#Combat Veteran

[silence-of-words]

The sound of gunfire and mortars screaming overhead!

[nocternalrandomness]

The 47th FS painted a caricature of Col. Kim “KC” Campbell in honor of her FINI flight in the A-10

[call-me-poet]

"PTSD is not a weakness. It's an absolute sign of strength."

I am strong, I am resilient, and I embrace by past.

But my past will never again dictate my future.

[stonedveteran]

[soldierporn]

Source link for Michael Yon's story accompanying the displayed image.

A veteran’s discussion of “Thank you for your service.”

Major Mark Bieger cradles Farah, a little girl wounded in a malicious car bomb attack on patrolling US forces in Iraq, while local children were gathered around the vehicles. Bieger rushed Farah to the US hospital, but she died in his arms. (Image by Michael Yon, 14 MAY 2005. Source.)

(Blogpost by David P. Ervin, posted 2 FEB 2015 on MEA. Source.)

I was recently talking with a friend about the dialogue surrounding ‘thank you for your service’ in the military and veteran community. When I mentioned that it might not be the best thing to say based on what I’d read and heard, she was perplexed. She wondered how a seemingly harmless phrase like that could take on such negative connotations. After thinking about it for while, I wondered myself. What is wrong with it? Given the pervasiveness of this phrase’s criticism, it’s important to examine what we’re really talking about when we talk about ‘thank you for your service.’

The spectrum of denigration of this saying within the military and veteran community is wide. Some have said it doesn’t go far enough, that society should do more than utter a phrase and offer a free meal on Veterans’ Day to welcome back its warriors. Some say it’s simply sycophantic and has more to do with making people feeling good about themselves than legitimately honoring a veteran’s service. And there’s a chorus of voices that claim such a platitude is a symptom of widespread disengagement, sort of a proxy for any meaningful conversation about war. Still others say there’s simply no need to be thanked for something we volunteered to do.

While there is a degree of validity to much of this criticism, perhaps the interpretations are indicative of something deeper, something that speaks more about the perspective and experiences of post- 9/11 veterans than of the meaning (or the lack of meaning) of the phrase itself.

It’s true that a tiny fragment of American society participated in Iraq and Afghanistan. While we were at war our peers were obtaining higher education or pursuing and building careers, something on which we got a late start because we chose to serve. Life went on normally for an overwhelming majority of US citizens. “America wasn’t at war,” so the saying goes, “America was at the mall.” Sebastian Junger and James Fallows have correctly pointed out that the wars following 9/11 were something that fell on the shoulders of the participants rather than the society in whose name they were fought. Junger discussed a situation in which the public simply doesn’t know what its military does, much less share the moral burden, and Fallows mentioned that the gap between cultures goes further, effectively stymieing realistic, constructive debate about military spending and foreign policy.“Thank you for your service” can, in that light, be seen as something of a hollow gesture coming from across a wide chasm between the experiences of those who fought and those that didn’t.

The character of those experiences themselves can shape the interpretation. Recently, the concept of ‘moral injury’ has garnered some attention. In summary, moral injury is the effects of taking part in an act that goes against basic human tenets of right or wrong, like killing. The ubiquity of civilians on modern, non-linear battlefields coupled with the guerilla tactics we encountered created situations in which innocent civilians were killed even while following the rules of war. Then there’s the feeling that we didn’t do enough or that we didn’t deserve to survive when so many didn’t. In these contexts the acceptance of gratitude seems inappropriate.

War unleashes a complex set of conflicting emotions. As young men and women we were awed by incredible displays of firepower even while knowing the obscenity of its purpose. Sometimes we loved it. Sometimes we hated it. Sometimes we hated that the fact that we loved it. And in the back of our minds, we knew it was something we chose to do. We’re proud of that even if we’re appalled at the sights we saw. That the overall experience can leave a veteran grappling with significant questions is not hard to fathom.

Can the average civilian contemplate the depth of this internal conflict? Probably not. But it seems they are attempting to at least ackowledge it by saying ‘thank you for your service.’ If the recent box office success of American Sniper is any indication, they’re willing to learn more about our experiences. Perhaps we shouldn’t spurn that. Perhaps we should meet them halfway across that gap.

