Health

Chris Cantell Discusses Health: Remote-control warriors suffer war stress
by Magdalena Rosova

The Air National Guardsmen who operate Predator drones over Iraq by remote control, are suffering the same psychological stress the soldiers on the battlefield.

Predator pilots launch deadly missile attacks from the safe California 7,000 miles from battlefield. They work in air-conditioned place, observe the field through video screens and kill the enemy with computer keystrokes. After work they travel home and sleep in their own beds.

But this transition costs a price. Aircraft's cameras let them see people dieing in high-resolution detail, which effects pilots mentally. The pilot's cameras allow to distinguish between a man and a woman. The resolution is not high enough to see faces, it is too sharp.

When Predators fire a missile, they do not only drop a bomb from a high and then fly away. "You watch it all the way to impact, and I mean it's very vivid, it's right there and personal. So it does stay in people's minds for a long time," says Albert K. Aimar, the commander.

Therefore officers employed full-time chaplains and offer the services of psychologists and psychiatrists to help the pilots.

In interviews none of the pilots said the had been troubled by their mission, but the admitted it comes with unique challenge. It's bizarre, I guess," said Michael Lenahan, a Predator pilot. "It is quite different, going from potentially shooting a missile, then going to your kid's soccer game."

Unlike soldiers living together, the Predators do not have the close friendships. Once they leave work, they need to leave war behind and become civil again. Many of them are thankful they have hour to drive home, because it gives them time to leave it all behind.

by Magdalena Rosova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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