Ok. So, trust with a small t. My vet checks and double checks constantly. Did I shut the gate? Did I pack xyz? Yes. Yes. Am I sure? Yes. FFS yes! I've done it and checked it and then he went back and checked it again. Doesn't he trust me to do the smallest task? Nope. Because in his world if things are not done then people die. He's had the experience of asking a subordinate whether something was done, got the answer yes and then when "shits were trumps" as he says, it turns out its not done. And people died.
Ok. So, Trust with a capital T. A combat vet has seen what human beings are capable of doing to each other. Without being too graphic, my vet has spent weeks recovering bodies that had been tortured to death. Worse, he has dealt with the aftermath of his own side's mistakes. Trying desperately to save the life of a child who is dying in your arms because your own side screwed up? What about letting a detainee go because he lied to you and convinced you he was harmless only to find that in fact he is a combatant and once again people are dead.
And, finally, relationship trust. No different to the rest of us in that the closer someone is to you the more they can hurt you. But add on the layers above, add the anxiety / amygdala hijack of PTSD and you've got some serious trust issues.
Not sure if that helps, but yes many combat vets have major difficulties trusting others.
