1

Jack Smith
Ms. Owens
English 12
December 9, 2013
PTSD n The Militar!
magine being in a sit"ati#n where s"$$lies are limite% an% %anger#"s enc#"nters are
ab"n%ant. S#l%iers in #&erseas c#mbat '#nes enc#"nter battles %ail! an% are "n%er the immense
stress #( kn#wing their li&es can be taken at an! m#ment. This is a %i((ic"lt regimen t# s"stain #n
a re$eate% basis an% takes its t#ll #n b#th $h!sical an% mental health. )%%iti#nall!, the stresses #(
war c#ntin"e l#ng a(ter ret"rning h#me (r#m #&erseas (#r man! &eterans. The %#wn si%e #(
*#ining the militar! is n#t #nl! the risk #( %!ing in c#mbat #r being se&erel! w#"n%e%, b"t there
is als# the chance that s#l%iers will s"((er (r#m mental illnesses "$#n ret"rning h#me (r#m war,
s"ch as P#st Tra"matic Stress Dis#r%er +PTSD, )lth#"gh there are s"$$#rt gr#"$s an% treatment
a&ailable t# th#se s"((ering (r#m PTSD, $re&entati&e meas"res c#"l% be taken t# %ecrease the
n"mber #( cases that #cc"r. D"e t# the #&erwhelming n"mber #( &eterans wh# s"((er (r#m
PTSD, there sh#"l% be a limit #n the am#"nt #( times s#l%iers are all#we% t# be %e$l#!e% int#
c#mbat '#nes, as well as l#nger $eri#%s #( time h#me between %e$l#!ments.
)cc#r%ing t# makethec#nnecti#n.net, P#st Tra"matic Stress Dis#r%er +PTSD,, which is
s#metimes re(erre% t# as shell-sh#ck #r c#mbat stress, can be ca"se% b! e.$eriencing se&ere
tra"ma #r a li(e-threatening e&ent. /eing $h!sicall! harme% #r witnessing #thers being in*"re% #r
%!ing are c#ntrib"ting (act#rs t# PTSD. S#metimes the s!m$t#ms #( PTSD %#n0t s"r(ace (#r
m#nths #r !ears a(ter the e&ent #r ret"rning (r#m %e$l#!ment. 1#we&er, s#me (act#rs can
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increase the chances that a tra"matic e&ent will ca"se #ne t# s"((er (r#m PTSD. S#me #( these
(act#rs incl"%e2 the intensit! #( the tra"matic e&ent3 being $h!sicall! in*"re%3 l#sing a l#&e% #ne
#r c#m$ani#n3 being in cl#se $r#.imit! t# the tra"matic e&ent3 the (eeling #( n#t being in c#ntr#l3
n#t ha&ing s"$$#rt a(ter the e&ent.
PTSD can be characteri'e% b! man! %i((erent s!m$t#ms, b"t s#me c#mm#n s!m$t#ms
are nightmares #( the e&ent+s,, slee$lessness, l#ss #( interest, (eeling n"mb, an% anger an%
irritabilit!. Other s!m$t#ms incl"%e (eeling "$set b! things that are remin%ers #( what ha$$ene%,
(eeling c"t #(( (r#m #thers, bec#ming %e$resse%, (eeling c#nstantl! in %anger, (eeling a sense #(
$anic that s#mething ba% is ab#"t t# ha$$en, %i((ic"lt! c#ncentrating, (eeling an.i#"s an% *itter!.
Th#se s"((ering (r#m PTSD ma! a&#i% $laces #r things that are remin%ers #( what ha$$ene%,
c#nsistentl! %rink #r "se %r"gs, c#nsi%er harming themsel&es #r #thers, $"ll awa! (r#m #ther
$e#$le an% bec#me is#late% +Make the 4#nnecti#n,.
