We've been at war most of my adult life

[CraKaJaX]

One of the reasons I'm not having children. The world is so fucked up right now - I'm not going to bring another life into this shithole of a place.

 

[Ackmed]

You know what gets under my skin?

Seeing veterans attacked and beat to near death or maybe even death because some rolling douchebags care that they have a small lapel pin, and were not carrying physical papers on them at the time. Cammies really? Those must be some real limited production shit.

Yes cammies. Some people are attention whores, want everyone to know they serve. Want the congratulations, "Thank you for your service" and other accolades. Shopping in the mall with cammies, really? Flying in cammies, really? Someone should be able to tell you serve by how you conduct yourself, not what you wear.

 

[norseamd]

Yes cammies. Some people are attention whores, want everyone to know they serve. Want the congratulations, "Thank you for your service" and other accolades. Shopping in the mall with cammies, really? Flying in cammies, really? Someone should be able to tell you serve by how you conduct yourself, not what you wear.

Awhile back, I was at the airport in Chicago passing through on business and I had just finished dinner and was standing up in the process of paying my bill. I was a middle aged guy with a heavy five o’clock shadow, physically fit without looking super athletic, and wearing civilian clothes – honestly, I didn’t much look like a soldier.

As I turned to go, this huge kid reeking of beer and at least a few percentage points over his tape test walked right up on me and blocked me from leaving, ‘10th MTN, huh?’ It took me a few seconds to register I had a tiny 10th MTN pin on my backpack which I had forgotten about. Before I could answer, he jabbed his finger at the pin and got super aggressive, ‘What Battalion were you in? Who was your Commander?” I already had my wallet out and I pulled my ID card and held it out and told him to ‘back’ off. He took a look, apologized and he left.

My encounter ended well for me but this past weekend, it didn’t end so well for Marine veteran, Michael Deflin. This Fallujah vet couldn’t produce an active duty CAC card on request from some Air Force dude and therefore he got the crap kicked out of him. He suffered a broken leg and jaw in the process. Prior to him and his friend beating Deflin down, the USAF guy accused him of ‘Stolen Valor’.

I use to roll my eyes at these antics but now they have gotten dangerous. Stolen Valor fratricide folks: you’re the reason why we can’t have nice things.

Part of what makes this so laughable is that some of the loudest members of the mob are people who were FOB warriors downrange. They are the dudes you see at the PX or the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport wearing their absolutely pristine condition 400 dollar tactical packs with the ‘Major League Infidel’ patch, the always ridiculous camo cap with a subdued American flag on the velcro, and drinking a giant Monster while telling everyone who will listen about that ‘one time in Iraq, I did xxxxxx and I’m totally not making it up!’

The truth is they never left the wire on their one OIF/OEF tour – but I sure as hell hear them lying…oops, I mean exaggerating about what they have done downrange in the orderly rooms, at the PX food court, on social media, and in the customs line at Ali al Salim Air Base. Come on, guys, you don’t think we notice? You don’t think we haven’t heard multiple variations of the same story our entire career?

For many of you out there in the mob, I would say check your own shot group before you starting calling out others.

It is time to stop the nonsense. Your service makes you part of a unique grouping of Americans, but it doesn’t make anyone a hero despite what John Cena told you when you saw him on the USO tour at the Bagram Clamshell, you know, right before salsa night – the real heroes are at Arlington or Walter Reed.

http://www.havokjournal.com/culture/stolen-valor-fratricide/

 

[Ackmed]

What is your point?

 

[norseamd]

What is your point?

That going around looking for people to beat up is a total honorless disgrace.

And cammies, even army issue BDUs, mean nothing. They mean bullshit. The patches and medals actually have some importance. The BDUs mean nothing. And not a crime to wear one as far as I know.

 

[Ackmed]

That going around looking for people to beat up is a total honorless disgrace.

And cammies, even army issue BDUs, mean nothing. They mean bullshit. The patches and medals actually have some importance. The BDUs mean nothing. And not a crime to wear one as far as I know.

Obviously it is terribly wrong to beat up someone for the reasons you've posted. I never said it was ok. It is not.

No it is not a crime to wear cammies out in public. It is against Marine Corps rules however. They can wear dress uniforms in public though, as long as they adhere to all policies.

There is a thing called OPSEC. Not very smart in my opinion to go around with your family in the mall wearing cammies. Not only that, like I said my main objection is that its looking for attention. Can't be bothered to change? Seems lazy. Not only that, there are a lot of fat fuckers walking around in cammies in public. That looks bad to me. Our military is supposed to be fit, while I realize that is not the case as much as it used to be, it should be. Seeing someone who is obviously overweight out wearing cammies looks bad on the entire military.

