Hi Ive posted the following on Mr Hildebrands FB page: Mr Hildebrand. It has just recently come to my attention you comments in regards to PTSD on the Studio Ten program. I must say as a veteran diagnosed only recently (in the last 11 months) with PTSD I found your comments profoundly distasteful and obviously ones born of complete ignorance. PTSD is NOT an excuse for poor behavior or violence, but unfortunately violent behavior can result from a sufferer not being treated or treated correctly. Essentially the issue for many soldiers with PTSD is one of diminished tolerance. The vast majority of soldier (unsurprisingly) are very disciplined and dont resort to violence except as a last resort however many returned veterans tend to snap if they find themselves in a situation they perceive to be threatening. Simply going to a crowded shopping mall can be a harrowing experience due to the chaotic nature of it. Add in people of an ethnic background associated with a conflict and you have a highly strung, hyper vigilant individual who is struggling simply to function. Now this isnt meant to be an appeal to your sense of pity rather an exercise in education, but to suggest to a soldier who has served his nation dutifully for the last 31 years in places such as the Middle East and Afghanistan and boarder security to harden up is profoundly insulting. If it was coming from a fellow veteran it would be harsh, but coming from someone who has never walked a click in the boots of a soldier through the dust of a shithole like Pol-E-Charki is just pathetic. Oh, and as for comparing WW1 or WW2 to the current complex battlefield our soldiers operate in here are some facts you might be interested courtesy of a friend of mine: His (Hildebrands) argument essentially boils down to you joined therefore you deserve PTSD so harden up fairy floss. BTW, This shit pisses me off to no end just as anti war protestors targeting troops does. The man who hates war the most is the soldier because he knows what it entails. Comparing figures to WW1, WW2 or even the Vietnam war is irrelevant for a number of reasons: 1) PTSD was not recognized until the late 90s and Shell Shock was simply applied to those unable to function due to the most severe cases of PTSD so is statistically irrelevant. 2) during WW1 and WW2 troops were recruited from local areas, casualties to units disproportionately affected local communities BUT upon demobbing returned servicemen lived in close proximity to other servicemen they either knew personally or knew through unit affiliations so had a ready made support network. This is evidenced by the establishment of the RSLs. 3) now, granted these are US statistics but in WW1 troops saw something like 14 days (on average) of combat conditions in a six month period, in WW2 it was 20 days, in Vietnam that escalated to 130 due to battlefield mobility and the ability to now have high tempo operations. I do not know any figures from Iraq or Afghanistan but I would be stunned if it hasnt climbed higher. Servicemen dont get to choose where they go, they loose their choice the moment they sign up. It is politicians who have the choice and they in turn have the social, moral and ethical responsibility to provide support for returned servicemen. Ill end this rant with a paraphrased quote from George Orwell after his experiences fighting in the Spanish Civil War that seem quite appropriate; Soft men sleep peaceably in their beds at night blissfully unaware that hard men stand ready to commit unthinkable acts of violence in their name. Now youre obviously a far smarter man than I, but I dont comment I things I dont understand. I respectfully suggest you do the same. Regards S R Driscoll Returned Veteran. P.S. The profile photo of you with the stupid expression on you face is quite appropriate. I also went on to reiterate that PTSD is NOT an excuse for violent and inappropriate behavior but comments like Harden Up, ..they need to be tougher and They signed up for this are not helpful.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 21:47:17 +0000
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