Return to Civilian Life !

 It looks like a rebellion is forming in both government and opposition ranks and the outcome will be a Royal Commission to try and determine why there is a much higher rate of suicide amongst returned members of our armed forces than in the civilian population.

The problem with Royal Commissions  is that it will take about eighteen months before we see any real action and a lot will depend on what terms of reference apply, and that brings it into the political debate.

The expected outcome across the wide ranging political spectrum will have a big bearing on what is hoped to be achieved and will probably avoid the obvious.  This is not a new problem.  It has existed as long as we have had people returning from armed combat in the many wars that have plagued this nation.

Families embracing loved ones returning from both the first and second world war noted that they were very " different " from the young men who had enlisted  and most found returning to civilian life had many " difficulties ".  Former loving relationships easily shattered  and divorce after retuning from war was common. Many turned to alcohol as a refuge.

To be of use as a member of the armed services requires enlistees to change and the first thing is " boot camp " where the individual is trained to unquestionably obey orders. This training progresses to the use of weapons and with that comes the need for a vast change of attitude. He or she is trained to believe that taking the life of the " enemy " is not only essential - but desirable.

Trainees are encouraged to stick a bayonet into dummies representing the enemy and shooting in mock battle scenes.  It is a process aimed at dispelling the notion that human life is sacred and replacing it with a " kill or be killed " mantra.  In a combat situation, killing to preserve the lives of his fellow soldiers becomes an automatic duty.

Members of our armed services see duty in places like Afghanistan and Syria where death and destruction is an everyday event.  They live with danger and it is completely unreasonable to expect them to complete a tour of duty and then hand in their uniform and return to civilian life.

It is usual for an enlistee to be given six months training before they serve in a combat role.  The army performs the pyschological task of creating a combat soldier and it would be reasonable to expect a similar  training period to return that soldier to civilian life.

Just how that can be achieved is something medical science will need to determine, but it is obvious that simply discharging highly trained soldiers at the end of their tour of combat duty does not equip them for civilian life., and it should not require a Royal Commission to reach that conclusion !