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Gulin (Eva) Gelogullari
Communication, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding

Behind Their Uniforms: Soldiers Are Suffering, too

It has been a year since Hamas attacked various communities in southern Israel on October 7th. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and existing turmoil in the Middle East have escalated. Due to the retaliations and cruelties of the war, everyone in the region has experienced inexplicable horrors, trauma, death, destruction, and suffering. In international news and on social media platforms, we have all witnessed the grief and loss of civilians—and mourned for children and mothers from all sides more than ever.

In this interview, we delve into the often-overlooked humanity of male combat soldiers who find themselves amidst the chaos of war and the possible experiences they may have afterward. We speak with James Campbell Quick, a retired colonel from the United States Air Force and a distinguished university professor emeritus in organizational behavior and management from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is an expert who has devoted his career to enhancing the well-being of service members in the United States Air Force, Army, and Navy. From addressing the psychological impact of combat to promoting holistic care, he has worked to uplift soldiers, recognizing that behind every uniform is a human being deserving of compassion and support. Our interview explores the human side of military service, the emotional battles soldiers fight, and the importance of mental and spiritual health amidst the recent chaos.

Courtesy of James Campbell Quick, 2024

You played a pivotal role in enhancing the well-being of soldiers and officers across various units of the United States Air Force, Army, and Navy. Could you elaborate on the challenges these service members were facing and how your contributions brought about significant positive changes in their lives?

Service members face a diverse array of challenges, both personal and professional. On the personal side, they often contend with domestic disputes and civil conflicts, while professionally, they face difficulties such as assignments that require long family separations and the inherent dangers of combat. For those in training—enlisted personnel and officer candidates—additional hurdles often include developmental challenges, such as overcoming overdependence rooted in childhood or counter-dependence resulting from rebellious efforts for independence.

The profession of arms, perhaps more than any other, demands a collective effort that emphasizes cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork. In my role as a preventive care doctor—not a clinical treatment provider, though I possess a strong clinical psychoanalytic background—my mission was twofold: first, to identify individuals within the team who were struggling or needed support, and second, to connect them with appropriate resources for assistance, education, or treatment. My work involved making numerous referrals, drawing on a robust network of psychologists, psychiatrists, clergy, and social workers to ensure each service member could access the specific help they needed.

Beyond your accomplishments and titles, you deeply cared about the well-being of humans. Your approachability helped many to reach out to you when they needed guidance. How did you find meaning and keep your soul motivated when life threw obstacles and suffering on your path?

Suffering is an inherent part of the human condition, and believing we can escape or entirely rise above it is an illusion. However, it is important not to take on the suffering of others. In the Biblical story of Job, we see a faithful response to personal suffering: giving thanks and praise to the Lord for the life we have despite its hardships. As I once told a former PhD student—now a valued colleague and collaborator—my power and strength come from a source far beyond the walls of our business school and campus. Each day presents us with new opportunities. Our role is to embrace them wholeheartedly.

Hillel the Elder once asked, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” Reflecting on these words, how can soldiers prioritize self-care without postponing it until the end of the ongoing wars?

From a secular, military, and psychological point of view, warriors need to focus on their well-being without postponing to the point of neglect and self-harm. Listening to their bodies, paying attention to their intuition, getting enough nutrition, and exercising would help them recover holistically. It is also essential that they socialize with their friends and families.

From a spiritual point of view, Hillel the Elder’s questions echo the essence of the Second Great Commandment: to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The answer to the third question—If not now, when?—is straightforward: the time is NOW. The First Great Commandment is to love the Lord our God with all we have. He is always there for us, giving us life, and His presence never fades. His “battery” is infinite. We must also understand that each of us is like the other, for we are all His creation—no one gets special treatment, and no one is better than another.

Although it is crucial for us to remind ourselves that every individual is different, Israeli society has a reputation for raising macho men. The socio-cultural environment, mandatory military service, and news coverage reinforce these norms and values. Nevertheless, machismo brings a series of societal barriers between men and everyone around them—men are tough, don’t cry, and show no emotions. What are your insights regarding these social norms and barriers? 

Social norms generally develop from survival values—both for the individual and for the culture. While these norms can offer cohesion, they also bring challenges. Stereotypes about men can create barriers and distance, which can be problematic. In the military context, these norms are particularly complex. Although the military emerges from the broader society it protects, it often develops its own distinct culture and norms. Social norms, therefore, come with both advantages and disadvantages.

Historically, men have been seen as physiologically predisposed to be fighters, a notion supported by Walter Cannon, MD, who served with the Harvard medical group during World War I. Men are tough by physiological design. However, men also have strong emotions, and healthy men do cry. The strongest warriors form deep bonds with their comrades and their loved ones. This presents a paradox: healthy men can appear strong and self-reliant. Yet, as our research shows, healthy men also need others.

