Why do we kiss <redacted> of soldiers and cops?

[MarkXIX]

Let me be clear that expressing mistrust for the purpose of these wars is not disrespect. Also, saying that being annoyed by the putting of servicemen on a pedestal when they choose to be, is also not disrespect.

It's almost like talking about these kinds of things threatens a sort of faith in the military, as though they are doing god's work or something. So servicemen and the worshipers of them get all defensive..... which TBH, is a critical component of how the worship of servicemen (by a few) is quite annoying.

Personally, I respect the challenges that you guys go through as individuals and always have, but I sincerely doubt that a couple cricket games and some Caterpillar bulldozers are going to fix the destabilization brought on by all this shit. If the Taliban were knocking on our door, sure let's go, but I would NEVER want any American to risk their ass in that "mission".

And yeah, the next major war will include a draft, because most people see through the thinly veiled facade of what the US military has been doing since the cold war. Our glorious leaders should have something lined up by 2020. Maybe sooner if this recovery doesn't to gain some traction.

My issue isn't with you per se, I'd be a hypocrite to proclaim to "fight for freedom" while essentially thinking that you can't express it freely. My issue rests primarily with the OP who seems to talk a lot of shit and then disappear without fully grasping what he's talking about. THAT'S what I find disrespectful.

Any chance I get I choose NOT to travel in uniform. The praise and adoration is embarrassing and some of my encounters have demonstrated just how out of touch Americans are with the world around them. So, for every person who dislikes the blanket "kiss ass of Soldiers..." there's a Soldier who dislikes it as well because the general populace has no idea what's really happening and they're just paying us lip service anyway.

 

[keird]

My issue isn't with you per se, I'd be a hypocrite to proclaim to "fight for freedom" while essentially thinking that you can't express it freely. My issue rests primarily with the OP who seems to talk a lot of shit and then disappear without fully grasping what he's talking about. THAT'S what I find disrespectful.

Any chance I get I choose NOT to travel in uniform. The praise and adoration is embarrassing and some of my encounters have demonstrated just how out of touch Americans are with the world around them. So, for every person who dislikes the blanket "kiss ass of Soldiers..." there's a Soldier who dislikes it as well because the general populace has no idea what's really happening and they're just paying us lip service anyway.

That's an interesting point. When returning from a military conference I dressed in civilian clothes. At the front of the plane were two uniformed E-4 Soldiers in ACUs. In the back sat myself, a General and a Major in civies. The flight attendant made it a point to thank the two E-4s for their service and for "fighting for our country" over the PA system. The passengers dutifully clapped. But these two Soldiers had no combat patches or badges indicating that they've fought. It's not a dig on them at all. Imagine how these two kids felt, having not yet deployed overseas, to be given praise and applauded. That's the divide.

I don't want people to kiss the asses of the military. I'd vastly prefer that they had some skin in the game, so to speak. Short of this I'd be happy if our nation had a better grasp of world events and how its military intersects with those events. I have an expectation that after 13 years of conflict that civilians would learn about their military, it's size and basic structure.

I bought this book for my kid. It's to give my kid an idea of where I go and what I do. If I don't, who will?

 

[Nebor]

That's an interesting point. When returning from a military conference I dressed in civilian clothes. At the front of the plane were two uniformed E-4 Soldiers in ACUs. In the back sat myself, a General and a Major in civies. The flight attendant made it a point to thank the two E-4s for their service and for "fighting for our country" over the PA system. The passengers dutifully clapped. But these two Soldiers had no combat patches or badges indicating that they've fought. It's not a dig on them at all. Imagine how these two kids felt, having not yet deployed overseas, to be given praise and applauded. That's the divide.

I don't want people to kiss the asses of the military. I'd vastly prefer that they had some skin in the game, so to speak. Short of this I'd be happy if our nation had a better grasp of world events and how its military intersects with those events. I have an expectation that after 13 years of conflict that civilians would learn about their military, it's size and basic structure.

I bought this book for my kid. It's to give my kid an idea of where I go and what I do. If I don't, who will?

Well those days are over. You've gotta fly in your ASU or nothin' now, unless you're on your way to or from theater. IMO it's always the slick sleeve guard & reserve guys who do this, and if you question them about it they say, "Well the uniform and boots are just so bulky to pack to so I wear them to fly!"

 

[destrekor]

That's an interesting point. When returning from a military conference I dressed in civilian clothes. At the front of the plane were two uniformed E-4 Soldiers in ACUs. In the back sat myself, a General and a Major in civies. The flight attendant made it a point to thank the two E-4s for their service and for "fighting for our country" over the PA system. The passengers dutifully clapped. But these two Soldiers had no combat patches or badges indicating that they've fought. It's not a dig on them at all. Imagine how these two kids felt, having not yet deployed overseas, to be given praise and applauded. That's the divide.

