Good day all, a few thoughts on this article and comments.

Soldiers taking OTC meds and govt research. I can almost garauntee the research was in response to soldiers taking over the counter (OTC) meds, not the other way around. The troops are much quicker to find ways to increase their survivability and the higher ups adopt those that are cost effective. You can bet the first rifle sling was bailer twine attached by a grunt and not a design feature of the rifle. The military won't endorse the use of OTC meds until the research is done, but they won't prevent their use until then either.

Prozac and returning to duty. This could be an effort to minimize PTSD. You do not get PTSD in a theatre of war. You have traumatic experiences in theatre and have stress reactions to them. You get PTSD afterwards when avoidance behavior overtakes your life.

For instance a soldier loses members of their section on a foot patrol. At first the soldier feels stressed walking in a park, and quits doing so. Then the soldier feels stress walking down city streets, so quits doing so. The soldier has nightmares, so begins drinking to numb them. The avoidance behavior eventually can't cope with the building stress, and more extreme measures are taken such as violence against others or suicide.

Returning soldiers to combat zones where they can properly confront the traumatic experiences minimizes the chance of getting PTSD. The environment is key. The prozac probably helps the process. I hope this is the reason they are returning troops to the front with the prozac.

Genetic engineering. For the western world, the strategic advantage of the industrial revolution is pretty much over. The knowledge based strategic advantage is running out of time too. Maybe this is the next strategic advantage? I would see it getting used in more profitable ways than enhancing soldiers first.