One wa! t# $re&ent #r re%"ce the risk #( PTSD as well as #ther health iss"es in the
militar! w#"l% be t# limit the n"mber #( times s#meb#%! can be sent int# a war in a c#mbat
'#ne. )(ter the sec#n% t#"r ser&ice members sh#"l% be re5"ire% t# either change %"ties #r be
%ischarge% (r#m the militar!. )cc#r%ing t# an article in 6S) T#%a! )rm! %ate% Jan"ar! 13,
20102
Staff Sgt. Bobby Martin Jr. has been fighting insurgents in Iraq or Afghanistan longer
than the entire three years the Korean War lasted. At age 34 and finishing a fourth
cobat tour! he has seen fi"e of his en #illed since $%%3. &our died this year! including
t'o on Martin(s birthday in May. )hirty*eight cuulati"e onths in cobat ha"e left hi
'ith bad #nees! aching shins and recurring headaches fro a roadside blast! ailents he
hides fro his soldiers.+
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t is re$#rte% in this article that (ewer than tw# in 10 s#l%iers #n their (irst #r sec#n% c#mbat
%e$l#!ment sh#we% signs #( mental illness #r re$#rte% marital $r#blems. 1#we&er, the rate
increase% t# three in 10 s#l%iers (#r th#se #n a thir% #r (#"rth %e$l#!ment. 7ea%ers s"ch as
De(ense Secretar! 8#bert 9ates an% 9en. 9e#rge 4ase!, the )rm! chie( #( sta((, ackn#wle%ge
the increasing stress #n the militar!. S"ici%es are at rec#r% le&els. The %i&#rce rate am#ng
enliste% s#l%iers has stea%il! increase% %"ring the war !ears. 8ates #( mental health an%
$rescri$ti#n %r"g ab"se are #n the rise. :ith a gr#wing n"mber #( in*"re% #r w#"n%e% s#l%iers,
$ainkillers are n#w the m#st ab"se% %r"g in the )rm!. One in (#"r 9s a%mit t# illicitl! "sing
narc#tic me%icati#n %"ring a 12-m#nth $eri#%, acc#r%ing t# a 200; Pentag#n health s"r&e!.
The nstit"te #( Me%icine rec#mmen%s that s#l%iers ret"rning (r#m ra5 an% )(ghanistan
"n%erg# ann"al screening (#r $#st-tra"matic stress %is#r%er an% that (e%eral agencies c#n%"ct
m#re research t# %etermine h#w well the &ari#"s treatments (#r PTSD are w#rking. Screening
(#r %e$ressi#n #r #ther mental illnesses $ri#r t# enlisting #r being %e$l#!e% (#r the sec#n% time
sh#"l% als# be re5"ire% (#r the sake #( the in%i&i%"al as well as (#r the health an% sa(et! #(
#thers. )%%iti#nall!, lengthening the am#"nt #( time between %e$l#!ments w#"l% create a m#re
health("l an% s"stainable sit"ati#n. )cc#r%ing t# the 6S) T#%a! article n#te% ab#&e, )rm!
research sh#ws that the strain #n s#l%iers can #therwise be ease% with e.ten%e% breaks between
%e$l#!ments. The l#nger s#l%iers rest, the better the! en%"re. :hen time at h#me stretches t#
tw# !ears, m#rale increases an% cases #( mental illness %ecline, the research sh#ws. <+/"t, it=s a
&er! t#"gh tra%e-#(( t# make,< sa!s )rm! 4#l. 4arl 4astr#, a $s!ch#l#gist, <between ("l(illing
#$erati#nal missi#ns an% gi&ing s#l%iers time t# rec#&er.<
)cc#r%ing t# an article $"blishe% March 31, 2011 in 6S) T#%a!, 6.S. tr##$s ha&e ne&er
s$ent as m"ch time #n the (r#nt lines with#"t <a signi(icant break< t# rec#&er (r#m the %eman%s
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#( war as the! ha&e in the ra5 war. /"t e&en th#"gh )rm! $s!ch#l#gists warne% that c#ntin"al
c#mbat ma! ca"se m#re mental health $r#blems, 6.S. 4#mman%ers in ra5 re*ecte% a
rec#mmen%ati#n b! )rm! mental health e.$erts that tr##$s recei&e a #ne-m#nth break (#r e&er!
