Many details about the 38-year-old American solider who allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians in a shooting spree are still unknown. However, the picture that is emerging is one of a career soldier under tremendous stress. Military sources say the gunman was married with two children. Although this was his first deployment in Afghanistan, he had over 10 years of service, including tours in Iraq. He also is reported to have previously suffered a traumatic brain injury and to have had problems at home after his last deployment. Despite those issues, the soldier – who is based at Fort Lewis in Washington state – was still deemed fit for combat duty. Scott Swaim is Director of Veteran Services at Valley Cities Counseling. He’s also a contractor for the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs’ War Trauma and PTSD Program. Russell Galeti was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, and is now a graduate student in Georgetown’s Master of Science in Foreign Service program.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!