HOW TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE TROOPS

HOW TO ACTUALLY

SUPPORT THE TROOPS

Ever since the 1991 Gulf War the national sentiment has thankfully been to support the troops, regardless of whether you support their mission.  This grew out of the backlash against the mistreatment of servicemembers returning from Vietnam, when those serving in the military became physical targets for anti-war protests.  While this is of course a positive evolution in how we view those who serve our country, its primary manifestation is to say, “Thank you for your service!”  As a veteran myself I admit that acknowledging a veteran’s service and greeting them with a kind word is certainly appreciated, and much preferred to being spat on being called a “baby killer,” but is it really showing support for the troops? 

Many of today’s veterans are automatically tagged with the PTSD label, whether they suffer from it or not, and many are denied jobs because potential employers fear disruptions stemming from their amateur diagnoses and assumptions.  According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 3.5% of adults in the US suffer from PTSD[1].  While the rate of PTSD among those that have endured multiple wartime deployments, and sustained combat operations, is understandably higher (12.9%)[2], this still constitutes a minority of veterans.  Despite PTSD affecting a minority of veterans, and affecting more than 11 million civilians[3], all servicemembers returning from active duty in the last 2 decades seem to be tagged with the affliction. 

Aggravating the issue is a misunderstanding of how PTSD affects veterans.  The lay assumption is that combat veterans experienced violent trauma that must have left them with PTSD.  Most also assume that this means that those veterans suffering from PTSD will act out violently in response, possibly committing acts of workplace violence.  NONE OF THIS IS TRUE![4]

The truth is that anyone suffering from PTSD is more likely to engage in self-destructive behavior rather than harm others.  They are more likely to retreat into themselves and as a result they often suffer from substance abuse and depression.  Being denied a job because of a fear based on a myth, only makes things worse for veterans.  Being denied the structure of a work schedule, and the pride that comes from a job well done, often pushes them over the edge into isolation and self-harm.

Those suffering PTSD need our support, and there are many programs both through the Veterans Administration and the veteran community as a whole, to support those suffering from PTSD.  They deserve our support and assistance but the fact remains that most veterans do not suffer from PTSD, and most veterans have never even been in combat.  For every “trigger-puller” on the front lines, there are more than a dozen servicemembers providing support.  But let me stop the analysis of PTSD at this point as I am not a mental health professional and analyzing the effects of PTSD is not the point of this article. 

My intent is to point out that, not only are employers’ fears of hiring veterans unfounded, but they also cause real-world harm to those who put their butts on the line to defend us.  Making a hiring decision based on the assumption that a veteran may be violent denies that veteran a chance to have a fulfilling civilian career and often pushes them over the edge to self-destructive behavior.  This bias is never applied to civilians with the same affliction, and it is never assumed that all civilians suffer from PTSD just because over 11 million of them actually do. 

So how can you truly support the troops?  If you have hiring power you can hire veterans first, you can give them preference in hiring.  This acknowledges the sacrifice they have made for the greater good, a sacrifice that we all benefit from, and also acknowledges that they may have spent 4 years or more serving on active duty and may be behind their civilian counterparts in terms of career milestones.  Behind on paper but not in reality. 

The truth is that serving in the military instills veterans with a sense of responsibility, initiative, and commitment, often unseen among civilians of the same age.  They likely had more leadership experience by the time they were 20 than a civilian at age 40.  Hiring veterans first not only helps out those returning from years of service, it benefits your business as well.

If you don’t have the ability to make hiring decisions you can refer veterans to those that do.  We all know that most jobs are filled by recommendations and not from anonymous online applications.  You can also support veteran owned businesses and those that commit themselves to hiring veterans first. 

Truly supporting the troops means helping them get started with their civilian lives.  Acknowledging their skills and experience and valuing the type of person who volunteers to stand watch when fewer Americans are willing to do so.  My hope is that this article encourages you to think about these issues when you meet another veteran.  I hope that your appreciation goes beyond a pat on the back and, “Thank you for your service!”

SUPPORT THE TROOPS

[1] https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5526531/#pone.0181647.ref002

[3] https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd

[4] https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/research_violence.asp