The WIA numbers that the military tries to hide

[Skybird]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...829390,00.html

The way traumatised soldiers get excluded from statistics on own wounded soldiers, always has made me very. That was the case in discussion we had on the board in 2003 and 2004, and it is still the same today. DMMC - damn male macho cult. I had my confrontation with what violence-induced traumatisation can mean to a human, for some months I was engaged long time ago with a project caring for torture victims from the Balkans, and did a lot of additional learning search back then, which also meant PTS syndrome caused by war. The US military, and others, may have increased efforts to tackle PTS and combat fatigue, but to really tackle it, it needs wider, more public recognition and a massive change to this damn male macho cult dominating the military. In principle we need a change of military culture itself.

To leave behind those who one has sent into war, is a complete moral failure, and is despicable.

That we tell soldiers lies and opush false ideals based on forged images of relaities in order to motivate them,, doe snot help either. I prefer to prepare them for what they are up to by telling them straight and frankly what they are up for, and what it is about. The BS-talking about Afghanistan has abused the idealism and naivety of so many young people who went there with the best intentions indeed - it makes me sick. It is abuse indeed, abuse of the own soldiers. Politicians should hang for that.

[Catfish]

Also this, in former times they used to call it shell shock, bluntly, now it's post-traumatic depression.
Just does not get better by using Orwell's doublespeak:
http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/36/36804/1.html
Medicaments or drugs, dexedrine is still being used to keep soldiers awake

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Also this, in former times they used to call it shell shock, bluntly, now it's post-traumatic depression.

I believe it's called post traumatic stress disorder.

[August]

This thread = troll bait.

[Oberon]

This is a very touchy subject and this thread will most likely derail very quickly.

Furthermore, since I have not been in combat, nor witnessed it outside of a television or computer screen I am not particularly qualified to discuss this outside of speculation, which due to the very nature of this subject, is not possible to do with any degree of accuracy.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by August

This thread = troll bait.

Don't worry, nobody will bite you here.

[August]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Don't worry, nobody will bite you here.

No but a bunch of people who have never served themselves opining on what the attitudes of those who do serve should be isn't all that interesting either.

That "damn male macho cult" is what wins wars and always has.

[kranz]

Originally Posted by August

This thread = troll bait.

everyone knows that it was the oil wells' fault.

[August]

Originally Posted by kranz

everyone knows that it was the oil wells' fault.

I'm still waiting for my barrel of oil from that whole "Blood for Oil" thing back in the 1990's.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I believe it's called post traumatic stress disorder.

Most commonly used term in the UK.

[RickC Sniper]

Originally Posted by Skybird

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...829390,00.html

The US military, and others, may have increased efforts to tackle PTS and combat fatigue, but to really tackle it, it needs wider, more public recognition and a massive change to this damn male macho cult dominating the military. In principle we need a change of military culture itself.

Nothing wrong with treating illnesses. But I was wondering just what kind of military culture they have in mind. If it is the culture itself that creates an effective war machine, how do you change it yet still be effective at war?

Perhaps the politicians would like soldiers to be as effective at their trade as politicians are at theirs.

[mookiemookie]

On a related note, I found this photo essay of Scott Ostrom to be pretty powerful stuff.

After serving four years as a reconnaissance man and deploying twice to Iraq, Brian Scott Ostrom, 27, returned home to the U.S. with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder. “The most important part of my life already happened. The most devastating. The chance to come home in a box. Nothing is ever going to compare to what I’ve done, so I’m struggling to be at peace with that,”

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured...t-ostrom/5172/

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Skybird

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...829390,00.html

good old "Der Spiegel", still the propaganda arm of the European loony left I see. There are many good articles on PTSD available, no need to pick one with such a blatant anti-american slant.

Everyone agrees PTSD is a problem, always has and always will be, but it does not just affect soldiers: policemen, firemen, paramedics, victims of violent crimes/plane crash/major accidents can all be affected by PTSD. Most eventually recover and are able to function in society. For the ones who really go off the deep end, you can't really know for sure if there was not an underlying condition already present.

The big difference is that now, most armed forces recognize the problem and setup programs to help service members suffering from PTSD as opposed to previous wars when they would be jailed or shot for "cowardice".