Killology........

Cpl Thomas Cahill — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:40:38 -0400

What is your take on this desensitization process? Do you think there should be more then resume filling out in seps/taps? Like should there be "sensitivity" training to get ourselves re acclimated to the civ div?

Response by SSG John Erny made Oct 15 at 2014 1:45 PM

SSG John Erny — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:45:57 -0400

It took me a long time to settle down after getting out the first time. Coming back from the sand box I was a mess. Retiring was like losing a part of my self.

Yeah we need help with that transition to the Civ Div.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Oct 15 at 2014 1:55 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:55:40 -0400

The issue for soldiers since the beginnig of time has always been:

a) how do you train soldiers to behave aggressively in combat while still maintaining control?
b) how do you turn off this enhanced tendency for aggression after the soldier leaves the military and is reintegrated into "peaceful world"?

As LTC Grossman has talked about in his books, the major way to maintain control is the absolute authority that the military CoC provides. You follow orders. Period. You kill, but only when ordered to do so. Period. But that absolute "leash" doesn't exist anymore when you become a civilian again. And de-programming is much harder to do than programming....

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Oct 15 at 2014 2:06 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:06:57 -0400

Cpl Thomas Cahill I think the military has gone a long way from where it once was in its reintegration and counseling services. Both the ones that are mandatory and the once that are offered voluntarily afterword.

If this post is in any way personal, I would recommend seeking some training to help with reintegration and processing what you experienced in the military. I myself have benefited from extra work in this area as have many Marines I know. I am not personally familiar in depth with the VA's systems, more with that of the active military, but I know the VA does offer services (again, some of my Marines have mentioned it.) There are also opportunities through local veterans groups like IAVA, American Legion, VFW or veterans clubs at local colleges. There is also self-study through books about "kill-ology" such as Dr Grossman's On Killing and On Combat (link below) . There are also Church oriented groups of various faiths to help with the re-integration process. If I can be of any assistance please don't hesitate to send a message.

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society: Dave Grossman:...

On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society [Dave Grossman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The good news is that most soldiers are loath to kill. But armies have developed sophisticated ways of overcoming this instinctive aversion. And contemporary civilian society

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 15 at 2014 2:30 PM

SPC David S. — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:30:30 -0400

Having never deployed take what I say with that in mind. I look at it this way. Once you have gone somewhere, it is much easier to find your way back. However how do you tell yourself that aggression is now off limits. That will take time. How much I can't say. It could be many months if not years to change that as being a possible response to not being an option. My best advise is if your feeling out of wack is to reach out here like you have or talk to someone you know and trust. I know that doesn't do you a lot of good when you want to crack a guy for being an jack ass. Certainly there needs to be a decompression process but as individuals process things differently I don't think there is a way to create a cookie cutter program that would work for everyone.

On a side note I hope you got your Egg Bowl tickets, it's going to one hell of game.