Veterans Vs Citizen Soldiers

989 Words4 Pages
War is one of the most psychologically, physically, cognitively, and emotionally demanding and stressful situations that people can find themselves in, even with the best of military training and preparation. As the Global War on Terrorism, now referred to Overseas Contingency Operations, continues past its eleventh year mark, over 1.7 million United States military members have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and 20 major bases around the world, with major concentrations of troops in 11 countries. Some military members have endured a severe financial, physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual toll. Two specific populations of these war fighters, the Army and Air National Guard, are America’s “Citizen Soldiers” and “Citizen Airmen.”…show more content…
National Guard Soldiers and Airmen sometimes received orders at the last possible minute, placing a greater strain on part-time military members and employers, and potentially lost their civilian jobs due to numerous deployments. Despite laws that support military members through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program, during this faltering economy, these veterans are more at risk for unemployment than those not serving in the military. The longer that National Guardsmen have been away from their families, jobs, and communities, the greater the changes and challenges they face. Communities evolved: one’s peer group may have changed due to veteran vs. non- veteran or political perspective. The veteran’s new physical or psychological health may have created a small or drastic change, with coworkers feeling uncomfortable interacting with the veteran. With the current faltering economy, jobs may have disappeared or companies closed down. The veterans may have returned to jobs where their peers have been promoted and moved ahead while the veterans return to lower level/different jobs. Families may have changed; some spouses and children may be estranged from the combat…show more content…
One of the most foreboding findings in the report was the observation that for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans “whose responses were positive for a mental disorder, only 23 to 40 percent actually sought mental health care”. The soldiers worried that they would be stigmatized by their leadership and peers for seeking help and that asking for support would negatively impact their military careers. Some veterans have asked their spouses to make counseling appointments in the spouse’s name, and the veteran attends as a “support system” to keep the stigma of mental health appointments hidden from their fellow troops and commanders. These soldiers have deployed not only once, but some more than five times in various combat or stressful areas where combat equals danger, fear, boredom, high adrenaline activity, and the possibility of one’s own death or the loss of a battle buddy. Research indicates that deployed soldiers with pre-existing symptoms of anxiety and depression may have a higher risk of PTSD. Other notable symptoms that soldiers diagnosed with PTSD exhibit may include substance abuse and sexual problems. These soldiers may experience the loss of intimacy with their spouses
Open Document