After four years in the Army I have decided the military does not care about soldiers’ families.

When I enlisted, there was an article about family being capitalized to show the importance of our families. I rarely see anything that shows support for military families. I see a system that looks out for the best interests of the Army.

Many enlisted soldiers come from modest backgrounds. Soldiers receive their bonus, which is probably the most cash they ever had. This "wealth" gives them a false sense of financial security.

Their next move is to get married. The soldier then leaves for Iraq or Afghanistan. Within months, the spouse begins depleting the bank account. The soldier returns to a broken home and bank account.

But the military has a system to help. The per diem check usually hits a soldier’s bank account when he realizes he has nothing left. Then he must decide: Does he re-enlist and get the money to start over, or does he leave and hope he has job skills for the real world? Many people re-enlist, even though they hate their job.

This is what the military wants for the families of enlisted soldiers — cheap labor for an extended period of time.

The answer to why so many soldiers commit suicide is simple: too much, too fast, over too long a period of time. Soldiers choose suicide because there is no life in the military and they have not been given the training to get a real job.

The solution to these problems would be simple: quarterly training for all soldiers in order to make them accountable for failed marriages.

I love my job, my wife and son. It just amazes me that these issues are as clear as day, yet no one talks about them.

Spc. John "Rudy" RudulphIraq

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