Combat High Experience - Essay Example

No shooting has occurred in recent times and men were laid back in informal gear and are generally having a relaxed time before they jumped into battle on this day. The American soldiers at Restrepo (one of the American bases) then witness an Afghani soldier, alongside the author, crawl to his death on the mountainside; and celebrate. This disturbs the author and he begins to explain the effects this type of experience has on the American soldier; that according to him, no one seems to be paying enough attention to.

He says that some of these men have died at war, and they together with the society they come from never take time to evaluate the real effects of sacrificing themselves for their country. In the author’s view, the country should at least do this for the soldiers. The men lack mentors, necessary physiological needs, etc. and have all learned to embrace this life they lead. It is their source of excitement and they discuss it often with everyone but the public. In the author’s view, the important thing in war is survival.

The fear of going back to rejoin society’s normal way of life appears boring and even sad.I would like to respond to the author’s idea that the soldiers are not bothered by death at the battlefield and the psychological effects are immense. In the past, this may have been possible but the American government began employing the use of clinical psychologists to deal with such effects. The clinical psychologist gets to work with the soldiers themselves as well as with their families.

This greatly reduces the effects this has on their psyche. I also believe that no one is forced to join the American army and this is a choice they should be prepared to live with. I, however, feel that it is a noble thing for these men and women to sacrifice so much for their country and they shouldn’t be made to feel as if they are suffering. The author describes their lack of physiological needs and other things normal people enjoy. My view is each person makes a sacrifice one way or another to get whatever it is they want to achieve in life – soldiers included.