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Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession
Strategic Studies Institute ^ | February 17, 2015 | Dr. Leonard Wong, Dr. Stephen J. Gerras

Posted on 03/04/2015 10:33:25 AM PST by Crapolla

Brief Synopsis

Untruthfulness is surprisingly common in the U.S. military even though members of the profession are loath to admit it.
Further, much of the deception and dishonesty that occurs in the profession of arms is actually encouraged and sanctioned by the military institution. The end result is a profession whose members often hold and propagate a false sense of integrity that prevents the profession from addressing—or even acknowledging—the duplicity and deceit throughout the formation.
It takes remarkable courage and candor for leaders to admit the gritty shortcomings and embarrassing frailties of the military as an organization in order to better the military as a profession. Such a discussion, however, is both essential and necessary for the health of the military profession.

(Excerpt) Read more at strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: untruthfulnessarmy
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1 posted on 03/04/2015 10:33:25 AM PST by Crapolla
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To: Crapolla

The U.S. Army War College. Where Senator John Walsh (Democrat) plagiarized when writing his paper on the intricacies of beam weapons on the modern battlefield entitled GREEN EGGS AND HAM.


2 posted on 03/04/2015 10:47:11 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Crapolla

ANY institution that is forced to embrace untruth by its Commander in Chief - such as homosexuality is normal; women can be Navy SEALS, green berets, or combat Marines - combined with a president who lies blatantly and puts troopers at risk to fuel his idiotic fantasies about Moslems, is going to require a certain amount of lying to justify its actions to itself.

Moreover, when run by an officer corps that REQUIRES embracing Obama and all he stands for in order to win promotion, our armed frces are doing wonderfully well, considering.

Obama would love to utterly ruin them, of course, and is doing his level best to accomplish that.

He’s still got two more years, but we can keep our fingers crossed.


3 posted on 03/04/2015 10:51:04 AM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: Crapolla

What is likely not addressed are the reasons for military personnel lying.

1) Getting mean spirited, frivolous, and meaningless orders from superiors. “Did you clean the entire barracks with a toothbrush like I ordered you to?”

2) Getting ridiculous directives from civilian social engineers. “Why certainly, Sir or Ma’am, I believe that an overweight community organizer person who identifies as a LGBTQ-LS/MFT could be *just* as effective a combat soldier as can a heterosexual male former UFC contender.”

3) Getting leading political statements or demands from people who openly hate the military. “Certainly I hold the commander in chief in the highest regard, as does everyone else in the military.”


4 posted on 03/04/2015 11:08:55 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: Crapolla

Our whole future depends on returning integrity to our military leaders.


5 posted on 03/04/2015 11:39:13 AM PST by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Crapolla

Downloaded and then went lurking...

Prospects for Iran’s New Direction

Added February 20, 2015

Should be a good read, eh? Think there will be anything new here?

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=1255


6 posted on 03/04/2015 12:04:13 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

There is no reason to lie in any of those cases; it is called integrity. Yes, your next OER might not look so good, and your dreams of getting that star will be gone, but that is no excuse not to do the right thing.


7 posted on 03/04/2015 12:07:54 PM PST by LambSlave
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To: Jack Hammer

His ruining them is the answer to the question, “What difference does it make?” The Freeper Canteen is awesome and like those who used to go stand in front of Walter Reed every friday, there should be a group who stands outside every base every Friday night to let the boots know we love them, respect them, support them when they are deployed, and want them to come home. hmmm. that is a good idea.


8 posted on 03/04/2015 12:11:18 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: LambSlave

You’re kidding, right? Your dreams of becoming an E-3 would be gone. Military personnel are given the option of lying to idiots or leaving the military.

Importantly, when things matter, like in combat, these same personnel are scrupulously honest. But evading scoundrels who want to oppress you is hardly dishonorable.

The Washington types are upset that the oath they swear is to the constitution, not to their overlords.


9 posted on 03/04/2015 12:36:13 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

No, I’m not kidding and I made E-3 without any problems :-) However, after making E-5 I did decide to get out because of the idiots and the desire to preserve my integrity. However, I found a way to preserve my integrity and continue to serve the Army as a civilian scientist. Perhaps you don’t realize the extent of the lying and it’s impact that occurs today. Homosexuality, no moral absolutes, acceptance of policies driven by knee jerk reactions (sexual harassment, suicide, transgender is good, women in combat roles). There is no integrity. The Chief of Staff of the Army tells us that our NUMBER ONE PRIORITY is... sexual harassment. Not defeating the enemy, not training how we fight and fighting to win, not our professionalism. This line is parroted all the way down to the squad. The sheer numer of mandatory training and reporting requirements, and social experiments in place is truly staggering; the cost and destruction of our Army even more so. Instead of standing up to the oppressive bureacracy and confronting it with an honest assessment of the cost and risks, even our most senior officers simply bend over and take it. By evading these scoundrels they have let them win; they should have fought them or resigned their commissions publically.


10 posted on 03/04/2015 1:03:26 PM PST by LambSlave
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To: Crapolla

With the supposed CiC there now is it any surprise?


11 posted on 03/04/2015 1:05:55 PM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: huldah1776

A good idea indeed.

Where would we be without their courage and sacrifice!


12 posted on 03/04/2015 1:48:38 PM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: Jack Hammer

Question. Would civilians standing at the gate mean enough to offset the betrayal of the administration and DOD?


13 posted on 03/04/2015 3:16:25 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: huldah1776

Tough call.

Betrayal with respect to troop morale, maybe.

With respect to administrative integrity? No way.


14 posted on 03/04/2015 3:19:29 PM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: LambSlave

Sounds like a susan rice military strategy...

http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/02/08/woodward-military-upset-susan-rice-telling-generals-how-to-fight/


15 posted on 03/04/2015 3:20:23 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: Jack Hammer

Could do 2 things, go to the gates for one, then start a public campaign with petitions to straighten out the mess, training cuts, benefits loss, etc for active duty and then the VA mess for veterans.


16 posted on 03/04/2015 3:23:55 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: LambSlave

The social experiments caught my attention. Is this a literal experiment or were you just talking about the military having to become politically correct?


17 posted on 03/04/2015 3:29:30 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: huldah1776

The Army has a history of being involved in “social experiments” mostly at the whim of politicians and academics, but some arose interally - attractive because of having a controlled environment, and controlled population who couldn’t say no. Beginning with integration of African Americans in support positions, then fully integrated combat units during WWII, then women in support positions, then “don’t ask don’t tell”, now open homosexuals and women in combat roles. Also smaller stuff that would have been unacceptable in the general society at the time- things like socialized medicine, use of the media in conflict, use of psychological testing (ASVAB) and conditioning (brain washing), use of performance enhancing drugs (pilot use of stimulant drugs), radical leadership and organizational models, suicide prevention, crime prevention, zero-tolerance drug policies (even over the counter), elimination of sexual harassment (since Tailhook).


18 posted on 03/04/2015 4:11:10 PM PST by LambSlave
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To: LambSlave

Ah, triggered a memory that they are also “training” some boots in meditation to prevent PTSD or at least lessen its symptoms.


19 posted on 03/04/2015 4:20:15 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: huldah1776

They used to come pre-trained.

It was called prayers and their families and churches taught them.


20 posted on 03/04/2015 4:25:13 PM PST by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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