Activity – purcell – The Center for Junior Officers

purcell replied to the topic Chapter 1-4 in the forum Syracuse ROTC 6 years, 3 months ago

Does the Army prepare you for the effects of war?

Nothing truly prepares you for war. War is hell. LT McDonough was highly trained having gone through West Point and airborne school. However he knew little about Vietnam or the circumstances save for what he had heard as hearsay/read about. Even worse PTSD was a relatively new concept at the time (previous generations had shell shock/battle fatigue). All the training prepares you for how to fight but how you cope with the stresses of war (combat, loss of friends, detachment from family/divorce) tends to fall on your own shoulders; resiliency training be damned. The Army attempts mitigation through comradery, offering counseling services/chaplins, various training, etc. 

The army trains you to a specific standard or idea of what a war will be like, however, many times the wars evolve or change drastically from the type of fight that was expected. When I underwent basic training the idea was to fight in the middle east but as time goes on the environment evolves or the location changes. Vietnam was no exception.

Can a leader prepare for these moments? 

To the best of their ability a leader can attempt to mitigate their own deficiencies. For one; never stop learning (read, watch educational material, etc.). Second; meet and interact with those who have experience with this (either have gone to war or those who’ve worked with the former). You need to be able to not only understand/empathize but know how to interact. I feel a high EQ/Emotional Intelligence is what is needed for this. You need more than knowledge you need to be able to use it practically and efficiently. 

Why is understanding the effects of war so important to an Army Officer? 

So many reasons. Each piece of the Army is a cog in the machine. If one doesn’t work it affects the others so they have to work even harder. Going down that chain to the human level. It could save lives (prevent suicide, accidental death, etc.). Battle Fatigue/PTSD negatively effects morale, comradery, efficiency (able to do the job), and more. Some even go crazy like the LT Mcdonough replaced. It isn’t only the mental toll either it takes a physical one. Phil Nail was shot 3 times and there were many just like him out in the field. The damages received are forever and can have long term implications.