Does being in the military harden your heart, or is it the other way around?

Answer 1

I have found it to be both. It hardens in that situations that cause panic in most people do not affect you. I was witness to a person being struck by a car and suffer a traumatic amputation of their leg. I was able to react to the situation without thinking. I also have very little patience for people who are lazy or who refuse to help themselves when they are perfectly able. On the other hand, the military made me realize, at a young age, how fragile life. It can be over in a blink. It has also made me realize how good we have it here in the US. I enjoy life more because I don't take it for granted. I am more sensitive to people who cannot protect themselves. The military can expose you to things no person should ever have to see, hear, smell, or live through. The experience's affect different people in different ways. The sight of blood has no affect on me, but hearing "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes makes me cry like a baby. In the end, how the individual processes their experiences determines how they affect that person.

Answer 2

Being in the military in general doesn't do anything to harden your heart
When you see combat it's a different thing, there are several ways you can start to think among them are; scared, angry at the enemy, angry at your own government, and sad.
Seeing death, is the one thing thats guaranteed to push your buttons.
The only way individuals "hearts are hardened." Is if they've been naive for most of their lives and they get a wake up call from the military.
A lot of Army infantry hardcore groundpounders were that way before they joined the miliitary.

Answer 3

Being in the military and also in the middle of Iraq almost 7,000 miles from home has made my heart grow more fond of home and my family. I will be honest with you dear reader I was a complete jerk toward my spouse before I left to come over here . I have spent every waking moment thinking of her and the pain that I caused .I have told her that I am more than sorry for the way that I was . I hae told hher that I spend every waking moment thinking of the pain that I caused her . I tell her that I am a new man . I hope that she gives me the oppurtunity to show her that I am the man she wants me to be . So yes dear reader war does change people and for me it was for the better . Oh and for those of you wo may think I am doing this for her , No , I want to be a better person as well as a better spouse .

Answer 4

I agree with P G. having spent time in the military, I learned to do things that I would not have done otherwise. When someone gives excuses about not being able to do smething and they have not tryed, I take a dimm view of that person. The old Army slogan,"Be all thay you can Be". Alot of lazy people hav never tryed and they go through life just never attempting to do anything. I work my a$$ off and I work hard for what I and my family have.
If I seem like I have hard heart, well, "too bad"!!
"Thank you and God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""

Answer 5

I have less patience in certain areas then I once did. I will say in some respects my heart is hardened. I have no sympathy or empathy for traitors and enemies. But I seem to have a more sympathetic view to those who cannot help themselves, the truly defenseless, those who are worthy of mercy and consideration.

Answer 6

my man has been in the military for many years, and has not had a hard heart. the way around it is to surround yourself with people that you love and that love you

Answer 7

No idea about the heart but all wars have left many thousands of it's participants with psychological problems from which they can suffer for the rest of their lives.

Answer 8

being in the military does change some people sometimes for better or for worse. i have a friend who went in and he's different unfortunetly now he's stationed in Iraq even there now he's changing even more he's smoking cigaretts he's having nightmares it doesn't look too good

Answer 9

i think that being in the military teaches you discipline and to follow orders..

i think being in combat does strange things to a person. when you have to kill people your mind cannot really handle it. so you start to demonize those that you kill. then as you get home you have trouble dealing with the reality of what you did (especially in an unecessary war) so you detach or totally embrace what you did or just never get over it.