Posted: 1/16/2004 11:42:14 AM EDT
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I know they do in terms of service to their country, honorable profession and sense of accomplishment, etc. But could a typical contemporary soldier ever hope to have the same sense of purpose that a WWII veteran had? The reason I ask is I believe every war since WWII, mostly in an effort to prevent WWIII, had been either officially a 'police action' or 'peacekeeping' mission. It's been a long time since anyone fought the 'bad guys.' Even our current war on terroism has no easily defined enemy or objective. We could still be trying to eradicate Al Quida or their next manifistation 40 years from now. Also it seems more and more reserves and the National Guard are mobilized while the standing army remains stateside. So the guys who 'joined to fight' are still doing whatever they were doing before the war and guys who signed on 'in case they need help' are forst to go, usually without the same amount of training and for periods of duty a lot longer than they expected or were led the believe would ever be requested. So the guys who should be there aren't and the guys who should be here are over there. It seems to me that would annoy both groups. And finally, while Al Quida is certainly a enemy force to be dealt with they don't have a formal allegiance with any country. So we aren't fighting nazis from Germany or Imperial troops from Japan we are fighting a insurgency similar to the VC. Even worse we often aren't fighting for our own sake. How many times have we sent troops to Haiti, the Balkans, Somlia, etc. under the jurisdiction of the blue beret or the UN. And when 'their' plan goes to shit - which it usually does like Boutros Boutros nation building in Somalia - they are the first one to pull up stakes and get the fuck outta Dodge leaving behind US dead with no retribution. So could a modern soldier fighting political wars that may or may not directly benefit the US ever have the same satisfaction at the end of the day as a US soldier in World War II? And can the families of the dead in ever take the same comfort with the same amount of pride as the families of servicemen who died at places like Tarawa, Bastogne or Normandy? |
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I believe you have some real valid points Steyr. Both of my Grandfathers in World War II had some real cut in stone bad guys they fought. If puting bombs on the Nazis or Island Hopping against the Japs. Even when I was in the Army I felt how you described about the fellows who fought in WWII and Korea. As if they had fought wars more in tune with the interest of the country rather than wars of phantom ideals or obejectives totally not thought out. On a side note perhaps the Army went to those funny black berets because it would be easier to transition to the blue ones. |
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Steyr, While it's true in a few cases that active duty folks are staying home while reservists are going overseas, this is very much the exception. Active duty units have been overseas a lot, with several divisions having had 3 or 4 major deployments over the last decade. That's a lot of "real work." But as a nation, we decided to reduce our active military by almost half, and rely much more on reservists, who are much cheaper to maintain during peacetime. What no one apparently anticipated is that we would need huge, long-term deployments that would use the reserve force anywhere near as often as they have been. The military still prefers it this way, because it allows them to spend more of their money on equipment and training, but there is a big push from the actual military members to increase the size of the active force and reduce the reliance on the Reserves. As for "job satisfaction?" I'd suggest that it really isn't any different from WWII. Some guys have some really good days, and some guys have some really awful days, and most people spend most of their time being too busy doing their jobs right and trying not to do anything stupid that could get them killed. -Troy |
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Today was a normal military day for me of sorts. It was my day off but I went into work anyway. The deputy assistant secretary for defense/pubic affairs was in to brief the command, I promoted a Army specialist to sergeant, awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal to a retiring petty officer first class, acted as a sounding board for my civilian bosses' troubles, managed a multi-million dollar contract, counseled a young third class petty officer who’s house burned down three months ago, father died two months ago, and who’s mom is now bouncing checks on her account used to help pay day care for her five year old son as a single mother, smoothed the path for another first class petty officer to take emergency leave because his grandmother died this morning, wrote a letter to one of my petty officers deployed to Djibouti, signed the advancement exam destruction letter … a pretty typical day. At the end of the retirement ceremony I played a moving slide show timed to Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA using photographs from Pearl Harbor and 9-11 to sort of book end the last 50 years of the US Navy’s involvement in the world. The final quote is a favorite of mine was superimposed over the NY skyline with the twin laser beams that were lit on the one year anniversary. “Any man who may be asked in this country what he did to make his live worthwhile … can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, ‘I served in the United States Navy’” – President John F. Kennedy, Aug 1, 1963 United States Naval Academy Annapolis Maryland. There weren't many dry eyes following that. I am not paid well, not very well educated, don’t live in a big house or drive a fancy car, and don’t get to live in the state of my choosing, but do I have job satisfaction? Hell yes. I was wearing dress blues this day and that swagger that comes from the pride of service was just a bit more pronounced because of it. Every woman young and old in the command remarked how sharp or handsome I looked today. Stopping at the town’s post office on the way out to lunch I turned every eye in the building. It's not my cutting figure they're looking at and remarking about - it's the uniform. To paraphrase Lee Greenwood - I am proud to be an American and proud to say that I have stood up every day for some twenty three years and counting to keep America strong and free. My job description is to protect the Constitution of the Untied States against all enemies both foreign and domestic – what a fucking great job description! I can image no other job which brings such satisfaction to a patriot. |
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As for "job satisfaction?" I'd suggest that it really isn't any different from WWII. Some guys have some really good days, and some guys have some really awful days, and most people spend most of their time being too busy doing their jobs right and trying not to do anything stupid that could get them killed. -Troy Well said! Yea some days are normal then the next 190 days might be spent in Afghanistan. The reason the reserves are called is the Army is too strung out. We need to stand up 2-3 more divisions then rotastions like Iraq and Afghanistan will not come around evert 5-6 months. I love my job I couldnt imagine doing anything else, but in 7 yrs I will retire and I will drown my sorrows of missing the Army with a bottle of Makers Mark and the lovely sound of 5.56mm going downrange. FREE |
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I gotta lot of admiration for you younger guys. during WW2 you KNEW what was going on. These days our servicemen have it a lot rougher in ways and easier in others. The clarity of cause is gone, the need for flexibility is there constantly. IMHO, the guys serving now are a whole lot better than the people I served with in the early 70s. Thank God for that!!!! And I'm off for a good night's sleep because of you guys. (Still, I miss my Brown Bess) |