Soldiers experience a range of feelings during their time in service, including fear, anxiety, stress, boredom, loneliness, guilt, grief, depression, anger, and homesickness. These can make it difficult to perform well operationally but also affect emotional health. This essay explores how they can balance these needs while staying effective.
Historical context
In ancient times, soldiers were often seen as tough, stoic individuals who could handle adversity without much support.
This changed when psychology entered into warfare in the early 20th century. Studies revealed that soldiers experienced intense emotions like those listed above and needed help dealing with them. To address this need, psychological treatment programs became more common.
Emotional Support Needs
The most obvious emotional need for soldiers is companionship. They are away from loved ones for extended periods, which can cause isolation and loneliness. Some units have buddy systems or pair up soldiers so they always have someone to talk to. Others may rely on family members back home to stay connected. Other emotional needs include feeling heard and understood, having someone to vent to, and getting advice or guidance.
Operational Performance Demands
Soldiers must focus on operational tasks such as training and missions. They cannot afford to be distracted by personal problems or negative thoughts. Therefore, many units have strict rules about what soldiers can share with each other. Leaders enforce these rules to prevent distractions and maintain unit cohesion.
Soldiers may face pressure to appear strong and in control at all times. This creates a double bind where they must suppress their feelings while still seeking support.
Balancing Act
To balance these two demands, some soldiers seek out informal channels of emotional support.
They may form close bonds with fellow soldiers based on mutual trust and understanding. These bonds may not fit military regulations but provide crucial support. In addition, leaders may create formal channels for counseling and emotional health services.
Many soldiers fear being stigmatized or seen as weak if they use these resources.
Some soldiers find ways to decompress outside the military environment, like playing sports or writing letters home.
How do soldiers balance the need for emotional support with the demands of operational performance?
Soldiers experience a wide range of complex emotions while performing their duties on the battlefield, ranging from fear, anxiety, and stress to excitement, pride, and camaraderie. The demands of operational performance can create challenges for soldiers who must maintain focus, discipline, and physical strength under intense pressure, making it difficult for them to express their emotions openly.