I don't want people to kiss the asses of the military. I'd vastly prefer that they had some skin in the game, so to speak. Short of this I'd be happy if our nation had a better grasp of world events and how its military intersects with those events. I have an expectation that after 13 years of conflict that civilians would learn about their military, it's size and basic structure.

I bought this book for my kid. It's to give my kid an idea of where I go and what I do. If I don't, who will?

As a slick-sleeve Reservist, I gotta say - I absolutely hate dealing with the "thank yous" and whatnot. Don't get me wrong, I respect the kind words and am absolutely ecstatic citizens (or Vets - as at least half of them seem to be) even give a moment of their time to praise members of our military.

That said, I haven't done jack shit, and I am in zero rush to go do anything overseas; my beliefs and political leanings would sooner see me out of the service than in any current conflict zone - but I did sign up to defend and would gladly do so, and wouldn't ever desert regardless. Receiving "thanks" for what I haven't done, and don't care to do, kind of irks me. I usually just take it to mean "thanks for volunteering and serving" - that's usually what it's all about.
Some citizens recognize that we volunteers are the only thing that prevents any drafts from calling up more bodies. If we volunteer and take the shit, they don't have to worry about being voluntold by Uncle Sam.

Generally, I go out of my way to not call attention to my military affiliation. I'm not one to desire basking in the spotlight, so maybe that's why, but generally I just want to be my citizen self - I don't care to be defined by the part-time effort.

Well those days are over. You've gotta fly in your ASU or nothin' now, unless you're on your way to or from theater. IMO it's always the slick sleeve guard & reserve guys who do this, and if you question them about it they say, "Well the uniform and boots are just so bulky to pack to so I wear them to fly!"

Well if they are going to or from certain schools or training, sometimes they are told to arrive in uniform... or whatever.

I've never flown in uniform, and frankly, I've always tried to avoid it.


I saw the changes come down, and I gotta say, it's about time (regarding uniform and travel). While it's neat and all to wear combat fatigues, I find it thoroughly disappointing that we wear them so much.
Yeah, dress uniforms kind of suck, having to deal with looking sharp and respectful, when compared to a uniform that you don't ever iron and just throw all over the place. As a military standing down, we should start to return to our "professional military" appearance and attitude.

Frankly, the ASU should be worn more often, at least in the "Class B" fashion.

The new tattoo policy is going to be hell. It's well past time the face, neck, and hand tattoo waivers get the boot - but the arm and leg guidelines are kind of comical.

 

[MarkXIX]

Well those days are over. You've gotta fly in your ASU or nothin' now, unless you're on your way to or from theater. IMO it's always the slick sleeve guard & reserve guys who do this, and if you question them about it they say, "Well the uniform and boots are just so bulky to pack to so I wear them to fly!"

Whoa! Whoa! Don't bust the balls of the Guard and Reserve guys. I didn't get my overseas trip until just last year, though I did stateside law enforcement mission for two years after 9/11. I saw more disturbing things there than I did in the big A.

Having said that though, what sucked was there was a directive that you MUST travel in uniform for a while. I readily violated that policy as often as possible unless I knew I wouldn't have time to get suited up before my event.

The worst was when I was coming back from a weekend conference and I was connecting through Denver and as I walked past the gates people stopped and applauded me. It was embarrassing, but what do you do?

I promptly went and changed in the restroom because it just made me feel uneasy.

 

[MarkXIX]

Some citizens recognize that we volunteers are the only thing that prevents any drafts from calling up more bodies. If we volunteer and take the shit, they don't have to worry about being voluntold by Uncle Sam.

So THAT'S what it's all about then?! They're celebrating the fact that I put up with the shit that they choose not to or can't do themselves for various reasons?

That's WAAAAY easier to stomach and I thank them for their admiration of my high tolerance for bullshit.

 

[destrekor]

so that's what it's all about then?! They're celebrating the fact that i put up with the shit that they choose not to or can't do themselves for various reasons?

That's waaaay easier to stomach and i thank them for their admiration of my high tolerance for bullshit. :d

lol

 

[bononos]

I won't disagree with what's being said here, however, realize that as one of the younger nations, and arguably one of the most successful and world changing nations in that time, that our military has largely gotten us there.

It is simply ingrained in the spirit of the people of the United States to rebel, fight for the little guy, and generally override the feelings of others in favor of our own. I'm not saying it's right, hell, I'm not even saying I like it, but that's my take on it.

But the list of US military interventions since 1890 was mostly in smaller weaker countries stopping them from being independent, fighting for American corporate interests, deterring nationalist uprisings, breaking strikes, annexing small places...

