American military forces have been at war for nearly a decade; the conflict in Afghanistan is the longest war in American history. Our soldiers risk life and limb to serve their country.
However, they risk more than just that. Even those who escape physically unscathed can have wounds to deep for others to see.
It is hard for us living in the comfort of our homes to understand, as conflict blogger Tim Lynch describes, that
The amount of responsibility placed on the shoulders of 21, 22 or sometimes younger men who lead fireteams, squads, and platoons exceeds by several orders of magnitude, that placed on their peers in the civilian world.
In this same post Lynch promotes the recent war documentary Restrepo (a must see with a limited theatrical release) which provides an incredible look into the fears, challenges, and deaths faced by American soldiers in what was the deadliest place in Afghanistan.
Combining stressful environments with multiple tours of duty has placed an incredible strain on the mental health of American Service men and women.
For the first time since the Vietnam War the suicide rate for soldiers, 20 out of every 100,000, is higher than that of the civilian population.
This problem has been aggravated, according to a military report, by commanders disregarding warning signs and substance abuse within their units.
This disregard is not due to a commander’s lack of care for his unit but rather
Unprecedented operational tempo has dictated that leaders remain primarily focused on preparing for their next deployment. As a result, enforcement of policies designated to ensure good order and discipline has atrophied.
In the past this issue has received far less attention than the lives and limbs lost by our soldiers; it is now beginning to receive the attention it deserves.
As said by President Obama in his remarks to the Disabled Veterans of America:
PTSD is a pain like no other — the nightmares that keep coming back, the rage that strikes suddenly, the hopelessness that’s led too many of our troops and veterans to take their own lives. So today, I want to say in very personal terms to anyone who is struggling — don’t suffer in silence. It’s not a sign of weakness to reach out for support — it’s a sign of strength.
It appears that President Obama and the Pentagon are following up on this call to care for those suffering mentally from war.
In an interview on This Morning Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army’s vice chief of staff and head of a task force to reduce suicide in the armed forces, stated:
We’re looking for new ways to be able to deliver behavior health, such as virtual behavior health where we literally bring up a network using the internet, using the network of doctors, say 200, from all over the United States who can, in fact, provide a good, good look at our soldiers when they return.
With increased attention to the mental wounds faced those who need care will hopefully find it. This is important because as the conflict in Iraq draws down and the soldiers who have served return home many will have scars some of which won’t be physical.
