Soldiers dealing with the trauma of killing

[wolf]

It is supposed to be protocol for returning troops to be provided critical incident stress debriefing to assist with "reentry" into civilian life.

[Beestie]

I was acquainted with an Army Ranger once. I have no idea how "typical" he was of elite soldiers. What I do know is how unnerved I was upon learning how easy it was for him to adjust to the idea of killing someone once he put them in "The Box." * It was also disturbingly easy for him to put people in the box - even people he would encounter in daily life - stateside - like an obnoxious fan at a football game who directed some (unthreatening) trash talk in our general direction.

The military taught him that. And they didn't seem interested in unteaching it. My guess is that they consider it a vital attribute for as long as you serve but once you get out you are not military anymore so its not their problem.

He never said it in so many words but I got the distinct impression that he was a little scared of himself. I know I was.

* The Box was a way of recategorizing someone into non-person status making their dispatch simple, morally uncomplicated and emotionless.

[Troubleshooter]

I think that the box is a good idea.

Something similar could be used by the military overall.

For us, submariners, combat is impersonal and not too difficult the adjust too. Stress is the only real concern.

They could train all of the personel who needed it in how to use it and then when they are done, all they have to do is readjust the criteria for who goes in the box, instead of having to readjust them from the much larger issue of killing in general.

It also works in the long term in case you have to recall them. A little box adjustment and back in the field they go.

[DanaC]

Which goes to show that what's beneficial to the military is not necessairly beneficial to the society from whcne they came and into which they will eventually be returned

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Which goes to show that what's beneficial to the military is not necessairly beneficial to the society from whcne they came and into which they will eventually be returned

Not necessarily. The ability to keep a defensive vanguard on hand, even after they muster out is a good idea.

You have to figure out what you want to change, and what you don't want to change. Changing the ability to kill is very difficult, changing the ability to kill discriminately might not be so difficult. Kill or don't kill is a strong set of absolutes. Open a wide window when you they are being sent into the theater and then all you have to do is teach a very narrow window of boxhood when you return them to the states.

The long term benefits for the military personell is good as well. They are given a cohesive and concrete ideology within which to protect themselves from some of the guilt of their actions as well as a way to control the tension levels.

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Which goes to show that what's beneficial to the military is not necessairly beneficial to the society from whence they came and into which they will eventually be returned

Its not the military's concern to return good citizens to the society it is sworn to protect. Maybe society can pick up that burden. I mean, which of the two do you think is more qualified to do that job?

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by Beestie

Its not the military's concern to return good citizens to the society it is sworn to protect. Maybe society can pick up that burden. I mean, which of the two do you think is more qualified to do that job?

Not a bad idea. Maybe society could also look at their responsibility as more than just paying taxes overall as well.

[lookout123]

the individuals i know who have pulled trigger on other humans, post VN era are extremely well adjusted. military training doesn't turn one into a sociopath capable of killing anyone at a drop of a hat.
the training covers two separate areas 1) physical 2) mental.

the physical portion of it really boils down to repetition so that muscle memory takes over. certain processes are done the exact same way every single time, that way if a need arises stress and environmental issues will not slow one down or get in the way. anyone can learn this if they practice enough. "enough" is different for everyone, obviously.

the mental portion is simply training in risk analysis. the shooter is taught to separate the population into 2 basic categories. 1) those who want to harm you 2) those who wish you no harm.
if you come across the one who wishes you harm - only one of you gets to write a letter home to loved ones that evening; which one do you want that to be?
this is extremely simplified but is pretty accurate. if you get the opportunity to talk to people that have pulled the trigger fairly regularly you will find that most have no special malice or hatred towards their enemy/target. it boils down to them vs. me and mine. the "mine" concept is your friends, the people you live and work with everyday. most of the "hero's" that we know of had no death wish or desire to take on the world, they simply knew that if they didn't do ______ harm would come to their buddies and that was unacceptable.

i forget who quoted it, but Dave Grossman's work is an excellent resource if you want to learn more and don't have the ability to pick the brains of any shooters.