Chuck Holton

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Morale and Meaning


The AP recently published an article calling on two recent studies from the U.S. Army Medical Department's Mental Health Advisory team. These reports polled soldiers in combat and non-combat units in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and found that unit morale is dropping in Afghanistan and holding steady in Iraq.

As President Obama continues to mull his response to General McChrystal's request for more troops, and in the wake of the cowardly killings of 13 Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, the media is asking lots of questions about the mental health of America's military. And these reports seem to be more fuel for the theory that our men and women serving overseas are being stretched to the breaking point.

I read both reports. Some of the statistics in them fall neatly into the, "Well, Duh!" category. Soldiers on their third or fourth overseas deployments are more likely to have marital problems, and are more likely to be planning to get out of the military than those on their first or second deployment. Okay, that's a no-brainer.

But other findings had me scratching my head. The morale of individual soldiers seemed to be holding steady, but reported "unit morale" (the term wasn't defined) was dropping in Afghanistan but fine in Iraq. The AP writer speculates that this has to do with the "record violence" that combat troops are experiencing in the country, and with a sharp drop in combat seen in Iraq.

In my own experience in Afghanistan, I didn't meet a single American who said the war wasn't worth winning. What affected their morale the most was the perception that their government wasn't willing to give them what they needed to win.

My friends currently deployed to Iraq, on the other hand, report being bored out of their skulls and feelings of worthlessness because they all know the real fight is in Afghanistan. And if they have to be away from their families for a year they'd rather be doing something worthwhile rather than guarding concrete barricades on bases in Iraq.

Some other interesting tidbits from the studies: combat troops reported that a little time to "off-gas" by playing video games or surfing the internet provided a significant amount of stress reduction, but too much (more than 2 hours daily) had the opposite effect. I would venture to say the same goes for young men and women back at home.

Also, it was reported that physical conditioning of any kind or duration had a substantial stress-reducing effect on the troops.

Men don't join the military to be political chesspieces moved around the global board. When they begin to feel like they can't make a difference, they get dissatisfied and disillusioned. Those who feel they are making a positive difference tend to want to stay.

Last week I attended the funerals of two special operators who were killed in a helicopter crash recently. While there, I met some of their fellow warriors who had returned from the war zone to pay their respects. These men told me "We came back to hug the families of our fallen brothers, but we made [our leaders] promise to send us back to finish out our tour."

Despite their tragic losses, the morale of these special operations units remains very high - that's because they know they are making a difference.

As usual, the media doesn't get that.
 

Print     Email to a Friend    posted on Friday, November 13, 2009 9:03 PM



Comments on this post

# RE: Morale and Meaning

Well said! if only there were more in the media, or the White House for that matter, who knew what the military and brotherhood was all about, maybe then we would see the troops we need over there. Thank you.
Left by Opa on Nov 16, 2009 6:30 PM

# RE: Morale and Meaning

Good article, you'r right the media just doesn't get it nor does the whole of the democratic party or so it would seem. I'm a Vet from another not so popular war seem like history has come back to greet us.
Left by Opa on Nov 17, 2009 10:55 PM

# RE: Morale and Meaning

It is time to back our soldiers all over the world. How dare we put them in a position to feel that the their President has abandon them to world speculation and pressure from world opinions. How dare the President of this United States not stand up and say enough! We are a great country under fire from within, undermining our military in every turn. Our men are making a difference, it is the ignorance and lack of support back home that is undermining them. The smiles on the peoples of other countries, the children who APPRECIATE the small gifts from the US Military, the electricians bring electricity to their homes after years of their own leaders refusing to budge, the food/medications we send through the charities that their own governments deny them. The plan simple human rights we share. Where are your heads people? Are you so glorified in your own putrid selves you cannot see the hand of the Lord here? God Bless the Troops, my sons, and friends serving over their!
Left by Carol on Nov 18, 2009 11:16 PM