Why do Military people do this?

Question

Military Suicides On The Rise

WASHINGTON, D.C. The rate of suicide among US military personnel is on the rise.

Defense officials say they are committing new resources to detecting and preventing suicidal behavior in soldiers, including those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. But watchdogs -- and a recent government report -- suggest the Pentagon may not be doing enough to make sure at-risk personnel get treatment once they get home. When the soldiers get home they discover the war is worthless and they fought for nothing so they kill themselves.


It was nearly a year ago that the Army awarded Specialist Leslie Fredrick of Fort Lewis, Washington the Combat Action Badge for his service in Iraq.

Two weeks after getting the honor, Fredrick shot himself because the Iraq war is wrong and he felt used.

Gordon Smith: "It's a tragedy to ever lose a soldier for any cause, but it just seems extra cruel when the cause is suicide. The worst part?? No one really cares. No one!

Answer 1

Too many people think when they join the military that the world owes them something. They think everyone will respect them and be thankful for the sacrifices they have made in order to provide safety for them. It is a huge disillusionment to go through so much pain and suffering thinking the whole time that someone will show you grattitude to find that it isn't so - that you have put yourself in harm's way and watched your buddies die and be maimed for life so some gutless bastard can sit home and smoke dope and screw your girlfriend and your sister while drawing unemployment, SSI, disability, and cuss you for a dog because you 'live off the government'.

Now, no one should expect anything when they join the military except a paycheck and a fair chance for promotion, just like any other job. So the folks who let this disappointment affect them are their own victims, really. But a little human understanding could go a long way toward helping some folks over the hump. Of course the military is just like any other group of people, there are all kinds in it. Some are heros, some are losers. Some folks will take their lumps, pick up their kits, and continue to march. Some will cry and whine and be a basket case as long as folks will let them. Of course, in my humble opinion, even a whiney soldier deserves more respect than a coward. At least the whiney fellow tried once upon a time to be part of something larger than himself.

Answer 2

First off, a lot of people care.

The problem really comes down to the fact that the military by-and-large
treats its personnel as it treats its equipment. They are tools, expected
to do what they are required, and when they wear out, they are replaced.

That may be over-stating the case, but not by much (at least right now).

In any case, the biggest thing about your equipment is that you do not
expect it to think about the philosophical and moral implications of what
it is doing, and you do not expect it to regret its actions after the fact
(no matter how justified they may have been).

DO NOT GET ME WRONG: THAT IS THE NATURE OF WAR.
I really don't think a military could be effective in any other way.

The more complex the issues behind a war, however, the more
collateral damage is done in terms of suicide, post traumatic stress, etc.

The current war has lots of complex issues.

Personally I despise this war, but not the soldiers fighting it. They deserve
better care both on the field and off of it. They are too young to understand
how much they have to lose and only as they age (by the day), do they
realize the enormity of it all.

They go forth as boys (and now girls) and if they return, they come back
as shattered heroes.

Even those that are treated magnificently will never forget what they have
seen and can never un-do the damage done to their own perception of
how people treat each other.

This has nothing to do with whether or not the war is right or wrong.

Answer 3

I suggest something else...when people leave the military,they leave behind a totally different lifestyle. A lifestyle where they follow rules day in and day out without question, where there is only one way to do things..the military way. When they get out, they have to make their own decisions. From what time to get up in the morning, to what clothes to wear, what clothing is appropriate, when, where, and what to eat.... now their entire daily regimen is changed and they now have to make decisions and they can't handle it. It goes deeper than being on leave where you 'play civilian' for a week or so. It's the real thing and they feel overwhelmed. I worked with a guy who re-enlisted after being out 6 months. He told me he didn't have any friends and he didn't know how to make any which had never been a problem when he was in the Navy. I'm sure there is some amount of post-war trauma effects, but not to the extent we're force fed. Statements like "he realized that the war was wrong and couldn't live with himself" are nothing but the writer's editorializing. The services have a civilian to military induction program (they call it 'boot camp') Perhaps they should have a reduction program to transition from military to civilian life.

Answer 4

these are tragedies yes however I believe that if you look at history you will see this is not a new thing also I think what you are reading is the media trying to place blame anywhere but at there feet these soldiers get home and watch NBC ABC CBS CNN and hear all the negative news about the war and our soldiers and they think my country hates me because I was one of those soldiers that was fighting for what I thought was right but more than that I was fighting for what my country thought was right but all they hear is more or Les hate speech form the media because that is what draws viewers

it is really sad

we did not have this kind of thing until Vietnam when the media started reporting with a certain political slant instead of just reporting

HAY DONT VOTE FOR ME i JUST READ THE OTHERS AND BILLYDAVISII HAS ME BEAT HANDS DOWN NO QUESTION

Answer 5

There are many psycological issues that soldiers deal with when they are in a war. Suicides have always been up during war times.

I like the story you have here. Very open minded. Mr. Gordon smith seems to know why the soldier shot himself. If he knew that is how he felt, why didnt he help him? Mr. smith also claims that 'noone cares'. Isn't that a nice generalization. Apparently including Smith.

Answer 6

I recently checked VA health benefits, and you are right. Pretty much nothing except for the worst hit (70% disability) and they certainly deserve everything, but nothing for psychological damage for returnees or follow-up for those getting out. You're pretty much on your own. I don't know. Are soldiers in any kind of frame of mind to ask for help (see the medic, talk with the Padre) when they come back? I don't think so. There was even a couple of cases of returnees (hardly off the plane) going nuts
and shooting their wife. Very sad Somebody must look into this.

Answer 7

Some would say post-traumatic war syndrom. They feel that what they were doing was wrong, or that they wasted too much of their life fighting for this. Others would say that they were suicidal in the first place. I believe that it's conditions of fidelity in this country. Many do not feel the need to be faithful to their spouses or boy- girlfriends. The soldiers then return home and believe their is no one who cares, and decide to end it.

Answer 8

It is very difficult to explain to someone who has never been in the military why this happens. There are a lot of pressures on military personnel, and some people have personalities that don't allow them to deal very well with all the stresses. Occasionally, this leads up to suicide...

Answer 9

There was a high rate of suicide after WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam war. The reason is simple: Because they don't know how to handle the things they've seen. It's horrible for many of them. I know better than to ask them any questions about whether they saw anybody killed, or had to kill anyone. War isn't pretty.
You know, for someone who was IN a war, you sure don't seem to know much about it.

Answer 10

stress, especially combat will do strange things to anyone, and if a civialian is suceptable to suicide so is a soldier and it is the truth not many care but if you do, you can volunteer at a V.A. hospital!

when i say no one cares I mean that the nation as a whole! The military care, but not the rest of the people that soldier fought for!