Behavior: Treating War Veteran Amputees Like Elite Athletes Is A Good Start, But Not Enough

War veterans who lose limbs as a result of their deployment deserve to be treated like heroes — and treating them like elite athletes is a good start — but it’s not enough.

Psychologically, war veterans who are amputees suffer special psychological and physical circumstances when they re-enter civilian life. Some of the feelings that they have are loss, failure, grief and depression. Having to learn to walk or write again with a prosthesis for an arm or leg or both, can be a huge challenge physically and psychologically. This is also a giant adjustment for their families.

What is lost by treating them like elite athletes is the fact that athletes don’t risk their lives to play a support or compete in an Olympic game. Soldiers risk their lives and the well-being of their families every time they protect our country and our citizens. When they lose their limbs as a result of these missions, they are risking a lot more than any elite athlete risks. The most damage that most athletes risk is to blow out a knee, a shoulder or get a concussion. They don’t usually lose a limb.

When we learn to appreciate our military forces for everything they do, and everything they risk, then they won’t feel like anything less than heroes.