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Does the US Military Suck? - Page 5

Gunner I hear you however the collateral damage comment is a bit too much for me, maybe those in the military are kind of pass feeling because of all the people they see dying however those are LIVES, people just like you and me.

Suck Military US Does

Ya, Sleuth, I was in a bit of a rage... I just couldn't believe that people were saying the U.S. Military is evil. We do everything we can to stop those casualties, but they happen. Think of some other previous great military powers: Rome, the Mongols, the egyptian empire, etc, etc. They enslaved and tortured the people they beat and fought against. We do our best to be the the shining knight in the darkness, but in war-accidents happen. (Sorry, it is really hard too express my real feelings in writing without wrighting a huge report. I was in a huge rage about people downing the U.S. Military, and I still sorta am."

Does the US Military Suck? History & Civil Business Politics

In analyzing the title of this Thread I have changed it to "Does the US Military Suck?" from "Why the U.S. Military Sucks" because the prior title does not ask but insinuates and obviously there is varied opinions from those who were in and currently serving in the US Military.

Interestingly enough a lot of these opinions in this Thread were from people that are in North America and not in the Middle East or some anti-US country. I will also like to bring to everyone's attention the following related Threads where citizens of the USA are very against the US Military for both religious and personal reasons:

* Afghan War - Source 5
* Iraq War - Source 5
* Restrepo Source 8
* Thank God for Dead Soldiers? Source 3
* Reason for the US Military in the Middle East Source 9
* Military Allowing Cons Entry Source 8

Lastly, I will like to mention that the system should be considered separate from the soldier. For instance what soldiers do at ground level to put their lives at risk each day in protecting others and fighting for what is right is in mind honorable. However the larger reason not set by soldiers but by politicians can be questioned as is evident during election time.

Page 5 Suck Military US Does

I think the political aspect definitely twists America's nature into something ugly. War is ugly just in itself. If you then add a twisted lie or selfish desire onto that war you get something even uglier.

I will say in America's defense though that we have little to do with what our politicians decide. They act like they care and are listening but time and time again you see them doing the exact opposite of what the majority demands.

When they can't outright bypass what Americans want they will lie and deceive us into thinking along the lines they want or need. Either by presenting false information and scaring us or downright lying to our faces.

You would think that in America such a thing surely could not happen and definitely not over and over again. Yet if you look back, not even that long ago, you'll see it does.

As for the common soldier I try and remind myself they are flawed humans just like me. They are trained to be killers and to defend each other. I wonder if I would not be cold and merciless if I were in a war. We are talking about my life which I would be defending at almost any cost without hesitation.

Now if I saw my good friend die next to me I think that would harden my heart even further. I think I would think a little less about the civilians of their country and more about myself and my unit.

I think that equals out to more "accidents" resulting in more of them dying and more of my guys living. I am not saying that is right or that every soldier acts that way. However if I put myself in their shoes I think I would find that I was a completely different person very quickly.

Suck Military US Does

Name: Chesterfield
Country:

Comments: I did a four year term active duty army as an infantry soldier. I've been on 1 15th month deployment to Iraq 08 and have a CIB from that. My theory of why a person would stay enlisted in the Army is either A their not smart enough to think on their own to make it in the civilian world or B their stuck due to financially supporting family. These are the reasons that convinced me to burn any chances I had of re-enlisting.

1. The warrior is dead, at the present age your just a machine operator and a tool bag to be utilized by an institution. You can sugar it with fancy ideals if you want to but for me thats what it comes down to.

2. I'v never been satisfied with the medical care within the Army. I kept having to deal with PA's that probably failed medical school then decided to get into the military to still be a doctor. It's awesome when you have a PA that accuses you of malingering to when you have a stress fracture from a squad leader wanting to do 5 mile + runs every single day without any build up to it.

3. Getting screwed by situations where your expected to suck it up. Following the last subject I now have motrine but oh no, PT test. Hmmm if fail I'll be flagged and have to do twice as much PT or if I say "I can't take it right now because my leg hurts" I'll get smoked until I change my mind. Well *huff and puff* I passed but sweet, hair line fracture at least this time its extremely visible on a freaking x-ray.

4. Formula: 90% boredom, 9% discontent, 1% give or take doing something cool. At least with all that boredom you learn the fine art of ninja. Applied correctly you can disappear unnoticed and you have the skill to appear always busy even though there's nothing to do and nothing going on to avoid getting harassed by equally bored NCO's. Wow tax payers actually waste their money on this [..].

5. Alright airborne school! What? 41 club? Back to airborne hold for re-assignment? Paint ceiling tiles? *tears*

6. A: "You made me a tank driver!?" B: "It's not a tank its a Bradley." A: But, but I signed up to be in the infantry not be a tanker." B: "It's not a tank its a Bradly!"

