USAF Enlists Shrinks To Help Drone Pilots Cope 587
An anonymous reader writes "Flying drones from halfway-across the world used to be considered a cushy military job. But the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have become so dependent on the robo-planes that the Air Force has called in chaplains and psychiatrists to help these remote-control warriors cope. 'In a fighter jet, "when you come in at 500-600 miles per hour, drop a 500-pound bomb and then fly away, you don't see what happens," said Colonel Albert K. Aimar, who is commander of the 163d Reconnaissance Wing here and has a bachelor's degree in psychology. But when a Predator fires a missile, "you watch it all the way to impact, and I mean it's very vivid, it's right there and personal. So it does stay in people's minds for a long time."'"
Re:No Taste for Armageddon? (Score:5, Funny)
Might as well just send in the pikemen...
Be careful, sometimes they can beat battleships ;)
Here's an idea (Score:5, Funny)
Bonus points for hitting weddings, Chinese embassies, and British armoured columns.
flying drone (Score:2, Funny)
Flying drones from halfway-across the world used to be considered a cushy military job
I'm a flying drone and I can tell you, after flying all the way across the ocean your arms get tired pretty fast!
The guy at the controls is under stress, too.
(Damn it, I wanted to post anonymously but since I made a comment 17 minutes ago I can't)
Re:Everyday.. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:so youre basically saying that the uav pilots a (Score:3, Funny)
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Batman! (Score:3, Funny)
Wouldn't it be cheaper to modify the drone's camera software to simply send back images of 60s Batman-esque impact placards whenever a piece of ordnance strikes its target? The remote pilot would see the missile get fired away, then, just as it strikes its target, a comical "POW!" or "ZOT!" or "BLAMMO!" image appears overtop the carnage.
I daresay this would help our servicemen cope. ;-)
Re:Awwww. Poor Babies.... (Score:2, Funny)