals, in which 353 of those chemicals
have been identidied by the chemical abstract services (CAS). Research showed that 3/4th of the
chemicals used in the process of hydraulic fracturing could potentially affect internal organs as
well as external organs. Because fracking is a process where large amounts of water is used to
fracture shale and excrete the natural gasses, citizens in Pennsylvania have become concerned.
Researchers conducted a study called Nvivo to analyze 10 major themes that citizens
demonstrated concern over. Nvivo used qualitative data and took into consideration the citizens
photographs, letters, videos, transcripts, and news articles. (Journal Of Community Health,
Post military fracking
2013).
A chemical called PM2.5 has alerted health risks. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that
reduce visibility and cause the air to be hazy and can harm the respiratory tract which can lead to
upper respiratory infections and cause shortness of breath. Studies have shown an estimated
possible health risk due to the use of this chemical. The component of the chemical is limited in
regards to the actual toxicity in the chemical. This study investigates hospital admissions for
cardiovascular diseases as well as respiratory diseases. Carbon was found in about 8/10 of the
individuals that were admitted that day for cardiovascular complications. Also a 1.01% increase
of individuals were admitted that same day for respiratory complications due to the increase of
organic carbon matter (American Journal Of Nursing, 2013).
STEP 7: Identify Conflict Between Insights and Their Sources
When using the disciplines of military science and exercise and sports science conflicts
may be identified. A conflicting idea may be how fracking could potentially produce internal
harm to the human body, while at the same time assist with the accumulation of natural oil, but
could also provide military veterans with a job as opposed to attending school. There are three
possible sources of conflict between insights, which are concepts, assumptions, and theories
(Repko, 2012). A problematic situation may arise within insight if perhaps a situation involves
only a few authors using concepts (Repko, 2012). Another issue that can arise through conflict
would be having assumptions. If a person is lacking on knowledge, the author of the article fails
to provide as much detailed information as possible or if the information isn’t coming from
credible sources that can lead the fourth problematic situation as stated in the book (Repko,
2012).
10 Post military fracking
STEP 8: Create Common Ground
Common ground can be found through the technique of organization (Repko, 2012).
Organization would be a vital tool when dealing with the harm fracking causes on the human
body vs. trying to provide veterans a secure job instead of going to school. Organization creates
common ground by clarifying how certain phenomena interacts and maps out the casual
relationships (Repko, 2012). Because organization focuses on the overall relations between
distinct variables, it will allow a better understanding of how a better relationship can be built
amongst veterans attending school, or heading into the fracking industry.
STEP 9: Construct a More Comprehensive Understanding
At the start of this semester I did not have a single clue of what hydraulic fracturing or
“fracking” was. I had never heard anything on the topic nor did I know the process of the actual
art of fracking. Not being from Texas or knowing about the oil industry I was at a disadvantage.
In completing the assignments and reading the necessary materials for this class I began gaining
the necessary knowledge I needed to start the writing process on how hydraulic fracturing affects
the surrounding comminutes. I haven’t really encountered a lot of positive aspects of fracking. I
have mostly came across negative aspects such as health issues.
The key to understanding what fracking is in order to find and understand all the
important parts that are involved in ways the windfall of money are handled. Knowing what the
pros and cons are of fracking will assist in coming up with possible solutions in order to help
society. I believe that having health care professionals, such as doctors or physical therapists
available could assist people when it comes to health issues or common injuries. Another
solution would be making sure that people dealing with the fracking industry are well informed
and knowledgeable about the dangers and potential hazards. The more information that is
Post military fracking
provided, the better the public would benefit. Communicating effectively and advertising is
extremely important in order to protect all parties involved.
STEP 10: Communicating the Results
There are many studies on how the fracking cycle has moved throughout other mining
towns in order to give people an idea of what to expect. As I mentioned above with the amount
of negative literature there is vs. the positive amount of literature on the fracking topic, positive
information is hard to come by, but that does not mean it isn’t there. More research is needed to
be conducted in order to see if the positive outcome outweighs the negative outcome. More
studies need to be done specific to fracking to further investigate the effects that it has on
communities.
