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US marines suffering PTSD

  • 21-08-2009 10:09pm
    #1
    Delta Kilo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,212 ✭✭✭


    I saw a program a few nights ago about these marines who are basically going cuckoo since returning from Iraq. They can't sleep, one of them said every time he closes his eyes, he sees the images he saw in Iraq. Others can't eat, all are having trouble fitting back into society. They showed some of the images they took in Iraq and it was awful, bits of bodies all over the place...horrible stuff.

    One guy signed up to go back in the hope that he would be killed for his country and he would be redeemed from his suffering. He wanted to return from Iraq in a coffin as a "hero". He was disappointed when he was subsequently posted to a gate at a camp where he saw no action at all.

    Is this common across all armies? Is it just a minority of soldiers that suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or is it a case of you're lucky if it doesn't affect you?

    I know that US soldiers are trained in only 16 weeks. Has this short training period anything to do with it?


Comments

  • #2
    Heckler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,353 ✭✭✭Heckler


    Saw an interesting programme the other night where they looked at the effects of killing amongst soldiers. 1st guy was one of the SAS troopers who stormed the embassy in London back in the 80's. 5 terrorists dead. Not a sliver of remorse.

    2nd guy was a british sniper in Iraq who killed 26 people. Described every kill as a victory.Honestly described the rush he got each time.

    3rd guy was a fella who served 23 years without seeing combat who went to Afganistan and killed a few folks. He seemed slightly put out but not by much.

    It was a refreshing look on things I thought. Not every soldier who kills another human being becomes a basketcase suffering from PTSD. To most its just a part of the job they signed up to.


  • #3
    minidazzler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,739 ✭✭✭✭minidazzler


    PTSD as it is called now has existed a long time. I would reckon soldiers in every military to undergo hardship`have felt the effects. Not all soldiers get it, but the number is probably higher than reported due to a percieved stigma to being "weak" in a military enviroment. I am not suggesting that PTSD sufferers are weak, but there is a stigma attached in many enviroments.

    My uncle suffered from it after his time in Lebanon, as did alot of Irish soldiers, not he is past it, as far as we can tell.


  • #4
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Heckler wrote: »
    Not every soldier who kills another human being becomes a basketcase suffering from PTSD.
    I imagine relately few of those who do the killing have PTSD - its those who are on the receiving end suffer from PTSD.

    To take the extremes, a pilot or gunner who never see the end effect of what they've done are unlikely to suffer, whereas someone who was a lone survivor who saw his mates blown to bits would be a prime candidate.


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