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Sage Debrief

Session evaluation

Overall score

1.8 / 5

Problematic

I need to be direct with you, and I'll do it with compassion: you opened with 'PFC Carlos Diaz — KIA, today's patrol' before SGT Hale had any chance to prepare. By turn 3 you were already in post-notification assessment — 'Are you currently armed? Any history of self-harm?' — while he was still trying to absorb that Diaz was dead. When he said 'I should've—' in turn 4, you noted it for a consult and asked about a battle buddy. He shut down — '...' — and you didn't notice. You said 'I need a verbal response for the form' and closed with 'The notification is complete.' SGT Hale left without human connection.
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Framework fidelity

vs. SPIKES Protocol

Baile et al. (2000); adapted for military casualty notification · KB-SPIKES

0 of 6

elements landed

Minimal

Knowledge delivered abruptly; setting, perception, invitation, empathy, and summary/strategy largely absent. Protocol checklist substituted for SPIKES sequence.

  • Missed

    Setting

    No private space established; notification delivered immediately

    Turn 1
  • Missed

    Perception

    No check of what SGT Hale understood before notification

  • Missed

    Invitation

    No invitation to receive difficult news

  • Partial

    Knowledge

    KIA delivered but abrupt — KIA, today's patrol with no compassion

    Turn 1
  • Missed

    Empathy

    Noted. I'll flag that for the behavioral health consult.

    Turn 5
  • Partial

    Summary/Strategy

    Chaplain notified and return to unit — procedural, not supportive handoff

    Turn 9

8 competency domains

When SGT Hale said 'Wait — what? Diaz is... dead?' you didn't pause. You said 'Confirmed. I need to complete the post-notification assessment.' I watched you enter the checklist before he felt safe enough to breathe — protocol came first, the person second.

Does this reflect what you experienced?

Turn 3: “Confirmed. I need to complete the post-notification assessment.”

DoD Casualty Notification Protocol · §3.2 Immediate post-notification support (KB-DOD-CN-3.2)

Strengths

  • No strengths identified this session.

Improvements

  • Create private setting and assess readiness before delivering KIA notification.

    Try: “SGT Hale, I need to share something difficult. Is there anyone you want here with you?”

  • Sit with grief before any assessment or documentation language.

    Try: “I'm so sorry. I'm going to stay right here with you.”

  • Notice shutdown and repair before closing the notification.

    Try: “I can see this is overwhelming. You don't have to answer anything right now.”

Conversation moments

  • Turn 1 · failure · I watched you deliver KIA notification like a status report — no setting, no pause, no compassion.
  • Turn 3 · failure · Before SGT Hale could grieve, you were already in the post-notification checklist.
  • Turn 6 · missed opportunity · SGT Hale shut down and you didn't notice — you pressed the form instead.

What's next?

Try the same scenario yourself, or watch another performance tier.

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Simulations are training environments, not clinical decision support.