An experiential chasm now separates veterans from the general citizenry. During the Second World War, 11 out of every 100 served, making unavoidable continuous associations with veterans and their families. Currently only 1 in 200 serve their country, and only 7 out of every 1,000 have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Our civilians pursue mundane, quiet lives among unfathomable luxuries compared to other countries. Too often they regard with indifference, and/or bewilderment, and/or loathing those choosing honor, duty, and sacrifice with the attendant consequences. If loathing seems excessive consider Homeland Security withdrew its profile of domestic terrorists, because veterans were stereotyped as potential Timothy McVeighs.
Next consider the perplexity of PTSD. People too often perceive as disorders the adaptive skills veterans learn through training and experience to overcome the extremes of combat and non-combat situations. For example, high situational awareness finding clues signaling threats can be labeled “hypervigilance”. Detailed mission rehearsal enhanced by instantaneous recall of violent encounters becomes “flashbacks” at home.
You cannot restart the human being like a computer, so the transition can take years. The many skills that were imperative to military success must be dialed back at home.
However, at home veterans do not encounter the all encompassing love and understanding their grandparents’ generation found, when most had experienced the war in one way or another.
We should first view the warrior as dealing with PTS. First reserve the “D” for the mental disorder of civilians who can’t or won’t interact positively with veterans.
I invite people contact Dr. Charles W. Hoge at hoge@onceawarior.com , or read his book titled Once a Warrior – Always a Warrior: Navigating the Transition from Combat to Home. Another source would be his article in Disabled American Veteran titled “The Paradox of PTSD” at http://digitaledition.qwinc.com/article/The+Paradox+Of+PTSD/835300/0/article.html.
Great points all, Mike. My uncle Tom suffers from PTSD, and he’s convinced it’s due to the treatment he received when he returned home from the war. My other two uncles were stationed at Pearl Harbor for the rest of their service and considered that paradise. My uncle Tom was greeted by protestors in San Diego and was spit on and even turned away for service at a bar when he showed up in his uniform fresh off the boat. He says the constant feeling of rejection coupled with the will to continue to fight even though his conscience says “It’s over, just let it go,” is the reason for his regular night terrors and need to drown himself in gin.