This is the essence of the John Wayne Myth. While John Wayne embodied toughness, ruggedness, and independence, he also had a loyal team of supporters in his war and Western films.

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When the war is over, and civilians eventually move on with their daily lives, many combat soldiers will return home, have more time to connect with themselves, and reflect on their memories from wartime. What happens to combat soldiers after wars end? 

Combat soldiers are never the same after war, but that does not mean they are all damaged by combat. All are transformed, some for the better and some for the worse. Those who found meaning and purpose in their mission(s) knew what they were fighting for and did not feel like victims are the soldiers who go on with their lives in positive and productive trajectories. We too often hear about those who may need some help but do not ask for that help.

What are the thought processes and reflections of combat soldiers following a war? Is there a healthy way to process their stressful memories?

The thought processes and reflections of combat soldiers after a war can vary significantly, with some needing to process and reflect more than others. One effective and healthy method for post-combat reflection is keeping a private diary, where individuals can express their deepest and most challenging thoughts and feelings. Staying connected with comrades can also be beneficial if these interactions do not involve excessive drinking or persistent complaints about the war. Engaging with pre-war friends and colleagues or forming new friendships constitutes another healthy post-war activity. Seeking spiritual guidance and professional mental health resources is another option. Eventually, combat experiences, like all life experiences, become part of our personal history.

Unavoidably, a significant number of these soldiers are at higher risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). How can soldiers communicate their stress symptoms with their commanders, military units, and medical personnel? 

PTSD is a known risk associated with warfighting, previously called “shell shock” and “battle fatigue” in earlier conflicts. However, not everyone exposed to combat faces the same level of risk. For instance, soldiers with healthier psychological adaptive mechanisms tend to be less vulnerable to PTSD. Combat leaders can adopt transformational and transactional leadership behaviors that help strengthen the psychological well-being of both units and individuals. Data from the War on Terror, collected between 2008 and 2011, indicated that a minority of soldiers experienced PTSD, suicide, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related wounds. There is a problem of underreporting, but there is also the end of the distribution of healthy combat soldiers who do not become measurably traumatized by combat exposure. Ronald Kessler’s US Army epidemiological study on suicide, conducted around 2013-2014, did not identify combat exposure as a primary cause of suicide. He suggested looking deeper into soldiers’ life histories before their military service to understand the whole picture.

How can higher-ranking officers and military personnel create an understanding and compassionate environment for soldiers, encouraging them to reach out and seek support? 

Higher-ranking officers and military personnel can foster an environment of understanding and compassion by encouraging soldiers to seek support and feel comfortable doing so. IDF is already doing this and implementing necessary measures for the well-being of soldiers. James MacGregor Burns’s “Leadership” is a seminal work in modern leadership inspired by his experiences as a combat historian enlisted in the Pacific during World War II. He highlighted the impact of transformational leaders—those who uplifted their men, genuinely cared for them, and acted in their best interest. While senior officers are not psychologists or social workers, they can act as triage agents, ensuring that those in need receive the appropriate help from mental health professionals. When a senior officer openly identifies the mental health officer under their command, it sends a powerful message about the importance of the troops’ mental health and well-being.

Israeli society is highly collective regarding diverse socio-cultural, ethnic, and religious communities. Sharing time through holiday gatherings is a way of life. How can these gatherings facilitate dialogue for collective emotional healing?

Being loved is one of the most profoundly therapeutic experiences a person can have. You don’t need to be a therapist to support someone who needs to talk or share. Simply being present and listening can be helpful. However, it is crucial to have a referral network of psychologists, clergy, social workers, and other professionals for those who require more specialized support. Our instinctual need for strong and secure relationships with other people is fundamental and enduring. It never goes away, regardless of age or circumstance.

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After going through prolonged stress and turmoil during wartime, some soldiers lose their faith, doubt the existence of God, and question the credibility of religious institutions and leaders. They understandably feel lost. How can these soldiers process their doubtful thoughts? 

The American prisoners of war in Vietnam with whom I’ve spoken emphasized that faith in God was a powerful factor distinguishing those who coped well from those who struggled. When soldiers lose faith, they are indeed “lost” and need to be found. It is healthy and good to doubt and question God. Every father of the Judeo-Christian faith—Abraham, Moses, and even Jesus—doubted and questioned God. Soldiers need the faith to doubt, to ask questions, trusting that an answer will come in due time. Sometimes, the answer is that you must provide it. You have been given life and breath, and it is up to you to figure it out.

