What will it take for people to be upfront about stress in the military?

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 23:00:41 -0400

Seems as though people put on a show for the stars.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 12:33 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 May 2016 00:33:45 -0400

People have always done this in EVERY military. Also, most senior leaders don't WANT to hear the truth, they want to think they are great leaders and everything in their fief is wonderful - and too few junior leaders are willing to jeopardize their careers to tell the generals/admirals the truth.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 12:37 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 May 2016 00:37:03 -0400

I believe that most people in the mainstream, even the most humble and generous, tend to cocoon themselves no more or no less than we all do. Until a probem actually touches you or someone near and dear to you, it is an abstract concept that does not have the "tentacles" to reach out and pull you in. This attitude or survival characteristic has become part of the composite nature of the 21st Century man and woman.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made May 12 at 2016 4:53 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Thu, 12 May 2016 04:53:11 -0400

There is no stress. If your stressed, your in the wrong job, or shouldn't be in "said" branch of the military. Military is a way of life & if your getting stressed, QUIT. It should be an adventure.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 10:16 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 May 2016 10:16:21 -0400

It would take soldiers getting over their own egos and admit to the problem whether its personal or chain of command related. There is a lot of denial going around and admitting that there is a problem will go a long way to finding a solution to it.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 12 at 2016 3:29 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 12 May 2016 15:29:41 -0400

Well I think the main issue is convincing people that seeking help is not a sign of weakness and ensure people won't be punished for seeking help. We all have our good days and bad days in the military, but we all put up a tough front because we've convinced ourselves talking about feelings and showing emotions are a sign of weakness.

I remember one time I was getting chewed out by an NCO for "using the broom wrong". Here I am a grown man with an NCO who was younger than I getting screamed at because "I don't know how to sweep the floor". This wasn't a drill instructor chewing me out either, so it was really off-putting. Despite how much it bothered me, I did the good little Marine thing. I took a deep breath. Swept the floor exactly as he wanted it to be swept.

Sure I was upset, but I was also a Marine. If that's what I have to put up with to be a Marine, then so be it. I wanted to be a Marine.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2016 2:10 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 May 2016 14:10:08 -0400

I agree with most of you. The issue is that we are doing a lot more with less these days. It seems as though leadership in certain places are aware and tell people to stop doing certain things. Well when you stop doing certain things, other things tend to lag behind. I have also noticed when they say stop doing certain things, they tend to keep people at work longer hours to accomplish the things that you have to keep doing. I am noticing people lose families left and right over stressed out jobs. It seems as though nothing is being done. When we have General officers floating around people tend to put on a happy face and the minute people leave they complain about how the job and their family life sucks because of the job. Over the past 17 years I have taught myself that if it doesn't get done today it will always be there tomorrow.