Combat+Death

= = =**Death and how it affects soldiers in combat**=

"All gave some, some gave all" - Unknown Veteran

 Combat has evolved tremendously in the past 200 years. Many soldiers, and innocent civilians, have been killed in = = the numerous wars and conflicts that have occurred. My research focuses primarily on the way death effects everyone on the battlefield. From family members and loved ones, to fellow soldiers losing a buddy, and even the mental stress one might go through killing another human in battle just because he or she was classified as an ‘enemy.’ I want people to realize the traumatic effects that war forces onto humans and how these people have to adapt to changes and move on. The general population wants troops to go destroy ISIS for their bombings but what the general population does not understand is going to another country and ending a life is easier said than done for most soldiers. The act of taking life is one that many people will never have to go through in their own lives, but this act is all too real for our troops overseas. These brave women and men put their lives on the line very day, but they are returning home as changed people. The best way to understand this problem is to find the cause of it which is the effect that death has on our soldiers on the battlefield. When the issue is better understood, then it changes from an issue to a better treatable condition. In the television show “Inside Combat Rescue” National Geographic followed around Air Force combat medics for an entire deployment to capture the affects war has on these men. In the episode “Visions of War” Staff Sgt. Brett Taylor and Capt. Seth, both Pararescueman, comment “watching the life leave a human’s eyes changes you as a person. If you say it does not then you are lying.” However, Taylor also talks about how the elite soldiers of today’s wars are trained to accept death as a part of their job in saving lives. Elite Special Forces soldiers that endure intense physical training and mental conditioning, have increased levels of adrenaline when in high risk situations. This extra adrenaline burst happens when the Elite soldier is placed in a life threatening situation. Which then allows them to operate under high stress very effectively even if they have to kill another human. Studies conducted by the department of Defense show that Navy SEALs do in fact have a higher adrenaline outburst in high stress situations to help them focus on what is going on around them. However, one cannot forget the different elements of combat ultimately include the civilians. The amount of civilians killed so far in the Middle East are approximately 210,000 all together through these years of conflict.



**Refrences**
Crawford, Neta C. "Civilians Killed & Wounded." Civilians Killed & Wounded. Web. 9 Apr. l 2016. "Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care":July 2011 - Volume 71 - Issue 1 - pp S4-S8 "How PTSD Became a Problem Far Beyond the Battlefield." Vanity Fair. Web. 17 Feb. 2016. Holmes, Allison K., and Paul K. Rauch. "Project MUSE - When a Parent Is Injured or Killed in Combat." Project MUSE - When a Parent Is Injured or Killed in Combat. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. "Visions of War." Inside Combat Rescue. National Geographic. 18 Feb. 2013. Television. //Captain Seth//. Digital image. //National Geographic//. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. <@http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/inside-combat-rescue/galleries/visions-of-war/at/captain-seth-431290/>. //Fighting for America//. Digital image. //National Geographic//. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. <@http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/inside-combat-rescue/galleries/coming-home/at/fighting-for-america-678904/>. //For the Fallen Heros.// Digital image. //National Geographic//. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. <@http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/inside-combat-rescue/galleries/coming-home/at/for-the-fallen-heroes-678902/>. //The American Spirit.// Digital image. //National Geographic.// National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. <@http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/inside-combat-rescue/galleries/coming-home/at/the-american-spirit-678907/>. //Part Warrior. Part Medic. Part Hero//. Digital image. //National Geographic.// National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. <@http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/30/part-warrior-part-medic-all-hero/>. //Ssgt Brett Taylor.// Digital image. //National Geographic.// National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. <@http://undertheradar.military.com/2013/02/go-inside-combat-rescue/>.