Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueStreak
You just described why I chose NOT to stay in for retirement, leaving after my four year obligation. I bought the ticket, took the ride and got off at the first stop. But, I honored the agreement I made when I got aboard, I did my duty. Unlike Bergdahl and individuals like him. I can understand not having much love for the military lifestyle, but can't manage any respect for people who just walk away from responsibility.
However, I did leave the Navy because I didn't like being surrounded by bootlicking, brainwashed people, only to discover the civilian world isn't much different in those regards. 
Dave |
As JJ has already stated. There's one big difference between the civilian and military worlds, Dave. In the civilian world, when you realize the branch you're in is full of ass-sucking opportunists and inhuman vampires sucking the blood outta you...you can get your dead ass up, put on your hat, and walk off your post without the threat of being hung...literally by the military or figuratively in the media by some cocksucker with an ideological axe to grind.
In the military world they can do whatever TF they want with you because the contract you signed is as good as trump in spades for the military. They can extend your stay for as long as they like...all they have to do is decide that any fucked up police action or other involvement they dive into is a "war" and makes you theirs for the next couple of decades, or however long they decide to drag out the "war". And it's..."sorry motherfucker, you're stop-lossed." They can redeploy you as many times as they like, even when the psych team tells them that you are not in psychological condition to be able to tolerate another deployment. The suicide numbers prove it.
There's a limit to what the human mind can take Dave. Some human minds can take it more than others...but that doesn't mean the owner of the mind that can't is "irresponsible." I don't know how many people you've sat down with who will openly communicate the ravages of their PTSD (military, civilian, single incident, or complex persistent trauma exposures)...but I've sat down with dozens. It's not something that they have control over...and even after they've been away from the stressors for years, even with the best treatment available on earth, it's not always something that they can get under control.
Ever been in a situation where you:
1. just simply needed to get the fuck outta there and didn't really know why? I have.
2. just felt like your head was gonna crack wide open and you weren't sure why? I have.
3. wake up out of a dead sleep and not know that you weren't in the middle of a firefight or the aftermath of an IED detonation, or that you weren't in the middle of being gang raped in a back alley? I haven't...but many have.
That's PTSD: 1. uncontrollable avoidance. 2. uncontrollable hyperarousal. 3. uncontrollable re-experiencing. I've had the first two, but never close to the intensity experienced by somebody with PTSD. I've never had the third and I thank the goddamn universe for it.
It's fucking hell. And I'm judging nobody.
And as far as I'm concerned...anybody who would take what could be this, and without hesitation use it publicly for ideological or political purposes, can eat shit and die.