It is impossible to understand how men volunteered, accepted conscription and continued to fight without taking into account their beliefs about the war. For soldiers, these patriotic notions were also mixed with other emotions, as well as a good dose of realism according to Defense News.
Few really thought that the war would be over quickly. Many served out of thought for their families and friends as much as through loyalty to their country. For others, regular pay and help for their families have influenced their decision and motivation to serve
As time goes by many soldiers fight for each other as much as for remoter loyalties such as to Nigeria. The danger of protracted wars are men respond differently under fire. For both sides actually.
For Boko Haran the helplessness of suffering artillery bombardment is the hardest thing to deal with. For Nigerian troops losing close buddies who they have bonded with over time can be extremely difficult to take. More subtle is dealing with an opportunistic enemy.
Group panic could break out during a sudden unexpected attack, as could more serious breaches of discipline, particularly when troops were especially exhausted or bore grievances after calls for support from anywhere fall on deaf ears.
As soldiers spend more time under fire, they tended to develop thick-skinnedness and become hardened to the rigours of the Front. That thickness can be turned to jelly when a close buddy that was alive 1 minute ago is dead the next minute.
In general, older hands do better with managing the intense feeling of terror that inflict itself under fire. Soldiers also sometimes cope with long stretches of anxious waiting in their trenches, as time goes on this turns to anxiety and extreme stress
Many, do not cope well with the stresses of the war. during periods of great political and social upheaval with media negativity soldiers begin to question exactly what they are fighting for in the first place? betrayed by the military, condemned by the media,civilians
Many men find it hard to relate their sense of service with a civilian society and media that has increasingly come to gloat at their losses for political and ideological expediency. The psychological consequences of this drama is unfathomable
That is why long and bitter wars of attrition favours the unconventional enemy. It gives room for others to hijack the insurgency, it gives room to monitor public opinion and create propaganda to exploit this. Its a crazy and unsustainable way to fight.
An unwavering show of support by the people regardless of political affiliation is sometimes all they have to keep them going. Take that away and you create a breeding ground for resentment, disillusion and anger.
An unwavering show of support by the people regardless of political affiliation is sometimes all they have to keep them going. Take that away and you create a breeding ground for resentment, disillusion and anger.
Make no mistake, the military is doing a phenomenal job and is hitting the enemy hard. But it only gtakes a few Boko Haram attacks to change that narrative as opportunistic fighters they are. There must be synergy between both arms services. Any failure should not be seen as an army or airforce failure. The enemy will do all it takes no break the supply lines troops need to keep operating. Army helicopters should be at the beck and call of troops when called upon. Boko Haram has one thing working in their favour
we are surrounded by countries who hate us. Countries whose paymaster hate us even more. Internal discord in the ranks of the military and civilian population will be exploited to the fullest. We must show unshakable resolve lest we lose the initiative again
Defense News
