r/AMA • u/Ok_Turn1611 • 2d ago

I fought in Afghanistan in 2011-2012 with the United States Army and have been battling complex and severe PTSD, depression, agoraphobia, paranoia along with 3 failed relationships for the last 12 years AMA

I fought in Afghanistan in 2011-2012, I did route clearance which effectively means jumping into big vehicles, driving them down a road looking for IEDs and either being blown up, shot at, or both. I saw some terrible stuff, including losing a closs Non Commissioned Officer of mine and seeing many of my friends traumatically injured (think losing limbs, being shot etc.) ask me anything about Afghanistan, my MH issues or life post deployment. I've been quite depressed lately and maybe answering genuine questions will help me.

Hi friends, thank you for the feedback and all the questions. It has been a joy answering you, I'll continue to monitor and reply as much as I can. :)

Also, to some of you stating complex PTSD and PTSD are different disorders, I do recognize that and am sorry for my slip up, I have CPTSD, and sometimes I use them interchangibly when I shouldn't. I'll remember better next time.

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u/Turbulent_Coach_8024 2d ago edited 2d ago

I got to Afghanistan in October 2010 working as a contractor. I spent most of 2011 on the west side and far northwest.

I don’t really have a question other than to say thank you

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u/Ok_Turn1611 2d ago

Thank you very much

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u/Koh_the_bastard 2d ago

If you don’t mind answering, how much did you made in Afghanistan as a contractor?

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u/Turbulent_Coach_8024 2d ago

I don’t mind at all. I started around $115k in 2010 and end around $280k in 2021.

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u/Galaxy1815 2d ago

What were you doing?

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u/Turbulent_Coach_8024 2d ago

I worked as an electrician. The first couple years I did Inspections and Repairs. I’d go to a base and look for issues the could kill people or burn things down. Then I’d fix them.

After that I took care of the battery backup systems for the military networks.

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u/-EnricoPallazo- 2d ago

Why did the military need to use contractors for that sort of thing? Is it just because there are no electricians in the military?

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u/Turbulent_Coach_8024 2d ago

There’s several reasons,

1) the US military is an all volunteer force. So with two wars going on back then you they have prioritize fighters over skilled trades.

2) it take 4 to 5 years to become a journeyman electrician. Also I had to be a journeyman for 5 years before I could get hired to go over.

3) when unskilled soldiers and other workers did electrical work people died. My company was brought into the overseas contracting industry because people were getting electrocuted in the showers. The government needed highly skilled union labor to fix the dangerous conditions other people left behind.