Mental Conditioning: The Ramifications Of Military Training

The rigors of military training are essential to the overall mission success, regardless of branch of service. It is required of all service members to be resilient both physically and mentally. Training and repetition can mean the difference between life and death during deployment. Military service, often times, will result in career hindering physical, psychological, or emotional injury effecting personal and professional lives. Overseas tours and combat training can lead to emotional detachment or feelings of apathy in regards to an otherwise harmful situation, mental conditioning can be stressful on a psychological level leading to aggressive and reckless behavior or psychosis, and the physical conditioning of a service member can lead

They are subjected to high levels of stress, physical training, and emotional turmoil. Every soldier responds differently, but the result is clear. They emerge from training as a disciplined, confident soldier. This newfound military bearing comes at a cost. During a study conducted in 2011, Army basic trainees of varying ages and fitness levels were fitted with monitoring equipment. The test conclusion showed the CII, or Comprehensive Injury Index, of these soldiers were rated at 27 percent for men and over 50 percent for women (Knapik, 2011). This means that the average basic training soldier was physically capable of sustaining a career ending injury at the most basic level of training at an alarming rate. The psychological ramifications of training are nearly as alarming. Suicide rates of soldiers have increased with the recent conflicts in which the country has participated. The Army conducted an internal questionnaire and found that

The thought of reunion is always a driving force behind the tenacity of any military force. However, the reality of reunion is never as pleasant as the actual act. Soldiers return home and frequently find themselves unable to cope with new living environments. They might be quick to anger, or they find themselves in a situation of domestic instability because of their arrival. Soldiers that are physically disabled find themselves at the mercy of strangers or feel they are burdening their loved ones with the responsibility of rehabilitation. Psychological effects of certain disabilities, e.g. traumatic brain injury, leave the soldier feeling overwhelmed and confused and may lead to short-term memory loss. These injuries, sustained while in the line of duty, are regularly felt not only in personal lives, but also in the profession they have chosen. Many that feel the need to get treatment for their problems fear stigmatization or persecution which might limit their ability to advance in rank (Colpe, et al., p 1042). Army amputees find themselves in a situation even more challenging. They face the need to continue being a soldier along with their personal needs for rehabilitation. Many of these career soldiers leave the Army because of their physical limitations. While others find a way to continue with their