S. citizens has had a terrible effect on American war veterans who fought in Vietnam. Surely, one of the best methods of preventing physical and psychological war traumas would be to prevent wars. However, when there is no other option than to commit warfare, psychology is essential in preparing individuals for battle. Contemporary fighting techniques have progressed greatly, but matters are still critical when considering military training in regard to killing, given that soldiers are provided with through teachings regarding conflict-related situations, but the taking of human lives is seldom brought into question, with military leaders professing about how it is natural to kill in decisive moments.

Most Americans who fought in the Vietnam War are to this day unable to understand what they did wrong. Grossman comes to their assistance, explaining how it was not necessarily their fault that the nation was unsupportive toward the war, but that there were a series of factors involved in the event. Firstly, most of them were not offered the opportunity to use instinct in the conflict, considering that they were largely commended by their leaders, who would not allow ration to interfere with orders.

It was extremely difficult to be a part of the Vietnam War, as everyone was involved in the killings that took place there, regardless if they were medics, drivers, or hardened soldiers taught to let nothing stand in their way. Vietnam War veterans were denied the chance to a cool-down period during which they could contemplate on the events they were part of and being partially cured by the feeling of guilt they had through group therapy. People involved in the Vietnam War still have a difficult time getting over their past, since it haunts them and their community mostly everywhere they go.

Being a psychological casualty is disastrous, as one has their perception in regard to themselves, to life, and to society changed. Grossman has even invented a term for the psychology of killing-killology. The author recounts the case of police officers, who are similarly taught to do their jobs without hesitation, but who receive little to no training regarding how it is natural to kill. As a result, they are in most extreme conditions uncertain if it is right to kill someone, even if that respective person poses a threat to society.
The American military proved that they virtually anyone can be taught to kill, regardless of his or her background. The Post-Traumatic Syndrome is largely admitted to have become a major malady consequent to the Vietnam War, with combat veterans being unable to deal with their past. Most of these people will feel that their presumptions are confirmed consequent to reading Grossman's book. The writing provides information regarding how the American military in particular was determined to obtain a standard soldier, one that would not be indecisive when being asked to react with extreme violence. Killing a human being is not as easy as the military wants people to think, as it leaves a permanent mark on the people that actually killed. Present day military leaders have presumably learnt from past mistakes made during the Vietnam War. Even with that, little changes were actually performed in the American military system, as present day soldiers still have a hard time coping with the events they went through.

Bibliography:

1. Grossman, Dave. (1996). "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society." Back Bay Books.