Woot! America's Navy #1 !

[Patroklos]

If you are not all gung-ho over Iraq-2, then your having a way cooler job - which FYI I agree with you - is great. But if you are gung-ho over the Iraq intervention? Then if you do what Patroklos did - then you will have my respect. If you are just as pro-invasion, but prefer to opt-out of the nastiest parts of the conflict simple because you job is "cooler" - as I've said in other posts, I will let people draw their own conclusions...

Because it is his job. It takes thousands of skill sets to run a modern military, each one important. Some might seem more important than others at times, but that doesn't mean they are then the only ones worth doing. If every CT went blue to green and ended up a foot soldier in Tikrit, there would be no signal intelligence and all the foot soldiers would suffer. Not to mention all the arms smuggling to Somolia from Yemen would never have been discovered, and subsequently stopped (case in point, anyone hear that on the news?)

Like I said, people on apolyton are fixated on Iraq because their politics require it, the US military is participating in hundreds of operations world wide as we speak, some just as important as Iraq. Iraq gets more attention because of its scale.

[Lonestar]

Incidently, I wasn't sneering at your job Patroklos, and I apologize if it came across that way.

[Patroklos]

Patroklos is a Supply officer, man. Yes, he's on a VBSS team but his main job on the ship is making sure the accounts all add up.

I voluntered for an Army logistician job in Bagdad for a year. I would travel with convoys, but mostly work in the Green Zone. That is just the nature of what I do. BUT, that billet was open and I am qualified so I asked for it. If the Navy decided they didn't need that billet (or the Army did a better job themselves) and sent me somewhere else I would not be ashamed or think I was not contributing overall.

Same with Lonestar, if they decided then need CTs in Basra, he will go to Basra.

[Patroklos]

Incidently, I wasn't sneering at your job Patroklos, and I apologize if it came across that way.

What would a military be without banter

[Mr. Harley]

Damn - that's the word I was looking for, billet. Doesn't the army use a different term though?

However, as both of you can appreciate - they are a fair number of people like my neighbor, reservists all for sending other guys in the military over there, but trying to do anything to avoid getting deployed themselves. That is, as I explained, a hot button for me. Patroklos has my respect - something I give very seldom.

And Lonestar, that's why I start off respecting anyone who serves - for example what you did in the Tsunami relief (you may be the only person here who can understand what it was like when my sister was burned). However, they can eliminate that respect if they are hippocrits. I was somewhat puzzled by your comment on the 17 year olds, you may have missed this. I am talking about the children of those killed in Iraq. They are required to vacate base housing within six months, which in many cases though not all requires them to change schools, epsecially if the parent didn't die at a "convenient" date later in the school year. So now they get to handle the death of their parent and a new school. That is just WRONG - and we have both Fort Campbell and Fort Knox in Kentucky, and the local newspaper has done some decent in depth reporting on the issues.

[Dis]

I get it. Only infantryman who are actually in Iraq can support the war. Those of us in "safe" jobs aren't allowed to support the wars. We don't know what it's like.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by shawnmmcc

And Lonestar, that's why I start off respecting anyone who serves - for example what you did in the Tsunami relief (you may be the only person here who can understand what it was like when my sister was burned). However, they can eliminate that respect if they are hippocrits. I was somewhat puzzled by your comment on the 17 year olds, you may have missed this.

What the Hell are you talking about? What comment?

I am talking about the children of those killed in Iraq. They are required to vacate base housing within six months, which in many cases though not all requires them to change schools, epsecially if the parent didn't die at a "convenient" date later in the school year. So now they get to handle the death of their parent and a new school. That is just WRONG - and we have both Fort Campbell and Fort Knox in Kentucky, and the local newspaper has done some decent in depth reporting on the issues.

Yes, it sucks that when a servicemember dies they have to move...but are you honestly saying that 6months isn't enough time to move out? How many have military brats moved during the school year when their parents were alive?

/me raises hand

In addition, and this sounds coldhearted and cruel, and maybe it is, but servicemen have a chance to sign up for a life insurance policy(SGLI) that's a hot $250k off the bat at a nominal deduction from your paycheck each month. People that don't sign up for that I equate with guys who don't sign up for the "Thrift Savings Plan" (kinda like a Roth IRA...I'm sure Patroklos can explain it better); Re-*****. Or just '*****.

The SGLI isn't intended to pay off family, it's intended to help families who lost their primary caregiver some money to cover expenses while they get on their own two feet. When I hear about families making due with the $30,000 servicemen get when they kick it, I think "Why the Hell didn't PFC dumbass sign up to pay the extra $50 a month when he knew he was going to a war zone? Now his family only gets $30,000 rainy day money instead of $250K!" (Normal dangers of accidents at work notwithstanding).

I think the same thing when Politicians go on TV and say "Our Soldiers are on food stamps, blah blah blah..." Yeah, the soliders on food stamps in those cases are the E-1's with 6 kids. You know, guys who would be on welfare on the outside. I want a raise as much as the next guy, but it pisses me off to see Politicians put some of our slimier servicemen on pedestals.


Where was I?

Oh yeah. GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Dis
I get it. Only infantryman who are actually in Iraq can support the war. Those of us in "safe" jobs aren't allowed to support the wars. We don't know what it's like.

Of course, some loony-loon in a speedboat with explosives might try to blow me up next time I'm in Bahrain, but I'm in a "safe" job.

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by Dis
I get it. Only infantryman who are actually in Iraq can support the war. Those of us in "safe" jobs aren't allowed to support the wars. We don't know what it's like.

Stop "distorting" his statements, you reactionary!

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by binTravkin
Bingo!
You have to send your child in religious school just because the official propaganda is even worse.
If I was in your place I'd feel very bad about either choice.
I hope you'll be able to afford some open-minded student teaching your children.

Jiminy Christos! Have you ever been anywhere within 2000 miles of the USA?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by binTravkin
And regarding censorship and agencies, I would only name one example - the official version was that Pentagon was hit by plane, although some pics from the site show some debris very unlikely belonging to plane.
The report also told about camera materials being confiscated all around the suite and the "plane's" path.
Isn't that censoring?

You'd get along very well with Art Bell.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by binTravkin
Bingo!
You have to send your child in religious school just because the official propaganda is even worse.
If I was in your place I'd feel very bad about either choice.
I hope you'll be able to afford some open-minded student teaching your children.

Get a ****ing clue

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by binTravkin
And regarding censorship and agencies, I would only name one example - the official version was that Pentagon was hit by plane, although some pics from the site show some debris very unlikely belonging to plane.
The report also told about camera materials being confiscated all around the suite and the "plane's" path.
Isn't that censoring?

Clearly the Pentagon was hit by an oil tanker.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten


Stop "distorting" his statements, you reactionary!

Tell 'em Drake.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Lonestar


Of course, some loony-loon in a speedboat with explosives might try to blow me up next time I'm in Bahrain, but I'm in a "safe" job.

speak for yourself

I was safer on an aircraft carrier than driving down the street.