God designed each of us to be a victor in life, in our own way. Viktor Frankl, reflecting on his experience in a World War II concentration camp, understood that true freedom lies in the space between what happens to us and how we choose to respond, not to react. When we choose how to respond to whatever besets us, we are truly freed by that choice. Combat soldiers can see things as happening to them and become victims of circumstances, or they can see things as happening for them, offering lessons for living successfully and victoriously. If one feels lost, it means there is a possibility of being found…seek!

Some religious families may panic if they observe their soldier family members going through a spiritual disconnection. What would you suggest to these families? Ultimately, these matters are private and personal for each of us and cannot be forced by others.

Indeed, spiritual and religious matters are deeply personal and cannot be imposed by others. Families can best support warriors by allowing them the time and space they need to heal—letting them struggle, doubt, and question in their own space. However, it is crucial to be attentive. Don’t let them drown! If they appear to be sinking, bring them to the shore. While a family’s love is unconditional, each individual must navigate their own spiritual journey. Trust in your loved one’s strength and resilience, and have faith in their ability to find their way.

I sought your nearness.
With all my heart, I called you.
And in my going out to meet you,
I found you coming toward me,”

wrote medieval poet, philosopher, and physician Yehuda Halevi when he was wandering. How can soldiers reconnect with their souls, rebuild their spiritual strength, rejoin their religious communities, and find comfort in spirituality and religion?

 This is an ageless question with no single answer, especially for those who have faced the “dark night of the soul.” The real challenge is dealing with the deep suffering that follows battle, and that’s something only the individual can answer for themselves. I once asked a colleague if there was anything I could do for him. He responded, “No, I just have to hurt, feel the pain, and bear the burden myself.” That is the courage and the heart of a warrior. Each of us needs a benchmark to guide us. My benchmark is always The Book of Job. No matter how low I felt, it was never worse than Job’s suffering. If he could have kept his faith in God, so shall I.

In a letter to his brother, Vincent van Gogh once wrote, “The more I become dissipated, ill, a broken pitcher, the more I too become a creative artist in that great revival of art.” Despite the suffering from mental health difficulties he faced during his lifetime, Van Gogh’s legacy is celebrated worldwide. Despite the immense mental health challenges he faced, Van Gogh’s legacy is a testament to the healing power of creativity. Art therapy and creative expression can be incredibly empowering for soldiers, providing an outlet for emotions and experiences that may be too profound or painful to articulate in words.

If soldiers are interested in exploring art therapy, they can discuss these alternative options with their therapists. Creativity allows soldiers to channel their energy and emotions into forms that may never be able to be articulated and able to put into words. Trauma often resides deep within the limbic system of the brain—the center of our emotions—rather than in the cognitive, thinking areas. While trauma can affect our ability to think clearly, the deeper impact lies in our feelings and emotions. Engaging in creative activities, whether painting, writing, or music, fosters emotional release and facilitates the integration of traumatic memories. In this way, creativity and art therapy can be vital tools for transforming inner turmoil into meaningful expressions that support healing, well-being, and psychological resilience.

Do you have any hobbies that helped you cope with challenging times?

Yes, I have three hobbies that have helped me through challenging times. I love reading—fiction and non-fiction—as it allows me to learn about many different topics. I enjoy exercising. Although I can’t play sports as I used to, staying physically active still helps me feel strong and expressive. Lastly, traveling is a passion my wife and I share. We’ve had the joy of exploring the world for various purposes, including my work duties in university, service in the USAF, activities for Rotary International, and personal pleasure.

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And yet, there still will be combat soldiers out there who find themselves crying alone. What would you tell them?

There may not be adequate words to meet their emotional need to cry and vent their pain and anguish. Yet, I would say that these, too, shall pass. Those of faith know that they are not alone. They know that the one who created them, commissioned them, and sent them into this world to do good is always there, always with them, always present. I would also remind them of the special prayer written by Aluf Shlomo Goren, the first Chief Military Rabbi, during the earlier days of the State of Israel. The prayer asks for divine protection and strength for soldiers. It is recited by Jewish communities on Shabbat and Jewish holidays worldwide:

“He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God, from the border of Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea. May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor. May He lead our enemies under our soldiers’ sway, and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is the Lord your God, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.”

About the Author
Gülin 'Eva' Geloğulları is a Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding professional. Originally from Türkiye, she holds interdisciplinary academic degrees from different countries. After completing her first MA in Media Arts at the University of North Texas, she received a Rotary Global Grant for Peace. She chose to study in Israel to understand "the other" points, as she was never exposed to. She earned her second international MA in Public Policy, Conflict Resolution, and Mediation at Tel Aviv University. Then, she completed her third international MA in Israel Studies: Society and Politics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem through a scholarship gifted by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After completing her studies, she received Professional Training in Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. In her professional and personal life, Gülin Eva stands firmly in the middle—seeking to unite people to dialogue and collaborate for a more compassionate world.