More hints the Army is broken

If you listened to NPR on 4 December, you're going to know all about this. There was an excellent story about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many troops perform honorably in Iraq, but start having problems when they get home. The report was tragic and infuriating. These honorable soldiers are being cut loose for failing to meet behavior standards. As they spiral downward, they sometimes become violent or start using drugs. According to the report, they often attempt to get help from the bureaucratic Army medical system. Troops reporting these symptoms are then shunned and punished for seeking treatment.

As infuriating as the report was, I wasn't surprised. After all, there is a natural tension here. Many of the troops had reenlisted and were starting their career in the Army. Supervisors and leaders need combat ready troops. The Army needs tough troops who can follow orders to kill. The report featured several Sergeant supervisors who admitted to shunning troops with PTSD symptoms. They felt many of the other troops had seen the same things, and that these troops were faking it to avoid repeat tours of Iraq. Supervisor felt the troops need to "buck up." Must be Army lingo.

The reporter tried to imply the Army was systematically drumming out these young troops to avoid paying expensive medical disability. I'm not into conspiracy. This is just the culture of the army. The Army uniformly treats its people like shit. It is the Army way. I've seen it first hand. The Army treated me like shit during my tour with them. So this is just the culture. Buck up. The Army supervisor interviewed made a good point. He said (roughly), "Hey, I've got put my life in these guy's hands. I have to have faith in them. It's hard to have faith in someone snorting coke or smoking dope." Fair enough.

Except, these were normal good troops before they completed their tour in Iraq. The people they interviewed described graphic scenes of carnage I was surprised to hear on the radio. Like the movies, except for real. They served their country, and we all owe them something for that. More specifically, the Army owes them something for that. I get it; they are probably not cut out to serve. When someone shows symptoms of PTSD, they could be discharged for it, but given disability. Sorry, but if the Army breaks it; they get to pay for it.