I remember as a young person spending one summer with my Grandma during the late 70s. My Uncle who was an Army foot soldier in the Viet Nam war was just home the war and living there too with his mother, my Grandma. One night a helicopter flew over the house and my Uncle started screaming and yelling from under his bed in his bedroom. I ran into my Grandma’s bedroom and asked her what was wrong with my Uncle and why was he screaming and yelling. My Grandma said to me whatever you do, do not go into his bedroom. That night scared the heck of me and I still remember it clearly to this day.
I was *not* mobilized to a combat area of operations, but...! I was in a combat MOS in the Army National Guard. Our initial training was extensive, rough and under total control. We were desensitized to explosions, because we were subjected to fire-and-maneuver courses of various kinds, which included quite a bit of simulated artillery, grenade simulators, etc. There were also demo ranges and several different kinds of firing ranges. Rifles are often fired near me these days (rural area), so the noise often comes as a surprise. But I still don’t flinch as much as the lifelong civilians around me.
The hardest thing for most men (most by far) trained as combat soldiers would be a long time away from home. I can say that for sure *without* ever having been mobilized anywhere for a long time.
So exceptions would be few. But I also know a soldier who had my MOS (12B) and suffered a head injury (IED). He’s very stable and dependable. I am completely safe spending time with him, including firing, as anyone would be. But he was affected and impaired in other, more physical ways (physical injuries). It bugs me that they gave him the PTSD label, because he’s very sane and strong that way.
As for PTSD, most likely, more civilians have difficulties with that in a mental way than prior servicemen. People who’ve lived in rough neighborhoods or any of many other kinds of circumstances that required much awareness to dangers need to get over losing sleep and the like after being removed from dangerous circumstances. And routinely looking behind doors might be labeled as being obsessive/compulsive, but I disagree. As long as a person stays relatively healthy,...
I’ve had some dangerous occupations, duties and other living conditions for long periods of time, but most of us get over thinking too much about anything that supplies excessive adrenaline after getting away from those situations. We just focus on the good things and avoid thoughts of danger and excitement. And PTSD doesn’t necessarily make someone dangerous to innocent people around them.
Shoot. Even most schizophrenics are safer than sane people on average. I often chat with one (a neighbor) when going for walks. He’s harmless, even without meds. ...and has some of the most interesting things to say. ;-D