The United States Military

[theintensifier 0]

Since I am a United States Marine, I have been wondering what you all think about the military, and how they have done over in the middle east.

 

A little over 2100 men and women of the United States Military have died, over 1700 in combat, some 15,800 injured.

 

I think our services are doing a fine job personally.

[snuffbox 0]

Of course, our Armed Services are doing a fine job.

 

Its the elected leaders with zero combat experience that leave something to be desired...

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Of course, our Armed Services are doing a fine job.

 

Its the elected leaders with zero combat experience that leave something to be desired...

[SuperJerk 0]

America has the best trained military in the world, and (despite stereotypes) only allows people who meet tough standards to serve. I was briefly in the Navy, myself. The people I knew were some of the most dedicated and hard working men I've ever known.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

The US Military is the single most powerful force in the universe.

 

Next to Gravity and Hulkamania, of course.

[theintensifier 0]

Yeah, some of the training I've been put through is horrendously difficult. 22.5 miles with a full pack / gear in the mountains of California. Really makes a man out of you.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

The stats regarding the death toll of Iraqis is perhaps more unsettling in my opinion. That never gets a lot of mention when talking about the war itself.

 

The Armed Forces obviously is a well oiled machine, America wouldn't be where it is if they weren't.

[theintensifier 0]

My rackmate from boot camp, and MCT have both died in Iraq, as did one of my friends from Fort Sill. It hits home. They're heroes.

[Matt Young 0]

I respect the people who serve in the military, and a lot of my friends from high school serve in various branches (the majority being in the Marines) but I have a lot of problems with the actions that the military has taken as a whole, and the recruiters I've dealt with have been corrupt and openly encouraged me to lie on my application so that I could get in. Also, their attitude that they're better than civilians because they're in the military turned me off.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Infinitely powerful, of course, and incredibly amazing to me that we've maintained a volunteer army this long. No offense meant against intensifier's buddies, but I don't consider every person who dies in a war (especially one of such a confusing nature as this one) a hero, nor is every soldier a hero just for enlisting. They're unfortunate guys who died doing their job, especially in this case. Alas. It's a job with high risks, but it's a job nonetheless.

[theintensifier 0]

None takien. I didn't tell you how they passed, becasue if I did, I am sure you'd understand why I said they were heroes. My rackmate from boot pulled two other Marines out of a burning hummvee after a IED explosion, and was shot many times before going down. My rackmate from MCT pushed a Marine out of the way of a moving vehicle that was going to ram him. And my friend from Fort Sill jumped on top of a grenade, a selfless-sacrifice, so his fire team members could survive. That's all pretty heroic.

 

I agree about recruiters though. They are all pretty corrupt. I understand why though. They have to fill a quota. If they don't, they lose their MOS. Being a recruiter is a very comfortable job, and I'm sure most people would do what they could to keep it. Personally, I wouldn't be able to be a recruiter. I have a problem with lying.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Yeah, that's all pretty commendable.

[Anorak 0]

America has the best trained military in the world, and (despite stereotypes) only allows people who meet tough standards to serve. I was briefly in the Navy, myself. The people I knew were some of the most dedicated and hard working men I've ever known.

 

America has the biggest and most powerful military in the world.....but not the best or brightest soldier for soldier. That's not a knock on America, it's obviously going to have more bad eggs than other nations because of sheer numbers and recruiting methods. Let's face it, for every group of brave and skilled soldiers there's some slack-jawed idiots who think they're in a cowboy movie. It's sad but true that this second group would most likely be the ones who believed themselves superior to civilians, even if their tasks and responsiblities are a world away from what truly 'elite' troops are doing.

[KanadianKrusty 0]

Impressively well-organized and very efficient, in fact I think your guys should be giving military management classes to our leaders or something.

[SuperJerk 0]

America has the biggest and most powerful military in the world.....but not the best or brightest soldier for soldier. That's not a knock on America, it's obviously going to have more bad eggs than other nations because of sheer numbers and recruiting methods. Let's face it, for every group of brave and skilled soldiers there's some slack-jawed idiots who think they're in a cowboy movie. It's sad but true that this second group would most likely be the ones who believed themselves superior to civilians, even if their tasks and responsiblities are a world away from what truly 'elite' troops are doing.

WHAT?

 

Is there some kind of international jackass-to-nice-guy ratio you have access to that the rest of us don't?

[Anorak 0]

Ratio's? Who mentioned that word? Not me.

 

Did I state that idiocy is any more inherent among American's than people of any other nationality? Nope.

 

Surely only a slack-jawed idiot or an overly sensitive jackass could take offence?

[theintensifier 0]

If were going to talk about military sizes, Japan's would have the most off colored members than ours. Their military number rivals our ENTIRE population.

[Anorak 0]

Good job they do most of their fighting on Nintendo's.

[SuperJerk 0]

Ratio's? Who mentioned that word? Not me.

