Relating to a Soldier

Over the past few days I have sat through multiple briefings regarding soldiers readjusting to life after their tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. These are briefings are designed by the Army in order to help soldiers get back into their lives. At least that is the party line, here is some Honest Talk:

The program that the military is currently running is only a block checking device that they use to say: See, we care! We have done our part!

Unfortunately, most of the people that give these briefs have not deployed themselves, and have no true concept of what the soldiers have gone through. This causes a lack of trust between the soldier and the briefer. Without trust true communication will not occur. If communication does not occur than those that need help will go undiscovered and untreated.

To truly help our soldiers readjust to life in polite society, what the military needs is to have other veterans give their briefs. If they have "been there", the belief will be that the information that they convey is true.