But as I said, no rule or law says someone in the military can't go wearing cammies anywhere they want. It is simply my opinion that it looks bad, and can be a security problem.

 

[Thebobo]

Not only that, there are a lot of fat fuckers walking around in cammies in public. .

 

[poofyhairguy]

If we didn't have war, we couldn't prove how strong we are. If we can't prove how strong we are, foreign countries lose faith in the dollar. Foreign countries lose faith in the dollar and we can no longer buy a ton of cheap stuff at Wal-Mart. Without Wal-Mart and Chinese goods Americans the last thirty years we experience a very real drop in standard of living due to wage stagnation. A universal drop in standard of living is a precursor to political instability, which means those in charge lose their jobs. They don't want to lose their jobs, so we have war.

Our entire way of life is based on a lie. The US has had a trade deficit for years, which means by now we should all be very poor. We aren't poor, because those other countries take dollars we literally print on paper in trade for actual goods and services. They do this because the dollar has a perceived value that is almost universally accepted. This value is accepted due to our military might and our control of a lot of the world's financial markets. One day when we can no longer be the world's police force the reserve currency of the world will move to something other than the dollar and our entire way of life will be lost within a generation.

 

[Ruptga]

What were we even talking about before all this norseshit?

Oh yeah, recruitment stuff. After scoring a 98 on the ASVAB and being led on by the recruiter for about six months I was turned down by the Air Force because I had asthma when I was 7. Not since I was 7, when I was 7; I grew out of that about 20 years ago. If they're hurting for qualified recruits they ought to tell whoever's checking medical papers. Looking back I'm glad I didn't get in, I'm sure I would have hated military life, but whenever I see something about terrible recruitment numbers I can't help but roll my eyes.

 

[keird]

What were we even talking about before all this norseshit?

Oh yeah, recruitment stuff. After scoring a 98 on the ASVAB and being led on by the recruiter for about six months I was turned down by the Air Force because I had asthma when I was 7. Not since I was 7, when I was 7; I grew out of that about 20 years ago. If they're hurting for qualified recruits they ought to tell whoever's checking medical papers. Looking back I'm glad I didn't get in, I'm sure I would have hated military life, but whenever I see something about terrible recruitment numbers I can't help but roll my eyes.

What year was that? I had to do pulmonary function testing on a lot of applicants and I knew the Army's regulations well. No asthma since 13 and a methacholine challenge to prove it.

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf

d. Asthma (493), including reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, reliably
diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday, does not meet the standard. Reliable diagnostic criteria may include
any of the following elements: substantiated history of cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and/or dyspnea that persists or
recurs over a prolonged period of time, generally more than 12 months.

Here's the relevant Air Force AFI
http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/publication/afi48-123/afi48-123.pdf

 

[FerrelGeek]

Humanity has been at war for the most part since its inception. Varying degrees of course. And probably not going to change. All the empires of history were formed by exploration and conquest.

I'd rather not get used to it. Kinda sounds like what's fundamentally wrong.

That and the fact it's different world.

The US if you think about it has been at war for the most part since it's inception. Varying degrees of course. Probably not going to change.

 

[MarkXIX]

I am of the opinion that many of the "stolen valor" people we see are mentally ill. I honestly don't understand some of the violent response to it. If you truly understand freedom, the freedom that you "fight" for, you wouldn't get so angry or upset at people who simply wear clothing or impersonate veterans.

People who capitalize on it though and line their pockets with money from wounded veterans and service members should gather more scorn than the random guy wearing camo on the street.

 

[norseamd]

What were we even talking about before all this norseshit?

Oh yeah, recruitment stuff. After scoring a 98 on the ASVAB and being led on by the recruiter for about six months I was turned down by the Air Force because I had asthma when I was 7. Not since I was 7, when I was 7; I grew out of that about 20 years ago. If they're hurting for qualified recruits they ought to tell whoever's checking medical papers. Looking back I'm glad I didn't get in, I'm sure I would have hated military life, but whenever I see something about terrible recruitment numbers I can't help but roll my eyes.

Would you like to explain why the original posts are not as bad or significant as my responses?

 

[Ruptga]

What year was that? I had to do pulmonary function testing on a lot of applicants and I knew the Army's regulations well. No asthma since 13 and a methacholine challenge to prove it.

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r40_501.pdf



Here's the relevant Air Force AFI
http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/publication/afi48-123/afi48-123.pdf

It was two years ago, I also did a pulmonary function test and it came back normal. First they wanted that, then my papers went off one last time and they still rejected them. Like I said I don't mind too much, I never wanted the military life I just wanted a stable career I could live on. Since then I've gone back to college and taken on tens of thousands in extra debt, I still don't have that career but if I can graduate without losing my mind it should pay off.

