Left to fend for myself; Social Trauma Part -1-

“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”

Groucho Marx, even in jest, speaks for a very select few. Maslow's hierarchy of needs speaks for the rest of us, in his often depicted pyramid consisting of five human needs. Maslow's list includes the need to satisfy physiological needs, and they include: breathing, homeostasis, water, sleep, food, sex, clothing, and shelter. With physical needs satisfied, the individual's safety needs surface: personal security, financial security, health and well-being and a safety net against accidents/illness.

After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third layer of human needs is social. This psychological aspect of Maslow's hierarchy involves emotionally-based relationships in general, such as; friendship, intimacy and having supportive and communicative family and fellowship groups.

The need for community is expressed in childhood when athletic teams are chosen and all can remember the anxiety of not being an early choice as team members are chosen. Those who were involved in salvationist activities in their formative years will recall the heightened excitement when, following an audition, being selected to play in the 'A' band or getting a part in an Army musical or annual congress youth chorus.

In my professional career, prior to becoming a SA officer, I enjoyed my role as a member and Officer in various clubs and groups including the Rotary Club in the cities where I lived, the Airline Sales Managers' Association of New York, the Faculty Senate in the state university where I taught, etc.

Growing up in the home of SA officers offered me many opportunities to observe a different type fellowship. One need not be a party to it to appreciate the sacred union they enjoy having followed the same call and life path. Their purpose was unique to the point where they voluntarily abandoned all else to follow Jesus and to do His will. There is virtue in giving up all to follow any worthwhile goal but none more so than following and doing the will of God. There is a bond among SA Officers beyond the simple rejection of the secular. Lifestyle is prescribed from Christ's commandment
 which is at the heart of Christian love, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

Christian love is not that fraternal feeling or filial sense of belonging found in golf clubs, scout troops, sports’ teams or musical ensembles; it’s a learned life choice and practiced lifestyle. It’s beyond and above a fleeting wish to belong and do good. It’s the categorical imperative taught to us by Jesus, the founder of our fellowship. We’ve preached on it- we believed it ! Christian love is giving to others - it's doing so even if they can't pay you back. It’s what we'd expect to witness and experience when leaving the comradeship we enjoyed and relished as officers from those remaining in the ranks.

I can honestly not remember any of my parents ever speaking badly or critising another Officer; it was a fellowship of support and encouragement. On occasion my father would say that he wished Major so and so had been more forceful and compelling in the altar call. Being a fine musician himself he would on occasion term a musical arrangement silly or ‘cheap’. The worst I can remember my mother saying was ‘her uniform skirt was a bit too short’ or ‘the seam in her stocking was crooked’, but always in a jovial manner.

Officer get-togethers had a special air about them. There were the inside ‘Army’ jokes that most of us young people couldn’t quite understand. That is except when it came time for the moves to be announced. The speculation about who would go where and which Majors would be promoted to Brigadiers and Brigadiers to Lieutenant Colonels etc was always good for 30 minutes of comic speculation. I learned at a young age that promotions in rank matters only to those wanting more pips on their epaulets !

The first time I really witnessed the very real and true officership fellowship was at the death of my twin brother at age seventeen. The scores of condolences shared via cards, telephone calls, personal visits and flowers was astounding to me. The hall was filled to overflowing, midday on a week day. In that we were both members of the Staff Band the band was on duty and the Territorial Commander broke from his official duties to conduct the funeral. To think that so many hundreds who had never met my brother and many perhaps not knowing my parents would bond together was, in my view, extraordinary.

I saw a similar outpouring of love, respect and support when my father was Promoted to Glory. And again, the several times my mother had to go through heart surgery. Cards of concern and calls were received from both home and abroad. There exists a fellowship of incredible care and concern that non- officers would find difficult to understand. And the truly unique thing about it is that it’s not a role that’s awakened when an officer or family member is ill or dying; it’s a daily practice.

Why then, if officers claim and witness to this acquired sense of compelling care are we, the former officers, the ones closest to them, so quickly forgotten ? Is there not a difference in the secular professional groups to which we seek membership and those with a unique spiritual thread ? More than two hundred former Officers in this fellowship, and no doubt hundreds of others wonder, has the Army's attitude moved from the spiritual to the secular as it concerns us ?

Dr. Sven Ljungholm
Former
USA, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine
Active soldier, SA Exeter, UK