> > The American Military Man
> >
> > Whether or not we agree with the proposed war with Iraq,
> > the troops deserve all the support we can give them
> >
> > The average age of the military man is 19 years.
> > He is a short haired, tight muscled kid who, under normal
> > circumstances is considered by society as half man, half
> > boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a
> > beer, but old enough to die for his country.
> >
> > He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax
> > his own car than wash his father's; but he has never
> > collected unemployment either.
> >
> > He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an
> > average student, pursued some form of sport activities,
> > drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend
> > that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be
> > waiting when he returns from half a world away.
> >
> > He listens to rock and roll or hip hop or rap or jazz or
> > swing and 155 mm Howitzers.
> >
> > He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home
> > because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well
> > after dusk.
> >
> > He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for
> > him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and
> > reassemble it in less time in the dark.
> >
> > He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or
> > grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
> >
> > He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like
> > a professional.
> >
> > He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is
> > told to march.
> >
> > He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is
> > not without spirit or individual dignity.
> >
> > He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he
> > washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full
> > and his feet dry.
> >
> > He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean
> > his rifle.
> >
> > He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix
> > his own hurts.
> >
> > If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you
> > are hungry, his food.
> >
> > He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of
> > battle when you run low.
> >
> > He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons
> > like they were his hands. He can save your life -- or take
> > it, because that is his job.
> >
> > He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half
> > the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen
> > more suffering and death than he should have in his short
> > lifetime.
> >
> > He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to
> > create them.
> >
> > He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have
> > fallen in combat and is unashamed.
> >
> > He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through
> > his body while rigid attention, while tempering the burning
> > desire to 'square away' those around him who haven't
> > bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
> > In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he
> > defends their right to be disrespectful.
> >
> > Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather,
> > he is paying the price for our freedom.
> >
> > Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
> >
> > He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country
> > free for over 200 years.
> >
> > He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and
> > understanding.
> >
> > Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and
> > admiration with his blood.
> >

Very nice.

Thank you for posting that and reminding us who these soldiers are.

:nice:

Remind me, if you will, exactly what we're fighting for?:confused:

Proud to be a Staff Sergeant in the USAF!

Tufftoy, its ok. Just cause your airforce doesnt mean I will make fun of ya..Army Rules..:D

lmao

anyone who believes that description has obviously not spent much time on active duty (but then of course most of the biggest warmongers/"support the troops" rhetoriticians have never been in the military).

a more accurate picture of your typical male serice member would be a naive kid thinking he's helping his country and getting a free ticket to college by joining the already bloated defense industry, who quickly has his misconceptions crushed and simply resigns himself to what is a fairly easy althogh medicore job (generally navy and air force fall into this category)

or

your typical bonehead jock who wants to prove how tough he is by enlisting in the military. this guy cares about nothing but cars, booze, sex, and usually tobacco, he treats women like garbage and has never had an original thought in his life (generally marines and army)

there are exceptions to the above stereotypes but believe me, idiots and jerks are the strong majority in the military.

trust me I've been on active duty for over four years now.

PEACE

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

So which of the two categories you've outlined do YOU fall into - or are you one of the blessed, enlightened, minority???

No, I definitely fall into the first category.

I should add that the coolest people are in the junior ranks, and yes I have met many sincere and good friends in the military.

I don't regret joining, but I am anxious to get out. I was not very politically aware when I joined, I have seen and learned a lot since then that makes me fairly disgusted to be in the "service".

I also, although I have been deployed to "hostile" areas, I've never been in a combat situation, so maybe the flat-topped macho morons I see all to often here at home really do turn into benevolent fighting comrades in the field.

I know there are many good people in the military, but I stand by my statement that they are in the minority.

The whole "Johnny Apple Pie" young clean cut soldier image is a joke, those exact types are usually the xenophobic misanthropes who wind up beating their wives or girlfriends after too many drinks at the E club.

That's a fair response - although I don't agree with your assertion that good people are in the minority. Perspective probably has much to do with it. I've been in for eleven years, and have both active and reserve service as a junior enlisted and NCO, as well as active service as a junior officer.

Responsibilities in each sector vary significantly and often I recognize situations where I realize that what seemed to be a FUBAR goatrope as a PFC/SPC is actually much more complicated than I ever imagined.

For every joker that acts the fool like you've described, there are ten soldiers that do not.

No matter where you are or what you do, there's always ten percent......

Originally posted by Shelter
Tufftoy, its ok. Just cause your airforce doesnt mean I will make fun of ya..Army Rules..:D
hell ya!! HOooaahhhh!!!!:D