People assume that it’s the bad experiences soldiers have endured that make it difficult to adjust to life after the military. While this is sometimes true, very often it’s the absence of what soldiers valued that makes the transition difficult – the loss of meaning, sense of purpose and belonging. Those who sign up for service are likely more hard-wired than most to seek these things, making the loss all the keener.
Reading John Gray in War, Andy Owen in Aeon, 2021
War is horrible and exciting. Usually exciting to the young male of our species, even to the older male who hasn't yet grown up or maybe hasn't yet experienced the burn of shapnel or bullet in himself or a comrade. Even then we (the male) might tend to imagine ourselves, excitingly, heroes of an firefight or parachuting into battle.