[ulkaralakbarova]

Thirty years after serving together in the Vietnam War, Larry, Sal and Richard, reunite for a different type of mission: to bury Doc’s son, a young Marine killed in Iraq. Forgoing the burial, the trio take the casket on a bittersweet trip up the coast to New Hampshire – along the way, reminiscing and coming to terms with the shared memories of a war that continues to shape their lives. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Larry ‘Doc’ Shepherd: Steve Carell Sal Nealon: Bryan Cranston Reverend Richard Mueller: Laurence Fishburne Charlie Washington: J. Quinton Johnson Ruth Mueller: Deanna Reed-Foster Lieutenant Colonel Wilits: Yul Vazquez John Redman: Graham Wolfe O’Toole: Jeff Monahan DAFB Guard: Dontez James Mother (Irene): Tammy Tsai Angry Father: Richard Barlow Grieving Mother: Cathy O’Dell Rental Truck Employee: Jane Mowder Anorak: Richard Robichaux Raincoat: Jerry Lee Tucker Hyped-up Employee: Marc Moore Phone Shop Clerk: Kate Easton Mrs. Hightower: Cicely Tyson Front Desk Motel Employee: Sarah Silk Leland: Ted Watts Jr. Jamie: Lee Harrington Larry Jr. (voice): Samuel Davis Church Member (uncredited): Brian “Wolfman Black” Bowman Bar Patron (uncredited): Kelli Culbertson Train Passenger (uncredited): Chris Dettone Bar Patron (uncredited): Chris Drexel Bar Patron Guy in Booth (uncredited): Eric Frank Airmen / Morales (uncredited): Jason Gerrard Marine (uncredited): Adam Hicks J Tinsley Amtrak Baggage Handler (uncredited): John W. Iwanonkiw Cellphone Store Patron (uncredited): Daniel James Train Passenger Toting Gifts (uncredited): William Kania Train Passenger (uncredited): Trudi Kennedy Bar Patron (uncredited): Daniel Lamont Bar Patron (uncredited): James Lloyd Bar Patron (uncredited): Tiffany Sander McKenzie Angry Train Passenger (uncredited): Kelly L. Moran Train Passenger (uncredited): Christopher Nardizzi Bus Passenger (uncredited): Phil Nardozzi Mourner (uncredited): Rebecca Phipps Train Passenger (uncredited): Dwayne Pintoff Church Member (uncredited): Sofia Plass Driver (uncredited): Eric Rasmussen Senior Airman Morris (uncredited): Mario Ruiz Amtrak Passenger (uncredited): Brian E. Stead Train Passenger (uncredited): Gary Lee Vincent Train Passenger (uncredited): Jeremy Waltman Funeral Attendee (uncredited): Zoe Xandra Film Crew: Producer: Richard Linklater Editor: Sandra Adair Producer: John Sloss Producer: Ginger Sledge Makeup Artist: Sharyn Cordice Executive Producer: Harry Gittes Music: Graham Reynolds Director of Photography: Shane F. Kelly Production Design: Bruce Curtis Costume Design: Kari Perkins Set Decoration: Beauchamp Fontaine Novel: Darryl Ponicsan Executive Producer: Thomas Lee Wright Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Tom Hammond Sound Designer: Justin Hennard Art Direction: Gregory A. Weimerskirch Visual Effects Producer: Brice Liesveld Visual Effects Supervisor: James Pastorius Makeup Department Head: Darylin Nagy Executive Producer: Karen Ruth Getchell Makeup Artist: Patty Bell Makeup Artist: Christopher Patrick Movie Reviews: tmdb15435519: One of the funniest films I have watched in some time. Great writing and acting. Fishburne, Carell, and Cranston make up an unlikely trio that embarks on an epic journey of forgiveness. At once critical and respectful of the US, a reminder that what makes a country is those that choose to live and die for it.

[threeravenspublishing]

Nevermind Cyber Monday Sales: Check Out These Great Books!

My whole household was down with some sort of illness this weekend, so we missed out on the chaos of Black Friday. Not that we would’ve gone, but we even missed out on some of the digital deals that were out there, and those are what we usually take advantage of. Fortunately, some sales continue on into this week like the Steam Autumn Sale, and there are a couple of games I’m looking to try out…

[theveteranside]

 ROUND 1

Qualifying on the crew serve weapons out in "Midland" in Iraq is an all day affair. If you qualify on just one crew serve, still, it takes all fucking day. In my case, I trained on the .50 cal, but what did my platoon sergeant say after I zeroed? "S******! Zero on the 240!" I was about to get up and move to the 240. "WRONG! Roll over and zero on the 240!" So, I rolled over. Zeroed on the 240. "Good! Now roll over and zero the 249!" Fuck me. Rolled over and zeroed on the 249 SAW. "Beautiful, S******! Goddamn beautiful. We're gonna get you qualified on all three by the time we leave here!"

Well, shit. I guess I'm qualifying on all three crew serves. 

It was hot as shit, no shade, and I barely ate anything that morning. In that kind of heat, that's the wrong thing to do.

