Soldiers are trained to be selfless, disciplined, and emotionally detached from their fellow comrades and family members due to the dangerous nature of their job.
They also have an innate need for human connection, love, and affection like everyone else. This can cause them to feel torn between their obligations to their duty and their desires for closeness. In this article, I will explore how soldiers reconcile these conflicting emotions through various means such as keeping secrets, suppressing feelings, and relying on rituals and routines.
Soldiers often keep their personal lives separate from their professional life by maintaining secrecy about their relationships, preferences, and experiences. They may avoid discussing sensitive topics such as their romantic partners or emotional state during deployments. By doing so, they prevent themselves from becoming vulnerable or distracted from their duties.
Some soldiers even create fake personas online or in social situations to conceal their identities and protect their loved ones from potential danger.
Soldiers often resort to stoicism and restraint when it comes to expressing their emotions. They learn to suppress negative thoughts and feelings that could hinder their mission's success.
Soldiers may ignore their grief after losing a teammate or downplay their fear before entering a battle. This habit of repression helps them focus on the task at hand and maintain control over their mental state.
Despite these efforts, many soldiers find ways to connect with others and satisfy their needs for intimacy. Some engage in casual flings, sexual encounters, or long-term relationships while deployed. Others turn to rituals and routines such as shared meals or physical contact to foster a sense of connection. These activities help them feel human again despite their rigorous training and strict regulations.
Soldiers must navigate complex emotional landscapes daily due to their unique profession. By practicing self-control and privacy, they can maintain discipline and perform their duties effectively.
They also need to find ways to connect with others to stay sane and fulfilled.
This balance requires a combination of skillful communication, emotional intelligence, and resilience.
How do soldiers reconcile the desire for emotional connection with ingrained habits of stoicism and restraint?
Soldiers are often trained to suppress their emotions and maintain a sense of detachment from others to perform their duties effectively. This can make it difficult for them to connect emotionally with those around them, especially in personal relationships such as romantic ones.