Vets? Take a seat and help us understand?

@wrabbit2000,

This is only my opinion, I, in no way, want to speak for everyone.

Wars are always happening. We are a war-like species. As with any war, their are two sides. Both think they are right, both think the other is wrong. We fight to defeat the enemy. There is no "nice way" to do so. I've stated before that if we are to win the fight against terrorism, we have to be so bad, so ugly, that the terrorists would be afraid to piss us off.
Society has influenced how we fight. Society has altered the way we look at the enemy. Look at how we embrace those of a culture that we fight against. It causes conflict within those that actively fight. It creates doubt where no doubt should ever exist. It creates an internal conflict.

We no longer try to defeat the enemy.

The other side has no qualms. They see us as the enemy. Men, women, children, civilian, soldier. That makes no difference. There is a purity of thought, of purpose with them. Kill the enemy. Hurt the enemy. defeat the enemy.

While we try to win "hearts and minds".

I once got very drunk with some older East German soldiers. We drank, we laughed, we traded lies and swapped stories about the 80's. With beers in hand, we smiled and said how we would have killed each other without a blink of an eye back then. We knew who the enemy was, we knew our jobs, and it wasn't personal.

There was a purity of thought then. there isn't now.

Somehow, somewhere, we got it in our heads that we are a peaceful species. That we are kind and thoughtful and caring. We ignore the raging animal inside us all and embrace the dove also inside us. This causes conflict. Internal conflict.

We aren't perfect. We aren't even close. We are a base species with dark thoughts and even uglier actions. We have the capacity for great kindness but unless we embrace the ugly side of our psyche as well, then there will always be conflict and struggle to understand ourselves.

Just ignoring the dark side won't make the world roses and happiness. Vets are killing themselves because they see the dark side of their souls and are being taught by society that it is wrong. What is wrong is society ignoring that we all have a dark side and ignoring it won't make the problem go away.

We've built such a false and phony ideal about what we should be that we ignore what we actually are.

I hope this makes some sense.

regards. . .

A lot of variables to that question @wrabbit2000, i was there, my brother too. we get home and there is no off button even though we learn to adapt and some can't deal with what happened there, for some its the fighting and all that comes with the act, for some its the loss of purpose or rejection by the people you knew before you were forever changed and who cant accept the newest evolution or devolution,for some it's fallen. but i don't really know,probably never will.
The bottom of a whiskey bottle promises comfort,the pistol provides security, and thats all i really do know about it

Something to consider besides all the shots our guys get before going overseas:

When you are in the service you become a SOMEONE, a Sargent, specialist, captain, Major etc etc. When you leave the service you are just you without a title looking at a country where in many cases unless you can get a job flipping burgers your job prospects are very limited and thus in your eyes, you have little worth.

Nothing compares with war and it's environment.... it is, and will be the greatest thing a young man will ever do; well in his mind (greatest) anyway.

Any money saved during your service runs out as does what you perceived as your worth in life. Looking out over a barren landscape and being very familiar with death one 50 cent round chambered and fired can end the struggle in an instant. Some had already made that observation and decisive decision in the event of being captured while overseas. The torture of no self worth and no prospects can be a serious trigger.. Life can and is a struggle; just that for some the struggle and reward is not worth it..

Just another angle to consider... the Muslims have 21 know nothing virgins.... and I have it on good authority for a real western warrior it is all great food, beer or a drink of your choice, and hot women... so... maybe it ain't all bad.. be my luck if I popped myself and was there in this warrior heaven of my creation my dick would fall off .... Thus what I thought would be heaven would turn into a very sick kind of hell.... ! Honestly, we used to toast our guys who were killed in a solemn ceremony with bottles/cans held high with a saying of, " Save a little beer and Pus** for us".. Then we went on about our business..

One last thing: The guys who took war personal and were filled with hate are the ones who had the hardest time adapting when they returned... I can only imagine what many may feel when they return back to the world and see the appeasement and apologist for the very same sand people who did things in their everyday lives that would make most westerners puke.

I feel lucky in that I never hated anyone.. Just a job, push a button and make them disappear. Try and get some sleep and do it all over again.

I have told countless people who are thinking about going into the service.. Do something that will train you for a job on the outside.. Not many positions for a standard issue marksman unless you want to be a cop.

I joined to fly.. and have never regretted that decision.. and have been impressed that I had the foresight to actually plan and carry through with my decision. Dumb luck and hard work... but it is what it is.. My reward is a good life and a beautiful loving wife; the ability to do what I want when I want and laugh and smile just about every day.. Not much of a go getter goal but, hey, I am satisfied;

I would be totally happy if I shot (gross) in the sixties every day when I played golf.. That is something that still alludes me.. Nothing is perfect I suppose ?

Make sure you find out who his allies are
And the power brokers in the AL are
Power flow is important in social and Engineering situations

Make sure you also have a new commander set up to take over
So you do not get a bad one

I do slightly disagree with the implications of your statements regarding PTSD..
Not the statement (all of it is self inflicted)
I guess I am still hopeful in the hman race (been burned on it a F#$%ing lot recently)

I refer back to the lack of leadership
Programs and psych evals could be used to prevent this
It is a complete lack training mentally
If they spent more time mentally preparing soldiers like quals..
the VA bill would not be so D#$% high

____________

A simple breakdown to the brain lock
Prep for it 
Re-anchor the basic concepts
Soldiers morality

Pretty much they leave the sailor or Soldier defenseless with concepts that the brain cant process
Training has been available since the 70's to prevent this

When I retired, the VA up in Cleveland did everything they could to get me to say that I had PTSD and TBI. I refused every time and it even got to the point where they were telling me that each disability (which I don't have) could net me a 80% disability rating ($1,551.48), on top of my current 30%/10%/10% that are actual disabilities. That would equate to $2226.11 a month. Which if I would have gone along with their little scam would have cheated the taxpayer that $1551.48 a month for the rest of my life. Combine that with my pension and I would be bringing home well over 4 Grand a month. That's just plain wrong, not to mention fraudulent.

But to many D-Bags just see those dollar signs and snatch up the money. And proving that they are fraudulent is pretty hard once they have been diagnosed, even if its a false diagnoses. 

The only problem I have with the VA is their administrative process. That's the part thats grueling to me due to the long wait times and the high turn-over of VA administrative personnel and their having to constantly train new people. But if you have your act together and have copies of your own medical records, do the research on the administrative processes, you can greatly speed things up. I've had people who work for the VA encourage me to apply for a job there just because I have done my research and know what I am talking about. (Starting pay would be $25-26 an hour) I empathetically told them "Oh, Hellz No!