In 2010, the Pentagon purchased more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) than manned aircraft, marking the start of a new age of more abstract and detached, yet ruthlessly efficient form of warfare.  This change has not been without some unforeseen and unintended consequences. Air Force intelligence personnel, as well as those who operate UAVs such as the Predator and the Reaper from stateside locations are beginning to manifest symptoms of combat trauma as they see both allied and enemy forces die in real time on a recurring basis.

One analyst described his experience as follows:  "Two Stryker armored vehicles crawled up a road. I saw a dark spot in the road, where perhaps the dirt had been disturbed. The first Stryker drove around it. Smart move, I thought. The second drove over it and an enormous explosion bloomed on the screen. Live on TV, I  had just witnessed seven deaths. We had guys going to see the chaplain after that one." 

An Air Force chaplain reports that watching live video feeds of air strikes and their aftermath, as well as launching missiles and watching the deadly results in real time are beginning to traumatize the UAV and Intelligence communities.  One reporter put it this way after observing UAV operations: "I step into the daylight, where a 100 degree breeze swirls, and after just a couple hours of watching missions, I feel as though I'm in Afghanistan, so strong was the mental shift." 

In ground combat, our forces have "battle buddies" with whom they can decompress after a firefight.  Because UAV missions and the resulting intelligence are highly classified and conducted from US bases, however, Intel and UAV staffs can't discuss the day's events with their families when they go home after work.  As a result, the prolonged and repeated exposure to violent events is beginning to emerge as a new form of combat trauma.