By the time I came out of the forces I had seen enough to know just what could happen if you did not keep a lid on it. I was in job where i had to deal all levels of the public and i found that just your bearing could do most of your work for you. To change the subject slightly I will bring in another topic. One of the members of staff we had was always getting assaulted by public. We put all sorts of plain clothes officials around to monitor just what went on around him and none of them could ever find fault in the way he did his job and a couple where even there when he got assaulted. Now it brings up the question can we smell fear on a person even if we don't know it and it is that that makes some people react in this way. Now I had a German shepherd dog that could smell fear on a person from about 100 yards and she then went into an aggressive mode, now do we still have this ourselves I wonder.

It is a deep story wolf. I really did find the transition from being a marine to turning into a civilian very difficult. When we walk out of the main gate for the last time, on paper we are civilians, but mentally nothing has changed and we are still marines. Some may find the transition easy, but for others, including me, it can be extremely difficult. I think writing about it, really helped me to cope with it.

Al the very best

Steven Preece
Author of
Amongst The Marines and Always A Marine

Still having issues with it here.

True, you learn aggression.
If the training is balanced you should also learn the tools to suppress said aggression when needed.

Ofcourse you will have som problems with the transition from frontline soldier to civvie life.
Nothing strange with that.
Infact I´d be very surprised if you didn´t experience some sort of difficulties.
It´s all up to the man walking out those gates.

//KJ.

This is lifted almost verbatim from my Navy Personnel Management course notes. (Psychology)

There are three common types of aggression.

The type of poorly controlled aggression we seem to be discussing here is most often the result of deep seated fear within the aggressor. It's the old "I thought he was going to hit me, so I hit him first" syndrome.

The other less common type of aggression is seen in those who suffer from anti social personality disorder (Sociopaths). This is not a learned trait, but a psychological disorder and should be dealt with by the appropriate civil mental health services.

The third type is most often seen in the services e.g. the big nasty DI. This not a true form of aggression but a "game" employed as a training aid, (Controlled aggression). It is vitally important that persons employed in training positions are carefully screened to ensure that they display no characteristics of the sociopathic aggressor.

Persons showing signs of sociopathic aggression should be referred for psychological assessment and undergo counselling. If found to be sociopathic, they should b recommended for dismissal on psychological grounds.

I have met many of those big nasty DI after my service and a nicer bunch of blokes you couldn't wish to meet. Now it is just as well that I never shot any of the buggers as at times i was sorely tempted

Senojekips hit it on the money; there is a drill sergeant unit that shares the same office building as mine and they are very courteous and a hoot to be around, but step out of line and kiss your butt goodbye. For some reason they love messing around with new LTs...