three m#nths s$ent in a c#mbat '#ne. <:e w#"l% ne&er get the *#b %#ne ? i( we went #"t (#r
three m#nths an% came back (#r #ne@, sai% /rig. 9en. J#se$h )n%ers#n, chie( ai%e t# the gr#"n%
(#rces c#mman%er in ra5, 7t. 9en. 8a!m#n% O%iern#. Tr##$s in ra5 were als# gi&en l#nger
%e$l#!ments t# meet the %eman%s #( war +Militar!.c#m,.
:ith all the in(#rmati#n n#w kn#wn ab#"t PTSD, it seems that re$eate% %e$l#!ments
cann#t be s"staine% b! militar! ser&icemen an% w#men with#"t risking $h!sical an% mental
illnesses. The stresses #( g#ing t# war #nce is a %i((ic"lt task, an% %#ing it m"lti$le times can
a%&ersel! a((ect an in%i&i%"al. n a st"%! c#n%"cte% b! the 8an% 4#r$#rati#n in 200;, it was
%isc#&ere% that <#ne in (i&e s#l%iers ret"rning (r#m the Mi%%le East %is$la! s!m$t#ms #( PTSD,
which $"t them at a higher risk (#r s"ici%e. )cc#r%ing t# Stri$es.c#m, )rm! anal!sis #( m"lti$le
st"%ies s"ggests that m#st ser&ice members ha&e at least #ne e.$erience %"ring %e$l#!ment that
c#"l% lea% t# PTSD, an% 1A $ercent #( 6.S. in(antr!men wh# ha&e %e$l#!e% t# ra5 #r
)(ghanistan ha&e ret"rne% with the %is#r%er, a c#n%iti#n characteri'e% with s"ch s!m$t#ms as
%e$ressi#n, anger, mistr"st, $anic, g"ilt an% &i#lent beha&i#r, $h!sical $ain, %i''iness an% tr#"ble
slee$ing. E.$eriences that can lea% t# PTSD incl"%e recei&ing inc#ming artiller!, r#cket #r
m#rtar (ire, being attacke% #r amb"she% #r kn#wing s#me#ne seri#"sl! in*"re% #r kille%.
)cc#r%ing t# an#ther s#"rce, there are #&er 2.3 milli#n )merican &eterans #( the ra5 an%
)(ghanistan wars an% at least 20 $ercent #( these &eterans ha&e PTSD an%B#r De$ressi#n. Ci(t!
$ercent #( th#se with PTSD %# n#t seek treatment, making the illness e&en w#rse +Deterans an%
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PTSD,. The &ictims #( this %is#r%er are n#t #nl! a threat t# themsel&es b"t can be a ma*#r threat
t# #thers.
The me%ia $la!s a large r#le in re&ealing h#w &eterans s"((ering (r#m PTSD can ha&e
%etrimental e((ects #n s#ciet!. n Cebr"ar! #( 2013, The 1"((ingt#n P#st re$#rte% the %ea%l! case
#( 4hris E!le an% 4ha% 7ittle(iel%, tw# Fa&! Seals wh# were kille% b! e.-Marine E%%ie 8#"th
at a sh##ting range in Te.as. 8#"th s"((ere% (r#m PTSD an% t"rne% his g"n #n E!le an%
7ittle(iel%, killing them at $#int blank range. GThe 6.S. militar! c#n(irme% that 8#"th ser&e% in
acti&e %"t! (r#m 200H t# 2010. 1e was %e$l#!e% t# ra5 in 200I an% 1aiti in 2010,@ +The
1"((ingt#n P#st,. )n#ther highl! $"blici'e% case in which PTSD $la!e% a r#le in the erratic
beha&i#r #( a &eteran wh# ser&e% m"lti$le t#"rs #&erseas is that #( 8#bert /ales, an )rm! Sta((
Sergeant wh# kille% 1H ci&ilians while ser&ing in )(ghanistan in 2012. )cc#r%ing t# the
:ashingt#n P#st, three %a!s be(#re his sh##ting ram$age, /ales ha% ser&e% 1,192 %a!s #(
c#mbat %e$l#!ment %"ring his (#"rth t#"r. 4ases s"ch as these s"$$#rt the arg"ment that there
sh#"l% be a limite% am#"nt #( t#"rs that a militar! ser&iceman #r w#man can take beca"se it can
a((ect their abilit! t# make rati#nal ch#ices %"e t# the immense strain the! ha&e "n%erg#ne.
