How The Enemy Is Silently Attacking Our Military Personnel

Anyone who enlists in the military understands that their decision will have a major impact on their lives. They know that they will endure a lot of intense physical training. Beyond that, they know that they must be prepared for deployment.

While on deployment, these men and women know that they could encounter enemies who are bent on destruction. As a result, they understand that they may be faced with life-or-death situations. Regardless of the perceived risks, they still selflessly enlist to serve and defend our great nation.

Initially, however, they fail to realize that they’ll also encounter a personal battle. The time away from family and friends will likely fuel loneliness. When combined with other fear and stress that they’ll face, this can leave them searching for ways to numb the pain. Quickly, many realize the importance of dealing with these personal issues. If left go, they can decrease their effectiveness in the line of duty.

But where should you turn? How should one deal with the pain?

Coping Mechanisms

Scott Radetski, retired Navy Chaplain, shares,

“In the military, healthy self-soothing techniques are focused on exercise, good hydration, sleep, hygiene, and healthy eating. That doesn’t mean negative alternatives are nonexistent – the military does have a zero-tolerance for drug use and a low tolerance for alcohol use. Self-soothing with food isn’t practical because of weight standards.”

As a result, many will turn to porn. Radetski stated, “The high availability and affordability of electronic pornography can easily take hold and control our choices…And it did for me. The cumulative stress, and especially my combat stress, was demanding a voice and I was frantically trying to avoid it.

While deployed, others had discovered masturbation helped with sleep, reduced stress, and also avoided painful memories. In me, it awakened my earlier childhood experiences with porn. It began impulsively, turned to compulsive behavior, and eventually turned to a repulsive, shame-filled lifestyle. What appeared to be helpful became a destructive habit difficult to break.”

Related Article: Is Restoration Possible After Porn Addiction?

Scott is not alone.

Dr. Andrew Doan, head of the Addictions and Resilience Research Department at Naval Medical Center San Diego, sees this heavy usage of porn as a problem for the military. He notes,

“Emotional health is linked to sexual health, directly affecting human resilience and service members’ abilities to perform at their best.”

Cause And Effect

Military porn users have many of the same underlying causes for viewing porn that civilians do. They’re often battling loneliness, boredom, feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Additionally, they could be dealing with memories of childhood emotional and physical abuse or rejection by family members. Aside from that, military members face other unique factors to those serving in the Armed Forces.

Related Article: How The Loneliness Epidemic Is Linked To Porn

According to Erica Smith, M.A., NCC, a clinical team member at Red River Hospital in Wichita, Texas, one theory for sexual addiction among service personnel is that it is “a way to relieve themselves from the negative emotions that they feel as a result of having been deployed. For some, sex acts as a tool that they can use to distract themselves from the memories of what they experienced or from the stresses and challenges that they face as part of reintegrating back into civilian society.”

Related Article: 6 Lies Men Believe When They Struggle With Porn

Smith added, “They are looking for something that they can use to numb the bad feelings they have, and sex appears as a less dangerous alternative to using drugs or alcohol, as many individuals do in an attempt to escape from the realities of everyday life. Sex becomes a new coping skill that potentially replaces other healthy methods of coping.”

It’s Cheating, a website devoted to fighting infidelity in the digital age, noted,

“Separated from their families for prolonged periods of time, it isn’t hard to understand how pornography could offer comfort and relief, albeit short-lived. But for some veterans, a porn habit becomes an escape hatch – one that doesn’t necessarily disappear when the immediate stressors have dissipated and the family is reunited on home ground… Stress, traumatic wartime experiences, isolation from family, sleep deprivation and childhood abuse are all commonly cited factors that contribute to pornography addiction among veterans.”

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No Respecter Of Persons

Understand this, pornography’s tentacles reach beyond new recruits or low-ranking personnel. It is widespread through all levels and in all branches.

Many officers and highly-trained men and women have been connected with porn. Often, they don’t realize that this can cause further detriment to them, their families, and even their careers.