After zeroing on the crew serves I felt like complete shit. Dizzy, nauseous, tunnel vision. Then....I yakked. Fuck me, now I'm a heat casualy. Here's a bit of advice: Especially in excessive heat, be sure to hydrate. But also, don't overhydrate. It's just as dangerous as dehydration. Which means, fucking eat something so your body has sustenance. 

ROUND 2

I gather myself and head on over to our next station, Stationary vehicles. The idea is to qualify on the crew serve machine guns from the Gunner's Turret. Two of my favorite Sergeant Majors were assisting that day. My platoon Sergeant nods me over to the five-ton truck. SMA 1 is already up there waving me over. I climb up that big sonofabitch and seat myself in the strap of the gunners turret, full battle rattle and all. 

If ever you are going to convoy as a gunner in a five-ton or humvee, do yourself a favor and bring a fucking pillow. I don't care how big and bad you think you are, you ain't shit when you're whining midway through a two hour convoy (one way) about your ass hurting because you chose to go raw and sit on the three inch strap that IS your seat.

I digress.

SMA 1 says, "Today soldier, you're gonna be one of the very few to qualify on all three machine guns AND you're gonna do it better than everyone else. Hooah?" He looked me right in my eyes, "HOOAH, Sarn' Major." He looked through his binoculars across the wasteland desert and a broken down haji semi truck. I surmise it was maybe about three quarters of a mile away? Fuck, I don't know, FAR! SMA1 then tells me that I better not miss that big ass semi truck over yonder, otherwise it'll be my ass. Roger that. 

The .50 cal was mounted with a spring, which makes it soooo much easier to maneuver that heavy batch. I take a min to get the target in my sights, my gloved thumbs on the butterfly trigger, I remember my breathing and how it will effect the trajectory of that big ass bullet. SMA1 says, "Fire when ready soldier. Don't miss." I fire once. SMA tells me to keep firing, so I do. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. SMA1 watched every round hit through those binoculars. "Thaaaaats right," he said. "Do it again." So, I did. Armor piercing rounds are pretty damaging in general, so imagine the hole it left in the side of the haji semi. Time was up, next station.

I climbed in the humvee and popped up in the gunners turret and manned the 249SAW. Now, I don't particularly like the SAW all that much because the barrel seems to heat up faster on these damn things. This means you gotta carry a spare and it means more malfunctions of the weapon. But my platoon sergeant told me to, so I did. 

My platoon sergeant was always so calm that it was sickening. Me? Back then I was known for being hot headed, so calm was a feat. These days, I'm more calm than ever. But there are the occasional outbursts of anger and insanity, although with the help of anti psychotic meds, those outbursts are kept to a minimum. 

Anyway, I sit in that gawd awful strap and fire away on the 249. I hit the target. Qualified. My platoon sergeant is happy as all hell. "S******, from here on out, I think you're gonna be my personal gunner. You have quite the shot. These crew serves have come natural to you. I'm proud of you." Not gonna lie, it made my heart swell, kinda like when your dad tells you he's proud of you. Next station.

Again, I climb in and up the humvee, and I get ready. This last weapon is the 240 Bravo. This. Shit. Right. Here. This is my jam. On a 240 you can feel the smoothness of the round fire out the barrel "like butter," as I always say. Bad mamma jamma. I love this weapon, all twenty-six pounds of it. Every 7.62mm round that accompanied it as well. The 240 would come to be my weapon of choice on all my future convoys, all except one. 

SMA2 immediately peers through his binoculars and says, "Damn it S******, you see that gas can out there?" I stare down range, at first with my naked ass eyes, and blink real hard. You mean that fucking DOT out there!? 

I say, "Yes Sarn' Major...." He follows with, "I want you to make that fucker jump." FUCK MY LIFE! Really? He expects me to make that DOT jump!?! There I am, sweating on top of sweat on top of sweat.

Mount. Position. Get sights. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Get in rythym with my heartbeat. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Hold. Squeeze.

Thooomp! Thoomp! 

"Fuck yeah, soldier! Do it again!" I do. I made that fucker jump. He was proud of me, which made me feel pretty good.

Round 3

The last part of qualifications were done on a moving vehicle. This is to simulate being part of a convoy. So, once again, I move through each crew serve weapon, through each vehicle. But once I came to what would be known as my Beloved 240, I was met with belt fed ammo and every fifth round were incinerator rounds.

SMA1 looked down range for a minute or so. He said, "Today we are gonna blow up that semi out there!" I looked up at him, he looked back at me. "Let's do it soldier." I took aim, concentrated on my breathing. Slow. Steady. Controlled. Wait for it. Inhale. Exhale. Hold. Squeeze.