)cc#r%ing t# the Fati#nal 4enter (#r PTSD, Gthe D) $r#&i%es tw# (#rms #( c#gniti&e
beha&i#ral thera$! t# Deterans with PTSD2 4#gniti&e Pr#cessing Thera$! +4PT, an% Pr#l#nge%
E.$#s"re +PE, thera$!. There is als# a similar kin% #( thera$! calle% e!e m#&ement
%esensiti'ati#n an% re$r#cessing +EMD8, that is "se% (#r PTSD. Me%icati#ns ha&e als# been
sh#wn t# be e((ecti&e. ) t!$e #( %r"g kn#wn as a selecti&e ser#t#nin re"$take inhibit#r +SS8,,
which is als# "se% (#r %e$ressi#n, is e((ecti&e (#r PTSD@, +6.S. De$artment #( Deteran )((airs,.
Other t!$es #( treatment incl"%e gr#"$ thera$!, which all#ws &eterans t# %isc"ss their (eelings
with #thers wh# can relate t# their sit"ati#ns. Camil! thera$! is als# an #$ti#n, which can be
H
bene(icial in b"il%ing str#nger relati#nshi$s an% c#$ing with em#ti#ns. Each Deteran0s
)ss#ciati#n +D), me%ical center has PTSD s$ecialists wh# $r#&i%e treatment (#r &eterans with
PTSD. Pl"s, the D) $r#&i%es nearl! 200 s$eciali'e% PTSD treatment $r#grams. ) re(erral is
"s"all! nee%e% t# access the s$ecialt! $r#grams. 1#we&er, %es$ite the alarming (in%ings relating
t# the n"mber #( &eterans wh# s"((er (r#m PTSD, (ew ser&ice members seek hel$, making the
illness w#rse an% s#metimes res"lting in s"ici%e. )n% there0s a c#mm#n mis$erce$ti#n that the
militar! can sim$l! #r%er a ser&ice member t# re$#rt (#r PTSD treatment. Militar! members
retain the right t# re("se $s!chiatric treatment #r me%icati#n, "nless the! are a risk t# themsel&es
#r #thers +Stri$es.c#m,.
:hile militar! men an% w#men are #&erseas missing their l#&e% #nes an% their n#rmal
li&es, it0s im$#rtant (#r them t# kn#w that the! ha&e s"$$#rt an% #"tlets that the! can c#"nt #n.
