Soldiers dealing with the trauma of killing

[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.