Do Soldiers Miss Combat?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 09:50:24 -0500

I came across this & found it interesting. I love TEDtalks. I thought this one would be poignant to place on the RP boards.

Why veterans miss war

Civilians don’t miss war. But soldiers often do. Journalist Sebastian Junger shares his experience embedded with American soldiers at Restrepo, an outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley that saw heavy combat. Giving a look at the "altered state of mind" that comes with war, he shows how combat gives soldiers an intense experience of connection. In the end, could it actually be "the opposite of war" that soldiers miss?

Response by SGT James Elphick made Mar 3 at 2015 10:21 AM

SGT James Elphick — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 10:21:24 -0500

Yes, soldiers miss combat. Obviously when you first get back from a deployment or have one looming you might feel differently but especially once you get out in the civilian world, you miss combat. There is a simplicity about it and, as Junger describes, a camaraderie you can find nowhere else. And yes, even the actual fighting part of combat is missed. No one misses IED's but I would argue that's not really combat per se, that's a crappy tactic used by an enemy that can't stand and fight. But, and even Gen. Mattis said it, "I love brawling" and that's what combat is, a brawl, and it can be good fun. Obviously you hope no one gets hit but there is no thrill, no rush like a fire fight and if you win the day, no better feeling of euphoria to have braved enemy fire and come out on top.

Response by Cpl Bo Dronet made Mar 3 at 2015 10:44 AM

Cpl Bo Dronet — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 10:44:42 -0500

When I watched the video I agree with the reporter. It was the drug that is war and the family that I missed that I struggle with everyday. I guess that's the reason why I signed on to this service.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 27 at 2015 9:48 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 21:48:33 -0400

It's a good TED talk. It captures a lot of truth. Another good work on missing combat is The Warrior Ethos by Steven Pressfield. I just noticed an early version of this topic and will merge the two. Cpl Kristoffer Mischel, you may want to reiterate your comments in the new location.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 12:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:15:27 -0400

It is like nothing that you will ever experience any other way. Some people are closer to their Soldiers and battle buddies than their own families. That is a for a reason. The act of war, well some do and some want nothing to do with it again.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 29 at 2015 12:28 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:28:55 -0400

Some folks are adrenaline junkies.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 29 at 2015 1:07 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:07:52 -0400

I saw this a few months ago. Very insightful. Thanks for posting.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 9:53 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:53:41 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member I just came across this video on another sight. I was going to post it but found you already had. It's an interesting explanation.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 20 at 2015 3:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:23:02 -0400

Some people get addicted to the adrenaline, and they miss it when they redeploy.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Apr 22 at 2022 6:22 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:22:36 -0400

I'm sure some soldiers do miss combat, but I think far more of us miss the overall feelings common in competent and successful combat units more so than the combat itself -- the cohesiveness, the complete reliance on the competence of your fellow soldiers, the feeling of having a commander the entire unit would willingly follow into hell absolutely confident that he'd lead us back out again.