Difficulties Of Combat Soldiers Integrating Back Into Civilian Life

Authors Note: This paper was written with the intent of better understanding the difficulties that soldiers face when coming home from war. It is with personal interests that I research, write, and inform of this topic.
Abstract

Combat soldiers have a difficult time integrating back into civilian life (“normal” society). This starts long before they go to war. When becoming a soldier, the individual is stripped down and then rebuilt as one. Individuality and free thinking are not acceptable in the military. The group (the squad, brigade, branch of the military), is to function as one under the same rules and regulations. They are to follow and strictly abide by these. Each soldier will do as they are told by their commanding officer, and by not doing so will be punished. When a soldier is combat ready, they see things that can be unimaginable to others. War brings death, fear, anger, and aggression. Many soldiers are subject to being fired upon and/or killing others. Non-combat soldiers in combat settings see death of comrades and innocent people. In both situations, soldiers have many emotional and physical stressors that they deal with while at war. Within this paper, we will look at emotional stress in times of war and how they cause severe mental stress. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it affects the soldier will be discussed as the leading disorder that impedes reintegration into society.

Definitions
Combat soldiers- Any military persons who have witnessed and/or acted in a time of war. To include, but not limited to being shot upon, killing, witnessing death, and hand to hand.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or unnatural disasters, accidents, or military combat (Psychology Today, 2010).

Difficulties Of Combat Soldiers Integrating Back Into Civilian Life

Breaking Down The Individual
Deciding to join the military is a decision to give up your individuality. Soldiers are no longer one person, but a team. They wear the same uniform, live by governing rules and regulations, learn when to eat/sleep/drink, have specific workout regulations, and are even told what they should keep their weight at. There are many other aspects of being a soldier, these are just a few.
“If you don’t understand how a drill sergeant needs to break your civilian habits down and build you back up into an intimidating fighting force in just a few weeks, you will not have a good time at basic training” (Volkin, 2005).
It is through this breakdown that a soldier emerges to protect and defend our country with his/her brothers and sisters. They learn that they work together for the same cause. They are not one, but a unit that works as one. This forms a special bond that allows an unbreakable trust. Through this trust, we are successful at wartime.
Unfortunately, the effects of this can be devastating when the service member de-activates and re-enters the civilian world. The world that they have grown to know, one where they were told how to dress, how to act, and even how to say things is no longer there. The civilian world is for free thinkers, there is no how-to -book, there is no one telling you that you have to wear certain clothing or cut your hair a certain way. The workforce is the same way, you do have a job with requirements to fill, however it is up to the individual the best way to get that job accomplished. This can be a very confusing time for a former soldier.
Allowing a soldier time to re-adjust to his/her new surroundings is highly recommended. The soldier will need time to find themselves and their purpose in the civilian life. They will have many obstacles and many relationships that need to be rebuilt.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or unnatural disasters, accidents, or military combat” (Psychology Today, 2010).

This is the most common disorder that presents after a soldier returns home from war. The effects of PTSD can affect daily life in many ways. Soldiers with PTSD may have trouble relating to others. Sudden noises, fast movement, or flashing lights may trigger flashbacks. Other symptoms, sometimes chronic, may include: constant fatigue, depression, being easily startled, nightmares, memory loss, loss of interest in general, emotional detachment, and impulsive behaviors (Bently, 2005).
ADD MORE**************************************
Soldiers Suffering From PTSD
PTSD has been linked to violence within relationships. In 2002, four military wives were killed by their spouses in just six weeks. These soldiers had all recently returned home from overseas tours. It is unknown for sure that the cause of these soldiers to become violent, killing their wives, is due to PTSD from combat. However, there is no evidence proving that it is not. It is true that all of the four soldiers had had marital issues either prior to deployment or during. What is unsure is the motivational push to turn them into killers. Looking further into violence of those who had recently returned from deployments, we find: Friday, Apr 4, 2014 – Ft. Hood soldier kills three people. He was mentioned to be unstable. April 2013- Ft. Knox, soldier kills one civilian. March 2013 Quantico, Va, marine kills two soldiers and turns gun on himself. December 2012- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, soldier shoots another soldier after drinking. June 2012- Ft. Brag, soldier kills LT. after being diagnosed with dementia. May 2012- Ft. Carson, soldier shoots another soldier after a car accident. April 2012- Fort Campbell, soldier shoots wife July 2011- Fort Campbell, soldier arrested with plans to bomb a nearby restaurant. Bomb materials were found in his motel room. May 2011- Ft. Drum, soldier shoots wife after suffering from mental health issues (NBC NEWS, 2014).
There have since been many other murders and crimes committed that were caused by recently re-deployed soldiers.
Statistics show that 6-11% of Afghanistan veterans and 12-20% of Iraq veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD, that is just reported cases. 20% of soldiers that have been deployed in the past 6 years alone is the equivalent of 300,000 soldiers (Rosenthal).
Not all cases of PTSD lead to violence. Most can just make a person feel as though they do not “fit in”. Many online forums can be found pertaining to PTSD, people come here to get information and to seek help. One gentleman states, “I am a 51 year old (now retired) ex British Military officer. I spent the best part of nearly 23 years in combat and am finding civilian life more stressful than you might imagine. I have been diagnosed (depending on who is doing the diagnosing) with everything from Panic Attacks, through to PTSD. Whatever the real diagnosis is really is not that important to me, I would really just not like to feel like I am walking a razor blade all day, every day. Anxiety is a crippling me and making my life a merry hell!”
He remains anonymous to the group. CONCLUSION
With all of the stressors of war, diagnosed illnesses such as PTSD, are not the only issues that soldiers face when integrating into the norms of society. Through this quote and millions more like it, we can see just how debilitating PTSD can be.
MAKING THE TRANSITION
Many people think that a soldiers return home is filled with happiness and excitement. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Your soldier has been on deployment anywhere from 6-18 months. They have been through things that the average civilian cannot begin to imagine. They may have been fired upon or even have had to defend themselves by killing another person. The truth is, unless you are there, you do not know what they are going through. If the stressors of just being at war were not great enough, they are also separated from their families and friends and maybe even homesick. The anticipation of arrival may just be too much to emotionally handle.
While the media shows homecomings with smiles and hugs, children running up to parents with open arms, and long romantic kisses; some children do not have an initial bond with the since deployed parent. Depending on the age of the child, they may not even remember that parent. Spouses have had their own difficulties throughout the deployment as well. This may cause resentment of the soldier for leaving, strained relationships, and a feeling of disconnect.
For most soldiers, reconnecting will take months. They must re-build relationships; re-establish the roles they once held in the house hold, and deal with the nightmares of war. With time and patients these soldiers will function normally within the non-military society.
Soldiers suffering from PTSD may never be able to comfortably fit back into the norms of a civilian society.
Military Recognition and Treatment of PTSD

References
"Finding Civilian Life Stressful." My PTSD Forum. N.p., 13 May 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/finding-civilian-life-stressful.10661/>.
Diagnosis Dictionary -Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (2010, June 19). Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorderder
Volkin, M. (2005). Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. El Dorado Hills: Savas Beatie.
Rosenthal, M. (n.d.). PTSD Statistics. Heal My PTSD. Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://healmyptsd.com/education/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-statistics

Collins, D. (2002, July 31). 4 Wives Slain In 6 Weeks At Fort Bragg. CBSNews. Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/4-wives-slain-in-6-weeks-at-fort-bragg/

"Mental Disorders." Schizoid personality disorder. Encylopedia of Mental Disorders, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Schizoid-personality-disorder.html>.