The Broken Soldier

I attended a PTSD counseling session yesterday.  The program was created and conducted by Army chaplains, and is meant to address the spiritual component of PTSD.  If successful, the program may become part of voluntary treatment Army wide.  Given my vocational and educational backgrounds, I was asked to sit in as an observer.

Each participant was encouraged to tell a bit about themselves, and in so doing, to also share the Core Value most significant to them.  Listening to the group of men, clearly in pain, speak was overwhelming.  It made me angry to hear of our enemies’ tactics.  I wished I were well again so as to get into the fight.

As I listened, I was struck that no one mentioned integrity as their favorite value.  When one has integrity - firm adherence to a code, especially moral - those around him or her are certain he or she is a good person.  Simplified, to have integrity is to have “a tendency to do what’s right, even when no one is looking.”  With integrity there is no need to foster, nay, even mention the other values.  A man/women with integrity is already loyal, dutiful, respectful, selfless, honorable, and courageous.

This may be nothing more than anecdote.  I may be reading more into this than the situation deserves.  It’s a strange coincidence that the only value not mentioned is also the value lacking in those responsible for performing and or obtaining proper care for me, and for countless others in circumstances similar to my own.  A lack creating such bad outcomes for so many of us.

Integrity is much more than a poster in your recruiter’s office.  It’s an approach to living.  It’s part of the fiber of one’s being.  And I don’t believe it’s something that can be taught.  One has it, or one doesn’t.  The other values, significant in their own rights, are nothing without integrity.  I shudder to think what will be become of our Army, and of our country if/when integrity completes its fall from the wall.