- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Substance Abuse & The Spec Ops Community
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:01 am
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:01 am
I ran across this article on the heels of the Baton Rouge native and former Navy SEAL that was found dead of an apparent drug overdose on the Maersk Alabama last week.
It is an acknowledgement by another former SEAL that there is a substance abuse issue with current and former operators. Interesting little article.
LINK
It is an acknowledgement by another former SEAL that there is a substance abuse issue with current and former operators. Interesting little article.
quote:
The recent incident with Trident’s former SEAL maritime security contractors provides the uninitiated observer a peek down the rabbit hole when it comes to the Special Operations community and its history with illicit substance abuse. And before you judge a person, first walk a mile in their shoes. Back-to-back-to-back combat deployments and a broken marriage have claimed many a good man in over a decade of sustained warfare. Some guys dig out, and some fall deeper into the darkness, never to return as their former selves again, casualties of war.
LINK
8
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:06 am to DeltaDoc
Sometimes those guys have to use as part of their missions. Crazy stuff they do.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:06 am to DeltaDoc
I knew the SEAL found on the Maersk... Was a hell of a guy. 
His wife is/was awesome.
He actually asked me in 2011 if I wanted to go with him to fend off pirates in East Africa... Turned him down.
His wife is/was awesome.
He actually asked me in 2011 if I wanted to go with him to fend off pirates in East Africa... Turned him down.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:09 am to BigEdLSU
quote:
Sometimes those guys have to use as part of their missions.
That is false.
quote:
Crazy stuff they do.
That is very true.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:11 am to DanTiger
You know not of what you speak, grasshopper.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:15 am to BigEdLSU
quote:
You know not of what you speak, grasshopper.
I am not and have never been a SEAL but they are not a spy agency. The conduct direct action in small teams against the enemy. This is their mission statement and not mine. Why in the world would they ever need to use drugs fora mission? I imagine you will say because they are conducting pre mission espionage but this does not seem likely. This is not the movies.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:17 am to Envy
I don't think most people who have never been in combat realize the hyper-awareness that comes with people actively trying to kill you on a daily basis. It is very difficult to go from being "switched on" all the time to sitting on your couch back home so a lot of guys turn to the bottle or worse to escape.
It's not natural to kill people all the time and it takes its toll no matter if you're a SEAL, SF or some leg grunt. Training helps with the actual killing but the problems arise when guys get back home and sit around thinking about all of the shite they did and get inside their own head. Some guys handle it better than others but a lot of guys, at some point, have issues with drugs or alcohol. Just comes with the job.
It's not natural to kill people all the time and it takes its toll no matter if you're a SEAL, SF or some leg grunt. Training helps with the actual killing but the problems arise when guys get back home and sit around thinking about all of the shite they did and get inside their own head. Some guys handle it better than others but a lot of guys, at some point, have issues with drugs or alcohol. Just comes with the job.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:18 am to DanTiger
I worked directly with SF (green berets) and Delta (doesn't exist)
I worked with them hunting the mujahideen.
I'm not saying they get orders to use. I'm saying they blend in. You wouldn't know they were American unless you knew.
Full blown beards, smokin hash, kicking arse.
I worked with them hunting the mujahideen.
I'm not saying they get orders to use. I'm saying they blend in. You wouldn't know they were American unless you knew.
Full blown beards, smokin hash, kicking arse.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:18 am to DanTiger
Are we talking about just seals or paramilitary operations? Like wetwork assets? Not the same...though they can be.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:21 am to BigEdLSU
quote:
You know not of what you speak, grasshopper.
OK. I, for one, am just dying to know when these guys are required to "use drugs" as part of their mission. Please enlighten us with some examples. Or is it classified and you could tell us but you would have to kill us? Let us know from where you acquired this intimate knowledge of the TTP's of SEAL missions as well. Were you brought in as a special civilian advisor but you can't talk about it? Please tell us Sensei.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:22 am to DeltaDoc
quote:
It is an acknowledgement by another former SEAL that there is a substance abuse issue with current and former operators. Interesting little article.
Actually i'm not surprised, considering all the bad shite those guys go through in combat on top of a divorce rate is over 90%.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:22 am to DeltaDoc
My dad was a Green Beret and he has no issues with drug or alcohol abuse. He likes to smoke cigars and occasionally drink scotch. Thats it.
This post was edited on 2/24/14 at 11:04 am
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:23 am to jbgleason
I haven't been around seals. I've worked combat missions with sf and df
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:24 am to BAMAisDIESEL09
quote:
My dad was a Green Beret and he has no issues with drug or alcohol abuse. He likes to smoke cigars and occasionally drink scotch. Thats it.
Was he ever in combat? Not trying to be a dick or anything but that's kind of the key factor.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:25 am to BAMAisDIESEL09
quote:
My dad was a Green Beret and he has no issues with drug or alcohol abuse. He likes to smoke cigars and occasionally drink scotch. Thats it.
Considering it is the policy of the Army and the Navy to conduct drug tests this makes a great deal of sense. I am not saying there would never be a scenario where, perhaps, someone would be granted a waiver for some extroadinary circumstance but that is not very likely in my opinion.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:27 am to DesertTiger44
quote:
Was he ever in combat? Not trying to be a dick or anything but that's kind of the key factor.
I don't believe anyone disputes the fact that combat takes a heavy toll on veterans and that substance abuse is common. What we are discussing here is that it is not SOP to encourage the use of illegal substances by special operations groups when they are in country.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:27 am to BAMAisDIESEL09
The substance abuse issue is because of the EXTREMELY hi-ops tempo the SOF guys have been on for the past 15 years or so. Eventually you numb yourself so you don't kill yourself or a lot of people around you. I'm not condoning the "use" of any drug but I do understand the why.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:27 am to DanTiger
These guys are like a bunch of killer bear grylls.
They get dropped off for weeks and months at a time and blend in at all costs. Then they find out the secrets and eliminate problems.
They can go a while with zero contact and instruction.
They get dropped off for weeks and months at a time and blend in at all costs. Then they find out the secrets and eliminate problems.
They can go a while with zero contact and instruction.
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:28 am to DesertTiger44
quote:
Was he ever in combat?
Yes Serajevo and Bosnia.
This post was edited on 2/24/14 at 11:04 am
Posted on 2/24/14 at 9:29 am to BAMAisDIESEL09
What is his second language?
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News