Effects of Canadian soldiers deployed to Afghanistan

Effects of Canadian soldiers deployed to Afghanistan

Introduction

Deployment of soldiers is very common in present world and in many forces. The Canadian soldiers therefore face deployment like any other soldiers and they have undergone several deployments in the past with the major and recent one being the deployment to Afghanistan. The decision to deploy soldiers to Afghanistan was arrived after the September 11 attacks on twin towers in USA as part of I HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force” o “International Security Assistance Force” nternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which aimed at fighting terrorism in the world. The main objective of the operation was to point out the members of al-Qaeda with an aim of neutralizing them as well as bringing down the Taliban who are allegedly their main supporters. The Canadian government had its reason behind the mission which was:-

a) Defending national interest

b) Ensuring interests in global issues

c) Take part in rebuilding of Afghanistan state (Adamec, 115-120).

The initial deployment was done in 2001 and 2002 with the first Canadian force arriving in Afghanistan in between January and February of 2002, their major task was operation Athena where the Canadian soldiers were the commandos of the Force. The other tasks they undertook were, providing assistance to civilians by digging wells and participation in repairing of damaged infrastructures such as building, the Canadian government also donated funds for provision of aid to the nation of Afghanistan. This operation ended in 2005. In 2006 the government renewed their commitment by taking part in American led operation archer .During the period of 2006-2009 the Taliban led an insurgence which led to the US 2010 increasing its troops to this country. There has been some progress made and some challenges met but despite all the Canadian government plans to withdrawal its troops from Afghanistan in 2011.

The deployment of the soldiers to Afghanistan has had effects on them as will be discussed below considering the fact that it is a foreign land with different conditions and several dangers. However contrary to what is believed the deployment of soldiers can also have some positive impacts on them but all will depend on the individual soldier. Nevertheless we can not ignore the fact that the major effect felt by the soldiers is stress that can stem from different sources or can be a result of different circumstances (DeLong, Michael, & Noah. 10-24)

Positive effects on soldiers

The positive effects on the soldier in Afghanistan have being few than the negative effects and have not being appreciated when making conclusions on the effect of such deployments. They first of all include additional financial benefits that the soldiers will get, the deployed soldiers get extra remuneration as opposed to their normal salaries and salaries for their counterparts who have not being deployed. This is so because of the risk they face during such operations, separations from families and long periods of stay far away from their homes and families. The additional benefits are given as a morale booster and be used to improve their living standards.

Secondly the deployments of soldiers also helps the inexperienced soldiers opportunity to serve in such difficulty conditions which helps them improve their careers ,gives them more experience as they sharpen their military skills. This is so considering the fact that the forces is recruiting new workforce every now and then, also not all the soldiers deployed in Afghanistan has had the opportunity to serve in other deployment that the Canadian forces may have undertaken previously. The first timers therefore got first hand experience of how a deployment can be(Atkinson 26)

Finally the deployed soldiers get time away from the distracting life and normal life routine.Contary to what the soldiers are used to the in Canada where an environment of peace, absence of violence prevails, in Afghanistan the deployed soldiers got a feeling of violence, constant attack by enemies. They also get a time away from there normal routines which may sometimes result in boredom and got engaged in combat work.

Negative effects on soldiers

Generally the negative effects faced by the Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan form the bulk of the effects which can occur earlier during the deployment or as time goes by. Many of the negative effects are mainly associated with stress which can be combat or non combat related.

Initial stages

Earlier during the deployment process the soldiers were worried about the communication with their families and loved ones, as there are no re-visit to the deployment zones they were unable to determine whether communication networks are available ,worried about their reliability and promptness of delivery to their families.

The anticipated living conditions were another source of stress to the soldiers. Crowded living conditions with no privacy and inadequate basic amenities such as water, latrines were another source of stress to the Canadian soldiers.

The soldiers were also worried about their difference in culture between the two countries considering that Afghanistan is a Muslim state and Canada is a secular state. The women soldiers and staff accompanying the troops will have to be properly dressed for instance to avoid any conflict with locals which can be stressing for them considering the climate may be not conducive for covered up dressing. The soldiers could not also carry alcoholic drinks to Afghanistan as they will be contravening the laws of this Muslim state.

Effects

It’s undeniable that the soldiers lack of companionship of opposite sex, especially their spouses as it’s not safe to bring along their spouses to the deployment zones because its dangerous. This can be very stressful for the married soldiers and those who have been separated before considering that sometimes it may be difficult to predict their length of stay. The soldiers were also stressed by lack of contact with family due lack of communication networks or connections. Where communication was available there were delays in delivery of the intended messages, some messages never reach the intended receivers. The communications channels sometimes prove unreliable to the soldiers.

