Mental Health Symptoms: I Wish They Had Known
Mental [JJ1] Health Symptoms: I Wish They Had Known Things were not going well for me. I tried to find my way by going to college, working, training to be a firefighter – but nothing fit. And then – 9/11 happened and my desire to do something for my wounded country emerged. The best way for me to respond was to join the Army. That direction would be a good fit. So, I headed off to basic training; it was a grueling yet satisfying experience. The structure and comradery were a welcomed addition to my life. After graduation from basic and advanced training, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and pride. The other privates in my platoon were like family. Unlike the National Guard privates who had trained with us, the soldiers in the “real army,” like me, were “shipped” off to their first duty stations. My first assignment resulted in a one-way ticket to southern California and Fort Irwin in the Mo...