My brother turned to beer after his second tour. He was sent to Germany off and on for a total of 16 years as a Warrant in a tank outfit. I haven't had a case of beer in my entire life. It's been a lot of years since I smoked pot. Maybe back in 1976?
I can still identify that smell after all those decades, however. I'd take it up again, I suppose. The ultimate in healing sore muscles, eh?
I remained a specialist (except temp. corporal for instructing in Reserve schools—no TO&E in line platoons for corporal) in a combat platoon due to local yocal, civilian politics in a Guard unit (Italian community). Remaining in low rank and not becoming an officer is the secret to staying away from drugs and alcoholism, IMO. ;-) [Little humor there but a little truth, too.]
As for soreness, I wiped out both knees (miniscus, etc.) in training and didn’t take anything from the government for those injuries. ...stayed in for seven years. Crawling fast often works well in fire-and-maneuver work, and most of the rest of the time, hobbling works well enough for a soldier with enough experience.
After getting out, walking (and jogging whenever the pain wasn’t too bad) and Tai Chi for about 12 years was the key to some healing (the miniscus in each knee, anyway). The silly Chinese movements cleaned calcium deposits out, until cartilage reformed. The ligaments won’t heal that way, but I no longer have to carry heavy loads all day. ...no sweat, no drugs, and refused disability benefits. I don’t want to become a worthless, fat gimp like most of the other old farts around me. ;-)