A War's Impossible Mission

[MikeF]

Cavguy says:

I hope the Article 32 hearing takes what has been demanded of these men in the past into consideration. This is why those guys can't be left in combat outposts for such long periods - they stress out. Units must enforce "off the line" time to recalibrate or incidents like this happen.

Unfortunately, sending the boys "off the line" back to the FOB for rest and relaxation is often more frustrating and stressful than it is worth. This is not Vietnam. They are not going back to a "rest" area where they can have a couple of beers and decompress. I'll try to summarize how my soldiers described their refits. Eventually, most requested not to go on refits b/c it wasn't worth the hassle.

1. Scrounge FOB for parts, equipment, and ammunition.
2. Get yelled at by a CSM for having a dirty uniform.
3. Guard platoon's equipment.
4. Get yelled at by a CSM for not having a PT reflective belt in chow line.
5. Wait in line for an hour to use phone.
6. Get yelled at by a CSM for not having a haircut.
7. Return to Patrol Base.

As funny as these observations are, they are sad as well.

Just another day in the life of a grunt I suppose.

Update: one interesting study that should be conducted is on burnout. Police Officers, psychologists specializing in trauma, ER doctors, etc... face a high degree of burnout that can lead to a shortened career lifespan. Is their a correlation for soldiers in COIN? Is there a quantifiable time limit/tour frequency that soldiers can maintain? Just a thought.

v/r

Mike