Military personnel who return home from deployment to war zones sometimes engage in violent behavior or outbursts. In order to deal with this issue, we need to know why and how it happens. Some studies have suggested that it is not entirely the fault of those service members, but just a product of the environments they were exposed to.
Combat exposure
For instance, studies have looked at service members who were exposed to combat on the front lines, as opposed to those who served stateside or never saw combat. Those with these violent wartime experiences were, unsurprisingly, more likely to engage in violent and aggressive behavior after returning home.
Some studies have even looked at the frequency of this exposure and the intensity of it and have found that this can impact the level of post-deployment violence. Someone who had one minor combat experience may not be as likely to be violent upon returning home as someone who spent months engaged in combat almost every day.
When you consider these studies, it’s easy to see how combat changes people. Military personnel can have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety issues due to their exposure to these combat situations. Since they are also taught how to address risks of violence in the field, as they must be, it can be hard for them to shake this mentality after coming home.
Protecting your future
It is clear that serving your country can impact your future. To protect this future if you are facing criminal charges related to domestic violence, make sure you know what legal options you have and how to protect your rights.
