A strong supporter of the Iraq War, Lars Ekstrom reported to boot camp in November 2003, six months after graduating high school. Ekstrom's faith in the military and the U.S. mission, however, steadily eroded during his training and subsequent deployment to Iraq. The young corporal became troubled by a lack of accountability on the part of a culture he says is too "indoctrinated" to reform itself. Training was inadequate, equipment and supplies were substandard, and, most damaging, Ekstrom was on the receiving end of a hazing campaign by other servicemen. Disillusioned and depressed, Ekstrom made repeated requests for assistance but was brushed off. Soon, he began to wonder if this and other forms of negligence was a greater risk to his personal safety than the enemy he had been trained to fight. After his discharge, Ekstrom waited six months for VA benefits and continues to overcome bureaucratic obstacles as he seeks treatment for his depression.
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