Dangers of joining the Army? PTSD?

Nags

Getting beaten, injured, shot, tortured, or killed. And then there is depression.

SFC_Ollie

Young lady, I would say that 70% of all troops going into afghanistan will never fire their weapons. A full 90% going to Iraq today will not see combat of any kind.

The onset of PTSD requires that the person is in combat or at least sees the results of combat up close and personal. I don't know how I can make this any plainer.

Now I can appreciate your concern for your friend, but you are still young and in your best years, take the next 4 years and enjoy them they will be gone from you way to soon.

SFC
US Army
Retired

marine5

Lets see...
It takes about Eight (8) Soldiers in the Rear
to supply (1) One Soldier in the field...(Combat)

So the odds are in his favor of not
getting PTSD from Combat.

Actually depends on His MOS...
(Military Occupational Specialty)(Job)

Make sure he Graduates from High School.

Thanks for Caring about your Friend...

Semper Fi !!!

lconnor65

You can get PTSD from other disaster it isn't just something service members get.

Your friend needs to do his research for himself. Tell him to go to military.com, goarmy.com and read up on everything for himself.

If he is under 17 he has awhile before the recruiters can do anything with him.

It really depends what he wants to do in the Army.

I highly doubt he would get PTSD in a Mechanic or Computer division.

But I don't think you should worry too much about a young man who wants to serve his country.

GamerCox

The army has changed so much since before, they have different war methods, and things to keep them safe, if your friend wants to join(I am joining too) he should try the Army Reserves, it is an awesome experience and little danger, i talked to some friends that say most reserves don't get sent over. I would then go active if he likes it. But if you join the Army there is no way out, but the Reserves you can get out, Painfully lol... But it has no real dangers unless he doesn't pay attention it basic training and have common sense. Great benefits, and the worst danger is hurt in basics.

frichalf

PTSD is not something you "catch" its something your brain does to you. I am not going to say weak minded people experience it, but if you properly train and prepare for things of war, you will not get it. If he feels like serving his country, nobody should talk him out of it, because its his decision. The effects of joining the military is he gets to build his discipline, self confidence and gets be part of a team with a very important mission.

redleg510

You do not have to see combat to get PTSD. You can get it without joining the military. You can get it from any highly stressful experience such a getting robbed, or a natural disaster.

But basically, any high stress experience in the Army can create the situation for PTSD. Some training requires troops to be awake for days, and still do their jobs.

Rawbert

The same dangers as any other job...

Worrying about what might happen to you is the worse thing to do. Who wants to live life worrying all the time?

chris

if he is not a combat troop then the risks are not that great... if he is he has a risk of getting killed by a roadside bomb (IED) Sniper,rifle,landmine,rpg... etc etc IEDS are the greatest threat to us troops there is videos on youtube if you want to see what they are like.

huey_ce

First of all Post Traumatic Stress Disorder while largely identified with combat can happen to anyone doing any job. It is simply your minds inability to process and work through a traumatic event (combat, rape, assault, etc.) You seem to be trying to look out for his best interests which is admirable. While I've seen some pretty ugly things as a MEDEVAC crewchief, I've always been able to find a way to work past them. There is always a danger that you won't bounce back from a traumatic experience. Besides, just because he joins doesn't automaticaly mean that he'll be put in that position. If he is, He'll have his training to fall back on. After that it will depend on how mentally strong he is.

Olan Black

PTSD effects people other than military personnel. it is caused by dealing with a very traumatic experience. women who are raped, guys that are robbed and beat up, same PTSD.

in the military, PTSD normal is experienced by combat troops (infantry, special forces) it is not only experienced by them but, if your say a laundry and bath specialist, more than likely you sill not have a really traumatic experience in the military.

depends on what you do, and where you are.

Deidre H

The military isn't for everyone, and you can't really know until you do it. I know people who love it, and I know people who hate it. I thought I would love it when I joined 3 years ago, but I am not very fond of it, to say the least. With the economy the way it is, it would be a great idea for someone in your place, and it helps for going to college. Make sure to get information on all the services before you make a decision. Talk to lots of people who have been in, not just recruiters. You need a lot of opinions, it could help a lot. You will need unbiased opinion on the services.

If you are researching PTSD you now that in order for you to get it, something tramatic has to happen. It doesn't usually happen just from basic training. I know a few guys who have it, and I know a lot of people who get help for it. The army offers quite a lot of help for it, if you want to seek help. The army (I don't know about the other services) is pretty good about getting you help, and recognized PTSD as a problem now.

Support your friend is whatever he does, and make sure he does some research on everything. Don't always belive everything the recruiters tell you, some of them are good people, and some of them arn't.

Tell him best of luck, and never to become a cook.

Evan A

Don't worry I'm already in the Army and you don't really need to worry about anything till your like 20 such as I'm 21 if your joining the 14 age group and older all you really do is training, I know how it feels, SCARED! but you can actually have fun because some Army bases, I live in Sault Ste.Marie, Ontario and we play wii for excersize and 360 for fun, in video game such as Call of duty or medal of honor you die fast because it's a game with a small map but in the real world you won't die for along time unless you do something stupid!

So there is really nothing to worry about :)

Broken Veteran

It is common.
No big deal.
I wake up and it is 1992 to me.
I have to be reminded what year it is.
I am in 1992 again.
Phone rings or the doorbell and I roll out of bed and take cover.
I dream about the Army every night.
I wake up all scared and sweaty.

It has been like this for 16 years.

The Traumatic Brain Injury side effects bother me more.
Words spin in my head and this ringing in my ears is like a tea pot on the stove I cannot take off the fire.
Constant screaming. Headache for 16 years and I cannot focus on anything. I cannot be around people because I say whatever I think and everybody is always mad at me for telling the truth.

I loved the Army and I would go back today if they would have me back.
I miss it everyday.
All day I think about when I was in the Army.
I miss it so much I live in 1992 in my head.
I want to go back but I can't figure out how.
Can you please make it 1992 again for me?

Triple_T

shot, suicide, torture, pow, depression, beaten, infection, disease

Evil Genius

Hmm I think Death is definitely one. Death by Iraqi - not the best way to die.

The_Penguin

If you are hoping for lots of action, then I wouldn't recommend joining the Army presently year 2011. If you are into the dog and pony shows (dressing up all uniformly and making everything dress right dress) then the Army is for you! If you like that kind of thing, then congratulations, you have the life of a janitor and anything related to that job. And if you're the quiet type that does everything right, does the work when others are sitting around doing nothing, you won't get any good conduct awards, and you won't get recognition for it, because everybody higher or on your level is just out to look out for themselves/their records (called NCOERs in the Army). The higher leadership talks about the best part of the day while sitting inside a nice building and you're outside slaving away, and if they got to give someone lower ranking than they a bad day, then they especially love to bring that up as their greatest accomplishment (behind closed doors of course). I am just speaking from wisdom and experience, and don't let the illusion of patriotism trick you into joining, because that's the last type of person you'll run into in the military (everybody joins it for money). Just do the right thing...do as the people who care for you most want...go to college and get an education so that you can line yourself up with a great job that you would enjoy doing. But, if you're crazy or ignorrant, non of what I said would make sense to you then. In that case, if you don't understand anything I said, then by all means join the Army.

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