Would you like to explain why the original posts are not as bad or significant as my responses?

nope

 

[norseamd]

nope

Fair enough then. I guess that means not any reason to put much importance to your words. Have a nice day.

 

[Ackmed]

If you truly understand freedom, the freedom that you "fight" for, you wouldn't get so angry or upset at people who simply wear clothing or impersonate veterans.

You realize that it can be a crime, right?

Nothing about doing this is wrong to you, really?

 

[norseamd]

You realize that is a crime, right?

That depends on the what.

 

[SunnyD]

It's not a war. It's an excuse.

 

[MarkXIX]

You realize that it can be a crime, right?

Nothing about doing this is wrong to you, really?

Its a crime because some politicians made it a crime. Even then, like I said, there must be some kind of tangible benefit gained.

The real crime though is when people are battered and assaulted for simply wearing clothing or medals. So the fuck what?

 

[unokitty]

Weapons Companies' Stocks Surge After Paris Attacks
Defense stocks rally on news of a new offensive against ISIS.

When the New York Stock Exchange opened Monday morning, less than three days after Islamic State terrorists attacked in Paris, five leading American weapons manufacturers saw their stock prices jump...

Shares of Lockheed Martin, known for its Hellfire missiles and its lead role in the troubled $1.5 trillion F-35 project, jumped 3.5 percent. Raytheon, manufacturer of Tomahawk missiles used in air strikes against ISIS, climbed 4.1 percent. Northrop Grumman, which in October landed a $55 billion deal to build the next stealth bomber, saw a 4.4 percent rise.

Open Secrets

Individuals and political action committees associated with the defense sector contributed more than $27 million to political candidates and committees during the 2012 campaign cycle, with far more going to Republicans than Democrats: $16.4 million versus $11 million.

Open Secrets

The sector also has a formidable federal lobbying presence, having spent $132 million in 2012 -- though that's down from a high of $150.8 million in 2008. In 2012, more than 900 lobbyists represented nearly 266 clients.

The sector's biggest companies include Center for Responsive Politics "Heavy Hitters" Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics, as well as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

Weapons Industry Dumps Republicans, Backs Hillary

The U.S. arms industry has all but abandoned its traditional allies in the Republican party and is putting their money on Hillary Clinton.

What Obama calls a policy 'setback' in Paris, is great news for American Weapon's Contractors and the politicians whose campaigns that they finance.

The last successful presidential candidate raised a billion dollars for his campaign. You can't expect him, or her, to raise that from the little people, can you?

And you don't think that the weapons manufacturers give all those millions without an expectation of an ROI, do you?

Uno

 

[norseamd]

Airbus Group and BAE Systems definitely went up quite a bit.

 

[Ackmed]

Its a crime because some politicians made it a crime. Even then, like I said, there must be some kind of tangible benefit gained.

The real crime though is when people are battered and assaulted for simply wearing clothing or medals. So the fuck what?

Thats a crime because politicians make it a crime too. See how easily that can be flipped? That being said, beating someone when someone else thinks they are committing stolen valor is terrible and should not be tolerated. I can understand why some people get so upset about it however.

Obviously you see nothing wrong with someone wearing a uniform or medal that they don't rate. No sense in arguing about it. I said my piece. Another part of that article that I agree with, is people lying about their service. The loudest mouths are often times the one who did the least.

 

[MarkXIX]

I just don't see the outrage in it. I wear the uniform and I'm a veteran. It angers me when people catch these guys and then denigrate their own honor and service by screaming all manner of profanity at them and lose their own sense of professional pride as a result.

The people that pander and rake in money while falsifying their service record though should suffer consequence.

 

[Ackmed]

That also angers me. There is a proper way to deal with things, yelling like an uncontrollable buffoon and/or assaulting someone is not it. That makes the military look bad to me. And yes, I agree with someone receiving goods for pretending to be a Veteran should receive consequences.

 

[keird]

Exposing stolen valor is fine to me. The remedy for lies is truth, wasn't a popular Supreme Court decision but it's not supposed to protect popular speech, just the Constitution.

I saw someone at a store wearing an UCP field jacket with a FWTSSI (combat patch) and two name tapes. One was his name and the other was "U.S. combat vet" or some nonsense. I asked the guy his MOS and where he was when he earned 'that patch'. He replied 13B and somewhere in Iraq. I just told him that I'm not one to tell people how they should dress (actually I was a MSG) but wearing that stuff might cause people to ask questions. There was no regulation prohibiting what he wore but it seemed unseemly to me. It was New Years eve, too. Maybe he was angling for free drinks.