“Joining the army is not choosing to kill”: Towards an understanding of the emotional narratives of Colombian professional soldiers

Abstract

Introduction. This article presents the results of an analysis of two emotional events experienced by Colombian professional soldiers. For the purposes of this study, an emotional event is an event that the narrator defines as life-changing. Methods. The study is based on interviews with a sample of professional soldiers, conducted between 2015 and 2017. Results. Two emotional events were identified: “I no longer remember my civilian life: I am who I am now”, “Change of mindset”. In the first, the soldiers narrate how once they joined the army, their civilian life ceased to be a benchmark in their daily lives. In the second, soldiers mention that they did not learn to kill in the School of Professional Soldiers (ESPRO), but in the combat zone. Conclusions. The study of emotions is of vital importance to understand the daily life of people who are part of complex institutions such as the Colombian Army.