U.S.Mike Pence: West Point grads should expect to see combat

[LTC8K6]

Anyone in the military in a combat or combat zone MOS, who doesn't expect to see combat, should get out of the military.

 

[Jhhnn]

I thought the whole point of having thi biggest strongest military in the world by an order of magnitude was so that nobody would want to fight with us so we do not have to do wars? Like, a deterrent...

That's not the Neocon way. They believe in using the military to spread Free, Freedom & Liberty at gunpoint. War is how to make the world more the way they want it.

 

[dawp]

isn't logistics and support the largest portion of the military and combat units comparatively small?

 

[BoomerD]

Well...jeezus...as much as I despise the current administration, it IS the U.S. Military Academy...college for Army officers. In the current world environment, I'd think that ANYONE enlisting in or getting a commission in one of the armed services should expect to see combat. Now, even more so than during Vietnam.

 

[Starbuck1975]

isn't logistics and support the largest portion of the military and combat units comparatively small?

Somewhat, but 70% of Pence’s audience will go into the combat arms, so the thread is somewhat moot.

 

[Jhhnn]

Somewhat, but 70% of Pence’s audience will go into the combat arms, so the thread is somewhat moot.

You know that how, exactly?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Well...jeezus...as much as I despise the current administration, it IS the U.S. Military Academy...college for Army officers. In the current world environment, I'd think that ANYONE enlisting in or getting a commission in one of the armed services should expect to see combat. Now, even more so than during Vietnam.

Without politicizing the reasons -- I would agree with you!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

isn't logistics and support the largest portion of the military and combat units comparatively small?

exactly!!

 

[Starbuck1975]

You know that how, exactly?

The average is around 70%. The class of 2019 exceeded 80%:

“Wednesday night, 1,020 members of the Class of 2019 received their branch notifications of what path they will follow at the beginning of their careers. The class was divided into 17 branches with 81 percent, once branch details are added in, starting their careers in one of the six combat arms branches.”

https://www.army.mil/article/213848...branch_notifications_during_usma_branch_night

 

[Jhhnn]

The average is around 70%. The class of 2019 exceeded 80%:

“Wednesday night, 1,020 members of the Class of 2019 received their branch notifications of what path they will follow at the beginning of their careers. The class was divided into 17 branches with 81 percent, once branch details are added in, starting their careers in one of the six combat arms branches.”

https://www.army.mil/article/213848...branch_notifications_during_usma_branch_night

So what? That doesn't say how many will actually ever be in combat. If Trump & Bolton can keep their dicks in their pants most of the class will have to re-up to even have a chance of actual combat. We don't have many front line troops deployed.

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-deployments-may-2017-5

 

[Starbuck1975]

So what? That doesn't say how many will actually ever be in combat. If Trump & Bolton can keep their dicks in their pants most of the class will have to re-up to even have a chance of actual combat. We don't have many front line troops deployed.

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-deployments-may-2017-5

That is open debate. The most concerning part of Pence’s speech is not whether or not he used the term combat correctly, but that he stated it as potentially applying to this hemisphere. Now what do you think he meant by that...

 

[trenchfoot]

I thought the whole point of having thi biggest strongest military in the world by an order of magnitude was so that nobody would want to fight with us so we do not have to do wars? Like, a deterrent...

The problem is guys like Trump, Cheney, Bolton and Pompeo see our military as just sitting around collecting pay when they could be out there doing something useful like starting wars to drive up the price of oil, or rapidly expending materiel and lives that create a huge demand (thus profits) for more materiel and lives, or toppling other gov'ts because of some personal agenda thus creating a huge power vacuum from which are created chaos, misery, countless needless civilian and American military deaths (they knew what their jobs entailed after all) and thousands upon thousands of future terrorists who have sworn to suicide bomb Americans in their own homes the first chance they get thus spinning up a perpetual cycle of retaliation.

And all that because war really does give the Repubs a leg up on getting elected and keeping them there.


edit - syntax

 

[kage69]

That's got to be comforting.

Another round of chickenhawks who had 'other priorities' say get ready for the next war we're going to foist on you kids. Cadet Bonespurs wants to make a region safe for a golf resort, maybe guard some existing ones.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You DO understand it was Bush in reaction to 911 that started this endless war on terrorism, right? Fact is, there will always be terrorists. Bush went after them and so did Obama. This war wont ever end.