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Respect is earned not given automatically because of your profession. I think this notion that our service men and women should be placed up on a pedestal like some sort of hero is horseshit. They're no better than anyone else.

Yep, my office is a lot like yours. Where's HR when ya need them.
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/runzwithsizorz/afghanistan6.jpg

 

[MarkXIX]

Yep, my office is a lot like yours. Where's HR when ya need them.
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/runzwithsizorz/afghanistan6.jpg

LOL! Yeah, I have a somewhat unique perspective as a Reservist. I would much rather attend a meeting that has coffee and donuts versus one that has AK-47s and pistols.

 

[Nebor]

The worst was when I was coming back from a weekend conference and I was connecting through Denver and as I walked past the gates people stopped and applauded me. It was embarrassing, but what do you do?

I promptly went and changed in the restroom because it just made me feel uneasy.

I've stopped in some small town airports to refuel on the way to and from Afghanistan and had literally the whole town turn out with baked goods, any sort of American flag they could find, etc. This airport in NH does it for every flight.

I agree, the applause is awkward. So is "thank you for your service" on a daily basis, which you encounter much more when you're working in places without much of a military presence. I work in an organization now that's entirely E7+, with only about a 20% combat experience rate. Sometimes it gets to me when I see they get their lunches bought for them every day, tons of people come up to thank them, etc. Especially when one of the SFCs didn't know what a p-mag was.

 

[Phoenix86]

I've stopped in some small town airports to refuel on the way to and from Afghanistan and had literally the whole town turn out with baked goods, any sort of American flag they could find, etc. This airport in NH does it for every flight.

I agree, the applause is awkward. So is "thank you for your service" on a daily basis, which you encounter much more when you're working in places without much of a military presence. I work in an organization now that's entirely E7+, with only about a 20% combat experience rate. Sometimes it gets to me when I see they get their lunches bought for them every day, tons of people come up to thank them, etc. Especially when one of the SFCs didn't know what a p-mag was.

There's obviously a higher level of respect due to those who served in combat. They may or may not have seen combat, if they didn't they could have or will. They bear a great risk, or directly support those taking great risks.

I thank them based on that.

Thank you to all those in the thread who were in the armed services.

 

[lupi]

The douchebagger level in this thread did not dissapoint. OP troll net did well.

 

[MarkXIX]

I've stopped in some small town airports to refuel on the way to and from Afghanistan and had literally the whole town turn out with baked goods, any sort of American flag they could find, etc. This airport in NH does it for every flight.

I agree, the applause is awkward. So is "thank you for your service" on a daily basis, which you encounter much more when you're working in places without much of a military presence. I work in an organization now that's entirely E7+, with only about a 20% combat experience rate. Sometimes it gets to me when I see they get their lunches bought for them every day, tons of people come up to thank them, etc. Especially when one of the SFCs didn't know what a p-mag was.

The only time I've felt the airport response was appropriate was porting in Maine on our way back from Afghanistan. There was a veterans support group that apparently greets every plane that comes through.

How does a freakin' E-7 not know what a P-Mag is after a decade plus of warfare?! Hell, it took me a while to get my deployment in, but even then I was trying to buy P-Mags for my unit for our two planned and then cancelled deployments.

 

[Mandres]

It's really interesting to hear this perspective of the issue from some articulate service men.

I've always wondered - how easy is it to get laid really if you have that "fighting for our freedom" card to play? Is it just like constant blowjobs 24/7 for you guys?

 

[Nebor]

It's really interesting to hear this perspective of the issue from some articulate service men.

I've always wondered - how easy is it to get laid really if you have that "fighting for our freedom" card to play? Is it just like constant blowjobs 24/7 for you guys?

It works exceptionally well once you get away from major military installations (Dallas, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, etc.) Near the major military installations the women have either had too many bad experiences or they're tag chasers.

 

[Mai72]

When I was a young man I would go to a certain army bar and beat the fuck out these fuckers..just because they were assholes. If I could of done it to a police bar without getting arrested..i would of done the same.

I absolutely despise pricks in authority.

You wouldn't have done crap! You hear me!!

nothing!!

 

[soulcougher73]

You wouldn't have done crap! You hear me!!

nothing!!

Look Mayne's alt account is necro'ing old threads he created for attention whoring reasons.

 

[Mai72]

Look Mayne's alt account is necro'ing old threads he created for attention whoring reasons.

This thread got me angry.

 

[Iron Woode]

I'm not trolling. Legit complaint about hired killers.

who the fuck are you trying to fool?

 

[ahenkel]

I've never seen military service or police service as anything that automatically deserved extra respect. I've always tried to treat everyone with the same level of respect then based on a person or groups behavior you may lose or gain respect.