Personal Narrative: War Veterans

Four or Five years ago if you were to tell me that I would be confidently applying to the University of Miami I would have laughed. Through high school I did not give much effort and like most of my peers, thought that furthering my education was my only option. Nearing the end of my senior year I started realizing that no noteworthy university would even consider accepting someone like me. As the days ticked away, I applied to a nearby college with an incredibly high acceptance rate and found myself opening an acceptance letter a few weeks later.

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

“My mind is on fire as I fear that any second, another enemy round will rip into my body and finish me off” (Johnson 2). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) effects the lives of many soldiers after returning home from war. PTSD is a psychiatric condition described in the DSM-IV as, a condition that requires a specific event to have occurred as a criterion for the diagnosis. The criteria for this disorder, according to the book Combat Trauma, can include flashbacks, times where you feel as if you are reliving the traumatic event, shame or guilt, upsetting dreams about the traumatic event, trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event, feeling emotionally numb or not feeling at all, anger or irritability, poor or destructive relationships, self-destructive behavior, trouble sleeping, memory problems, hallucinations, not enjoying activities you one enjoyed and feeling as if you no longer know who is living your day-to-day life.

I’m a military child. Change was instilled in me since my birth in Spain. My childhood was spent briefly in Europe, the east coast of the U.S, and eventually the Midwest. This change of scenery, schools, friends, and just about everything else in my life led me to be the person I am today. Travelling was amusing and I enjoyed change of pace every couple of years, but it wasn’t easy. I learned early on that getting attached to people wasn’t a good idea and should be avoided in preparation for the next move. This led me to being an incredibly shy child who couldn’t open up to people. The world I come from is an adventurous but problematic one. When I concluded making friends would assist with each transition I found myself too terrified to attempt

Once a soldier finishes his or her term of war and comes home for good doesn't mean they have truly returned from war. A soldier brings back home nothing but the haunting memories of war. This is the factor that continues to make living with PTSD so overwhelming. Veterans may say, "for me, there was no safe place, even my home" (Phillips, 2014). Insecurity is not the only aspect that overwhelms the mind, many other symptoms of the disease are just as horrific. "I couldn't close my eyes without envisioning the face of my attacker. I suffered horrific flashbacks and nightmares, and four years after the attack I was unable to sleep in my house alone" (Phillips, 2014). in cases like this, the effects of PTSD later find its ways to literally dictate the lives of veterans and many other victims.

War survivors are perceived as brave and thought to be able to face anything. Taking a look at a soldier, someone might notice scars and burn marks on them. But what they can’t see is the internal damage a war might have taken on a soldier, i.e. PTSD. Anybody who’s ever lived with someone who had PTSD experiences a difficult life; avoiding certain interactions, anger/guilt, addiction, alienation, and discourage are feelings and actions that a family must go through. Life is even more difficult for the person who has PTSD; flashbacks, palpitation, nightmares, social anxiety, and hyper

Veterans are important to our Nation’s future because without them we would not be where we are today. They defended our rights as Americans. They make great war movies and games based on their experience overseas. They also make great body armor and gun ideas that they could have used. Without veterans we would not have the variety of weapons like we do today. Veterans are what made America. If it wasn’t for our Veterans, we would not be as safe as we are today. They put their life on the line trying to defend the United States of America and all of the people who live in it.

How do we appreciate our veterans? How do we appreciate our country? Most importantly how do we believe in america? This is what i think…...

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According to Watts, Zayed, Llewellyn-Thomas, and Schnurr (2016), “almost 7% of adults in the United States experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime and the presence of PTSD among veterans of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is 14%.” This is a large amount of the population. Veterans returning from war with PTSD may not have the structure and support they need. It is reported that “twenty-two

A Veteran Woman On December 7, 2000, I raised my right hand pledging to serve and protect the American people. At the age of 20, I had entered a 240 year-old organization, not really knowing what to expect from it. I was scared, excited, and ready for the new challenges joining this Armed Forces organization would bring. My basic training was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. This old country girl from Mississippi had to get on an airplane for the first time. My adrenaline was pumping so fast that I felt my heart could easily jump out my chest at any time. Despite all the insecure reservations I had and the negative comments I received from family and friends back home, I made it through basic training and spent a long, vigorous, and uplifting

As a disabled veteran I have had many experiences with the ever “infamous” Department of Veterans Affairs. Many people complain about the VA medical, and VA benefits about there slow response to veterans and dependents needs. Though it did take the VA a full calendar year and an extra 3 months to get my percentages prepared for my medical discharge following my Medical Evaluation Board, I had no issue with this considering I never wanted to get out of the military in the first place. My issues with the VA have always come when a situation arises that I need to speak with a VA representative. Whether it is calling the VA to check on the status of a monthly benefit payment or a general question regarding benefits I have always been put on hold for at minimum 30 minutes.

Soldiers who return home may not only have physical setbacks, but are mentally traumatized from what they have witnessed while serving our country. Veterans are more prone to be diagnosed with PTSD due to the combat they experience or witness on the field. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans has been prevalent for decades and there is still no known treatment option that has been found entirely effective. Many Vietnam veterans who never sought treatment due to the nonexistent “support for the troops” have been covering up their symptoms for approximately forty years. Countless soldiers return home without jobs and some feel like their whole world

When soldiers get deployed the main goal is for them to complete their duties and make it back to home just like they left. Getting back home in one piece includes what is inside as well, the brain. The complex system that runs everything from your emotions, anxiety, optimism, pain management and impulse control is shaken up by extreme experiences like exposure to death or dreadful experiences. War veterans may experience flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, panic attacks, depression and self-destructive thoughts or actions long after the trauma has occurred. The cause of this is because the neural pathways in the brain have actually been damaged and transformed by that experience, this is called Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

I joined the Marine Corps looking for a challenge. I wanted to open doors for a new career and longed to have a positive impact on the world around me. Looking back five years later, I realize I found all that I originally sought, but I’ve also found something profoundly satisfying and meaningful that I never knew I was missing.