Perhaps the last stop BEFORE entering the military

[SoCalDem]

should be a psycologist/psychiatrist's couch/chair.

It seems that our glorious military likes to pin the PTSDs that soldiers come back with, on PRE-EXISTING personality disorders.

If I had a son/daughter about to enter, I would scrape together the money to have it DOCUMENTED that to a professions, they appear to be "normal" and of sound mind.

(of course as a Mom, I would probably question their sanity a BIT for wanting to serve under *² )...

It's amazing to me that ALL of them don;t come back with PTSD.. I would think that a "normal" person would have it after seeing what they see in war, and perhaps what they may have had to DO in order to survive..

IF the military does "test" them prior to sending them out into the field, it's too easy to "lose' those specific notations, and then later claim that a "weirdo slipped past us, and managed to get into the military"..

Psychological problems have always been easy to shove under the rug when it comes time to ante up some cash to treat them..military or not.

[babylonsister]

1. You're right; it sure would have helped Specialist Town:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=495188&mesg_id=495188

[Monkeyman]

2. First PD is the old dodge not to pay benefits

Second if you have PD it would be caught in Boot Camp or AIT. No my brothers and Sisters on the DU this is just a way to F returning troops. SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!!!!!

[youngdem]

3. Wouldn't help

You get mental disease while there if you don't already have it. The REAL problem is that people who are driven to join today's military are either out of options or are compelled by ignorance and/or hate, which is dangerous as shit for our reputation and cause (not to mention the civilians some of these vindictive wingnuts with M-16's are shooting).

NOT every soldier, but the point is if you are driven to VOLUNTEER for BUSH'S suicide mission without a plan, then you are quite possibly already MAD!

[SoCalDem]

4. THAT's the point.. If they did not have evidence of it BEFORE

they went in, the military would have a hard time proving they did...especially if they had it documented that they were "normal" before the military got them.. It would have to be service-related..no?

[Monkeyman]

6. Yes it would

The proof is that 151,000 returning troops are on waiting list for PTSD. When we came home from Nam the numbers where not even close. One out of Four returning troops have seen way to much and have PTSD. So now the powers to be are trying to dodge paying for this combat-related problem. 3500 kids have been given PD discharges. Now VVA and others are fighting back.

[piesRsquare]

15. 3500?!?!

3500+ with Personality Disorders? I don't think so!

And boy, are you ever correct--Personality Disorders would definitely show themselves in all their (fucked up) glory in Boot Camp or AIT. If not in the initial screening BEFOREHAND.

[Monkeyman]

8. One more thing you are tested before you go to boot camp

[youngdem]

12. Must be thorough

:eyes:


:hi:

[Monkeyman]

No Way in and out in a minute your fine move on

[uppityperson]

5. How about those raised in military families that want to improve things?

Ones that were raised having this be a positive powerful option, or those that want to change things from the inside, have "good" people in the military vs "bad" people? Are they nuts or out of options or ignorant or hateful?

[youngdem]

13. Naive. Or they percieve themselves to be out of options

You really think an E-1 or E-2 could make an ass hair's worth of difference to how today's military behaves?

PUH-LEEZE.

[uppityperson]

14. E-1 E-2? Not sure what you mean.

[youngdem]

16. E-1 and E-2 are the ranks of fresh meat in the military

if you didn't go to a military academy.

The point I was trying to make is that anyone who says they are joining the military to change it as a recruit is either lying or naive as shit. You ain't gonna change ANYTHING but your underwear as an E-1 or 2. You are worse than shit as a fresh recruit, and at present time, you are quickly shipped off to Iraq to get shot at and blown up as soon as you are issued a rifle. Not too much time for policy rallies by enlistees!

[uppityperson]

20. Thanks.

[tech3149]

7. And include a short film of a body being torn apart by bullets

If SC thinks a potential candidate for abortion can be forced to view a sonogram, why shouldn't a recruit have to see what they will really be doing?

[Monkeyman]

9. Good idea but the Military will never go for it.

[unhappycamper]

10. Yea, but on the plus side you only need to see it once. n/t

[Monkeyman]

11. Dam right

[RC]

17. ...include a short film of a body being torn apart by bullets - -

This idea is more than good enough for its own thread.
Oh, make sure it is a live body at the start of the film short. I'm sure at least one of our grunts has the necessary footage and is willing to donate for a worthy cause.

[tech3149]

18. I don't have the stomach to watch it

And I hope they wouldn't either.

[RC]

19. That's the whole idea.

Humanize war.