My solution in order to integrate the fracking world into the post military world would be
to view each individual on a case-by-case basis. This seems like a lot of work I am sure, but in
reality it would be the best outcome. After discharge from the service, every veteran is different
because they all potentially hold different jobs. Some have deployed, and some haven’t. Some
jobs require physical demands such as rangers, and Special Forces, while others work in an
insulted building having a finance job doing paperwork. Their missions are different. A medical
personnel’s primary mission is patient care while an infantryman’s mission would ideally be to
“get the job done”, whatever that job may be. I use these scenarios to give the reader a better
view on post military conditions. A veteran that has worked in a hospital their whole life and
never deployed may be discharged with no disability rating because he or she has never been
faced with a deployment or a physically demanding job. Another scenario may be an
infantryman could be discharged with a high disability rating because he may have been blown
up, gone partially deaf, and or lost a limb. Again every situation and individual is different. Once
12 Post military fracking
the conditions of the service member have been determined, then the decision would be made to
see if they would either join the hydraulic fracturing industry or continue their education upon
leaving the military life.
Post military fracking
References:
1. Repko, A. (2012). Interdisciplinary Research Process and Theory (2nd ed.,). Los Angeles:
Sage.
2. Cannuscio, C., Powers, M., Saberi, P., Pepino, R., Strupp, E., & Bugos, E. (2014).
Popular epidemiology and “fracking”: citizens’ concerns regarding the economic,
environmental, health and social impacts of unconventional natural gas drilling
operations. Journal Of Community Health, 8(10), 2-52.
3. McDermott-Levy, B., Kaktins, N., & Sattler, B. (2013). Fracking, the environment, and health.
American Journal Of Nursing, 113(6), 45-51.
4. Peng, R. D., Bell, M. L., Geyh, A. S., McDermott, A., Zeger, S. L., Samet, J. M., &
Dominici, F. (2009). Emergency admissions for aardiovascular and respiratory
diseases and the chemical composition of fine particle air pollution. Environmental
Health Perspectives, 117(6). 957-963.
5. Wurster, K., & Rinaldi, A. (2012). First-generation student veterans: Implications of
poverty for psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(2), 127-137.
6. Blevins, J. (2012). Classroom strategies for teaching veterans with post-traumatic stress
disorder and traumatic brain injury. Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability,
25(1), 87-95.
7. Thomas, C. (2009). Returning veterans on campus with war related injuries and the long road
back home. Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability, 22(1), 43-52.
8.Adams, E., Rich, N., & White, P. (2007). Physical exam and occult post-traumatic
vascular lesions: implications for the evaluation and management of arterial injuries in
14 Post military fracking
modern warfare in the endovascular era. The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 48(5)
581-586.
9. Currie, D., (2012). Summaries of 2012 APHA policies adopted by governing council in San
Francisco: New policies address issues such as military recruiting in schools, gas
fracking, health impact assessments. Journal of Public Health Association, 42(1), 10-24.
10. Russell, K. (2013). Will fracking bring the soldiers home? Journal of Social Justice, 25(4),
550-558
11. Christopherson, S., & Rightor, N. (2012). How shale gas extraction affects drilling
localities: Lessons for regional and city policy makers. Journal of Town & City
Management, 2(4), 350-368.
12. Depledge, M., Haines, A., Wilkinson, P., & Fleming, L. (2014). The health implications of
fracking. The Lancet, 383(9919), 757-758.
13. Howarth, R., Ingraffea, A., & Engelder, T. (2011). Natural gas: Should fracking stop?.
Nature, 477(7364), 271. doi:10.1038/477271a
I chose this document because it is pertinent to the military world. I plan on returning
back into the military upon the completion of my degree. Anything having to do with the
military not only interests me but is also very important to me.
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