Does Army destroy your mind?

I've always feared serving in Russian military because I've been told by friends that once you go to the army, you don't come back the same. Since I've always hoped for a career in science or research and development, I couldn't see myself coming back from the military service with a destroyed brain. Perhaps it's not so scary and most people come back fine.

However, in reading a recent NYTimes article about crimes being committed by the US veterans of the Iraq war, I found a startling quote,

-- “They break down your mind, and then they try to build you back up,” ... -- “Into a killer?” ... -- "Yes."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/us/27vets.html

Americans and Iraqis get engaged

After placing the bait, snipers observed the area around it, Captain Didier said in his statement. “If someone found the item, picked it up and attempted to leave with the item,” he said, “we would engage the individual, as I saw this as a sign that they would use the item against U.S. forces.” (Engage is a military euphemism for firing on or killing an enemy.)

According to an article in New York Times, "Snipers Baited and Killed Iraqis"