A study of nearly 500,000 soldiers, reservists and veterans, reports that Troops are more likely to commit suicide and commit violent offenses than ever before.* Military analysts suggest that the reason is the nightmarish experience of sustained combat: Soldiers have been fighting the longest war in U.S. history, with frequent stressful deployments and compressed rest time back home.
Unless these brave men and women can find the inner peace that so many find elusive, these issues are likely to continue hurting the very ones who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom. Military analyst Robert Maginnis, a retired Army officer, told the Washington Times, “I see these kids who have been in combat year after year after year. It is taking a real toll, not only medical, but being able to sort out their lives.… [It] could be an epidemic.”
The impact of prolonged deployments — and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) — is alarming. The men and women of America’s military are pleading for help.
A Washington Post article also focuses on the pressure our Troops are experiencing: “The long conflicts, which have required many troops to deploy multiple times and operate under an almost constant threat of attack, have exacted a far more widespread emotional toll than previously recognized by most government studies and independent assessments: One in two say they know a fellow service member who has attempted or committed suicide, and more than 1 million suffer from relationship problems and experience outbursts of anger — two key indicators of PTSD.”
The Bible offers the forgiveness and hope that many find elusive.
Newly retired Sergeant James Carter** had a 24-year Military career that included deployments in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of Asia. He’s pretty much seen it all. He asks, “How do you explain it when you’re deployed in Afghanistan and you can’t bring your everyday Bible because it’s too big?” He finds great comfort in his compact size, camo-cover, Military Bible. Sadly, he was well into his first deployment before he received it.
During a holiday trip home, Sgt. Carter was stunned by a television commercial he saw: “I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV. There were ten kids that were shown. And of the ten, I knew eight of their parents who were lost in combat. They were guys that I deployed with, been shot at with … all over the world. And it just never dawned on me how much or how truly blessed I was. I broke down. I couldn’t stop crying. It ripped the heart out of my chest.” That’s when he needed to attend a workshop that was built around an American Bible Society Bible-based trauma recovery series called, “God Understands.” It was a life-changer for Sgt. Carter, just as it has been for thousands of other Military men and women.
More Bibles — and Bible-based trauma recovery materials — are urgently needed.
The “God Understands” trauma recovery series now supplements the Bibles that American Bible Society has been providing to Military men and women since 1817. Response has been extremely positive. But many of America’s 1.3 million active Military and 21.8 million Veterans are still waiting for Bibles, not to mention trauma recovery courses and materials. We need your help to provide Bible-based hope and comfort to them.
Robert L. Briggs, Senior Vice President of American Bible Society, says, “We take seriously our responsibility to the men and women of the Military. We are seeing the Bible and Bible-based trauma recovery materials — written specifically for the Military — make a dramatic difference in their lives. Now we really need more financial partners to stand with us in support of this important ministry.” Your gift now will help us touch the lives of brave men and women who put everything on the line for us. “It’s our turn to stand up for them,” says Mr. Briggs.
* “After the Wars — Post-Kaiser Survey of Afghanistan and Iraq War Veterans” **Name changed to protect his identity.
