“These terms are thrown around playfully all the time,” Kegley said, brushing it off. He could not stand being away from his son any longer. “I had a constant deployment status.”
“From what I’ve witnessed, there is absolutely no reason at all for us to have been involved in any conflict whatsoever,” Kegley said.
A comprehensive survey taken by the Pew Research Center argues otherwise. Veterans have a "more positive view" than Americans back home about the “overall worth of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars,” at 10 percent higher than civilians.
The survey says that more veterans feel their experience at war was rewarding, rather than burdensome.
“It has definitely given me a broader view on life itself, and discipline; I know that there are very few physical and mental limits if you have drive,” Kegley said.
According to advocacy group The Iraq Veterans Against the War, many veterans have been under “various pressures to remain silent” about their disapproval of the war.
“As far as both wars go, I feel that they are a tremendous waste of resources, money, and human life. Kegley said.
According to the survey, 72 percent of post 9/11 veterans say their military experience has allowed them to “feel more prepared for a career.” Forty-four percent had problems integrating into civilian life again.
Kegley was a noncombat soldier. He did not experience difficulty readjusting to civilian life.
For combat soldiers, 51 percent said they experienced difficulties adjusting, according to the poll.
“Nearly half (48 percent) say deployments have strained their relationship with their spouses,” and half have also "had problems with their children."
The military has been using noncombative soldiers to “rebuild social, political, and economic institutions in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
According to the survey, “six-in-ten” post- 9/11 veterans say the "United States should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home."
The Pew survey found that 53 percent of the general public approved of the way Obama is handling his duties as commander in chief, while most post 9/11 veterans do not.
“I do feel that President Obama has done a good job considering what he inherited from the prior administration,” said Kegley.
However, only one-third of post-9/11 veterans feel that both wars were worth fighting. According to the survey, both the general public and veterans feel that Afghanistan has been more worth it.
The Pew Research survey also found that 52 percent of Americans say that relying too much on military force to defeat terrorism “creates hatred that leads to more terrorism.” while 38 percent say that overwhelming military force is the only way to truncate it.
Kegley does not believe that military force is the proper solution for terrorism.
“It has had lackluster success.”
The new Pew survey says (96 percent) is proud of their military service.
One can be proud and also have trouble readjusting to civilian life at the same time.
William Quinn, an Iraq veteran published an article in the Washington Post saying “I’ve been out of Iraq for more than two years now, … but some of those surreal feelings are still with me.”
Quinn feels that the college life is “mundane,” and wonders if Baghdad is where he should be. Quinn feels “frustrated … that many of my college peers seem self-absorbed.” His peers cannot understand him.
