US Military

1042 Words3 Pages

Many people are concerned about the U.S. military because of how many risks come with joining it. However, the U.S. military also explains the benefits that one could receive. Joining the military is a decision that should not be taken lightly. One must understand all aspects of the military. In order for a voter to be fully informed about joining the US military, one must consider both the risks, like mental illnesses and commitment and benefits, like education, and experience.
1. Risks of Joining the Military:
Mental Illnesses
Suffering from a mental illness is a common effect of joining the military that many people aren’t fully aware of. Specific mental illnesses one can suffer from are Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. Alan Zarembo, a writer from the Los Angeles Times, explains that “Rates of mental illness among active-duty troops rose 62% between 2000 and 2011, according to the report. More than 935,000 current or former service members were diagnosed with adjustment disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems over that time” (Zarembo). Young voters should understand that PTSD and depression are recurring consequences one may have to deal with if he/she decides to join the military. Mark Thompson, a writer for Time Swampland, uses a chart to illustrate the fact that “..the more combat events they experience, the more mental-health problems they will suffer” (Thompson). These illnesses are a result of traumatic experiences soldiers may encounter and treatment isn’t always effective. Zarembo also explains, “The Army has portrayed it as successful based on internal reviews that soldiers saw small improvements on some measures of psychological health. But the medi...

... middle of paper ...

...ar. 2014.
Bell, Bruce, and Walter Schumm. "Returning to Homelife." Returning to Homelife After Deployment | Military.com. Military.com, 2007. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.

Kingsbury, Alex. "The Pros and Cons of Military Service." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 21 Oct. 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Powers, Rod. "What the Recruiter Never Told You." About.com US Military. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
Thompson, Mark. "Here’s What’s Troubling American Troops in One Chart Read More: Here’s What’s Troubling American Troops in One Chart | TIME.com Time Swampland. Time Swampland, 4 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

Tyson, Ann Scott. "Youths in Rural U.S. Are Drawn To Military." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 04 Nov. 2005. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
Zarembo, Alan. "Military Psychological Counseling Programs Faulted." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.

Open Document