ASSISTING VETERANS FROM THEATERS OF OPERATIONS – A COMPARATIVE APPROACH IN OTHER NATO COUNTRIES

Abstract

The participation of personnel from the defense, public order and national security structures of the Romanian state in international missions to combat terrorism, support peace or humanitarian began in 1993 and continues today (being involved so far over 55,000 soldiers, according to official sources). Only this year, the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) will participate with a staff of 1940 military and civilians in missions and operations outside the Romanian state, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) will contribute 841 soldiers and police. In all these years, at least 1500 people / year were involved, who performed missions in at least 3 different locations around the world. Deployment in a theater of operations is equivalent to carrying out complex missions, with a high degree of risk and exposure to extreme dangers, which left wounds seen and unseen. A number of 30 soldiers fell on duty, and another 177 soldiers were seriously injured in the theaters of operations, most of them being classified as disabled. Unseen wounds acquired as a result of exposure to potentially traumatic events take the form of post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbid conditions (PTSD, which affects between 5% and 18% of those participating in such missions in partner countries).