The soldiers face harsh living conditions which they are not used to for example the very hot temperatures experienced in Middle East and Afghanistan in particularly as opposed to the friendly temperatures in Canada, they also got stressed because of unfamiliar environment with different insects many of which they are not used to. Some soldiers got bitten by the insects; the desert snakes and scorpions which may even hindered their operations in Afghanistan. There is also a heavy presence of flies which are a big nuisance to those not used to them .all these are a nuisance and contributed to the stress of soldiers in Afghanistan. Cooking stoves in unventilated tents, use of portable generators, and use of pesticides to combats pests are a source of pollution to the soldiers which can be devastating to their health.

The soldiers also get very tired as they carry out their operations around the clock and also as result of the terrain of Afghanistan which is mainly composed of valleys and hills some of which may take effort to maneuver around. The soldiers are also needed to work round the clock most to avert any attack from the (Bahmanyar, Mir, & Ian 234-260) enemy and also in order to combat the enemy. Sometimes the soldiers may not get enough sleep, due long working hours.

The soldiers also complained of lack of alcoholics drinks, which is stressful for those who drink regularly. This is attributed to the fact that Afghanistan being a Muslim country alcohol is not allowed and the soldiers are not there fore an exemption to this law (Andersen, Lars & Jan, 155). The soldiers were also stressed by worries of a threat of being attacked with biological and chemical weapons which are very lethal and capable of leaving devastating and long-lasting effects on the soldiers. This is true especially in what has been experienced by other deployments in the recent past. There are also expectations of massive casualties especially here in Afghanistan where the Taliban are capable of using al the means to kill as many opponents as possible including the use of suicide bombers which are very disguised and also very difficult to uncover( Fulco, 90-92)

The soldiers are also worried about losing a friend in this case a fellow soldier as in this case they are like one big family with a common goal or even having a friend wounded in the course of the operations, The soldiers are also greatly wounded which may ground them or worse of losing their life(Burden, 15). More important is whether one will get the required medical attention when out their as when in Canada one is able to get some of the best medical facilities and attention in the world

There is also the possibility of losing their leaders who are the part of there chain of command which can hinder there combat work especially in times of operations, there also other fears of when the enemy may attack.

Some soldiers also got stressed due to sexual assault from their colleagues. The majority of the victims of sexual assault are women and its not dependent on their positions in the Canadian forces but mainly due to the fact that they are women. This can be mainly attributed to absence of spouses. Other victims of sexual assault were the junior members of forces and the young ones in age. This is very stressing for the soldier victims. Due to the fact that Afghanistan is far from Canada and the soldiers are in the wide they will depend mainly on packed foods and drinks which lack variety. In the long run the soldiers’ diets are very monotonous and poor (Friscolanti, 123-129).

Conclusions

The effects soldiers face during deployment are mainly negative and some are devastating while others may last for years such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the fact that some effects can be reduced by better preparation strategies while others are remain unavoidable and there effects can only be managed by psychological support of the soldiers after the deployment.

Works cited

Atkinson, Rick. In the Company of Soldiers: A Chronicle of Combat. N Y: H. Holt, 2004.

Adamec, Ludwig W. Historical Dictionary of Afghan Wars, Revolutions, and Insurgencies. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2005.

Andersen, Lars Erslev, & Jan Aagaard. In the Name of God: The Afghan Connection and U.S. War Against Terrorism ; the Story of Afghans Veterans As Masterminds Behind 9/11. Odense: University Press of Southern Denmark, 2005.

Bahmanyar, Mir, & Ian Palmer. Afghanistan Cave Complexes, 1979-2004: Mountain Strongholds of Mujahideen, Taliban & Al Qaeda. Oxford: Osprey, 2004.

Burden, Matthew Currier. The Blog of War: Front-Line Dispatches from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2006.

HYPERLINK “http://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&tbo=p&q=+inauthor:%22Carolyn+Fulco%22” Fulco, Carolyn. HYPERLINK “http://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&tbo=p&q=+inauthor:%22Institute+of+Medicine+%28U.S.%29.+Committee+on+Gulf+War+and+Health:+Physiologic,+Psychologic,+and+Psychosocial+Effects+of+Deployment-Related+Stress%22” Physiologic, Psychological, plus Psychosocial Effects of Deployment-Related Stress. London: OUP, 2008.

DeLong, Michael, & Noah Lukeman. Inside CentCom: The Unvarnished Truth About Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Pub, 2004.

Friscolanti, Michael. Friendly Fire: The Untold Story of U.S. Bombing That Killed Four Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan. Mississauga: J. Wiley & Sons Canada, 2005.