Charles W. Hoge’s book Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior is a guide for veterans who have survived war and are attempting to cope with the stress of civilian life, sleep problems, PTSD, and other issues that soldiers face after serving in a combat zone. In the book, the author provides examples of such stress and suggests coping strategies for veterans facing a variety of challenging circumstances during peacetime. Every practical piece of advice is followed by a narration of one of the warriors, Sgt. Schindler attempts to put the advice into practice by discussing his life and experiences in Vietnam, as well as what he faced after leaving the military (Hoge, 2010, p. 84). Chapters 4 through 7 are among the most important in the book, as they provide practical advice on learning skills to help overcome post-traumatic stress disorder and reveal the main issues that warriors must deal with.
The book is a guide for those who have had traumatic experiences during combat operations and believe they are unable to cope with even the most basic situations in everyday life. The author explains that during training, a soldier learns many reflexes necessary for survival; however, upon returning to civilian life, these reflexes can seriously interfere with their lives and harm their personal relationships. The book is aimed at veterans who are having personal difficulties, are unable to cope with their aggression, are unable to sleep well, and believe that alcohol and drugs are not the solution to their problems.
The book will also be beneficial to those close to such a soldier who wish to understand and assist him. The book explains, in simple terms, why the soldier reacts in certain situations and why it is necessary to help him rather than condemn him. The book’s goal is to teach soldiers how to live with their emotions, sleep, relax, and figure out what works best for each individual. However, to learn, one must first understand what is happening and stop blaming or feeling sorry for oneself. According to the author, a person must accept it within oneself and recognize that it has become a part of their life.
The book includes several questionnaires to help identify and understand stress, sleepiness, and alcoholism. To accomplish this, the author first provides an example of two anonymous soldiers who experienced various forms of PTSD. One of the soldiers awoke in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep, and began drinking alcohol, which exacerbated the situation (Hoge, 2010, p. 52). Another soldier yelled at his fiancée, who refused to answer the phone, scaring her nephews (Hoge, 2010, p. 52).
In both cases, the soldiers developed reflexes that allowed them to survive the war. These include short sleep and situations that can affect a soldier’s life and carry over into civilian life without realizing they’re no longer in the war. The author explains that even if the soldier later realizes they have acted strangely, the body reacts in a completely different way, and it takes time to readjust. The author believes that the most important thing is to get a good night’s sleep, preferably without any medical interventions, to avoid drinking alcohol, and to replace it with exercise and a healthy diet. It is also essential for the warrior to express their feelings, practice meditation, and breathe properly.
The soldier should tell their story, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in person with a psychologist or on a blog; it should be as comfortable as possible. Chapter 7 discusses how to handle stressful situations without losing one’s temper, how to find something to distract oneself, and how to avoid reacting to the situation and to people who may be acting inappropriately. The book is written in very sensitive language, free of judgment, with a good understanding of the situation, and it includes real-life stories from the sergeant, lending credibility to the idea that these tips work.
Reference
Hoge, C. W. (2010). Once a Warrior Always a Warrior. Lyons Press.