Three years until the end of a fresh start, so don’t unpack! This aphorism was the epitome of my childhood. My father was in the United States Navy, and we moved around a lot. During my adolescents I never actually called any place home, though some may find this heartbreaking (not having a place to call home), but I found it to be a blessing. These blessings came from all sorts of things (i.e. the exposure to different cultures, classes, and traditions), which I wasn’t able to fully appreciate as a child. However, in retrospect, as an adult who has been educated on the strengths of being exposed to different cultures. I am now able to appreciate the multiculturalism, which has personified my childhood. Additionally, the privilege of …show more content…
Hailey actually saved my life, her birth caused me to reevaluate who I was, where I was headed and what I needed to do. I knew that I had to get a job to support and provide for Hailey and the only job I could fine was during school hours, therefore placing her needs above my own I decided to drop out of school and get a job. As time went by, I began to reevaluate my life again. I wasn’t satisfied working minimum wage, washing dishes at one job, then stocking shelves at the other, so I decided to get my General Education Development (GED) certificate and then join the Army.
I enlisted in the United States Army in the summer of 2005 and was quickly caught by surprise by how different the culture within the military truly was. People were valued by their rank, physical ability and marksmanship, not education, looks and wealth. I wish I could say my time in the Army was filled with crazy fun, and excitement, which there were plenty of both, however, my eight year enlistment was also filled with depression, heartache, loss and fear. I deployed three times during my career twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. I lost friends, soldiers and even got divorced during my deployments, but it was my last deployment that changed my life. During a routine patrol my vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), the explosion left me disoriented and concussed, however, I was able to get my guys out of harm’s way. The explosion screwed up my back
Military Pathway (2013) concluded “Military life, especially the stress of deployments or mobilizations, can present challenges to service members and their families that are both unique and difficult”. Hence, it is not surprising that soldiers returning from a stressful war environment often suffer from a psychological condition called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This paper provides a historical perspective of PTSD affecting soldiers, and how this illness has often been ignored. In addition, the this paper examines the cause and diagnosis of the illness, the changes of functional strengths and limitations, the overall effects this disease may have on soldiers and their families, with a conclusion of
Many soldiers who return from the war suffer for many years. During the war, soldiers go through many different experiences. I came from a small military family; from two grandfathers, to my step-father. My grandfather Vaughn Clark was in World War Two, and I was never
Many soldiers can relate to developing post traumatic disorder because of war. The article “For Soldiers With PTSD, A Profound Daily Struggle” discusses the story of Dexter Pitt who was deployed to Iraq in the year 2004. Pitt was diagnosed with PTSD after a bomb injured him while in Iraq, which left him with many serious injuries that affected his physical health. Pitt shares the story of when his cousin was consistently very energetic, jumping around and bothering him after returning from war and had hit his injured arm. According to page 1 of the article, Pitt says, “I just lost it. I blacked out… picked him up and punched him in his chest as hard as I could.” He was over reacting and made the situation worse than what it should be, and
Being in war is definitely one of the most life changing events a person will ever have whether it be for the better or for the worst. Soldiers will witness events that are impossible to forget or see back at home in the states. Some soldiers may have even seen one of their best friends that they’ve known for forever get blown up into pieces right next to them, or they might even get one of their own limbs blown off of their own bodies, becoming handicapped for life. As a result of seeing something so intense like that, most soldiers are usually traumatized. In matter of fact, a great amount of soldiers are traumatized from the very beginning of being in war. It’s without a doubt difficult to deal with this but there are some ways where
The study concluded that each soldier response to re-adjustment differed from the fellow service member. When addressing the deployed and injured soldier, it was that while in the military, the service member experienced a positive life outlook and a sense of been part of a team. Once released from the duty, the same individual experienced no sense of belonging partially due to the sudden departure from the service. In another case, the authors found that a 30 year old veteran while still struggling the transitional phase seek out assistance with the transition process as he
This paper explores post-traumatic stress and how it is seen as a disorder. Post-traumatic stress can manifest into post-traumatic stress disorder. The evaluation and review books and articles seem to reveal a relation to these symptoms and military member, either active or non-active veterans. These symptoms do not manifest strictly into the full-extent of the disorder in all cases of military, however, things such as depression and other physical symptoms are discussed through the readings. The end result is that we discovered that through the readings PTSD will in fact lead to suicide if left untreated.