That's true. Shall we add Iran and somewhere "in this hemisphere" as well? We may be at perpetual war but there's no reason to expand it.

 

[Jhhnn]

That is open debate. The most concerning part of Pence’s speech is not whether or not he used the term combat correctly, but that he stated it as potentially applying to this hemisphere. Now what do you think he meant by that...

It means he's talking shit to Venezuela. I'm sure some of the senior commanders have jungle warfare experience from Vietnam, right? Shame to let it go to waste...

 

[BoomerD]

It means he's talking shit to Venezuela. I'm sure some of the senior commanders have jungle warfare experience from Vietnam, right? Shame to let it go to waste...

The Vietnam war ended over 45 years ago. I doubt there are any active service members who served in that "conflict."

 

[Starbuck1975]

It means he's talking shit to Venezuela. I'm sure some of the senior commanders have jungle warfare experience from Vietnam, right? Shame to let it go to waste...

Obviously.

Vietnam ended in 1975, which means even the youngest draftee or volunteer that fought there would be in his early 60s.

I expect war on drugs, Panama and Grenada experience would prove more applicable to Venezuala.

 

[zinfamous]

I thought the whole point of having thi biggest strongest military in the world by an order of magnitude was so that nobody would want to fight with us so we do not have to do wars? Like, a deterrent...

well yeah, ...so that's why we always have to pick fights. What fun are all the toys if we never get a chance to play with them?

 

[BurnItDwn]

well yeah, ...so that's why we always have to pick fights. What fun are all the toys if we never get a chance to play with them?

Clearly, we need to downsize our military and shut down many of our foreign bases if we are not responsible enough to play with the other kids.

 

[aj654987]

Of course the world is dangerous place!
The United states is a dangerous place if you are a minority -- ever since Looney Tunes Trump got elected!!

I'll take things a dictator would say to graduates for $200.

"It is a virtual certainty that you will fight on a battlefield for America at some point in your life," Pence said. "You will lead soldiers in combat. It will happen. Some of you may even be called upon to serve in this hemisphere."

Fucking scary from a man who never served in the armed forces.
War and any armed conflict should be rare.

Least you be reminded that Trump in his 3rd year of office has yet to start any wars, has improved relations with North Korea and tried to exit Syria while democrats begged him to "stay the course" (sounds a lot like Bush Jr and Iraq). I hope you lot had expressed the same criticism on Obama when he bombed Libya and Syria.

 

[dawp]

Least you be reminded that Trump in his 3rd year of office has yet to start any wars, has improved relations with North Korea and tried to exit Syria while democrats begged him to "stay the course" (sounds a lot like Bush Jr and Iraq). I hope you lot had expressed the same criticism on Obama when he bombed Libya and Syria.

that remains to be seen, looks like he may be being played by super genius kim.

 

[dainthomas]

But Clinton was the war monger. Meanwhile DOTUS is ignoring congress and selling weapons to murderer MBS so he can kill women and children in Yemen.

 

[Jhhnn]

Least you be reminded that Trump in his 3rd year of office has yet to start any wars, has improved relations with North Korea and tried to exit Syria while democrats begged him to "stay the course" (sounds a lot like Bush Jr and Iraq). I hope you lot had expressed the same criticism on Obama when he bombed Libya and Syria.

N Korea is one of the great boogeymen of domestic politics. Trump created a fake crisis with a fake resolution. How to tell? Nothing really changed.

To exit Syria in the manner Trump suggested would be to betray our Kurdish allies to the not so tender mercies of Erdogan who openly announced his intentions. It's the reason Mattis quit. It would be totally dishonorable but Trump doesn't care about stuff like that.

 

[Genx87]

Since 1941 how many years have been combat free for our military?

 

[dainthomas]

Since 1941 how many years have been combat free for our military?

Most of the 70's and 80's.

"It is a virtual certainty that you will fight on a battlefield for America at some point in your life," Pence said. "You will lead soldiers in combat. It will happen. Some of you may even be called upon to serve in this hemisphere."

There's the war in Venezuela Dump wants to start.