The IDF soldier PTSD crisis is beyond anything we can imagine

Jewish News Syndicate - Youtube ^ | Jan 2026

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Ari Kalker joins the show under heartbreaking circumstances to tell the story of Josh Boone, a lone soldier from Boise, Idaho, who became a decorated IDF sniper and a relentless “guardian of Israel,” logging an almost unbelievable 748 days of reserve duty before PTSD took his life.

This episode pulls you past the headlines and into the hidden cost of a long war: how trauma shows up, why the “strongest guy in the room” is often the last to ask for help and what real intervention looks like when bureaucracy moves too slowly.

You’ll also learn the crucial distinction between PTSD and the lesser-known phenomenon of post-traumatic growth, and why Josh’s death has triggered a high-stakes fight in the Knesset over recognition, dignity and where a fallen warrior should be laid to rest.

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TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: idf; ptsd; veterans; war

[Magnum44]

Israel has lived under the threat of annihilation for most of its existence. Of course they need a good long vacation.

[redfreedom]

One can imagine that Boone’s work as a sniper seeing many heads go SPLAT! with the impact of his bullets would take a toll sooner or later.

But that holds true with any soldier of any army of any war.

I’ve studied PTSD and one of my beliefs from this is some people can take all of this and not be affected at all, or so these combat vets profess. Whereas others with softer hearts get all twisted up inside and find no release for it.

I do have compassion for people like Boone.

[rktman]

10/7 likely caused a few cases of PTSD during clean up ops.

[PeterPrinciple]

I’ve studied PTSD and one of my beliefs from this is some people can take all of this and not be affected at all, or so these combat vets profess.

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not being affected by it would be impossible.

We all have traumatic situations in our lives. They change us.

Where do we go in times of trouble, reveals our hearts and what we are made of.

[redfreedom]

I’m in agreement with you, which is why I said “or so these combat vets profess.”

There are many aspects of a personality that are subject to being changed. One is to be constantly checking out situational awareness, regardless of where one is at. Others are exaggerated startle, tuning in to unusual smells and noises, and the list goes on. People can have these personality oddities and not even be aware they are not normal.

[pissant]

more crap from our resident Candacestinian

[pissant]

I know many soldiers unaffected by PTSD in any significant way. Then there are many morons who claim PTSD at the drop of a hat - such as getting arrested for protesting or by just being famous (Lyndsey Lohan)

[Socon-Econ]

Modern day recruits are more fragile. Our WW-II soldiers had to endure much harsher battle conditions, fightng well armed and battle seasoned troops. There was no PTSD among the men that my father fought with. They had praying grandmothers and loyal wives waiting for them at home.