Feeling Warehoused in Army Trauma Care Units

This is a spectacular article detailing the Army's ongoing problems. Here is an excerpt:

For many soldiers, they have become warehouses of despair, where damaged men and women are kept out of sight, fed a diet of powerful prescription pills and treated harshly by noncommissioned officers. Because of their wounds, soldiers in Warrior Transition Units are particularly vulnerable to depression and addiction, but many soldiers from Fort Carson’s unit say their treatment there has made their suffering worse.

This overmedication seems remarkably similiar to what I wrote about almost two years ago in June 2008:America's Medicated Army

Military Suicides Up Among Soldiers in Repeat Army Tours

This is not surprising since servicemembers are never given any time to get used to "normal" life before returning to the war zone, divorce rates are through the roof, and when war veterans leave the service they can't even find a job. They are pushed away from the non-draft "these wars don't affect me" society, a society that owes them everything, but gives them nothing, after dreaming non-stop, sometimes for years, of the great world they were to return to after serving in war. The let-down is depressing for any veteran. It is no wonder they would rather leave this world than continue in it. Below is a painting by Van Gogh, finished days before he shot himself; his last words were "the sadness will last forever."

On the Threshold of Eternity (1882)

Vincent Van Gogh

Mental Stress Training Is Planned for Soldiers

I served under COL Williams and he is the perfect person to be charged with implementing this program. COL Williams is one of the few field grade officers that "got it." He cared about the development of his junior officers and genuinely cared about Soldiers' problems and the welfare of their families. He encouraged single junior officers to coach high school football, be involved with the community, and to have fun. He tried to show Soldiers that the Army can be fun when you are in garrison and not being shot at... the Army truly is a family. The former West Point football player moonlighted as a dance instructor and taught Justin Timberlake and hundreds of Army Officers how to dance. In sum, he built a spectacular team and it was an honor to serve under his command. Hopefully, he will be promoted after implementing this program. Soldiers will open up to him because of his personality and he will listen to their suggestions. There is hope for the Army afterall...