In 2014, a Brigadier General plead guilty to the possession of pornography, inappropriate relationships, and conduct unbecoming of an officer.
In 2019, an Air Force Colonel plead guilty to receiving child pornography and photographing underage girls without their consent.
In 2016, an Army Colonel plead guilty to three counts of pornography during a military court-martial. A federal judge sentenced him to 12 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child porn.
In 2006, seven paratroopers faced charges after appearing in pornographic material on a homosexual website.
In 2022, an Army Soldier was sentenced to 5 years in prison by a U.S. District Judge for possession of porn and threatening to assault or murder a federal employee who were in charge of monitoring his online activity.
In 2022, a former Air Force Master Sergeant was sentenced to 5 years in prison, in addition to loss of all pay, a demotion of rank to airman basic along with being dishonorably discharged, for multiple charges of child porn.

Scott Radetski shared,

“It (pornography) ruined my career as a Chaplain, an ordained minister, and a man of faith. My testimony was tainted and shame ruled my heart and mind. It activated PTSD – I believed as the Chaplain my sin was responsible for the death of my Marines.”

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Collateral Damage

An article published on the emotional wounds of war and their relation to porn usage shared, “Like other forms of addiction, pornography addiction affects many more people than just the addict. Pornography can be as destructive to families and marriages as real-life infidelity. In the past 10 years, military divorce rates have climbed nearly 40 percent and experts believe that pornography addiction may be a significant contributing factor.”

Jon R. Anderson wrote in The Army Times, “With the explosion of Web 2.0 – social networking sites, video sharing, blogs, wikis and mash-ups – the seamy side of Porn 2.0 is picking off military marriages and killing promising careers like a shadow army of well-placed snipers.”

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for service personnel to return home from a deployment addicted to porn. Military spouses report these destructive addictions often continue after the deployment has ended.

Related Article: Enlisting Wounded Warriors To Combat Child Porn

Retired Chaplain Radetski stated,

“I brought the trauma home and infected my wife and kids…My children, at their most formative years, were pushed away, confused, and struggled with their own identity issues.”

Marine Captain Jerome “Jerry” Lademan noted, “So many men and women are being sucked in. Their lives and careers are damaged and often ruined by porn. Service members are extremely vulnerable since they are young, away from home, and often in tough situations. They need all the support we can give them to know that they CAN overcome an addiction that is dragging them down.”

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How To Say Thank You

Our military members face many hardships and dangers to protect us. It is important for us, as Americans, to take a moment to express our gratitude for their many sacrifices. But it’s not enough to just say “thank you.”

We must be willing to pray for their safety and for their families as well. But beyond that, we should pray for those who are battling with porn to find freedom from porn’s bondage.

Whether you’re a veteran returning home or a civilian who struggles with porn, there is hope for you. Remember that Jesus Christ loves you. Because of His love, He wants you to experience the fullness of His love and mercy. Don’t be afraid to lean on Him as you press onward towards victory over porn.

Millions of men around the world have started their journey to a life free from porn through the use of the Conquer Series. The Conquer Series uses powerful testimonies, strong Biblical teaching, and scientific information to help overcome porn. Drawing on an analogy of battle, the series features numerous engaging military reenactment scenes that often speak to the heart and mind of those who’ve served our country.

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Don’t Go It Alone

You can’t win this war by yourself. If you want freedom, you will need to connect with others who are on the same journey. For this reason, we encourage you to consider joining a Conquer Group. Not only will you meet godly men who have already fought this battle, but you’ll find prayer, encouragement, and support. And all of these components are vital to your success.

Related Article: Why Man Cannot Quit Porn Alone

We encourage you to join the millions of men in over 100 countries who are learning to live free of porn through the proven strategies and practical tools taught in the Conquer Series.

Scott Radetski recently celebrated three years of sobriety from sexual sin. He shared,

“What I thought would help preserve my life ended my career. I know that I couldn’t serve God when I was serving shame, regret, and guilt. I knew the secrets I was trying to keep were keeping me. I couldn’t run, I couldn’t hide, I couldn’t escape my shame and its crippling grip only got tighter. I knew I couldn’t survive without help. Seeing Dr. Ted Roberts in the Conquer Series, and his testimony as a Marine fighter pilot opened the door for the help I needed. My identity was no longer held hostage by shame. Victory is in connection with God and others, not in willpower alone. I’m stronger than before and my victory is in Christ.”

You can also discover a life free from porn.