Fort Hood Texas: Soldier on Soldier violence.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

For the second time in 5 years, Fort Hood Texas has been the scene of soldier-on-soldier violence. It is, yet again, a mass shooting episode. Details at present are limited, though that will change with time.

Current episode

2009 episode

Killeen has been host, sadly, to non-military mass violence as well.

1991 episode

Only one generation of time has seen a lot of sadness in that town.

My prayers will be offered for those killed, harmed and for their families.

[HoreTore]

"Mental and behavioural issues".

The army still doesn't recognize that going a little coo-coo after participating in a war is a sign of humanity, not a sign of weakness.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

They've gotten a lot better about treating PTSD, but not a lot better with the stigma issues, at least for those currently serving.

I knew brother knights who openly admitted to me that they were PTSD'd, but that they were waiting until after their final chance at promotion/after they'd put in retirement papers in order to seek treatment.

[Hooahguy]

Relevant Terminal Lance.

[ICantSpellDawg]

The days of admitting mental illness or voluntarily seeking treatment are over. In NY it is now a crime, punishable by rights being taken away from you without a trial. Mention a concern that you have to any physician and they will report you and have property and rights confiscated at great risk to your safety. This will be chilling to efforts to remove stigma and expand treatment and comfort of those suffering from mental illness when everything they say in confidence to their physician can and will be used against them outside of a court of law.

[Major Robert Dump]

Maybe they shouldn't have denied his request for leave. 22 suicides per day. And judging from current Army standards, he probably got raped at some point, too. Lower the standards to fill the ranks for a retarded invasion over mustard gas and this is what you get.

[Flavius Aetius]

"Mental and behavioural issues".

The army still doesn't recognize that going a little coo-coo after participating in a war is a sign of humanity, not a sign of weakness.

Not all are a result of PTSD. Hassan never went over. In a shocking turn of events it appears he was a coward.

[Kadagar_AV]

Not all are a result of PTSD. Hassan never went over. In a shocking turn of events it appears he was a coward.

I'd still go with MRD's judgement of the situation.

Lower the standards to fill the ranks for a retarded invasion over mustard gas and this is what you get.

Filling the ranks over what is pretty much a mustard-war (oil issue aside), will most definitely lead to cowards joining up, no?

When actual THINGS are at risk... Like, say, freedom? You can fill up the ranks and still get worthy material.

When you start to fill out because of the Oh-So-Obviously-Nonexistent-WMD's, anyone with a brain or guts will think "Nah, better I do something with my life".

Let's face it, USA think sending youth criminals to the army is a good idea, whereas here you are automatically failed in your application if you have a criminal record.

*And then you wonder why you hear about USAnian troops doing stupid **** *

What you take is what you get. That is a very simple fact, and it just CAN NOT be so hard to understand.

[Strike For The South]

Maybe they shouldn't have denied his request for leave. 22 suicides per day. And judging from current Army standards, he probably got raped at some point, too. Lower the standards to fill the ranks for a retarded invasion over mustard gas and this is what you get.

Preach, snap up these kids with all the promises in the world and leave them hollowed out.

You get to go to college! You get to go to the Doctor! You get the respect of your peers!

Then the machine chews them up and spits them out.

Gutless

[Kadagar_AV]

The Army is a lot like Highschool, and people snap for the same reasons. Its retarded, but there it is.

*The Army let in a lot of bad apples starting around '05, but your comments are beyond the pale Kad. I'd put the worst soldiers I served with before a lot of civilians.

[My edit as it's what I reply to]

I totally agree with your high school comparison, when it comes to the USAnian forces. Remember it is no universal law, though.

Remember that I don't flame every single soldier in the US army. Heck, I even served along some, and they were grand.

My point, however, is that you do let the bad apples in. And once in, you let them fester. Why?

There obviously are systems to control these issues. Actually "leaving" is one of those escape doors, and he was denied.

You have built a system where you accept everything and all in... You put them through a military regime... And most come out successful, but some will piss on dead bodies or shoot their "comrades" up.

Did anyone ever think that wouldn't be the outcome

[Strike For The South]

Like you can't understand people simply wanting to do their duty? Most people didn't join because they believed in the war in Iraq, they joined because they felt it was a matter of honor, a compulsion to not be a coward while others died in your place. For others it was economic, but even so lower enlisted work like dogs for pathetic pay. If the Army was an ideal way out of poverty, way more people would take it.

The problems in the force today are simply exhaustion. To see everyone so quick to disparage the character of those who served is disheartening.

Bullshit.

I'm not going to badmouth anyone for joining, but don't sit here and feed me that tripe. People join for school, people join so they can see the doctor, people join because it's the best idea at the time.

And my hat is truly off to those guys, it is, but the majority don't join to not be a coward, that little bit is implanted latter.

[Strike For The South]

Thats like, your opinion, man. I don't even feel comfortable having this debate, I'm sorry I let Kad get to me.

I have no doubt you and many others joined the military out of a honest belief of duty. But it's disingenuous at best to say that the majority of folks who have joined since 03 were motivated the same way. Couple that with the way the military bungles things on the front (almost criminally) and you end up with these terrible stories.

[Major Robert Dump]

I actually know nothing of the case. I was just venting.

They took the biggest baddest army in the world and turned it in to government wal mart

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...The Army is a lot like Highschool, and people snap for the same reasons. Its retarded, but there it is....

You have not only described the Army, or for that matter High School (Age 13-19, pre university education for those unfamiliar with US system nomenclature), you have described the bulk of human social interaction. Cliques, "pissing" contests, two persons marginalizing a third for abuse, finding a person's peeves...and then relentlessly pushing on them -- we are supposed to mature beyond this, but many of us do not and those who do may not get past it until they are middle aged. Leaves lots of social space for us to drive each other bats.

[Flavius Aetius]

Just because you would join the military for the GI bill or tricare does not mean that the fresh faced 18 or 19 year old from the South feels the same way.