7. Women -- I thought being in shape all the time and being associated with all that patriotic garbage would get me [hooked up] more. Wrong. Turns out Army bases have a horrible ratio of males compared to number females and within a 100 mile radius the civilian population is conditioned not to take Army soldiers seriously. The women that are available are either ugly, sleazy, or after money. Good luck trying to maintain a serious relationship over a 100 mile distance. And married couples... The only ones I'v seen work are the rare ones that had a strong foundation before the military puts it through the test.

These last 4 are what ruined it completely for me.

8. Getting selected into a sniper section only to find it's getting micromanaged by a tanker CSM. He wants to send everyone to sniper school even though the section has only been standing for a couple months and if anyone fails... Automatic boot back to the line. This is what I've always wanted to do but I don't qualify for the school because you have to have a year left on your contract. In light of that information they send me anyway. 1 week into it the school cadre get my paper work from my unit. To continue I have to extend my contract which means if I fail I would have to be in a line unit deployed most likely to do manual labor like tearing down JSS's or something homo erotic like that with a fight unlikely. Screw that.

9. With a few months to go before ETS and on non-deployable status because of some new regulation they stick me in a line platoon instead of utilizing me for something useful like helping in an S shop.

10. Ok I'll role with it still got a chance for something cool like SF. Just need 1 freaking point on my GT score cause I took my ASVAB in a not very suggested manner. GT improvement class hurray this will be easy, I'll get out of this poop stick and try out for selection before my ETS comes up. What? Takes a CO's signature to take the class... OK. "The Army is not here for you, your here for the Army and right now we're about to deploy with soldiers that still need trained and we need all the experience we can get. If you re-enlist we'll send you to whatever school you want to go to when we get back from deployment." (laugh) yeah right.

11. I started renting a place when I was in the sniper section. Turns out by base regulation you have to be a staff sergeant or married to live off post even though I can afford it on specialist pay. This was in no briefing or anything when I went through in-processing. My new unit catches wind of this not understanding I can't get out of the lease starts forcing me sign in at the barracks CQ desk on a fixed interval. Now I'm paying for a place I don't have time to live at. After pissing off the leasing company over the dispute they come back at me with a 5 grand law suit. Thanks Army.

Over all FTA

+ Making life long friends and the memories of being plastered together, bar fights, and other shenanigans.
+ realizing that a higher education is the most important thing.

These are only my opinions and experiences they do not represent anyone has a whole.

Does the US Military Suck?

Name: Josh
Country:

Comments: I think that US army sucks as fighting force in general and it the U.S government has no morals in using it. The U.S has tried and or succeeded to overthrow 50 foreign governments since WW2. Also many of the deaths on D Day where caused by the arrogance of the American armed forces saying they could "put a bomb in jar" when they missed all the beach targets and thousands where slaughtered. Also the classic example of Vietnam, 2 Decades of warfare,millions dead,billions spent and the U.S lost. When the UK had the same problem in Bolivia in 1962/3 with communist guerrilla fighters in the jungle, and we solved it in 2 years with a handful of SAS with proper preparation for fighting in the jungle. As well as the fact the U.S army has a massive amount of friendly fire, in 2005 they actually had to set up serious training for the U.S forces to stop shooting out convoys and vehicles in Iraq.

Does US Military Suck - Page 5

Name: Stu
Country:

Title: Yes they do suck.

Comments: The US military may indeed suck because its a horrible job, but I believe they suck in a totally different way. I think the US Military sucks because, as our civil liberties dwindle away, our men and women in uniform are doing nothing to stop it. You may say its because we have sent them to do duties which are not their responsibility, but I tell you that to question immoral orders IS their duty. Yes our Military sucks, because they are not doing their job.

Does US Military Suck Politics Business Civil & History - Page 5

Name: Bloop
Country:

Comments: Yes, the military sucks. If you are a Sgt or below, it doesn't really matter what you think. You must treat all your leaders with respect and approach them tactfully, even if they outright disrespect you. Sadly, pretty much anyone can become a Sgt if they go to a board and answer a few questions in a confident matter AND have enough points in their respective MOS. And most of the Sgts I have come into contact with are idiots who think their rank makes them superior to lower enlisted soldiers. Most of the people in the military are immature kids who didn't know what to do with their lives, so they joined the Army. The barracks suck; idiots are always destroying the exit signs or tossing their dip balls everywhere. The rules are also retarded: can't walk and talk on the phone when in uniform, can't put your hands in your pockets unless you're reaching for something while in uniform, etc etc. I could go on and on....