Returning Military Face Major Problems

We are pulling our troops out of Iraq. This is good news for the human family. This war has produced a terrible toll of injury and death for many friends and foes. But here is the question. Will we provide adequate support for our troops returning home? This is a season of economic unrest around the world and high unemployment in the nation. Will we assist our military troops in finding employment? Will we give them preferential attention in their search for new jobs? Will we retool them, for new job opportunities now available?

When we think of their sacrifice, don’t we have a moral obligation to do right by them? Dare we do less?

My major concern lies here, without pointing fingers of blame, aren’t we failing to adequately detect and adequately treat those military troops, who are suffering emotional anguish as a result of this prolonged war? Time magazine reported earlier this year that the majority of National Guard troops who are suffering are “young, jobless and lacking support” (March 7, 2011).

Each year we see an increase in domestic violence among our returning troops. Why?? Could it be because we teach methods of conflict resolution on the battlefield that include the suffering and death of other human beings, and then expect them to immediately cease this behavior when they return to civilian life? This is an insensitive and traumatic expectation. Therefore, we should not be shocked when violence and suicide continues to escalate with each passing year, especially among our National Guard troops.

National Guard troops are intentionally not as well trained for combat, because the Guard was never intended to be involved in combat. Only recently have they been forced into combat duty, ill-prepared in so many ways. What do you think? How can we offer solutions and provide hope? As Veteran’s Day nears, please share your insights with us here at Higher Ground.

Rev. Joe Roberts