Soldiers' lives are often defined by their unique experiences and their willingness to sacrifice for others. They train together, fight together, eat together, sleep together, and live through traumatic situations together.
They also share intimate moments together that allow them to feel closer to each other than ever before. These experiences may include having sex with one another while deployed in combat zones or engaging in other risky activities that could be deemed unacceptable by military regulations. But when these moments are interrupted by unexpected circumstances such as deployment orders or injury, it can leave soldiers feeling disconnected from each other and unsure how to continue fulfilling their shared mission. This is where the concept of "interrupted fulfillment" comes into play.
Interrupted fulfillment refers to the idea that soldiers who have engaged in shared sexual encounters during deployment must reconcile those experiences afterward, even if they cannot continue them due to new responsibilities or injuries. It can cause feelings of shame, guilt, anger, resentment, betrayal, jealousy, confusion, sadness, loneliness, emptiness, frustration, anxiety, hopelessness, and more.
Imagine a soldier who has engaged in consensual non-monogamy with her partner but then gets injured and sent home without being able to finish what they started. She may feel like she has broken a promise or failed to deliver on her commitment to her partner. Or perhaps a soldier who had an emotional connection with someone else during deployment but was suddenly transferred away midway through their relationship. That person may feel like there's no point in continuing because the other person will never know about the special moment they shared.
In order for soldiers to interpret fulfillment properly, they need to understand its true meaning. Fulfillment isn't just about completing tasks or getting things done; it's also about understanding oneself and one's place in the world. When soldiers engage in intimate activities together, they are not only connecting physically but also mentally and emotionally. Therefore, when these moments are interrupted by outside forces beyond their control (such as orders), they must learn how to cope with the resulting loss and move forward in a healthy way. This may involve seeking therapy or counseling to work through any feelings of guilt or regret that arise from the experience.
Soldiers should remember that interrupted fulfillment is part of life and doesn't define them as individuals. They have so much more than sex to offer each other - including friendship, loyalty, trust, respect, honesty, humor, kindness, compassion, patience, courage, strength, wisdom, hopefulness, positivity, and many others. By focusing on these qualities instead of dwelling on past experiences that can't be changed, they can continue building strong relationships based on mutual support and understanding. So while interrupted fulfillment may be difficult to process at first, soldiers who do so can find new ways to connect with one another and carry on with pride.
How do soldiers interpret fulfillment when shared experiences are disrupted?
Soldiers may interpret fulfillment as being a part of a cohesive unit with their fellow troops when shared experiences are disrupted. This can lead to feelings of loss, alienation, and even despair. In addition, soldiers may feel like they have lost an important aspect of their identity and purpose in life when these shared experiences are taken away. They may also struggle with finding new sources of meaning and belonging in their lives after returning from war.