Is it true that when a man in the military watches his close friend get killed he is given time off to mourn?

Question

I have heard that if you are in the military and a close friend is killed or you watch a fellow soldier be shot, you are given time off to mourn and collect yourself? Is this correct?

Answer 1

NO. Chaplins and shrinks are offered, but mostly you heal with your other friends. But there is no time off. Next mission, next day. Suck it up and Drive on.

Answer 2

No. You have to learn to cope with these situations and file them away. The mission continues regardless. The military is getting better about counseling but not much. You can talk to the Chaplain without it going on your record and many take advantage of that.... but you mourn with your buddies and move on. Once home and later on, things tend to come out. But while in the moment, you do what you have to do.
I fully believe the reason some soldiers drink so much are because they're self-medicating. My husband watched one of his best friends die in a parachuting accident. You suck it up and move on. Somehow, the soldier learns how to file these horrible memories away. When I lost a friend, my husband was actually the best person for me. He helped me file it away and move on. Life goes on.

Answer 3

I am very new here and I think you have posed quite a unique question, and unless the military has changed a great deal which we all are aware it has .. much more liberal than when I was part of it, It might depend on your relationship with this young man / lady?? which is neither a reflection of good or bad..

Answer 4

Imagine if they did this during World War 2. Almost the entire Army would be off "mourning" instead of doing their jobs.

Answer 5

I dunno...I never saw that, but my time in uniform was long ago.

If you're out in the field at wartime, it may be some time before you get back to anything resembling civilization. I suppose one could put in for some leave, but it may or may not get approved. Last I checked, the Red Cross will not help anyone receive "compassionate" leave unless it's a direct family member who is either dying or dead.

Answer 6

Nope. One of my husband's friends was sleeping in his room in Iraq when a mortar came in and blew the whole trailer to pieces. Not long after the guy died, they put guys from the unit on a detail to clean up the mess the explosion made. They had a memorial service for him later, but his death didn't stop their workday. It sucks, but they don't have time for them to take time off like that.

Answer 7

I wouldn't think so. I mean, they are fighting in a war and unfortunately, it doesn't stop to give people time to grieve. If they did that, the whole squad basically would be in mourning when one of their members gets killed. War doesn't stop for grief.

Answer 8

i just got back from Iraq for the second time. i had 5 friends get killed 4 of them in the same day. we had to continue running our daily operations. its tragic but the command holds a memorial service for the fallen while we are in country. that's your time to grieve and cry. other then that you talk with your friends about whatever your thinking because when your in a combat zone that's all you really have to do is talk.

Answer 9

I'm not sure, but it would sure make sense.

With today's high-tech weapons, soldiers need to be as mentally alert and focused as possible. They could kill a lot of their own fellow soldiers if they were distracted due to trauma.

Answer 10

No you are a soldier and there are other things to do than to morn you friend, yes there will be a short “memorial”. but that is it. We have a job to do hence the phrase “soldiering on”. it sucks yes but we new what we got our self into.

Answer 11

I never heard of this. However, counseling could be available, if needed.

The military does have chaplains and social workers, however you must realize the mission comes before any individual problems.