Posted on 06/04/2015 3:27:37 PM PDT by blueunicorn6
Well put.
Any plans to fly afterward?
No. I won’t miss the flying that much either. To tell the truth, it’s a pain in the ass. Always struggling to meet semi-annual minimums, check rides, flight physicals, constant maintenance problems, I could go on and on.
Plus I can’t compete with senior warrant officers that retire with way more flight time than RLOs. There isn’t a ton of money in helicopter flying. All the life flight pilots that make good money are retired warrant officers. And I have no complaints, they deserve it.
Sorry, but after a career as an army chaplain, and after having thought on this subject, taught this subject, and having been a resource person on this subject, I’m ready to add “the futility of wasted blood” to the list of reasons that service members take their own lives.
I don’t think ‘trauma’ itself is as powerful if there is a clear impression that the trauma was unnecessary, arbitrarily imposed, or wasted.
WWII soldiers also sacrificed and saw horrendous death. But, they believed before, during, and after the experience that there had been a fulfilled purpose behind all the sacrifice that upheld the value of the lives, treasure, and time sacrificed.
Since Vietnam, America’s warriors have been left high and dry. Even now they watch areas they bled to liberate be turned back over to the enemy.
When their traumatic memories are triggered, they reconnect with futility as the ultimate outcome, a very negative destination and an additional support for the depression that seizes them.
I’ve seen other stories about how the VA pushes pain medication on vets.....since the don’t generally vote rat, the current administration has no use for them and wants them to die off.
not sure but google says there are 86 suicides a day. So the article is saying that 25% of all suicides are by vets? Not sure I believe that.
Thank you for giving me the benefits of your thoughts and experience on this issue.
One of my mentors was an Army Chaplain from Brooklyn. Yep, a Man of God with that Brooklyn attitude. I miss him to this day.
speak for yourself about not volunteering and your statement ....”Granted, there are a few Vets who are able to put these stresses in the appropriate file, and are able to deal with it the rest of their lives”.... is way off base.
MOST vets deal with it just fine and have done so in every war we have ever engaged in an some that we did not formally engage in.
Keep the spinning side up and hang in there. Remember what happens with gethomeitis:)
There have been some truly great soldiers who were also chaplains. You were blessed, blueunicorn, to have been able to share the ministry of one of them.
Hey buddy, it’s a courtesy to ping a fellow FReeper when posting about them.
I’m not a nut to crack. Psychoanalyze that. I could give a damn about your credentials, but I won’t.
My analysis of you; you’re a snake, cold blooded....only dangerous to those closest to you. Your past experiences mean nought to me, personal, or patients.
Have I suffered PTSD? Yup. What did I do about it? I sucked it up, and went about raising my family. Drove me batshit crazy...the shit I’d see whenever I closed my eyes. You suck it up, or get bowled over.
Tax-chick is right to be wary of you. She’s a rock-ribbed, smart as a whip lass. My only regret is that I didn’t father more kids with my bride....remember the batshit crazy thingy I told you about.
What is the difference between a RLO and a CW? Control touch....now get back to that staff job at brigade and check the expiration date on that flight vest and helmet:)
I flew as a passenger in helicopters many times in Vietnam, and was always enamored of those pilot’s panache about their images. One flyer I’ll never forget sported a red handle-bar mustache and flew with a scarf about his neck that matched that shade perfectly.
Their deaths always seemed a more certain sense than mine. But I guess they knew that they were the cavalry of the sky, while my lot while not aboard as often was to be left below.
Today, every time a helicopter flies over I cannot help but take note of its type and try to visualize the man, or woman flying her. Their ship! And only wish it were me at her cyclic and collective.
You were given a great honor once, and saw it through.
Thank you for your service. And I’ll still think of you as the next one flies over.
Here are some rough facts I just picked up off the internet, a sanity check. This is not an analysis.
Call the population of the US 318,000,000.
There are 38,000 suicides per year.
That is 0.012%.
There are roughly 2,200,000 veterans in the US.
If 22 commit suicide per day that’s 8030.
That’s 0.037%
If the fact is true, veterans commit suicide around 3 times more often.
RE#45 Outstanding rundown.
Thanks for posting that.
Man, that hit close to home. I’ll be in the warehouse counting MREs. Call me if you need help with your Power Point slides...
Yeah, not much panache these days. I once drew a small design on my helmet visor when I was deployed to Bosnia. The ALSE (Aviation Life Support Equipment) guy yelled at me and talked about it during command and staff in front of the battalion commander.
When our battalion was deployed to Iraq, our call sign was “Bosox”. We painted small Red Sox B’s on the nose of our aircraft. The letters were maybe 18 inches at most. Yup, we got in trouble for that too. Sigh.
Learn to read??? Okayyyyy...
“ass wagon” your words...
Learn to spell...
All the data came later on in the thread, if “you” had bothered to read...And that data is a little suspect (IMO), but since you did imply your opinion (post) was this is a “numbers game”, whether you intended it to be that way or not, WAS an issue I took to you and your response was as ignorant, below you, and un-necessary...
You may claim I was putting words in your mouth all day...I’m going on what you wrote in that post...That’s ALL on you...
But I do not care much for unsubstantiated claims...Therefore, our exchange has run its course...
Obviously you have no clue as to what I meant, nor do you even know what I do, and have done for you and this country...
Those that know me, have seen the results of my actions, therefore, your assessment of me being “off-base” is almost laughable...
I do not technically volunteer for “things”, I just do it...I do not need or seek medals, or letters of accommodation for the things I have, and will do in the future...
But if it’s medals and recognition you (or anyone else for that matter) seek in regards to issues like this, I yield to your greatness...I could say something really cruel, but I figure you’re just not worth it, I might be considered “off-base” again, and I am just not sure I can take that kind of abusive treatment.../sarc
As for the last part of your post, you hit the nail right on the head, meaning you are right...
I guess you don’t think she might have come across this mentioning of her in this thread???
Wow, dude...Okey dokey...You da man!!!
The rest of what you posted, I took a long hard look at those statements...
[SgtBob] “blah, blah, blah...”
Fair Winds and Following Seas...
Watch that blood pressure nah, k???
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