What is your opinion of your nation's military?

PS South Africa dont really have an army to speak of... but i am sure they could pretty much Fuck the rest of Africa up.. Maybe we should go give Robert Mugabe a lashing for his human rights abuses in Zimbabwe

Quote:

Originally posted by Morgadeth

I've been in the US Army for over 10 years, and I am in Iraq (As some might already know here...)
I am quite proud of what we do here, regardless of the "why"... As for the "ask the Iraqi children" comment, I have... Most of them are glad to see us, and almost always run right up to us and try and talk with us.. Do you think your children would run up to a fully armored soldier who's full armed? I would think they'd be intimidated... Not these kids. They've seen shit like no one else could imagine, yet they smile and run and play soccer like mad!
The comment on the upsizing was right... It won't happen. The main reason behind the shrinking of the Army is the fact we do more with less... The soldiers are better trained and equipped with really good equipment (mostly) It's a smarter Army now, as well. A high percentage of troops are college educated. This helps, believe me...
I had a thread with lots of interesting stuff on it, including pics and some educated (and not so educated) opinions posted.. I'd like to start posting on it again, so if a mod reads this, unlock it please. I'm nearing the end of my tour in Iraq, so my activities are slowing... However, I have lots to share for those interested...


http://www.whatboyswant.com/forum_read/1545520/1/

Thank you for your post and thank you for your service. I rejoined the Navy Reserve last year after being out for a decade. I'm in a unit with some of the best people I've ever served with.

I completely agree about the not more, just smarter idea. I do think there is a intelligence/experience factor involved as well, and I'm a bit worried that we are burning out some of our folks. I'm seeing some burnout in my unit that is starting to hit our readiness and cohesion, and that concerns me. Also, a lot of the Reagan-era buildup sailors are retiring now, and that is hitting us in both raw manpower and experience. We need some more flex money to train our non-prior service reservists, and that has been sporadic due to congressional (string of naughty words and political diatribe omitted for civility purposes ) budgetary concerns.

I think that the US military is screwed up in a lot of areas, however, it is dramatically less screwed up than anyone has ever been in history. I cherish our allies and celebrate their valor. I hope that someday several of our NATO allies will give their troops the equipment, training, and operational lattitude their committment deserves.

Quote:

Originally posted by pigeontamertoo

I know it may be tempting, but please try not to voice your political opinions in this post. All I want to know is what country you are from, and how you feel about your nation's military.

I am from the USA and feel my nations all volunteer military should be increased in size by 25%.

Give us the 25% budget increase in training, benefits, advancement, base pay, and retention bonuses. Do that and you'll never need the increase in bodies. Seriously, the money would be a lot better spent keeping every decent NCO and JO rather than gathering up a brand new herd of boots and butterbars.

As for a draft...PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NO!!! Seriously, there is nothing I would hate worse than to have to waste my time putting up with a bunch of dirtbags who didn't want to be with my unit doing our mission.

Sivvie street for me m8

Quote:

Originally posted by rocknthefreewor

[reply=KidKoala]
its a waste of money, solve problems through diplomatic actions , not by force. WASTE OF MONEY and LIVES

Diplomacy is the art of offering carrots while holding the stick behind your back. Without a military, there is no stick to use if the carrot does not work. I believe we all despise war and wish it did not exist, but it does and as long as one country has a military or can reconstitute one quickly, all countries must have one.

The European theatre of WWII was created by the failure of diplomacy. Europe had no stomach for another war, and rightfully so. But some men had other opinions and decided that the desire not to use their military was a sign of weakness instead of a sign of their hatred of the death and destruction caused by war.

It is easy to say the military is not the answer when you have no control over the question.

As far as the US military, I believe it is close to large enough right now. We currently have men in Bosnia and other places that it would probably be better to allow more local troops from surrounding countries to take our place. All of our UN and NATO attachments could probably be decreased for the short term until the other two larger actions are completed in a year or so.
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well said. as far as bosnia goes europe is overstreched with their forces, as i pointed out they need to do something bout that

I spent 9 months there, because I love my country and it is a responsibility of every finnish man. Nuff said.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ascaris

I spent 9 months there, because I love my country and it is a responsibility of every finnish man. Nuff said.

Thank you for your service. Of course the Finns know pretty well the limitations of diplomacy. For instance Ascaris's understanding of responsibility to serve is a direct outgrowth of that nation's decision to be free. I honor Finnish independance and their capacity to innovate.

