I hate the army more than anyone who has never been in the army or been married to a soldier will ever know. I get the fact that the army is suppose to be there to protect freedom and human rights and such. But being in the army you have no freedom and they show a lack of respect for any basic human rights. Alcoholism, sexual perversions, child abuse, divorce, eating disorders, suicides, just plain going crazy, they all run rapid for soldiers in the army, anything to forget the fact that you’re being told every single day in every single way that you’re worthless. And I’m not talking about being deployed in the sandbox or whatever. I“m talking about every single day. No one who hasn’t actually been connected with the army could believe the shit that happens, I could write a huge novel (and I’m certainly not the only one), it’d be a best seller with all the stuff that’s gone one (I mean on this side of the world, I’m not even talking about Iraq, I never got the nitty gritty from over there). And no the reserves don’t count, you just pretend to be a soldier, you have a real life.
No I didn’t actually make the following postcard, neither did my husband, but I bet you tens of thousands of soldiers think it. I wish they’d put this on billboards instead of the current army advertisements. Tell it like it really is.
11 1/2 months to go…
And don’t say bloom where you are planted. We got planted on a old mine field, that has become desert wasteland. The selling point was ”But look, it’s always sunny!“ Yeah, sunburns hurts. No one should have to do it for 20k a year, there’s better ways to torture yourself where you get more money.
Patriotism is dead.
Maybe I should just stick to talking about my kids.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
As much as I can see complete and utter bitterness in this post from beginning to end, I completely concur with my experience in the Marine Corps. I joined because I thought it was a noble thing to do.. to serve my country. But all I really feel like I did was get the left-over respect from the marines who faught in Vientnam and WW2. Those who are staying in the military are doing it for money, benefits, and way of life (they embrace those perversions) and not for patriotism, desire to make a difference, or actual self-sacrifice. I’m sorry if my opinion diminishes “my service” in your eyes.. and I do apologize for breaking that romantic view you might have had. But try jumping into a world where alcoholism, womanizing, alpha-wolf syndroms, and egotistical manias is how you ‘fit in’ socially, and you are always a small worthless bug to someone higher. Self esteem is lack of humility, and is something that needs to be fixed, and anyone who has an opinion contrary to that of the unit or command instantly gets bad reviews on their proficiency and conduct.. affecting their promotion. Thus.. I will never be a Sergeant.
It’s really sad when you have to wave 52000 dollars at someone who has been in the military for only 4 or 5 years.. in which to entice them to do their ‘patriotic’ duty… for a second time.
Sorry about this guys.. Märia I’m with you.
(20 days remaining)
Just a little background on this post… you guys know that we are running on roughly 40% manning right now, leading to ridiculous hours and so forth. Well, I am fat again, meaning I pull ridiculous hours plus I have to do pt twice a day, whether I work that day or not. That means I don’t get days off, at all. Also, on top of the lack of people we already had, one of our nco’s got busted fooling around with his step-daughter, meaning auto clearance loss. So he is working in the orderly room while we have to pick up the slack on site. One more man down. We are now running on about 33% manning. Due to so many people being gone, someone has to take up the slack. So I got called in to pull a guard duty for someone at 130am. Märia had to drive me at 130 am the morning before she had to work, so she was justifiably upset. I guess I am just used to it all.
Also, I have to concur with Jason’s explanation of the military. That is pretty much how it is.
Poor dear daughter. Wish I could make it better for you. Hang in there, when you reach the end of your rope remember to tie a really big knot so you can hang on.
Love you bunches, sure hoping things get better for you and Steven.
Mom
Let me give my 2 cents on the military. While I can’t disagree with some of what has already been expressed, I can say that, from my own experience in the Army, it was mostly a pleasurable experience.
Yeah, it is not fun pulling CQ or CQ runner after having worked a full day and having to spend all night awake checking the barracks and making sure that the rooms are secure and that no once is killing each other. It is not necessarily fun getting that call early, early in the morning telling you to report to work because the Company is being recalled (usually an EDRE). No, it is not necessarily fun being out in the field for a week or more where there is no television and conditions are less than ideal and where you are away from your family (not to mention the smell that emanates from you from lack of showers).
However, from having served my country, and there is no way that anyone who has never served will ever really understand, when you get past all of the nonsense, there is still a lot of pride to be taken from giving back to your country and knowing that you have paid the price of freedom. Freedom is not free - it comes with a price - it is called sacrifice and it is in short supply in our country. Think where our country would be if no one chose to serve. We simply couldn’t exist!
The military asks a lot of each soldier but also gives a lot back. Try attending college without the financial aid that the military supplies. It would be virtually impossible! And it you chose to go the loan route, like most students today do, you will be tens of thousands of dollars in debt with years and years of heavy debt facing you. A pretty bleak future I would think. I see many young people today who refuse to make a sacrifice and pay the price and who have vitually no financially secure future ahead of them. There future is working at Wal-Mart or at construction (really tough work - try it and you will see)or at some dead end job that doesn’t pay much and doesn’t have a real future. And college - well, forget that!!!
Yeah, the military at times sucks!! But give it some time and perspective and you may come to see that the benefits far exceed the costs. It is not even close!!!
With all due respect dad, you were thrown in with that lot that Jason and Märia and I spoke of. You were the type of person who fit in with that crowd. We simply were not.
Also, think about who you are talking to. Attending college without the military’s financial aid would be “virtually impossible”? Really? You managed to do it. But you were living with your parents and letting them pay the way. Märia managed to do it as well, without any loans. Her parents did the first half, and helped us a little with the second half, but we paid the nursing school bills, mostly.
But I am a little off topic. Mostly you are just the kind of person that the military is looking for. Jason and I are not.
Okay. I am confused. How does your dad fit into that? Yes, he refuses to eat vegetables except for fried potatoes and ranch style beans and he keeps the makers of Reeses in business. I would consider it an eating disorder but others would not.
Is the form of discipline and mind control that is used because of what is needed in war or is it just a power game for the powers that be? Where does the name calling and demeaning fit in? Just in case you are a POW and need to learn not to react?
This reminds me of all the slavery books I read for my literature classes.
Dad - I am glad and encouraged that you enjoyed your time in the service. I have heard you say several times that you wish you had stayed in. I don’t agree in your military assessment, but each person has their own opinion right? If anything your opinion is more valid than mine. You were in for 6 years and I’ve only been in for 5, and I do have an exteme personality.. which can rub people the wrong way. Or maybe the military has changed..
Patrica - I really honestly agree that Steven’s comment seemed to be a personal assault.. and was unnecessary but Your second paragraph about the POWs.. honestly I think that’s the ‘book’ answer as to why the military is the way it is.. but it has NO real reasoning at all.
Steven - That was very unloving, and rather petty.. everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I love all 3 of you, even if I don’t show it very well.
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