Since deploying are you quick to be aggravated?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:29:07 -0500

After deploying are/were you quicker to respond with anger and get aggravated? Does it get worse with each deployment? Does/did it go away or subside?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 11 at 2017 12:32 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:32:57 -0500

Uh, yes...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2017 12:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:39:20 -0500

Not me. I pretty good at balancing work and regular life. So it takes ALOT of stuff to piss me off

Response by SMSgt Terry Rider made Jan 11 at 2017 12:48 AM

SMSgt Terry Rider — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:48:25 -0500

After about 6-7 deployments, my son had a very short fuse. We talked some about it and think, now he has been able to talk to somebody about it.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 11 at 2017 12:51 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:51:01 -0500

My wife insists that I do...perhaps I just am not adept at hiding/containing my contempt for people and things that irritate me as I once was.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jan 11 at 2017 1:23 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 01:23:45 -0500

I think it's more about getting old and crabby. Helps me prepare for sitting on the porch and yelling at kids to get off my grass.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2017 1:50 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 01:50:35 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member When you see how people live in other countries, and then see Americans gripe about petty B.S., I get annoyed and have a hard time putting up with it. It does not go away or subside.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 11 at 2017 2:40 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 02:40:54 -0500

No, never was. I go with the mind over matter method.
If I don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Response by SGT Keith Boettcher made Jan 11 at 2017 3:06 AM

SGT Keith Boettcher — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 03:06:45 -0500

Yes very much so

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2017 6:36 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 06:36:35 -0500

Life is short I don't end my day over it but I'm not going to hide my opinion to make everyone happy

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Jan 11 at 2017 7:50 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 07:50:07 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member It hasn't gone away for me,but i have learned to control it to a point.
That clerk at the register talking to his friend may be aggravating,but no one is going to die or get injured because he isn't doing his job,so i let it go.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2017 10:02 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 10:02:09 -0500

I'm not going to lie. It really does depend on the situation. Some times, very much yes....other times no.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2017 10:57 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 10:57:58 -0500

I would say yes, I have had bad outburst at Family members, trying to stop, and sometimes my Mom ask why am I yelling. Have deployed 4 Combat deployments, and conducted two Disaster Recovery missions and two civil Humanitarian missions. I think being in combat zones leaving the wire puts you in a sense of hyper vigilance all the time even when returning home. The problem at home is people do not understand and I think that causes the quick flash's of anger or aggression. The other thing when you see pain and suffering and smells and living in those conditions can change you some. I have TBI,bad Back (Two Herniated Disc), have had two knee surgery's and other health issues caused from these deployments,so I think that will also cause short fuse.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jan 11 at 2017 11:13 AM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 11:13:52 -0500

When I was deployed, my tolerance level for the BS was very low. I was angry and frustrated a lot. Myself, the Air Force and my unit were not prepared for long deployments. There
was no deployment prep and very little family planning or mental health preparation. There was zero support when we got back home.

After I got back, it took a few years for my anger to go away. I have been fortunate since then and I have not deployed for quite a awhile. If (when) my next deployment comes, I will be better prepared than last time. Also, I have learned that the higher the rank the easier the deployments.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jan 11 at 2017 11:19 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 11:19:20 -0500

I used to get angry very quickly after deploying. Seeing how whiny and petty some people can be over things they take for granted really got under my skin. Now, I think it's because I'm just old and crabby...

Response by SGT David T. made Jan 11 at 2017 1:04 PM

SGT David T. — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 13:04:18 -0500

I know I do, but have to control it. Most times I don't say anything because once I start down that dark path, forever will it dominate my destiny lol.

Response by Sandee Salmon made Jan 11 at 2017 1:55 PM

Sandee Salmon — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 13:55:11 -0500

There is a condition. It's real. Alexithymia. I wish with all my heart more Vets would get help. I'm learning more about since I had the pleasure and honor to meet a vet with this issue. I simply couldn't get a handle on "how to get into him to get him to express himself without fear Simply shuts down and remains lost non verbal and living in a modular lifestyle. Lots of deceitfulness for protection and convenience, I feel. Heartbreaking. But after 26 years enlisted.....this is who he is now.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jan 11 at 2017 5:57 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 17:57:08 -0500

Since my "Deployment" we called it a tour ,was so long ago 1966-67 ,actually ten months fourteen days in duration I can't really say I had anger or aggravation issues,what amazes me is how the current service members do multiple deployments and still seem to go back to a "normal"way of life between them,it's been fifty years for me and I still have so many memories,don't think I could have done another tour,these young ones are friggen amazing!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2017 12:14 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 00:14:37 -0500

Traffic in particular seems to set me off. I think it has something to do with a perceived lack of control. Lately though I've been better at reining it in pretty quickly.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Jan 12 at 2017 11:50 AM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:50:55 -0500

Yes. Only did one. And no.

Response by SSG Waldo Yamada made Jan 13 at 2017 10:34 PM

SSG Waldo Yamada — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 22:34:56 -0500

The more up in rank/grade and the more you know about the spectrum of things you end up wanting to go home. That's me, some differ.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 16 at 2017 8:06 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 20:06:04 -0500

You have no idea, LTC Private RallyPoint Member.

Response by SFC Wallace Carmichael made Jan 18 at 2017 6:13 AM

SFC Wallace Carmichael — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 06:13:41 -0500

Now retired and it stays with you the more you have deployed

Response by MAJ Mark Wilson made Jan 18 at 2017 6:40 AM

MAJ Mark Wilson — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 06:40:11 -0500

I came home from Iraq in '03 and had a tough time with anger. Stupid little things would set me off. It helped a lot to have some people to really talk to. It can be a challenge because of your rank. At the time I was on a small AC/RC team in a SC NG battalion headquarters. Luckily one of my platoon sergeants had PCSed there before we deployed and sat across the desk from me. I was relying on Desert Storm vets like him at first because none of my peers had deployed yet. I also found that exercise, especially physical stuff such as Rugby helped as well. Going to the range with friends was also a good time.

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2017 8:54 AM

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 08:54:32 -0500

The answer is "maybe," or "it depends." If you feel like you have become or are becoming quicker to anger I would suggest reaching out for assistance. When I returned from Iraq I think it would be safe to say that I was quick to anger and react. I sought help before it became a major problem, and I am glad that I did.

Response by MSgt Dan Hurley made Feb 8 at 2017 7:52 AM

MSgt Dan Hurley — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 07:52:47 -0500

I get aggravated easy and plays on your last nerve babysitting gets old

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Feb 16 at 2017 9:29 PM

MAJ Ron Peery — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 21:29:01 -0500

I've always had a temper. But it seems to have moderated in the last 10 years.

Response by SMSgt Roger Horton made Feb 17 at 2017 6:41 PM

SMSgt Roger Horton — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 18:41:09 -0500

I retired in 03 and didn't really get aggravated before, during , or after deployments. But as I get older I do find myself getting aggravated more easily, especially with stupids.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Feb 18 at 2017 1:39 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 13:39:07 -0500

Took my wife to London after returning from VN. We checked into our room which was not as advertised. I went down to desk to get a suitable replacement and was not impressing the clerk with the importance of the situation. Reached across the counter, grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him into my face. Advised him he had 30 seconds to direct me to a suitable room. Situation solved, but I was glad he didn't call the police or the embassy. I have tempered somewhat in the last 40 years or so, but still don't suffer fools gladly.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 19 at 2017 12:56 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 00:56:43 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member After three deployments, nothing has really changed the way I respond to others. My wife always has and still does keep me in check and I find other ways to possibly vent frustration or set backs at work.