 

Did I state that idiocy is any more inherent among American's than people of any other nationality? Nope.

 

Surely only a slack-jawed idiot or an overly sensitive jackass could take offence?

 

A few things for you to consider:

 

1. Learn how to spell.

 

2. Learn how to use apostrophes.

 

3. Saying someone has to be one of multiple things (i.e. "a slack-jawed idiot or an overly sensitive jackass") because they disagree with you is a pretty pathetic way of backing up your complete lack of a convincing argument.

 

4. The comparison of a number within a whole to a whole would be considered a ratio. In your case, you said "have more bad eggs than other nations because of sheer numbers and recruiting methods". You were comparing an unspecified amount of "bad eggs" to the number of people within a given nation or nation's military. Perhaps if you understood how to use the English language, you would know that WORD MEAN THINGS and that if you're going to use words to make accusation you better be able to back it up with more than pathetic name calling.

 

If you want to say that the American military isn't the "best or brightest soldier for soldier" and that "for every group of brave and skilled soldiers there's some slack-jawed idiots who think they're in a cowboy movie" (which judging by the way you worded it, you are making a ratio of 1:1, by the way).

 

Spare me your sad stereotypes masquarading as facts. You simply do not know what you are talking about, and have nothing you can actually back up with anything other than your own misbegotten opinion.

[Art Sandusky 0]

If were going to talk about military sizes, Japan's would have the most off colored members than ours. Their military number rivals our ENTIRE population.

Don't you mean China?

[theintensifier 0]

Yes, my bad.

 

Way to go Mr. Jerk !

[Art Sandusky 0]

Whew. I was worried they'd perfected a robot army or some shit and you were leaking classified shit. Anyone I've ever known in the military has told me how they can't tell me about certain stuff.

[theintensifier 0]

Yeah. That's a true statement. I used to be a 0811 strictly, but since my injury, I have been admin work. I have access to some "secret" / "top secret" information. But, it's nothing major, just who killed Kennedy and if there's really aliens or not.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Of course there's aliens. I also think the Roswell stuff is covered up only because it was the first time civilians noticed it first and were advanced enough to make some noise about it. They probably found some alien wreckage for the first time a long-ass time ago, but by 1947 people had science fiction stories, and could connect the dots and not be fooled. I think I'd be more panicked if I found out aliens had been here multiple times than just once. I think we could handle a one-time thing.

 

I want to say Oswald killed Kennedy all by himself because I was raised by old people and have a very stubborn attitude about "the official story" on a lot of things still. It'd also be a lot more simple than the truth probably. I think the truth likely isn't as crazy as the conspiracy theories. I'll bet it's that Oswald had a non-Communist friend who assisted him but he was never captured, or was but let go for some reason. Oswald was the perfect guy to have been the killer. A dirty commie, acting alone, killing the leader of the free world? It's a Cold War historical fiction wet dream. Of course he did it. Look at him, that pinko. It even spurred a common citizen to kill the dude, such was the anti-red sentiment at the time. I have a very easy time thinking that Jack Ruby was exactly what he's said to have been, especially after hearing of some of the stories about people going to "rescue" Terri Shiavo earlier this year. Sometimes those crazy, red-blooded Americans, driven too much by the spirits of the secular or holy realms, actually do the stuff they tell their friends they'd like to do.

 

I just wish the bastard had waited a few days so Oswald could have talked. Then we wouldn't be in this mess. Goddamn maverick citizens.

[SuperJerk 0]

Yeah. That's a true statement. I used to be a 0811 strictly, but since my injury, I have been admin work. I have access to some "secret" / "top secret" information. But, it's nothing major, just who killed Kennedy and if there's really aliens or not.

Oh, really...?

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Thank you for helping keep the armed services well stocked with bodies so that I don't have to dodge a draft.

 

In general the USAF has done the best it can in the multitude of shitty situations it's been placed in the past number of years. What it seems that leadership misses is that the military's strongest point is invasion, strike capability, etc. It's weak point is extended ground wars. No military in the world has been able to occupy foreign territory for long periods of time.

 

That and the better-than-thou attitude of those who are enlisted but haven't yet done any heroic deeds to justify that attitude. This seems to happen a lot in the Marines, and I hate to beat on a fresh 17 year old kid who may or may not have given me lip once *cough* , but damnit boy, don't bother me.

[theintensifier 0]

I think Oswald's shot was too impossible for one man to pull off, even if he was an ex-Marine.

 

Jobber, who are you refering to ?

[Vyce 0]

Also, their attitude that they're better than civilians because they're in the military turned me off.

 

I would disagree, but then I don't want Jerk thinking he's better than me because he was in the Navy.

 

You ain't better'n me, boy!

[Special K 0]

Doesn't N. Korea have a ridiculously huge number of infantry for their overall population size? I heard that, if deployed, they'd have to take S. Korea with truly amazing speed, because they'd go through their resources so quickly.

[Slayer 0]

The takeover of South Korea is enematable...