Plus, you know, Finnish chicks are hot...

Quote:

Originally posted by andrelarson

Just ask the kids in Iraq what they feel.

They are happy that guys like me gave them a free country, ASSHOLE!!

Sorry just venting. I am proud of our military and what they do everyday. I do not believe it needs to be increased in size. We could have just used some better training and kit before the war. Not that we where not well trained, but those jib jibs don't play nice.

I support those doing their jobs overseas but i am not happy with political decisions that put those people in harms way. I am in Canada and don't know if the book is still banned in the states and UK but a good classic is "Johnny got his gun" if you can pick it up. It was first published during WW2 before the Americans were involved. With the support of the author himself, they banned the book when America became involved and lifted the ban after the war in the Pacific. There was another ban during Korea and Vietnam. The book should be taught in every countrys literary classes.

I believe the American Military is under alot of stress that comes from having people in leadership and command positions that have no abilities to handle those responsibilities. The people who suffer because of these inadequacies, are those putting their lives and not stock options or political reputations on the line.

I seldom see Military decisions made with the lives of the common man in mind.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ascaris

I spent 9 months there, because I love my country and it is a responsibility of every finnish man. Nuff said.

its the honorable thing to do. its honor that missing in western soceity.

Thank you all for your kind words.

We are very small country, population slightly over 5 million. And when we take off women, children and migrants, the number isn't that large anymore. We have the possibility of civil-service or you can go to the jail. I personally hate those fucking whiners who don't "see anything useful" of finnish army, And then decide to go civil-service. It was our brave veterans who fought against huge army of Russia, and won this land to us. If those fucking asshats can't understand that, I'd be glad to hit some sense to their heads.

We don't have hired army, it's the citizens of finland who will keep this land rolling in the wars.

It's not big thing to do, every man should have some balls and do their duty in defence forces. I was in the armoured brigade as a signaller, I was promoted to Corporal for a well-done job. It really was honour question to me. After 3-4 months it's not that bad anymore, you get used to it. It gets tougher but you are gettin it already.

as im ex brit forces and have had first hand experience of what we are expected to do i find it truly amazing that we still have people willing to volunteer to fight for this country

they are (in my opinion) truly amazing and as all service personel in this country truly patriotic and deserve our utmost respect

they do an amazing job under great pressure and never complain about where they have to do it
(my political view is different but hey thats for a different topic lmao)

Quote:

Originally posted by cillian

I believe the American Military is under alot of stress that comes from having people in leadership and command positions that have no abilities to handle those responsibilities. The people who suffer because of these inadequacies, are those putting their lives and not stock options or political reputations on the line.

I seldom see Military decisions made with the lives of the common man in mind.

That can be said by any army at war and second guessing arm chair generaling is pertty much the fad these days. When I was in Iraq and Afghstan we got our ODA team jerked around from place to place its typical military SOP. Has nothing to do with American army or generals it just typical poltics of a country at war. Stuff gets kicked up the chain of commnad and back down by the time gets down to NCOs it changes at least 5 times. The Brits we worked with got the same BS ..... so you just salute and give a "CFB" Sir, and go about your business.

Quote:

Originally posted by cillian

I support those doing their jobs overseas but i am not happy with political decisions that put those people in harms way. I am in Canada and don't know if the book is still banned in the states and UK but a good classic is "Johnny got his gun" if you can pick it up. It was first published during WW2 before the Americans were involved. With the support of the author himself, they banned the book when America became involved and lifted the ban after the war in the Pacific. There was another ban during Korea and Vietnam. The book should be taught in every countrys literary classes.

I believe the American Military is under alot of stress that comes from having people in leadership and command positions that have no abilities to handle those responsibilities. The people who suffer because of these inadequacies, are those putting their lives and not stock options or political reputations on the line.

I seldom see Military decisions made with the lives of the common man in mind.

Thankfully, we do not fight our wars with literary criticism societies in charge of our military. Even though the literary criticism societies assure us in florid prose that doing so would resolve all of the plot inconsistencies so pervasive in real war, we have resisted so far.

Seriously, sixty year old novels written about WWI lose their relevance once you've figured out that trench warfare is a bad plan. Rather than drown in the existential angst of fictional characters as an education, try talking to real veterans and learn about life beyond literary anguish. Just last week I was talking to several Marine NCO's whose biggest problem with the way the war is being run is that they can't get back in it soon enough.

