Regardless of the reason a soldier chooses to join the military, the end result is still the same. They are trained to kill. That is their job. It isn't a "possible" result, and the training is not provided "just in case", The training is provided because the expectation is that they WILL kill the enemy. They will throw out any and all human connection and compassion in order to achieve the end result of war. Following orders means going againsed everything civilian society has taught us. The tribal mind is refocused, and the ten commandments is out the window. Thou Shall Not Kill...except when your in the military. So what happens when our fine young men and women come home? How do they reintegrate themselfs back into the civilian tribe? Can you ever go back to life before the mission? Can you ever unteach, unremember..unkill?
The memories of "that" life can never be understood by us. We have asked them to do this, and we owe it to them to learn HOW to help them return to "this" life.
Despite lower physical casualty rates and findings that the majority of CF personnel returning from operations successfully readjust back to Canadian society, casualties of a different kind – invisible wounds – have affected thousands of CF personnel.
Operational stress injuries (OSIs), not only severely reduce unit combat effectiveness, but can have hazardous impacts on a CF member’s health and interpersonal relationships. While the CF has instituted many positive initiatives to address OSIs as of January 31st, 2008 there were 4,917 active mental health cases within the CF.
“An OSI is any persistent psychological difficulty resulting from operational duties performed in the course of military service.” The term OSI is more comprehensive than post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is often thought of as an umbrella term for PTSD, other anxiety disorders and depression. Most importantly, the term OSI re-characterizes these conditions as an injury.
-Colonel Ian Hope, Commander of Task Force ORION in 2006 concluded in his recent chapter on resilience and fear that “the management of fear and resilience was an imperative of combat leadership, and that my own personal efforts to contain emotions and to practice good command – with an appearance of being unaffected by the violence – involved a constant exercise of self-control.” Colonel Hope’s Deputy Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Tod Strickland, based on his operational experience and his combat experience in Kandahar Afghanistan also saw firsthand the centrality of leadership when dealing with operational stress:
. . . it is all about leadership. This is not to imply that operational stress will only occur when poor leadership practices exist; that is to over-simplify a complex mechanism of injury. What I do know is that units and sub-units with strong leaders seem to be better able to handle the incredible stresses of combat and I suspect demonstrate a lower likelihood of injury. Leaders who demonstrate compassion for their soldiers, and resolve to complete their missions seem to trigger something in the Canadian solder which helps fight off the ravages of operational stress. A commander who makes esprit de corps more than slogans and badges, and grows a spirit of family in his sub-unit will likely see fewer physical or psychological injuries - we know that and have seen it before. Combat is a difficult environment, but how we lead our soldiers directly impacts their ability to withstand its rigours.-
Operational Stress and the Canadian Forces:
Reduction, Re-Integration and Remember. A Return to First Principles
By/par Maj M.J. (Mason) Stalker
So what happens when our soldiers come home? Who is there to follow, after the example set by the institution of the military? How do we integrate this example back into the institution of the family? The civilian family, and the family who raised these fine young people to be kind, gentle and uphold respect for all life, most especially human.
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the official name used by the U.S. Government for the War in Afghanistan, together with three smaller military actions, under the umbrella of the Global War on Terror (GWOT). The War in Afghanistan is an ongoing coalition conflict which began on October 7, 2001. The US military's Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was launched, along with the British military, in response to both the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, and as a result of other issues that had existed before the attacks.
In that first phase, U.S. and coalition forces, worked with the Afghan opposition forces of the Northern Alliance, which is a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996. The organization united various Afghan groups fighting against each other to fight the Taliban instead. Hamid Karzai became the head of state of Afghanistan in December 2001 after the Taliban government was removed and the focus of the war shifted to "smothering the insurgents" who preferred not to directly confront the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops, but blended into the local population and mainly used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombings.
The second phase of the operation is the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was established by the UN Security Council at the end of December 2001 to secure Kabul and the surrounding areas. In 2002, American, British and Canadian infantry were committed, along with special forces from several allied nations, including Australia. After the 2004 Afghan presidential election, Karzai became the official President of Afghanistan.
On January 26, 2010, at the International Conference on Afghanistan in London, Karzai told world leaders that he "intends to reach out to the top echelons of the Taliban" to set the framework for dialogue with Taliban leaders as he called on the group's leadership to take part in a "loya jirga" -- or large assembly of elders—to initiate peace talks.
Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan, which is a joint U.S., UK and Afghan operation, is separate from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), The two operations run in parallel, and although it has been intended that they merge for some time, this has not yet happened.
At the present time, 140 Canadian Soldiers have died for this cause, one which I'm sure most Canadians don't even fully understand. What we can understand is what happens to these young men and women when they come home. We can look at what the side effects of war have taken from the people we love, and try to walk beside them on The Warrior's Journey Home.
I want to introduce you to one of our Canadian Warriors (R.W.). He is currently living through the journey of finding himself, and though he may never be the same, his experiences can help us come closer to understanding how difficult the recovery process can be.
"I went over on Task force 1-06 (task force Orion) The first completely combat mission since Korea, which fell under control of Op Enduring Freedom, until ISAF took over in our last month there...
