Interesting comment about perception, via the media. Naturally, i expect to get my balls busted for using an innapropriate smiley, and "nutty nutbag" but this is to do with the high rates of alcoholism, marriage breakdown and mental problems among the general population of service personel, particularly ex-service and war vets. These problems do exist, THAT much I know, which leads to this question. In your experience, do these special ops/elite troops suffer the same sort of problems, at the same "rate" if you like as standard personel? Or, does the sheer professionalism, of living, eating, breathing soldiery, as a result of their sheer aptitude for it, acually diminish or negate many of the common problems of regular forces? Probably seems a dumb question, but i would be interested to hear your obsevations.
The NYTimes reported on 121 Murders committed/alledged to be committed by War Veterans. They neglected to mention this is below the avg for the general population. A friend of mine is a two tour Viet vet who saw much combat, was an Army Ranger, did the clandestine stuff. I took a Specialist from one of the exchanges to play golf w/me, and John was there. This kid's father was a Viet Vet, and offed himself. He couldn't handle it. I asked John to talk to him. It happens. But then again, Mary Tyler Moores son, Archie Bunkers' son, on and on. It's human nature. We just owe it to our Warriors to help them if they exhibit any such behavior. But, it is generally less an event than the general populace. This War's vets are coming to West Palm's VA. My neighbor is a nurse and a Air Force Reserve Capt in the GI unit. She says these kids have a high incidence of ulcerated bowels. MRE's and conditions not lending themselves to sanitary conditions lead to these painful conditions. A lot of the wounds are not evident and show up much later. We need to remember that.