If you want to read a real account of what war is today go here: http://www.michaelyon-online.com/ Micheal Yon has seen and done more than Dalton Trumbo ever dreamed of.

My brother is serving in the US military out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the 101st Airborne and is currently in Iraq. He feels - since you might want an opinion regarding the military from someone in it - that the US draft should have been kept in effect. The point being is that, and any military guy will tell you this, that a volunteer military leaves wide open room to put the soldiers in a protectionist position of corporate interests and much lesser about freedom, democracy or what ever have you. It became quite apparent that this is the case regarding Iraq, which was much like the Vietnam operations where the same contractors and game players are in the mix once again. The opinion from soldiers, the ones that I know of, has changed dramatically in the past few years regarding especially military top brass because they're finally asking the question, "Okay, we're here - now what?" and the reasons keep changing where the end results are usually made by orders that don't fit the mission's supposed public goals.

Also the reasons possibly in the 60's regarding American protests was that during that time there was a draft...someone always knew somebody in the thick of it and that hits it much closer to home, which sparked off protests that boded the same question..."Okay, we're here - so now what?"

Most people from the draft era will tell you that drafting made people learn respect, hard work and love for their country. Today's all volunteer military doesn't have that, so you have all these adults who only know "Get the money and fuck everyone else!" because they were never forced to have respect, honor and so on. A volunteer military also people at home much less tuned to the news and not digging for the real truth on what's going on if there was a war during those draft years.

Point being, if people you know have sons that are being drafted during wartime, you want to know what in the hell is really going on. It's not a time for "Oh well, Senator and President So-And-So said this and that, so I'm going to believe it hook line and sinker". People wanted to know without fail. It wasn't up for cable news fodder and people trying to rake in ratings by spinning and contradicting that's so prevelent today.

Today it's like, "Oh, someone blew up something in Iraq...not my problem...I don't care if our leaders have lied to our military and now they're stuck...not my problem...pass the ketchup" and they leave it at that. If something like this happened during the "Draft Days" America would be PISSED OFF big time.

All this said, I feel and my family feel, is counter-productive to the military's later goals of enlistment, recruitment and execution, God forbid a time should come.

By seeing this all happening now, it says what will become of our military. You can only bomb the living fuck out of people for so long and constantly using the soldiers as political gamepieces by pencil pushing pansies who ran like chicken shits when they're country called upon them years ago, will undoubtedly contribute to difficulties regarding the US military.

Does my brother regret enlisting? No. He claims his goal is to help his fellow soldiers with this clusterfuck and that's the big thing with most of the soldiers. They've had it with the politician's excuses and their ever-changing reasons that never match the results. Now they're looking out for their own.

Keep in mind I'm talking about the military in a future possibility by using the past and present.

As for the soldiers themselves, I think they're all pretty good people from the ones I've met and talked to. They might come off a little rigid at first, but you give them the proper setting and they'll rant about some very surprising things. It's not a political rant. It's an anger against who's in charge no matter which side is the one of choice.

I don't like the political arguments either. Far as I'm concerned and many military who aren't bootlickers feel that they all play for the same team...Team $$$$

Pigeon does this count towards your monthly qutoa? All joking aside, I love my service, and I respect all the guys that are really hardcore, like the airborne, the spec ops dudes, marines, etc.. Pigeon you may get your wish..the USAF is planning to cut something like 20,000 from active duty in the next 5 years, and I think the USN has something similar. All of those trained dudes gotta go somewhere. You Finnish dudes impress the fuck out of me. You are a small country, but have such a strong sense of duty and national pride. I've worked with Israeli's and RAF guys as well, who've all been very professional and competent. For the dude who said solve it all through diplomacy...yes when was the last time Macau did anything for anybody. I bet your country could really defend itself if somebody wanted to take it. Latino is right..this thread is about soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen...not about Iraq or the politics of war...just the dude who is serving his country.

Where you out of SuperPirate? My brother says he should have gone USAF because that's where "the brains are".

I live out in Idaho

petsounds75,

Please refrain from calling people who disagree with you bootlickers. It is a violation of the policies of this forum and serves your argument poorly.

Having said that, what is so bad about fighting to increase the wealth of the world? Have you seen the conditions the people who fight against prosperity and freedom live in? The uniforms are crappy when they exist at all, food is rotten if available and never on time, and they tend to lose rather extravagantly against volunteer professional militaries. Prosperity is worth fighting for because the alternative really sucks. (Or do you think that guys with empty pockets get laid a lot?)