Posted on Oct 30, 2015
Have you read Sebastian Junger's take on why Soldiers miss war?
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Warfare Transition
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The human mind is a magnificent thing. It has many wonderful defense mechanisms to help it cope. For example, it can completely expunge (forget) memories that it cannot handle, such as the sight of a friend being blown to hell. More importantly, it has no memory for painful feelings. However, good memories can release endorphins just as well as the incidents that created the memories. For example, just remembering a successful combat incident can recreate the "rush" that one felt when it actually occurred.
Interestingly, it is this human characteristic that makes me wonder if having served is such a good recommendation for a candidate to office. When faced with deciding whether or not to send the boys to war, would a veteran be influenced by those good memories while conveniently forgetting the bad?
Interestingly, it is this human characteristic that makes me wonder if having served is such a good recommendation for a candidate to office. When faced with deciding whether or not to send the boys to war, would a veteran be influenced by those good memories while conveniently forgetting the bad?
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I have a very different take on combat. I can't forget what I've seen. I haven't found the elixir that substitutes for the rush and adrenaline that is combat. I hunger for it on a daily basis. It is not because I want to relive the rush or horrors of war, but because it is the only place I feel normal and where the people I am with understand me.
I doubt any person who has ever served in combat, who runs for office, would be quick to send others to war. I know I would live with terrible guilt for sending others to war and having them have to come back to a world they no longer fit in.
I doubt any person who has ever served in combat, who runs for office, would be quick to send others to war. I know I would live with terrible guilt for sending others to war and having them have to come back to a world they no longer fit in.
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SSG Warren Swan
CPT (Join to see) - Sir, you're NOT the only one feeling that way. I've never been so scared, terrified, pumped up, giddy, focused, and bored(mostly) all at the same time. I've tried to find it here when I got home, but there's nothing that compares. I have great battles with me as friends. Plenty of things try to (ie sex, or riding a motorcycle or fast car close to it's limits), but they can't encapsulate all of that emotional juggling at one time. Colin Powell had been to war, and even he had misgivings on Iraq. So maybe having someone who's seen the worst in mankind is(?) what we need in office? Maybe give enough pause before sending us over the earth for every and anything?
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SSG Warren Swan - that is my point SSG Warren. I think that anyone in a position of power that has served in combat as a combat soldier would think twice before sending troops in. They know the costs associated with the decision for those on the ground.
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SFC Terry Fortune
Saw the video and it made a lot of sense to me. It help me with some of the problem's I had.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
SFC Terry Fortune - His 3 salient points were excellent. He gets rid of a lot of fluff and creates a good mental model.
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No I had not yet read Sebastian Junger's take on why Soldiers miss war SSG (Join to see).
Thanks for sharing the post. The adrenaline rush from traumatic and dangerous experiences is very attractive to many not just thrill seekers who engage in extreme sports.
Thanks for sharing the post. The adrenaline rush from traumatic and dangerous experiences is very attractive to many not just thrill seekers who engage in extreme sports.
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