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From the forums

IN NEED OF MENTAL RELIEF

Soldiers go to war, fight, save lives, turn wrenches and collect data at a high tempo that never ends, even when they get home. I am a noncommissioned officer and my aviation unit has not stopped preparing to go back to war since we got back home.

This tempo of no family time is breaking up families and homes. The younger soldiers are so low on morale that all they do is drink and party to escape the chaos of long, pointless days at work.

There’s no time to build strong families, relationships or to bond with kids.

I think a lot of the senior leaders come home, don’t turn off the war switch and just keep pushing the soldiers, and then wonder why we have so many suicides.

Not to mention the fact we have new commanders who come in after you return from war, who have their first commands and can’t wait to get in the fight.

The bottom line is that soldiers need rest — not just physical rest, but mental and emotional relief from Army life.

— SBT

My son complains about doing busy work and having to stay long hours for what he says are stupid reasons. He is young with a new family, and they don’t have enough time together. He has spent the past year training for his deployment and is burned out and exhausted — not physically but mentally. He was gung ho for his deployment months ago, but now that it is time to go, all he sees is more long days of work and now no time with his family.

— Army Mom

ADVICE TO THE VETS

Regarding the editorial “Obama can help vets” [Aug. 24]: Vets have to help themselves and not rely on the government. I encourage all veterans to join the American Legion — they are a strong advocate for veterans’ rights.

Second, we need to keep in mind that many of us volunteered post-draft, and we shouldn’t develop a “victim” culture, nor should we trust anyone to “take care of us” without taking care of ourselves first.

Third, the best veterans’ advocates are other vets. I see a lot of my Vietnam-era brothers volunteering in Veterans Affairs and other facilities. This is not only very caring, but it’s also cathartic and aids in the healing of both parties.

Fourth, all vets should be working hard to educate themselves formally, and getting involved in government, so that someday we can return the governance of this nation to those that actually understand freedom, liberty, sacrifice, honor, duty, courage, country and respect.

— MPLisa