There is a #rgani'ati#n in S#n#ma 4#"nt! calle% M#thers #( Militar! Ser&ice +M.O.M.S,, wh#se
missi#n is t# $r#&i%e care $ackages, m#ral s"$$#rt, an% camara%erie t# s#l%iers an% their
(amilies. The M.O.M.S website states, G#&er the $ast 10 !ears, an% with the l#&e, gener#sit! an%
s"$$#rt #( S#n#ma 4#"nt! an% #thers (r#m the F#rth /a!, M.O.M.S. has shi$$e% 110,;A3
$#"n%s #( G4#m(#rts (r#m 1#me@ care $ackage g##%ies t# #"r %e$l#!e% S#n#ma 4#"nt! Tr##$s
stati#ne% in ra5, Eg!$t, )(ghanistan, )lbania, E#rea, S!ria, /ahrain, Ja$an an% Okinawa.@
)n#ther #rgani'ati#n that hel$s alle&iate the $ress"res #( e&er!%a! s#ciet! that s#li%es ma! be
e.$eriencing is the :#"n%e% :arri#r Pr#*ect +::P,, wh#se main g#al is t# h#n#r an%
em$#wer w#"n%e% warri#rs. )cc#r%ing t# their website, the ::P raises awareness an% enlists
the $"blic=s ai% (#r the nee%s #( in*"re% ser&ice members an% $r#&i%e "ni5"e, %irect $r#grams
an% ser&ices t# s#l%iers. These $r#grams incl"%e 4#mbat Stress an% 8ec#&er!, Camil! S"$$#rt,
an% Peer Ment#r. Cr#m Oct#ber 2011 t# Se$tember 2012, 93.2 $ercent #( &eterans, 9;.H $ercent
I
#( &eterans an% 90 $ercent #( &eterans re$#rte% s"ccess with each $r#gram, res$ecti&el!
+::P.#rg,.
n c#ncl"si#n, the 6.S militar! nee%s t# limit the n"mber #( %e$l#!ments t# c#mbat '#nes
(#r ser&icemen an% w#men. The length #( time between %e$l#!ments sh#"l% als# be increase% t#
gi&e time (#r rest an% rec#&er!. S"staining the health an% well being #( militar! members is
critical t# the #&erall health #( #"r militar!. The 6.S. militar! is the str#ngest militar! $resence
in the w#rl% t#%a!, an% in #r%er t# maintain this $re&entati&e meas"res sh#"l% be taken t# $r#tect
the $h!sical an% mental health #( their $ers#nnel. The risk #( mental illness an% its im$act #n
in%i&i%"als an% s#ciet! is t## great t# be #&erl##ke%.
;
/ibli#grah!
<- )b#"t 6s.< * About ,s. F.$., n.%. :eb. 0I Dec. 2013.
4arb#ne, D#nna. <The Militar!, Mental 1ealth an% S"ici%e Statistics.< S#irt- F.$., n.%. :eb. 0I
Dec. 2013.
Cant', )shle!. <Sni$er Eilling )(termath2 A Things t# En#w ab#"t PTSD.< .//. 4able Fews
Fetw#rk, 0H Ceb. 2013. :eb. 0I Dec. 2013.
<Carming 1el$s 8ehab :ar Dets with PTSD.< ,SA )oday. 9annett, n.%. :eb. 0I Dec. 2013.
<P#st-Tra"matic Stress Dis#r%er J Militar!.c#m.< 0ost*)rauatic Stress 1isorder 2 Military.co.
F.$., n.%. :eb. 0> Dec. 2013.
8#bsen, Seth. <S#l%iers Cail t# Seek PTSD Treatment #r Dr#$ #"t #( Thera$! Earl!, 8esearch
Cin%s.< Most 3ead. F.$., n.%. :eb. 0I Dec. 2013.
Schmi%le, Fich#las. <Deterans #n Trial2 )(ter 4hris E!le0s Death.< )he /e' 4or#er. F.$., n.%.
:eb. 0I Dec. 2013.
<Deterans Statistics2 PTSD, De$ressi#n, T/, S"ici%e.< 5eterans 0)S1 Statistics. F.$., n.%. :eb.
0I Dec. 2013.
:arrick, J#b!. <Fati#nal Sec"rit!.< Washington 0ost. F.$., 1I Mar. 2012. :eb. 0I Dec. 2013.
4han, )man%a 7. <PTSD Screening 8ec#mmen%e% )nn"all! C#r 8et"rning Tr##$s2 nstit"te
O( Me%icine.< )he 6uffington 0ost. The1"((ingt#nP#st.c#m, 13 J"l! 2012. :eb. 0I Dec.
2013.