Here is a topic that really bothers me. I have taken note that some of our military and vets have taken to suicide because they either can't adjust to civilain life after separation or they spent years without getting the help they need. They also feel the "stigma" of geeting help for their mental health issues. They feel that people will look down on them if they do so.

Also, some of the older vets keep their military experiences bottled up and not let it out(I was guilty of this for sure). This is poison and this hurts. I am just alarmed at the suicide rate among our veterens.

It takes a special type of intestinal fortitude and courage to say one neeeds help. There are a lot of programs that focus purely on vets.


There has to be a way for these vets to get help before they resort to suicide. It is just a scary thing.

Another thing that bothers me also is the sheer number of vets I see walking around pan handling to support themselves and their families.


Any one have any say about this? This pertains to both past and present vets who have experiences to share. Thank you to my fellow vets who have served and to those who are serving now and their dependents who allow them to serve and who face unique problems of their own.

The level of combat is definitely different than it was even in the first Iraq conflict. It seems military training isn't able to keep up with the trauma of the battlefield, which to me is alarming as I am thinking of possibly joining. People go in and they change, some are able to adapt to the change, others just can't for whatever reason.

War...changes people, and war...has changed.

As a vet of the Vietnam War era, it is powerful all of the support that is here. We were forced to join and now it is all volunteer. As I have said, people hide their experiences and when people ask them to share, they button up( I have done it).Combat does change things, but the stigma from the service is still there. They have to get rid of that stigma. It is however, easier said than done. It will take courage, conviction, and realizing that it is ok to let that stuff out.

I have been out of the military for 13 years and I still can't adjust to civilian life. The only thing that has kept me from cutting my wrists is getting involved with the military band and teaching music to a cadet band. I needed that connection. When I left the military; I felt as though I lost my family. I have not connected to my civilian friends at all as I truly can't relate to them. We have a Veteran's Food bank here in Calgary which is kept stocked all year long. We also have lots of help for vets to confided in one another. It truly does suck in civie life and I am always trying to find the ulitmate challenge to make my life worth something. I truly feel that I am no longer contributing or being of any use since I left the military.

As a Marine veteran from a non-combat era, I had a job that was ready for combat at the drop of a dime, so I can relate to you guys issues!
As for a way to compensate, and cope...Well I found a civilian equivalent of my military job, and have been in the field for almost 20 years. It is full of isolation, but also has a social side with others in the same profession.
I look forward to each day as a new challenge now, and have adapted to it! I do feel bad for those who have not been able to though, and make it a daily goal to touch one of our veterans lives with kindness, and appreciation for their sacrifices.

Semper Fi

I am a mother of two Marines, both having been to Iraq. My oldest, a Gunny has traumatic brain injury from an explosion. I believe the trauma our military experiences is cultivated during their time of service. It starts when they are isolated and re-programmed to become family with the organization. They are isolated from their raising and made to respond to a system that does not really support them or care.
My Gunny had to diagnose and restructure his life to continue in his field and not lose the benefits he deserves. He receives consistent pressure to quit. He is told that if he cannot do his job, he will be dishonorably discharged. His service is almost to retirement, on his last tour.
I fear for my youngest, a reservist. This new political regime does not support our service people.
I have seen this deterioration from my men's lives.
When they are out of this military system, they will have to restructure everything.
It is a most debilitating thought. For as much as I would like to understand and support, I am still at such a loss for them.
I am not alone... not comforting to realize.

The government has never really fully supported it's combat veterans.
There are programs out there to help, but you are pretty much mustered out and left to fend for yourself in finding them. Getting quality medical care is also spotty. If you don't search it out and demand it, you are on your own.

Even you have to understand how dramatically war changed overnight. The only stigma I can really see still occurring with war vets is that they are coming home with stories that no one else will ever have, and that stigma alone is enough to drive the most sane over the edge. Also, as has been said already in this thread, just because the option is there does not necessarily mean that option is not nearly invisible.

The military trains you to work with your team, regardless of branch, the training holds the same principle of order. Orders come from the top and go to your CO, your CO explains the orders to the group, the group in turns executes the orders. When you get out you are left without a team, left without a CO, left without orders...and some people just can't deal with that change, others are scarred by visions from the war, and others yet were just not capable of going in the first place.

Video games train future recruits, and that scares me considering I'm still weighing options for the military. I don't know about you, but I certainly am not going to place my life and trust into someone that pushed a few keys and lobbed a few frags to get beside me. And they don't even use a tried and tested war simulator, if they were using say something like ArmA or similiar I wouldn't have too much of a problem, but the fact that they are essentially using Doom with different graphics and objectives...well, honestly, some **** needs to change and it has to change from the top level.

Reality and virtual reality are two very different things, the military isn't doing enough to show anyone that difference.

Warfare hasn't changed much over the years. Read "Street without joy" or "Dispatches". Then work your way back to roman times. Only the weapons have changed.