September 11, 2001 was by far the worst terrorist attack on American soil. Many viewers witnessed the catastrophic events live on national television. As the smoke and dust settled in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, Americans were left to ponder what the attacks meant for the nation. After the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush addressed Congress and the nation on October 7, 2001, announcing: "At my order, the United States Army has begun attacks on terrorist training camps of al Qaeda and the military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan" (The White House, 2001). It was at this time that the United States Army was ready to extend its capabilities to prevent and win hostilities both at home and abroad. Every soldier takes an oath when the decision is made to join the military, they promise to defend our country and fight for our freedom. Following the 9/11 attacks on our nation, United States (US) Army soldiers were forced to take the oath of office and fight multiple wars that required longer deployments and faster redeployment times. While wartime actions are essential to maintaining high levels of security for our nation, the unconstructive, stressful, and demanding disruption resulting from longer deployments may well overshadow the benefits by annihilating the personal lives of U.S. Army soldiers. For some U.S. Army soldiers, the agony of combat can be overwhelming and harmful to them physically and psychologically, leading them to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. The Definition of AlcoholismAlcoholism is known as a disease, syndrome, sign or symptom among an individual who consumes… middle of paper… the journey of this debilitating disorder. Soldiers who are fortunate enough to benefit from the treatment methods should succumb to their miraculous power by using them to overcome daily and life-altering stressors that may cross their path in life. Undoubtedly, research studies will be an ongoing process to determine the culprits that lead to alcohol abuse and to help reduce its rates. It is clear that alcoholism will be an ongoing problem in society. The reality of alcoholism is that people do whatever it takes to deal with it psychologically, without realizing the detrimental effect it could have on their life. I have high hopes that the future will improve treatments and that the United States Army will continue to provide support to those who have fallen victim to alcoholism due to their experiences during military conflicts on the battlefield.