It was after a \u201cpost-traumatic stress event\u201d on the Texas border that could have cost him his job that Army veteran Vincent \u201cRocco\u201d Vargas finally admitted he had a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The special operations Border Patrol officer, who had enlisted in the military in 2003, had served three military deployments \u2015 two to Afghanistan and one to Iraq \u2015 with the Army\u2019s 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. But he didn\u2019t think he was hung up on any of the uncomfortable moments he had experienced there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had buried them down and, eventually, they manifested themselves. The smells in the air that night triggered an overwhelming response, where Vargas did not know if he was overseas in a warzone or on the border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHolding an M4; running after someone in night vision; wearing gloves \u2015 the smells of an illegal alien running from me is the same smell of someone from Afghanistan,\u201d Vargas said Thursday in a phone interview with Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By making the wrong move he could have gotten fired and spent the rest of his life in prison, he said. He made the right choice, but that night was a big flashing sign. Not all veterans wrestling with demons are so lucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took a failed marriage, alcoholism and almost losing his career for Vargas finally to decide to see a counselor and make changes. And, also, to convince him to stop drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There often is a black cloud over our military veterans, said Vargas, who left active duty in 2007 and is a drill sergeant, a sergeant first class, in the Army Reserve, working on retirement. When they get out of the military they are wondering one thing: Will I be a statistic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNone of us raise our kids to be alcoholics,\u201d said the now social media and entertainment star, who has been sober for two years. “None of us raise our kids to say, \u2018Hey, you might commit suicide one day.\u2019 None of us do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t do that in parenting, why would we do that in the military?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vargas, who after his time in the military and Border Patrol made a name for himself with funny \u201cvet bro humor\u201d YouTube videos and the \u201cDrinking Bros Podcast.” He appeared in the \u201cRange 15<\/a>\u201d veterans zombie comedy film and \u201cBrothers in Arms\u201d on the History Channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\t