Vietnam had 50k KIA, and taught a generation of young conscripts how to stick with their buddies, and how to dish out organized violence. Many of them returned to become normal businessmen, labourers, lawyers, and doctors. Some others bounced off normal society. They enjoyed their new lifestyle and found ways to apply their new talents (guns, fighting, and running drugs). Motorcycle gangs were the archetype. WW2 and Vietnam vets formed the backbone of several outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Russia is just starting to relive the joys of young men returning from an ugly war with ugly new skills. Their last round was Afghanistan, and that was a kids' party in comparison.
Yeah, sure. But I was confused about its relation to bank robberies specifically, and if this was a well studied thing or something. It's plausible sure, but is there data showing that a significant portion of the robbers were former military?