The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been experienced not only on the battlefield but when they return, the war comes home with them. Military service members have to deal with the emotional and physical scars and the multiple civilian
The U.S. military produces some of the bravest most heroic men and women on earth. From the moment the oath of enlistment is made to the time of separation or retirement, these courageous souls endure a number of amazing, historic and sometimes unbelievable events. They are praise for their service and lift even higher for their sacrifice, although most are unaware of the true sacrifices are made by some of these men and women. The most visible sacrifices or “outer sacrifices” are loss of life or loss of limbs while the inner wounds are bouts with depression, sexual assault, divorce, and most common alcohol other drug abuse.
An American novelist wrote, “That is what death is like. It doesn’t matter what uniforms the soldiers are wearing. It doesn’t matter how good the weapons are. I thought if everyone could see what I saw, we would never have war anymore” (Jonathan Safran Foer). According to The National Center for PTSD, VA Medical Center, soldiers who have served in war the last fourteen years, 11-20% have Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is mostly caused by a significant emotional event during a war. I worked at the NATO Role III hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan when Pfc. Keith M. Williams died on the trauma table. Williams’ death affected everyone in the trauma room that day, however, even today it has caused me horrible anguish.
The trauma that is attached to all of these sudden life changing injuries often lead back to substance abuse, alcohol abuse that is attached to a mental illness which takes a toll on a soldiers family as well. Ann Jones writes in her book, They were Soldiers: How Americas wounded come home the untold story, "Sooner or later almost every American soldier comes home on a stretcher, in a box, in an altered state of mind." As the wars in foreign countries ends, the war continues on in within our soldiers.
Wounds acquired during war and combat go way further than one can naturally see. Dr. Stephen Hunt, a …., says, “Folks returning from combat have a constellation of health concerns, including physical issues, psychological issues and psychosocial issues concerning things like work and family..” (….) which explains that veterans face a multitude of health effects and not just a physical injury. Provided that PTSD, mental illness, has been discussed in recent time, however other mental illness that military personnel acquire aren’t so known. Many of the categories in which classify as not adressed are mental illness all ranging from emotional and mental stability, but some also deal with the pain and illness unique to their
In war or peace, the military is a hazardous profession, and extensive service means more risk of serious injury (Morin, 2011). One out of every ten veterans alive today was seriously injured at some point while serving in the military, and three-quarters of those injuries occurred in combat (Morin, 2011). For many of these wounded veterans, according to Pew Research Center, the physical and emotional consequences of their wounds have endured long after they left the military (Morin, 2011). Almost all veterans are proud of their service, in spite of serious injuries (Morin, 2011).
As for myself, I do not come from a military background and I thought this experience would open my eyes as to what the servicemen and women endure while defending our country. The service members often enjoyed having conversations about their injuries and how they were placed in this unit to be medically evaluated, treated, and given time to heal. The majority of the service members were injured while being deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq. I have learned from them, not all wounds are visible and many suffer from mental health issues. Unfortunately, the military has a very high suicide rate.
Many individuals joined the military to get away from home, travel, a new experience, pride, the educational benefits numerous individuals enlisted right after the 9/11 attack to fight against terrorist protector our military freedom recruiter justifying all the astounding benefits of entering one of our armed forces. Processed to boot camp receiving pay while you attended once completed head off to your MOS (Military Occupation School) three meals a day living quarters. You married, had children that military provided all medical, dental, evening housing. Those liberties you were accustomed to; no longer accessible once you exited military services many veterans had a hard time coping with day to day task. Military prepared to train you for
When a soldier enlists into the military forces they know they are going in to fight for their country and freedom for everyone. They spend months training and preparing for the war and what to come. They learn to fight, shoot, and kill enemies, but what they do not learn is how to cope with the after math of the war. Soldiers in war every year come home with many post traumatic effects from what they had witnessed. During world war two this was known as shell shock; however what can be concluded is that world war two impacted the soldiers emotionally and physiologically from the time they entered to post war.