I could feel each round slide through the barrel, smooth and nice. I fired short five round controlled bursts. The vibration of the weapon blurred my vision. Jeezus christ I hope to hell I'm hitting that semi. I stop. "You done?" I squeeze the trigger over and over, being very conscious not to hold it for too long. In the distance I can barely hear SMA1. "Hold fire! Hold fire!" 

I sit up while he looked down range. "Hell yeah, soldier, good aim!" I squint my eyes to focus. That semi went up in flames. 

Those goddamned 3M earplugs. Do you hear that ringing sound?? Huh? What?

[darkangelk007]

Sufficient In The Word

Sufficient In The Word It’s been 19 years. 19 years since my life changed. I’m not sure why young men are so anxious to go to war. Between personal experience, and how it’s portrayed in movies, young men are all too excited to go to war and fight for what they believe in. The idea of going to war is also one of fear, and we think nothing of what is to come.  Psalm 144:1  144 Blessed be the…

[vetter0311]

Misconceptions of Substance Abuse Among Veterans

Substance abuse among veterans is a growing concern, with many misconceptions surrounding the issue. In this essay, we will explore some of the common misconceptions surrounding substance abuse among veterans and how these misconceptions can negatively impact veterans seeking help for their addiction.

Misconception #1: Substance abuse is a choice

It is a common misconception that substance abuse is a choice and that individuals who engage in substance abuse do so because they lack willpower or self-control. However, substance abuse is a complex issue, and there are often underlying factors that contribute to an individual's addiction. For veterans, substance abuse can be a coping mechanism for dealing with the emotional and physical trauma of their military experiences. Therefore, it is important to approach substance abuse with compassion and understanding, rather than judgment and blame.

Misconception #2: Only combat veterans struggle with substance abuse

Another common misconception is that only combat veterans struggle with substance abuse. However, substance abuse can affect any veteran, regardless of their military experience. Veterans who served during times of peace can also struggle with substance abuse, as they may have experienced other types of trauma, such as sexual assault or harassment. It is important to recognize that substance abuse can affect any veteran and to provide support and resources to all veterans in need.

Misconception #3: Veterans who seek help for substance abuse are weak

There is a stigma surrounding seeking help for substance abuse, with some people believing that those who seek help are weak or unable to handle their problems. This stigma is particularly prevalent among veterans, who may feel that seeking help for substance abuse is a sign of weakness or failure. However, seeking help for substance abuse takes courage, and it is important to recognize that it is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Misconception #4: Veterans can overcome substance abuse on their own

Some people believe that veterans can overcome substance abuse on their own, without the need for professional help. However, substance abuse is a complex issue, and overcoming addiction often requires professional support. Veterans who struggle with substance abuse may also have co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD or depression, which require specialized treatment. Therefore, it is important to provide veterans with access to professional treatment and support.

Misconception #5: Substance abuse is a personal problem that does not affect others

Substance abuse is often seen as a personal problem that only affects the individual who is struggling with addiction. However, substance abuse can have a significant impact on the individual's family, friends, and community. Veterans who struggle with substance abuse may experience strained relationships with loved ones and may struggle to maintain employment or housing. Therefore, it is important to recognize that substance abuse is not just a personal problem but a community issue that requires a collaborative approach to address.

In conclusion, substance abuse among veterans is a complex issue that is often surrounded by misconceptions. It is important to approach substance abuse with compassion and understanding, recognizing that addiction is not a choice but a complex issue that requires professional support. Furthermore, it is important to recognize that substance abuse can affect any veteran and that seeking help for addiction is a sign of strength, not weakness. By challenging these misconceptions and providing veterans with the support and resources they need, we can work towards addressing the issue of substance abuse among veterans and supporting those who have served our country.

[tenth-sentence]

His project "The Theater of War" evolved from that first event, and with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, this 2,500-year-old play has since been performed more than two hundred times here and abroad to give voice to the plight of combat veterans and foster dialogue and understanding in their families and friends.

"The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, brain and body in the transformation of trauma" - Bessel van der Kolk

[matthewsengsack]

Matthew Sengsack - Combat Veteran

Matthew Sengsack is a combat veteran who started a successful business once he was no longer on active duty. As part of that business, he provides home security consulting and tactical defense instruction. Matthew Sengsack is also a skilled firearms instructor who enjoys participating in shooting competitions.

[maesonc-artistic-adventures]

Of Warriors and Gods.

[emotionalhardcore]

22th of june 1999

[threeravenspublishing]

JTF-13 is back and ready for action!

Wavesong, a debut novel by Michael Gants. #JTF13 #militaryfantasy #newrelease #militaryfiction #veteranscharity #22aday #22 #shepardsmen #TRP #3RP Wavesong (Joint Task Force 13 (JTF 13) Book 7) https://a.co/d/6b80KZY