1) What does being on the offensive feels like?
Well it is different for everyone but for me it is a heightened sense of body and mind with the ability to put most of your feelings deep inside of oneself until an appropriate time.
2) How I handle being on the offensive?
I loved the thrill, and rush of never knowing what was coming,even as rounds go flying by my head or mortar rounds landing 2 ft away ( on the other side of a protective 4ft high barrier luckily). Coming back to Canada was hard because as we started training the next group to go over, they were still trained with the old mentality and did not listen to us.
I still find myself on the offensive by not letting people get close to me, and still always vigilant of any and all possible threats.
3) Was it different adjusting to these feelings than anything else?
For sure, all the training in the world can only give you the tools to deal with situations, but only experience will give you the confidence in your self. Life threatening experiences are usually only once in a lifetime but when it is practically everyday for a long period of time, you shut down some senses and feelings without knowing until you realize there is no longer a continual threat.
4) How can a mother help a child after trauma?
Understand the trauma endured
Be supportive and dont push for answers, they will come with time when the victim realizes they are there to help.
5) What does one need from friends?
Mental, Moral support and understanding that the person will not be the same ever again, but they are still human and need help and support.
6)What helps a victim feel normal again?
This I cannot answer truthfully as I still dont feel normal, I am always tense, I cannot sleep. But I cope with yoga and cannabis which really helps me search my mind and inner being as well as helps me relax.
7) How long does it take?
It can take a lifetime. I think it depends on how long it takes to realize there is a problem and the willingness to rectify it.
8) What differs from person to person?
Everything from upbringing to self confidence, to the ways in which they deal with stress.
9) As a Soldier how was it going back to normal life?
At first it was a relief, but then I found all of my beliefs had crumbled, everything from religion to politics. Now I just want peace and freedom which has eluded the Human race all through out time."
1)What are the effects of your c-ptsd on your life?
As I mentioned before being tense, always expecting the unexpected. Irregular sleep habits such as very little one week or alot the next. And expectations of being treated and spoken to with a degree of respect or I become very agitated, which has made it kind of difficult to react to the working world as well as social gatherings. People always ask "did you kill anyone over there?" which bothers me because it does not affect their life in any way.
2)How are your eating patterns, and your emotions?
My eating patterns are mixed and unusual, 3 meals one day 1 the next none the day after, their is no real feeling of hunger on normal basis. As for emotions I guard them very well but also realize that I dont really listen to them, I have taken on a "dont care" type attitude towards alot of things.
3)What are your thoughts like? Are they focused or scattered?
My thoughts are the only constant, being that I am always thinking. I would say though throughout the day they are scattered. They range from the cosmos to life and death, things I feel most people are blind to notice or even try to understand.
4)How do you feel about people now? you talked about being distant and untrusting, could you explain this?
I find myself distant from family and friends but dont know why, it is just a different feeling I cant explain. As for meeting new people it will take a while before I am comfortable to act as myself around them and I find myself having pointless conversations as I am unwilling to expose my intelligence or feelings to new people.
5)Do loud noises bother you?
Sometimes loud noises trigger memories of being in a combat area as they may sound similar.
6)How has your experience changed the way you look at the world? You spoke of your politics and religion, and wanting peace..but what are you looking for in life?
This experience changed the way I see the world as a whole. From faulty irresponsible governments to Religious intolerances. All for What? I have found myself seeing the price for freedom as nothing more than a money making scam, as I dont see any country that can truly say they are free. And to say you have to give up some rights to enjoy others is the biggest cop out I ever heard. As for religion I find myself looking within, as no one really sees the similarities in all religions just the differences. As you can tell my attitude has become some what jaded.
7)What is the process of healing for a soldier?
They say if a soldier shows symptoms sending them back to the front lines is the best medicine. If people dont recognize the symptoms they may think the issue is something else and It could be good or bad. For me the healing process is coming from searching my own mind and trying to become whole physically, mentally and spiritually.
8)How are you taught to deal with your feelings in the military?
Truthfully you are not. You are taught to soldier on at all costs, sometimes the cost is losing who you are. As a soldier begins leadership courses , I found that I was learning not only to push myself, but the people that would be under my responsibility. No feelings just do the job you agreed to do.
9)What are the opportunities for recovery when you get out?
There are lots of opportunities through Veterans Affairs, OSISS, Veterans assistance phone lines etc.
10)What services do you have access to, near you, do you have to pay for them?
I personally am going through Veterans affairs, to get help but the process is long. I have had an appointment with a psychologist, who diagnosed me as having chronic PTSD, but I am waiting for Veterans Affairs to make the decision if it is legitimate. There are are factors with my case though that is dragging this out, all I can say is I hope it is only me and not every vet taht is getting this run around. As for paying, Veterans Affairs arranges and pays for Exams and treatment if it is service related. All services are not always available where you live, but they do try to be accomodating.
P.S. Col Ian Hope is right when he says the leadership has the biggest effect on a soldiers well being, and ability to cope. Every level of leadership should be taught this continually throughout their career.
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