I hope this is an attempt at humor and not trying to be sarcastic.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.
I dont think busting people for drugs, would cause PTSD…
Here, he clearly states that he was in Vietnam… We weren’t there busting drugs.
“Military-Grade” PTSD can be brought on by many factors leading up to it. The most common are stressful situations that are a day in and day out event. Be it seeing people die, or being constantly attacked, or even seeing something that stuck with you. Anything can cause PTSD or “shell-shock” as it was known as in 'Nam times.
Out of talking with mental health for the last 7 years, (@ the VA) we have figured where my PTSD stems from. About 2/3rd’s into my first tour, one of our squads got “S-Vested” and we lost 2 of our guys, 5 Australian Army guys (1 being top brass) and a handful of others were severely injured in the blast.
I was attached to a Calvary unit as a PFC doing electronics repair and was trained on the setup and maintenance of the SIPRNet system. (Something that required secret clearance)
On the day that we got hit, I was working on the SAM’s box (a system which connects via a secured satellite, so we can order military equipment). There was mass panic and everyone was getting in their vehicles. Everyone left in a hurry and about 20 mins later came rushing back. They offloaded the injured and trucked them to the aid station, I was tasked with getting the dead out of the back of the vehicles and getting them lined up in the garage. While I knew some of the people who got hit and died, it didn’t affect me until a year after I got home.
What really stuck with me through the whole thing, was the smell of blood, not only after the fact, but during the recovery. I’ll never forget it, forever etched in my nose.
After it was all said and done, we couldn’t do anything to the trucks for a week while an investigation went on, outside my units control. We couldnt clean or touch the trucks for a whole week.
Afghanistan temps reached 122-130 midday, with those trucks buttoned up in the heat. Myself and a few other lower enlisted people were tasked after the investigation to clean the trucks. Not even the gas masks we had were strong enough to cover that smell. In the end, after trying to clean it out. The truck sat unused for the rest of the tour.
Join a real branch.
^ thats a joke.
Honestly, of the Coastie’s I’ve talked to, they have had nothing but positive things to say about being a Coastie. Of the stories I’ve heard, it makes the CG sound more like a fraternity, instead of something like dealing with Active Duty military. While they adhere to the strict lifestyles of the military, they are far more laid back and family orientated.
I’ll leave everyone on this note for the night.
