Rather than trampling further on what's left of the "20 Years" thread, I guess this should be broken out on its own.
The military discharge does not mean what it used to. I used to have to come across as a total jerk just to hand out a well-deserved OTHD, not that a civilian employer recognizes the difference anymore. You don't see a BCD for anything less than a major felony-- large-scale drugs or grand larceny or grievous bodily injury-- and a DD probably requires treason or first-degree murder followed by Leavenworth.
Don't miss that part of the military one little bit. Oddly enough I don't get called for jury duty, either.
So when high school kids start asking me questions about the military, I talk as long as they want and I try to put the services in a good light. But if they keep coming back for more or even visit a recruiter, then I gently make the point that joining the service means they're expected to be ready to break things & kill people. Occasionally that lights up the eyes of the future Marines, Rangers, & SEALS, but otherwise it puts a real damper on the conversation. Doesn't make their parents very happy, either.
But it ain't all bad. My nephew the Army Ranger & USMA cadet has been part of their Combat Weapons Team for three years. Before USMA he did quite a bit of breaking & killing in Afghanistan & Iraq and I don't think his acquaintances have any illusions about why they're in the Army. In his last e-mail he was incredibly outraged (as only a 20-something can be) that USNA's alumni coughed up $200K to fly Tulane's football team to a game while USMA's CWT was looking for spare change in sofa cushions to buy ammunition.
Our pediatrician's son, USMA '05, majored in history and minored in Arabic studies. He's fluent (well, as fluent as you can get without being there) in Farsi & Pashtu. I don't think he has any illusions about how he's earning his military benefits this year.
The son of a high-school friend just accepted a USNA Alumni Foundation one-year scholarship to a prep school followed by joining USNA in July '07. He decided to pass up football to join the rifle team-- I think he gets it too.
On one hand I'm still searching for charities where I feel my money or time would be put to good use. On the other hand I have no doubt that buying these people's textbooks (and their ammunition) is a good use of my contribution!
Well, I agree, but did you notice that you just don't see Marines in these stories? Besides in today's multi-threat-axis war zones there's no longer a "rear" for the REMFs. If there ever was a "rear"...Jarhead* said:Nords: Not shooting the messenger here, but I find it incredible that an active duty military individual can refuse a combat assignment, and not be subject to a severe run-in with the U.C.M.J. (Brig time & at best BCD).
"I'll take your benefits, but when the s--- hits the fan, somebody else can do it."
Inf---ing credible !
The military discharge does not mean what it used to. I used to have to come across as a total jerk just to hand out a well-deserved OTHD, not that a civilian employer recognizes the difference anymore. You don't see a BCD for anything less than a major felony-- large-scale drugs or grand larceny or grievous bodily injury-- and a DD probably requires treason or first-degree murder followed by Leavenworth.
Don't miss that part of the military one little bit. Oddly enough I don't get called for jury duty, either.
So when high school kids start asking me questions about the military, I talk as long as they want and I try to put the services in a good light. But if they keep coming back for more or even visit a recruiter, then I gently make the point that joining the service means they're expected to be ready to break things & kill people. Occasionally that lights up the eyes of the future Marines, Rangers, & SEALS, but otherwise it puts a real damper on the conversation. Doesn't make their parents very happy, either.
But it ain't all bad. My nephew the Army Ranger & USMA cadet has been part of their Combat Weapons Team for three years. Before USMA he did quite a bit of breaking & killing in Afghanistan & Iraq and I don't think his acquaintances have any illusions about why they're in the Army. In his last e-mail he was incredibly outraged (as only a 20-something can be) that USNA's alumni coughed up $200K to fly Tulane's football team to a game while USMA's CWT was looking for spare change in sofa cushions to buy ammunition.
Our pediatrician's son, USMA '05, majored in history and minored in Arabic studies. He's fluent (well, as fluent as you can get without being there) in Farsi & Pashtu. I don't think he has any illusions about how he's earning his military benefits this year.
The son of a high-school friend just accepted a USNA Alumni Foundation one-year scholarship to a prep school followed by joining USNA in July '07. He decided to pass up football to join the rifle team-- I think he gets it too.
On one hand I'm still searching for charities where I feel my money or time would be put to good use. On the other hand I have no doubt that buying these people's textbooks (and their ammunition) is a good use of my contribution!